JP2001353891A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and a printing method capable of shortening a time period for printing an image by a simple structure. SOLUTION: In the printer and the printing method, the printing of an image is performed on a web type printing medium at one end in the longitudinal direction such that the printing is performed just on the edge thereof. The one edge side and the other edge side of the printing medium at portions in the vicinity of the respective boundary sections of the printed image are sequentially cut.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer and a printing method, and is suitable for use in a thermal transfer printer using a roll of photographic paper as a print medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer 1A of this type, as shown in FIG. 16, a thermal head 2 is pressed against a platen 7 via an ink ribbon 4 and a printing paper 8, and the thermal head 2 is applied to the ink ribbon 4. An image based on the printing signal is printed on the printing paper 8 by thermally transferring the heat-meltable or sublimable ink to the printing paper 8 one line at a time by the thermal head 2 based on a printing signal supplied from the outside. It has been made like that.

At this time, the printing paper 8 is always given a constant tension by being clamped by the capstan roller 5 and the pressing roller 6 arranged closer to the paper discharge port 9A than the thermal head 2, while the thermal head 2 Each time one line is printed, the paper is sent out by the capstan roller 5 and the pressing roller 6 in the paper discharge direction indicated by the arrow a.

In the printer 1A, when the printing of one image based on the printing signal is completed, the printed portion of the image on the printing paper 8 as shown in FIG. Call) 8A front end 8
A _F and the rear end portion 8A _B are cut, and the printing portion 8 is cut.
Only A is discharged outside through the discharge port 9A.

However, such a conventional printer 1A
As described above, the capstan roller 5 and the pressing roller 6 are provided on the paper discharge direction side of the thermal head 2, and when printing is performed, the printing paper 8 is conveyed in the paper discharge direction while being printed by the thermal head 2. Is performed. For this reason, in the printer apparatus 1A, a portion (a portion indicated by oblique lines in FIG. 17) 8 between the thermal head 2 and the platen 7 to the chucking position T1 by the capstan roller 5 and the pressing roller 6 in the printing paper 8.
B cannot be printed, and as a result, such a portion is wasted and discarded. Thus, there is a problem that the printing paper 8 cannot be used effectively.

For this reason, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 18 with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 16, the capstan roller 5 is provided in the direction opposite to the paper discharging direction with respect to the thermal head 2, and when printing, first, the roll A printer device 1B has been developed in which a type of printing paper 8 is unwound in a paper discharging direction by an amount necessary for printing, and then printed while transporting the paper in a direction opposite to the paper discharging direction (arrow b). Has been

According to the printer 1B,
While the capstan roller 5 conveys the photographic paper 8 in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction, the thermal head 2 prints on the photographic paper 8 unwound in advance by a necessary amount, thereby discharging the photographic paper 8. It is not necessary to hang the photographic paper 8 from the thermal head 2 and the platen 7 to the capstan roller 5 and the pressing roller 6 just for the purpose of performing the printing. , FIG.
As shown in (1), there is an advantage that the wastefully discarded portion of the photographic paper 8 can be suppressed.

[0008]

However, in the printer 1B, when an image is printed on the photographic paper 8 based on the print signal, as shown in FIG. for that printed the printing section 8D in front is generally, the margin portions not printed between the front end portion 8D _F and the tip portion 8F of the printing section 8D (the portion represented by diagonal lines in FIG. 19) occurs.

The printing apparatus 1B uses the time from the start of printing on the printing paper 8 to the discharge of the printing card to the outside through the paper discharge port 9A as the printing time. for cutting respectively the front portions 8D _F and the rear end portion 8D _B of the printing unit 8D at 8, has been printing time required cutting time 2 times before discharging the printed card has a problem that it becomes longer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has as its object to propose a printer apparatus and a printing method that can shorten the printing time with a simple configuration.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer for performing printing on a band-shaped printing medium, wherein the printing is performed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the printing medium so as to cover the one end. A printing means for performing the printing and a cutting means for sequentially cutting one end and the other end of the printing medium in the vicinity of the boundary of the printed image printed on the printing medium are provided. As a result, according to this printer apparatus, the number of times the photographic paper is cut can be apparently reduced.

According to the present invention, in a printing method for printing on a band-shaped printing medium, a first step of printing on one end in the longitudinal direction of the printing medium so as to cover the one end, and printing on the printing medium. And a second step of sequentially cutting one end and the other end of the printing medium in the vicinity of the boundary of the printed image. As a result, according to this printing method, apparently the number of times the photographic paper is cut can be reduced.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Appearance Configuration of Printer According to this Embodiment In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a printer to which the present invention is applied as a whole, and a front panel 14 is provided on the front of a housing 13 so as to be freely opened and closed. . Above the front panel 14, a concave handle 14A is provided.
As shown in FIG. 2, metal fittings 15A and 15B are provided on the right and left sides of the upper end of the rear face of the fourth piece. Further, a pair of magnets 16A and 16B are provided on the front surface of the housing 13 covered by the front panel 14 so as to correspond to the metal fittings 15A and 15B, respectively.

Thus, in the printer 10, the respective brackets 15 A, 1 A, 1
The front panel 14 can be kept closed by attracting the magnets 16A, 16B to the magnets 16A, 16B by the magnetic force of the corresponding magnets 16A, 16B, while the front panel 14 is pulled forward with the handle 14A of the front panel 14 as a clue. Thereby, the front panel 14 can be easily opened.

The housing 1 covered by the front panel 14
As shown in FIG. 2, a box-shaped photographic paper holding unit 17 is provided on the front part of the printer 3 so that it can be pulled out.
As shown in the drawing, the photographic printing paper holding unit 17 is pulled out to the front, the lid 17A provided on the upper side is opened, and the rolled photographic printing paper 18 is put in the photographic printing paper holding unit, and then the lid 17A is closed to print. The printing paper 18 can be loaded into the housing 13 by pushing back the paper holding unit 17.

Further, a ribbon cartridge loading hole 20 is provided in the front portion of the housing 13 beside the print holding portion 17, and the ribbon cartridge 19 is inserted into the housing 13 through the ribbon cartridge loading hole 20. It can be loaded.

A paper discharge opening 21 is formed in the side surface of the housing 13 next to the ribbon cartridge loading hole 20. The photographic paper 18 is cut off after an image or the like is printed.
Can be discharged to the outside through the paper discharge opening 21.

(2) Internal Configuration of Printer Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, inside the housing of the printer 10, a photographic paper holding section 17 and the photographic paper holding section 17 are provided.
Drive system 23 for transporting photographic paper 18 unwound from
, Platen 24, thermal head 25, cutting section 2
6, a bon cartridge 19, and an optical sensor 35 are provided.

In this case, the transport drive system 23 has a pair of transport rollers A 28 and a press roller 29, a capstan roller 30 and a press roller 31, and a transport roller B 32 and a press roller 33, each of which is in the sheet discharging direction. Are rotatably supported at predetermined intervals along the axis.

The transport drive system 23 has a pulse motor 34 capable of freely controlling the rotation direction and the rotation speed.
A gear 34B fixed to an output shaft 34A of the pulse motor 34 is engaged with the capstan roller 30 via an integrally formed gear train 34C and a timing belt 34D. The pulse motor 34 is also engaged with the transport roller A28 and the transport roller B32.

[0022] Thus, in the conveyance drive system 23, by rotating the pulse motor 34 in the forward direction (sheet discharging direction) c _1, gear train 34C and a timing belt 34D
, The feed roller A28, the capstan roller 30 and the feed roller B32 are rotated at the same speed in the forward direction, whereby the feed roller A28 and the pressing roller 29 are rotated.
And, a capstan roller 30 and a pressing roller 31,
The photographic paper 18 sandwiched between the transport roller B32 and the pressing roller 33 is pushed out, and as shown in FIG.
₂ can be transported.

In the transport drive system 23, a pulse mode
Data 34 in the reverse direction (printing direction) d₁ Can be driven to rotate
Through the gear train 34C and the timing belt 34D.
Transport roller A28, capstan roller 30 and transport
The feed roller B32 is rotationally driven in the opposite direction at the same speed,
Thereby, the conveying roller A28 and the pressing roller 29,
Capstan roller 30 and press roller 31 and transport
Photographic paper sandwiched between roller B32 and pressing roller 33
18 in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction (hereinafter,
Print direction) d_Two Can be transported.

Further, an optical sensor 35 comprising a light emitting diode 35A and a photodiode 35B is provided downstream of the transport drive system 23.
The presence or absence of the photographic paper 18 can be detected based on the detection result of 5B.

On the other hand, a platen 24 is provided between the capstan roller 30 and the transport roller B32 on the transport path of the photographic paper 18 and an ink ribbon 36 unwound from the photographic paper 18 and the ribbon cartridge 19 is interposed therebetween. A thermal head 25 is provided on the upper side facing the platen 24.

The thermal head 25 is supported by a head lifting drive system (not shown), and is normally held at a position farthest from the platen 24 (hereinafter, this position is referred to as a home position). Sometimes, it is held at a position where it is pressed against the platen 24 (hereinafter referred to as a printing position).

The ribbon cartridge 19 comprises an ink ribbon 36, a supply reel 37 and a take-up reel 38 for winding the ink ribbon 36 from both ends, and a ribbon cartridge An ink ribbon drive system (not shown) is provided at a position opposed to the supply reel 37 and the take-up reel 38. Thus, in the ribbon cartridge 19 loaded in the ribbon cartridge loading hole 20, the ink ribbon 36 can be rotated by driving the ink ribbon drive system engaged with the supply reel 37 and the take-up reel 38.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ink ribbon 36 has a yellow Y40, a magenta M41, and a cyan C4.
The second ink and the film-like sheet L43 are repeatedly applied by an amount corresponding to the image area of the print image, and a position mark 44 for position detection is applied.

On the other hand, the cutting section 2
6 are provided. The cutting section 26 includes a cutter and a cutting drive system on which the cutter is supported. The cutting section 26 slides the cutter against the photographic paper 18 to cut the photographic paper 18. .

Thus, the printer 10 presses the thermal head 24 against the platen 25 via the ink ribbon 36 and the printing paper 18 and applies the ink applied to the ink ribbon 36 to the thermal head 2 based on an externally applied printing signal. By performing the thermal transfer on the photographic paper 18 one line at a time for each ink type, an image based on the photographic signal can be printed on the photographic paper 18 as a color image. Thus, the printer 10 can create a printing card by cutting the printing portion of the printing paper.

In addition to this configuration, in the case of the printer 10, as shown in FIG.
_The print image is printed by aligning the print image 46 with an end portion 46A _F of the print image, and the transport drive system 23 prints the printing paper 18 corresponding to the length of the print image. The paper is drawn from the paper holding unit 17.

As shown in FIG. 12, when cutting the photographic paper 18, the printer 10 moves in parallel with the boundary C1 of the photographic image printed on the photographic paper 18 in the paper discharge direction (arrow e). Side cutting position C2 is cut first (hereinafter, this is referred to as first cutting), and subsequently, the cutting position C3 on the far side from the sheet discharging direction is cut (hereinafter, this is referred to as second cutting).
It has been made to be.

Thus, the printer 10 first prepares a print card by the first cut, and cuts off the unnecessary uncut portion by the second cut to prepare for the next print.

Here, in practice, the control of the transport drive system, the lifting drive system, the cutting drive system, and the like is performed by the control unit 50.

(3) Printing process and cutting process by printer Here, the printing operation as described above in the printer 10 is as follows.
This is performed under the control of the control unit 50 shown in FIG. 4 according to the printing and cutting processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG.

First, the control unit 50 receives a print command and print data from a host computer (not shown).
The printing and cutting processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG.
Starting at P0, in the following step SP1, the pulse motor 34 of the transport drive system 23 is driven based on the received printing command, so that the capstan roller 30 is driven via the gear train 34C and the timing belt 34D.
Is rotated and the photographic paper 1 is relayed on the platen 24.
8 in the paper discharge direction.

The control unit 50 proceeds to step SP2,
Upon detecting that the photographic paper 18 has passed based on the sensor signal given from the optical sensor 35, the process proceeds to step SP3, where the number of rotations of the pulse motor 34 is counted, and the position of the platen 24 is determined based on the count. The photographic paper 18 is transported in the paper discharging direction by the image area.

Subsequently, the control unit 50 proceeds to step SP4, stops the pulse motor 34 and determines the printing position, and proceeds to step SP5 to control the driving of the head lifting drive system, thereby requiring the thermal head 25. Is moved to the printing position in accordance with, and the pulse motor 34 of the transport drive system 23 is drive-controlled in accordance with the movement to print the printing paper 18 line by line while transporting the printing paper 18 in the printing direction.

The control unit 50 proceeds to step SP6,
When printing is completed, the photographic paper 18 is conveyed in the paper discharge direction by controlling the drive of the pulse motor 34 of the conveyance drive system 23 in the forward direction.

In the following step SP7, the control section 50 positions the first cut portion C2 of the printing paper 18 at a position facing the cutter provided in the cutting section 26.

The control unit 50 proceeds to step SP8,
By controlling the cutting drive system, the cutter 18
, The photographic paper 18 is moved to the first cut portion C
The first cutting is performed at 2.

Subsequently, the control unit 50 proceeds to step SP9, controls the pulse motor 34 in the forward direction, rotates the capstan roller 30, and conveys the printing paper 18 in the paper discharging direction.

In the following step SP10, the control unit 50 positions the second cut portion C3 of the printing paper 18 at a position facing the cutter provided in the cutting unit 26.

The control unit 50 proceeds to step SP11, controls the cutting drive system to slide the cutter with respect to the photographic paper 18, and cuts the photographic paper 18 a second time at the second cutting portion C3. Proceeding to step SP12, the printing and cutting processing procedure RT1 ends.

[0045] (4) Operation and Effects of the present embodiment, the printer 10, by printing on the basis of the end portion 18A _F of the printing paper 18, relative to the end 18A _F of the photographic paper 18 The printing without margins is performed, and the printing paper 18 is cut from the discharge direction with respect to the boundary C1 of the printing section 48.

Accordingly, the printer 10 prints on the basis of the end portion 18A _F of the printing paper 18 and
Is cut from the paper discharge direction, so that a print card can be created by one cut. With this, a print card can be created by two cuts in the prior art, and the print card is apparently cut by one cut. Can be created.

According to the above configuration, the photographic paper 18 is connected to the end 1.
8A _F, and by cutting the photographic paper 18 in the paper discharge direction, a printing card can be created by one cut, thus reducing the printing time. realizable.

(5) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the case where the printing paper 18 is cut every time a printing image is printed on the printing paper 18 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. After printing a plurality of print images on the photographic paper 18 in succession,
May be cut.

Here, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, when two sheets are continuously printed, various inks are applied to the ink ribbon 35 (FIG. 9) with respect to the application area of the ink applied to the conventional ink ribbon 35 (FIG. 9). It is applied with twice the application area.

Thus, by using the ink ribbon 35, the printer 10 can continuously print the print image A62 and the print image B63 on the printing paper 18 as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, when the printer 10 cuts the printing paper 18 on which the continuous printing has been performed, the printer 10 prints the printed image A6.
Print image A with respect to the boundary line H1 between print image 2 and print image B63.
The vicinity of the boundary line H1 on the 62 side is defined as a first cutting position C11, the vicinity of the boundary line H1 on the side of the print image B63 is defined as a second cut position C12, and photographic paper not printed on the print image B63 side. The vicinity of the boundary H2 on the side of the print image B63 with respect to the boundary H2 with the 18 portions is defined as a third cutting position C13, and the vicinity of the boundary H2 outside the print image B63 adjacent thereto is defined as a fourth cutting position C14. Each of the cutting positions is cut in accordance with the above-described cutting procedure, and two print cards are created.

Thus, the printer 10 can reduce the time required for printing by printing two print images at a time. In addition, since the printer 10 completes the creation of two print cards at the time of cutting the third cutting position C13 as described above in the present embodiment, the final cutting position is set at the time until the apparent printing ends. (Fourth cutting position C
Since the cutting time in 14) is not included, the printing time can be similarly reduced.

In this case, the continuously printed image A6
2 and the vicinity of the boundary with the print image B63 is not limited to being cut on both sides, but may be cut only once with respect to the boundary.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case of simultaneously printing two print images has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the size of one print image is L size (89 [mm]). × 127 [mm]), instead of printing twice consecutively, a single printed image of 2L size (178 [mm] × 127 [mm]) is printed at one time. Is also good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where two printed images are printed simultaneously is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more printed images may be printed simultaneously.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in color printing, each time yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C applied to the ink ribbon 35 are printed, the printing paper 18 is moved to the positioning position at the start of printing. The case where the respective inks are returned and then printed in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when printing yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C, Yellow Y is printed in the reverse direction. After the printing is completed, magenta M is printed from that position in the positive direction with respect to the discharge direction. After the printing is completed, cyan is printed in the opposite direction to the discharge direction. C may be printed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention described in the case of using the thermal transfer system in which ink is thermally transferred to the photographic paper 18 for printing is not limited thereto.
Alternatively, another printer system such as an ink jet system for performing printing by spraying ink onto the printing paper 8 or a page printer system for performing printing by attaching toner to the photographic paper 18 may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention described in the case where the roll-shaped photographic paper 18 is used is not limited to this.
The printing may be performed by using the.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, in a printer apparatus for printing on a band-shaped printing medium, one end of the printing medium in the longitudinal direction is provided at one end thereof. And a cutting means for sequentially cutting one end and the other end of the print medium in the vicinity of the boundary of the print image printed on the print medium. According to the apparatus, it is possible to apparently reduce the number of times the photographic paper is cut, and thus to realize a printer apparatus that can shorten the printing time with a simple configuration.

According to the present invention, in a printing method for printing on a band-shaped printing medium, a first step of printing on one end in the longitudinal direction of the printing medium so as to cover the one end, and printing on the printing medium. And a second step of sequentially cutting one end and the other end of the print medium in the vicinity of the boundary of the printed image, thereby printing the print image on the print paper, and printing the print image on the print image. The time required for cutting the blank portion can be reduced, and a printing method that can reduce the printing time with a simple configuration can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a printer with a front panel opened.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a state in which a photographic paper holding unit is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for describing an ink ribbon.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a transport driving system.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state of transport of photographic paper.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram used to explain a state of transport of photographic paper.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a printing state of a printing paper.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between a print image and a print area.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a cutting state.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a printing and cutting processing procedure.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram used for describing an ink ribbon of another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram used for describing another embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram used for describing a conventional embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining a printing process according to a conventional embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram used for describing a conventional embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram for explaining a printing process according to a conventional embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 printer, 13 housing, 17 photographic paper holder, 18 photographic paper, 20 ribbon cartridge, 2
1A: photographic paper cutting section, 23: transport drive system, 24:
Platen 25 Thermal head 36 Ink ribbon 30 Capstan roller 35 Optical sensor 50 Signal processing unit.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuru Yoshito 6-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F-term (reference) 2C058 AB08 AC06 AC12 AE04 AF06 AF51 LA03 LA30 LB06 LB17 LB35 LC11 2C065 CZ09 CZ13

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for printing on a band-shaped printing medium, a printing means for printing on one end of the printing medium in a longitudinal direction so as to cover the one end, and a printing image printed on the printing medium. A cutting device for sequentially cutting the one end side and the other end side of the printing medium in the vicinity of the boundary of the printing medium. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said printing means prints a plurality of said print images continuously on said print medium. 3. A printing method for performing printing on a band-shaped printing medium, a first step of performing printing on one end of the printing medium in the longitudinal direction so as to cover the one end, and printing on the printing medium. A second step of sequentially cutting the one end side and the other end side of the print medium in the vicinity of the boundary of the print image. 4. The printing method according to claim 3, wherein in the first step, a plurality of the print images are continuously printed on the print medium.