JP2002254777A - Printing device with long scale printing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device with a long scale printing medium which does not stop operation during printing the long scale printing medium or cutting it off and can surely let out an already printed portion of the long scale printing medium regardless of a power supply voltage of a battery. SOLUTION: The device relieves a press pressure of a thermal head 6, delivers the already printed portion of a polyvinyl chloride tube by a carrier roller 2a to a lower stream position of a carrier path than a position cut by a cutter 7 and cuts the polyvinyl chloride tube by the cutter 7 in the case that the power supply voltage of the battery 18 is judged by a control.judgement portion 17 to be lower than a voltage threshold value Vb.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a long printing medium printing apparatus for printing on a long printing medium such as a marker tube or a label tape attached to an electric wire.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a transport roller (transporting means) for transporting a long print medium has been used as the long print medium printing apparatus.
A print head (printing means) that is provided on a transport path by the transport roller and prints on a long print medium based on the input print data; and a print head that is provided downstream of the transport path with respect to the print head. A cutter (cutting means) for cutting a long print medium; an operating means for operating the transport roller, the print head and the cutter; and a power supply from a battery for supplying power to the operating means, the transporting means, the printing means and the cutting means. And a control means for controlling the operation state of the camera.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional long printing medium printing apparatus, since the power from the battery is supplied from the control means to the operating means, the battery is used for a long time or continuous use of the apparatus. , The operation of the conveying roller, the print head and the cutter by the operating means is completely stopped. If the operation stops during printing or cutting of the long print medium, the print head is pressed against the long print medium, or the cutter has cut into the long print medium, so printing on the long print medium has already been completed. There is a problem in that the ejected portion cannot be ejected, and if the operator attempts to eject the ejected portion, the device is damaged.

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention does not stop the operation during printing or cutting of a long print medium, and the long print medium is already printed regardless of the power supply voltage of the battery. It is an object of the present invention to provide a long printing medium printing apparatus capable of reliably discharging a printed portion.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a long printing medium printing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a conveying means for conveying a long printing medium, and a conveying path provided by the conveying means, and is provided with input printing data. A printing unit that prints on the long printing medium based on the printing unit, a cutting unit that is provided downstream of the printing unit on the conveyance path and cuts the long printing medium, and operates the conveyance unit, the printing unit, and the cutting unit. An elongating printing medium printing apparatus comprising: an operating means for causing the power to be supplied from a battery to the operating means; and a control means for controlling the operations of the conveying means, the printing means, and the cutting means. Determining means for determining whether a power supply voltage supplied to the means is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, and determining that the power supply voltage supplied from the control means to the operating means is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage. In the case of, while stopping the printing by the printing means, transported so that the already printed portion of the long print medium by the transport means is located on the downstream side of the transport path from the cutting position by the cutting means, The long printing medium is cut by the cutting means. The determination by the determination unit may be performed before printing by the printing unit is started based on the input print data. In addition, the predetermined voltage is used to stop printing by the printing unit, and to convey such that the already printed portion of the long print medium is located downstream of the cutting path by the cutting unit from the cutting unit. Alternatively, the voltage may be set to a voltage corresponding to the minimum power required for cutting the long print medium by the cutting means. In addition, when the determination unit determines that the power supply voltage supplied to the operation unit from the control unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, a notification unit that notifies an operator that battery replacement or charging is necessary. May be further provided.

According to these constructions, when the power supply voltage supplied from the control means to the operating means is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, the printing by the printing means is stopped, and the printing of the long print medium is already performed by the transport means. Is transported such that the portion where the cutting has been performed is located on the downstream side of the transport path from the cutting position by the cutting means, and the long printing medium is cut by the cutting means, so that it operates during printing or cutting of the long printing medium. Is not stopped, and the already printed portion of the long print medium can be reliably discharged regardless of the power supply voltage of the battery.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printing and cutting process for a long printing medium M such as a tube or a label made of vinyl chloride, and a desired character on which a desired character is printed. It is a long printing medium printing apparatus for obtaining a printed material of a length.

[0008] The long printing medium printing apparatus 1 is a conveying means for conveying a long printing medium M, the conveying rollers 2a and 2b.
, A platen roller 3 and a pinch roller 4.
Among these four rollers, the transport roller 2a and the platen roller 3 are connected to a stepping motor 5, which is one of operating means, and when the stepper motor 5 is driven, the transport roller 2a and the platen roller 3 rotate. . The transport rollers 2a and 2b are provided opposite to each other on the upstream side of the transport path of the long print medium M with respect to the thermal head 6 which is a printing unit for printing on the long print medium M. A long print medium M is placed between the transport rollers 2a and 2b.
When the transport roller 2a is rotated by the driving of the stepping motor 5 in a state in which the long print medium M is held, the long print medium M is transported toward the thermal head 6. The platen roller 3 is provided so as to face the thermal head 6, and the pinch roller 4 is provided downstream of the thermal head 6 in the transport path of the long print medium M and opposed to the platen roller 3. I have. When the platen roller 3 is rotated by the driving of the stepping motor 5 in a state where the long printing medium M is sandwiched between the platen roller 3 and the pinch roller 4,
The long print medium M is transported to the cutter 7 side, which is a cutting unit that cuts the long print medium M. During printing, the thermal head 6 presses the long print medium M with the ink ribbon 81 of the ink ribbon cassette 8 interposed therebetween, and the thermal head 6 generates heat, thereby melting the ink of the ink ribbon 81 to form the long print medium. Print characters and the like on M.

The thermal head 6 and the cutter 7 are connected to a stepping motor 9 which is one of operating means. By driving the stepping motor 9, the thermal head 6 is brought into contact with or separated from the platen roller 3, or the cutter 7 is operated to cut the long print medium M.

The long printing medium printing apparatus 1 can print and cut various long printing media M by changing the attachment to be attached to the attachment mounting portion 10. For example, when the label cassette 11 shown in FIG. 2A is attached to the attachment attachment section 10, the label is pulled out from the inside of the cassette, and the label can be printed and cut. FIG. 2 (b)
When the tube attachment 12 shown in (1) is attached to the attachment mounting part 10, the tube can be printed and cut by inserting the tube through the tube insertion opening 12a.

The long printing medium printing apparatus 1 includes a sensor 1 for detecting the leading end of the long printing medium M near the cutter 7.
And a sensor 14 for detecting the rear end of the long print medium M near the transport rollers 2a and 2b.

The long printing medium printing apparatus 1 includes an input unit 15 for inputting print data such as characters to be printed and the length of a printed material, and print data input by the input unit 15 and operation instructions to an operator. And a display unit 16 for displaying the same.

Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 17 denotes a control / judgment unit (control means / judgment means) provided inside the long printing medium printing apparatus 1, and a battery 18 is connected to the control / judgment unit 17. Have been. The control / determination unit 17 supplies power from the battery 18 to the stepping motors 5 and 9 and the sensors 13 and 14.
And the input unit 15 and the display unit 16, and controls the stepping motors 5 and 9 and the display unit 16 based on inputs from the sensors 13 and 14 and the input unit 15. The control / determination unit 17 includes a ROM 19 that stores a print control program and the like, and a RAM 20 that stores data and the like input by the input unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 20 has a medium type storage area 2 for storing the type of the long print medium M.
01, a character data storage area 202 for storing character data, a work area 203 for storing various settings and the like, a print data development area 204 for developing print data, and a battery power source to be described later. Voltage threshold storage area 2 for storing voltage threshold Vb serving as a reference for voltage determination
05 and other areas 206. The voltage threshold Vb is set such that the press on the long print medium M of the thermal head 6 is released, and the portion where the long print medium M has already been printed by the transport roller 2 a and the platen roller 3 is cut by the cutter 7. Is transported so as to be further downstream of the transport path, and the long print medium M is
Is set to a voltage corresponding to the minimum power required to disconnect the power supply, or a voltage higher than the minimum power. Further, the work area 203 includes four cut buffers CB1 and CB1.
Areas B2, CB3, and CB4 are provided.

Next, the operation of the long printing medium printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

When inputting new print data, such as when the power is turned on or when a new print is started after the previous print is completed, first, in order to set the type of the long print medium M, FIG.
As shown in (a), a “vinyl chloride tube”, a “heat-shrinkable tube”, and a “label” are displayed on the upper part of the display unit 16 (S1). When the operator operates the input unit 15 to select and determine one of the long print media, for example, “vinyl chloride tube” (S2), the long print medium M is stored in the medium type storage area 201 in the RAM 20. Is stored as a vinyl chloride tube (S3). When the setting of the type of the long print medium M is completed, the cursor C indicating the input start position of the character data is displayed at the center of the display section 16 (S4). When the operator operates the input unit 15, characters or the like to be printed on the long print medium M are separated for each page by, for example, the first page “AB1”, the second page “AB2”,. When "AB5" on the fifth page is input (S5), the input character data D1 to D5 are input.
Is stored in the character data storage area 202 (S6).
Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the display unit 16 displays various setting screens including a print medium size setting unit 161, a print density setting unit 162, and a print number setting unit 163. (S7). Here, since the type of the long print medium M is a tube in the medium type storage area 201 in the RAM 20, the control / determination unit 17
Indicates that the print medium size setting unit 161 sets the diameter size of the vinyl chloride tube to “2.5 mm”, “3 mm”, “4 m”.
"m" and "5mm" are displayed. The print density setting unit 162 includes print density levels “1”, “2”, “3”,
“4” and “5” are displayed, and “book” indicating the unit is displayed on the right side of the blank in the print number setting section 163. When the operator sets the print medium size, print density, and number of prints by operating the input unit 15 (S8), these various settings are stored in the work area 203. (S9).

Subsequently, when the operator presses a print execution button (not shown) of the input unit 15 (S10), a printing process is started (S11). When the printing process is started, the input character data D1 of the first page is stored in the print data development area 204.
Is developed as print data (S12). When the development of the print data of the first page is completed (S13), the second print data is developed, and the head of the tube, that is, the initial print position of the tube is moved to the position of the thermal head 6. To transport the tube (S
14). When the cueing is completed, the number of transport pulses "500" (corresponding to the distance between the thermal head 6 and the cutter 7) for transporting the initial print position of the vinyl chloride tube to the cutter 7 is subsequently stored in the first cut buffer CB1. Is set (S15), and the print data of the first page is supplied to the control / determination unit 17 from the print data development area 204 (S15).
16).

Subsequently, the control / judgment unit 17 determines that the power supply voltage Ve of the battery 18 is in the voltage threshold storage area 20 of the RAM 20.
It is determined whether or not the threshold value is larger than the voltage threshold value Vb stored in No. 5 (S17). When the power supply voltage Ve of the battery 18 is higher than the voltage threshold Vb, the printing is started by transporting the vinyl chloride tube (S18). When the polyvinyl chloride tube is transported, the number of pulses corresponding to the transport amount is equal to the first number.
Is subtracted one by one from the number of transport pulses "500" set in the cut buffer CB1 (S19).

Subsequently, the control / judgment unit 17 determines the first cut buffer CB1 from which the number of pulses corresponding to the carry amount has been subtracted.
It is determined whether or not the value is 0 (S20). If the first cut buffer CB1 is not 0, the process proceeds to a determination as to whether printing of one page has been completed (S21).
When the cut buffer CB1 is 0, the transfer of the tube is temporarily stopped, the tube is cut by the operation of the cutter 7 (S22), and the second cut buffer CB2 is shifted to the first cut buffer CB1. (S23), printing is restarted.

If it is determined in step S21 that printing of one page has been completed (S21), if printing of one page has not been completed, tube transport and printing are continued (S18). When printing of one page is completed, the number of transport pulses required for this printing is set in the first empty cut buffer (S24).

When the cut buffer is set (S24), it is determined whether or not printing of all print data has been completed (S25). If the printing of all the print data has not been completed, the print data of the next page is supplied from the print data development area 204 (S2).
6) The control / judgment unit 17 determines the power supply voltage Ve of the battery 18
Is larger than the voltage threshold Vb stored in the voltage threshold storage area 205 of the RAM 20 (S
17). In this determination, when the power supply voltage Ve of the battery 18 is equal to or less than the voltage threshold Vb, the control / determination unit 17 drives the stepping motor 9 to release the pressing of the thermal head 6 against the vinyl chloride tube (S30). , The stepping motor 5 is driven to feed the transport roller 2
a and the platen roller 3 are rotated to convey the vinyl chloride tube so that the rear end of the already printed page faces the cutting position of the cutter 7 (S31), and the cutter 7 cuts the polyvinyl chloride tube (S31). S32). After the completion of the disconnection process, the control / determination unit 17 displays the display unit 1 to notify the operator that the battery needs to be replaced or charged.
6 is displayed as an error (S33).

When the printing of all the print data is completed, the post-printing conveyance and the cutting operation are performed based on the data stored in the cut buffer (S27), and the printing process ends.

The type and size of the long printing medium M to be used are not limited to the types and sizes shown in the present embodiment, but may be appropriately changed according to the required characteristics of the apparatus. May be.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the power supply voltage supplied from the control means to the operating means is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, the printing by the printing means is stopped, and the long printing medium is transferred by the transport means. Is transported so that the already printed portion is located on the downstream side of the transport path from the cutting position by the cutting means, and the long printing medium is cut by the cutting means. During the operation, the printed portion of the long print medium can be reliably discharged regardless of the power supply voltage of the battery.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a label cassette and a tube attachment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an internal state diagram of a RAM;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display unit of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Platen roller 6 Thermal head 7 Cutter 17 Control / judgment unit (control means and judgment means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] A transport unit configured to transport a long print medium; a print unit provided on a transport path of the transport unit, configured to print on the long print medium based on input print data; A cutting unit provided on the downstream side of the conveyance path, for cutting the long print medium, an operation unit for operating the conveyance unit, the printing unit, and the cutting unit, and a power supply from a battery for supplying power to the operation unit. In a long printing medium printing apparatus provided with a control unit for controlling operations of a conveying unit, a printing unit, and a cutting unit, it is determined whether a power supply voltage supplied from the control unit to the operating unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage. When the power supply voltage supplied from the control means to the operating means is determined to be equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, the printing by the printing means is stopped, and The long print medium is conveyed so that the portion of the long print medium that has already been printed by the step is on the downstream side of the conveyance path from the cutting position by the cutting means, and the long print medium is cut by the cutting means. Long print media printing device. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination by the determination unit is performed before printing by the printing unit is started based on the input print data. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined voltage stops printing by the printing unit, and a portion of the long print medium on which the printing has already been performed is located downstream of the cutting path by the cutting unit. The long printing medium printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing medium has a voltage corresponding to a minimum power required for conveying and cutting the long printing medium by the cutting unit. 4. When the determining means determines that the power supply voltage supplied from the control means to the operating means is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, the operator is notified that the battery needs to be replaced or charged. The long printing medium printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an informing means for performing printing.