JP2002347315A - Residual quantity of sheet indicator for ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make good use of a sheet by making it possible to determine the residual quantity of a long roll sheet through a convenient device without remodeling a large ink jet printer. SOLUTION: The ink jet printer using a roll sheet comprises a section for measuring the moved length of a sheet in a plotter, means for operating the residual quantity of a sheet based on the measured length, an indicator indicating the residual quantity of a roll sheet thus operated, a unit for inputting the length of a roll sheet at the time of starting use and the product number of the roll sheet, and a small printer for printing the residual quantity of a used roll sheet, the product number of the roll sheet, and at least the residual quantity of a used roll sheet at the date when the apparatus is used onto a peelable label.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is used in the printing industry in which a roll type long paper is used by an ink jet printer or the like. Further, in a processing business where a predetermined work is performed while unfolding and moving a roll-shaped cloth, a vinyl sheet, and the like, for example, in a processing business in which printing is performed on a cloth, it is necessary to confirm a remaining length after use. It can be widely used at times.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printing by a large-sized inkjet printer mostly uses roll-type paper, and the types of paper have been diversified. For example, there are semi-gloss non-vinyl chloride, matte synthetic paper, coated paper, PET synthetic paper, illuminated PET, water-resistant ponds, and the like, which are used depending on the application. Therefore, the paper set by the new roll is not used up at once, and another type of paper roll is often set again when moving to the next printing. This can be used to produce giant billboard advertisements, etc. using multiple output print sheets, advertisements and decorations on the outer wall of buildings, trucks and buses, as well as decorations of sales companies, show windows of department stores, etc. Because it is being used, there are circumstances described below.

In such a situation, it is desirable to set the remaining paper and use it effectively. However, even if the length required for printing is known from the length and the number of copies of the original, it is desirable to set it. It is difficult to use because the used length of the paper roll has not been measured and has not been recorded, and of course, the remaining length is unknown. On the other hand, if you forcibly use the remaining paper roll of unknown length and the paper runs out during printing,
In addition, printing must be restarted from the beginning, and not only waste of ink and paper but also waste of time has occurred.

[0004] For this reason, the worker is concerned about running out of paper in the middle of printing, and instead of using a paper roll in use, sets a new paper roll of a known length and uses it. Become. As a result, many half-finished paper rolls with unknown remaining lengths are produced, and the half-finished paper rolls are often wasted without being set in the inkjet printer again.

[0005] In addition, if a new roll type paper is purchased, its product number is displayed on the paper box. However, once the paper is used, the box is discarded. The fact is that the part number is written on the back of the end.

[0006] As described above, with the conventional technique,
When printing is performed by a large-sized ink jet printer, a large number of half-wrapped paper rolls whose remaining lengths are unknown are wasteful. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for making it possible to determine the article number and the remaining length of a sheet.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a problem, an invention according to a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a large-sized ink-jet printer using roll-type paper and set and conveyed by the ink-jet printer. On the surface of the roll paper, a wheel rotatably supported by an axis placed at right angles to the paper transport direction contacts and rotates,
Further, a length measuring portion for detecting the number of revolutions of the wheel by an encoder and a movement length of the plotter paper based on an output from the encoder, and a remaining amount display for displaying the remaining amount of the paper. And a main body of the apparatus.

The remaining amount display device is designed so that it is not necessary to modify the ink jet printer.
That is, the length measuring portion can be detachably attached to the ink jet printer.

[0009] The invention according to claim 2 has an input device for inputting at least the length of the roll paper such as the length of the roll paper at the start of use and the product number of the roll paper. Is what you do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least the remaining amount of roll paper after use, the product number of the roll paper, and at least the remaining amount of roll paper after use of the apparatus are printed on a removable label. A printing device according to claim 2, further comprising a printing device.

The main unit of the remaining amount display device and the printing unit can be integrated and set apart from the large-sized ink jet printer, so that there is no need to modify the ink jet printer like the length measuring unit.

The operator attaches a removable label to the remaining paper roll. When newly using an ink-jet printer, the remaining paper length (the product number is also printed on the removable paper label) is used. If it is, the required paper roll can be selected by looking at the product number and the remaining paper length). The paper roll thus selected is set on a large-sized ink jet printer.

[0013]

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration. Basically, it is composed of the length measuring unit main body 13, the remaining amount display device main body 1, and the small printer 11.

Since the length measuring unit main body 13 is attached to a large-sized ink jet printer (not shown), the magnetic force is turned on and off by turning a lever 19 up and down at the bottom of the length measuring unit main body.
The magnet 20 which can be made to be F is provided. Magnet 20
The size of the mounting part including the vertical, horizontal and height is about 7 each
It is about 0 × 70 × 30 mm.

Further, depending on the type of the large-sized ink jet printer, it may not be possible to mount it on the magnetic metal part. Therefore, a suction cup capable of turning on and off the suction force may be attached instead of the magnet 20. In this case, loosen the attachment screw 22 and replace it.

A wheel support 15 is rotatably mounted on the length measuring section main body 13.
Are supported, and the wheel 18 is provided so as to protrude from the wheel support 15.

An encoder 16 for detecting the amount of rotation of the wheel 18 is provided at the base of the shaft of the wheel 18.

The wheel 18 is pressed by a torsion coil spring 14 provided at a fulcrum of a wheel support 15 near a side edge of a sheet passing over a table inside the large-sized ink jet printer, and the sheet is held between the surface of the table and the surface of the wheel 18. The wheel 18 rotates in accordance with the movement of the sheet with the sheet 18 held therebetween. The wheel 18 may be made of a material having a high coefficient of friction, for example, a rubber such as urethane rubber or NBR, in order to ensure that the wheel 18 rotates in accordance with the movement of the sheet without slipping on the sheet.

The encoder 16 is mounted so that the axis of the wheel 18 and the axis of the encoder 16 are orthogonal to each other. A bevel gear 17 is mounted on the axis of the wheel 18, and a bevel gear 23 is also mounted on the shaft of the encoder 16. With this configuration, the encoder 16 rotates in proportion to the rotation amount of the wheel 18. In the case of the present embodiment, the outer diameter of the wheel 18 is set to 30 mm,
The number of teeth of the bevel gear 17 and the bevel gear 23 is determined such that the encoder 16 makes a half rotation when the gear 8 makes one rotation. Since the encoder 16 outputs 50 pulses per rotation, the encoder 16 generates one pulse when the paper moves about 3.8 mm.

A cable 21 is provided between the length measuring section main body 13 and the remaining amount display device main body 1 to transmit the length measurement data to the remaining amount display device main body 1.

In this manner, length measurement data (pulse) proportional to the amount of paper movement can be obtained from the amount of rotation of the wheel 18, and this data is transmitted to the remaining amount display device main unit 1 to move the paper. The distance can be calculated.

In the movement of the paper, the direction in which the paper is printed and ejected by the large-sized ink-jet printer is defined as the forward rotation length, and the opposite direction is defined as the reverse rotation length.

The encoder 1 is provided inside the length measuring section main body 13.
An amplifier circuit 16a for amplifying the output of the amplifier 6 and converting it into a digital signal may be provided as hardware. The amplifier circuit 16a connects the length measuring unit main body 13 to the remaining amount display device main body 1.
Is located in the immediate vicinity, and the measurement data is displayed
This is not always necessary when the cable 21 for transmitting the signal is short or when the encoder 16 having the built-in amplifier circuit 16a is used.

The main unit 1 of the remaining amount display device is placed near the large-sized ink jet printer at a convenient place for the operator, or is installed on the ink jet printer itself. In any case, it is sufficient to install it in a position that is easy for the operator to operate and that is easy to see.

In the upper part of the main body 1 of the remaining amount display device, a space for placing the small printer 11 for printing the remaining amount of paper and the like, and a case where the main body 1 of the remaining amount display device is hung on the wall, etc. are taken into consideration. Then, the small printer 11 is fixed with the fixture 8 so as not to fall. In addition, hanging members 9 are provided on the left and right sides of the remaining amount display device main body 1 so as to be hung on a wall surface.

Further, on the upper part of the main body 1 of the remaining amount display device,
A display unit 2 for displaying the remaining amount of paper and the product number, an operation message, and the like, and a key switch 3 for inputting the paper product number and setting the operation are provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the key switch 3 includes key switches for inputting numbers and alphabets.
There are a key switch for starting and stopping the length measurement, a key switch for printing a label, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows the display unit 2. The display unit 2 uses a liquid crystal display of 16 characters × 2 lines. Of course, it can also be realized by using a fluorescent display or an LED panel.

The “LPG105” on the left side of the first row in the upper part of FIG.
"0M" indicates the product number of the paper, and the right side thereof displays an operation message. This message informs the operator of the state of the remaining amount display device or issues a warning. The “span” displayed in FIG. 3 indicates that the remaining amount of paper is now displayed in the length measurement mode. 123.4m on the left side of the lower row of the second row indicates the current remaining amount. "01.04.26" on the right
Indicates that the operation date is April 26, 2001.

On the rear surface of the remaining amount display main unit 1, the measuring unit main unit 1 is provided.
And a connector (not shown) for supplying power to the small printer 11, a connector 6 for connecting the cable 10 for transmitting print data to the small printer 11, and the like. Have been.

FIG. 2 shows a control block. The remaining amount of paper is calculated by subtracting the movement length printed and ejected by the large-sized ink jet printer on the printed circuit board inside the remaining amount display device main body 1 and the movement length when the paper is reversed by the initial operation or the like. Send data to the printer, display unit,
There is a main operation unit that controls a key switch unit, a clock circuit, a counter circuit, a buzzer, and the like.

In the main processing section, one pulse received from the measuring section is counted as 3.8 mm, and a value less than 10 cm is rounded off and displayed. Further, when the key switch is pressed, the main processing section makes a short beep to the buzzer to inform the operator that the keying is valid, and warns the user by making a long beep when the operation is invalid.

The printing section comprises a small printer 11 for printing on label paper 12 shown in FIG. This label paper uses a label paper 12 with re-peelable glue so that it can be peeled off cleanly after pasting once. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the product number, the remaining amount of paper, and the operation date are printed.

Next, the method of use will be described in accordance with the procedure. First, a part number is input using the key switches shown in FIG. When the length measuring unit main body 13 is set in the large-sized ink jet printer, and the "number storage" key switch of the key switch 3 of the remaining amount display device main unit 1 is pressed, a part number input mode is set. Press the "letter" key switch to select the alphabet and number to enter the product number of the loaded paper, and press the "input / enter" switch to confirm. If you make a mistake in the middle of inputting, press the "Erase" switch key to delete once and input again. For example, LOT-920, L
NP-914 and LYK-1350. In the part number input mode, characters being input are blinking.

Next, paper is set in the large-sized ink jet printer, and the remaining amount of the set paper at the time of setting is input. If the paper is new, the length is determined by the product number, so enter the length. Look at and enter. Pressing and holding the "input / enter" key switch for more than 2 seconds switches to the remaining amount input mode, so input is made using the numeric key switch. In the remaining amount input mode, characters being input are blinking. When the “input / decision” key switch is pressed again, the decision is made and the blinking changes to lighting.

Next, when the "start / end of length measurement" key switch is depressed, "sucrose" is displayed on the display section and the length measurement mode is entered.

When printing by the large-sized inkjet printer is started, the direction in which the paper is printed and discharged by the large-size inkjet printer, that is, the moving length in the normal rotation direction is defined as minus, and the opposite direction is defined as plus, and the current paper remaining amount is defined as plus. Add to the amount and display. When the paper moves in the normal rotation direction, the remaining amount display decreases, and when the sheet moves in the opposite direction, the remaining amount display increases.

The above-described forward / reverse calculation is a necessary function because various types of large-sized ink jet printers move the paper in the reverse direction when performing an initial operation or the like. If there is no problem even if a length measurement error occurs due to unusual operation, or if it is used only for a large inkjet printer that does not perform such operation, the length measurement function in the reverse direction is not necessary, and the cost is reduced accordingly. Can also.

When the wheel 18 rotates in the reverse direction, the encoder 1 prevents the encoder 16 from rotating.
By providing a one-way clutch (not shown) or the like between the shaft 6 and the bevel gear 23, the length measurement function in the reverse direction can be omitted.

When the "measurement start / end" key switch is pressed to end the length measurement mode before the end of the printing on the paper winding and the paper is changed, the "character" on the display unit 2 shown in FIG. After that, until the “start / end of length measurement” key switch is pressed again, the display value of “the remaining amount of paper” does not change even if the wheel 18 rotates.

Next, when the "label print" key switch shown in FIG. 4 is depressed, a print mode is set, "indicator" is displayed on the display section, print data is sent to the small printer 11, the paper number and the remaining amount are printed on the label paper 12. And the operation date.

Thus, the operation of the apparatus ends. The paper is removed from the large-sized ink-jet printer, and the label paper 12 that has been printed is pasted at the start position of the paper for the next use so that the paper cannot be unraveled during storage.

[0043]

According to the apparatus of the present invention, the remaining amount of paper can be recognized even when printing is completed in the middle of using a large inkjet printer roll paper. Further, by attaching a label indicating the remaining amount to the paper in use, it is possible to select a paper roll according to the expected usage amount, and the use efficiency of the paper is improved. Although secondary,
The number of paper rolls in use during which the remaining amount is unknown is reduced, and the space for storing paper can be narrowed. In addition, the efficiency of work is improved.

The apparatus of the present invention can be used by detachably attaching only the length measuring section which is a part of the apparatus of the present invention to a compact and large-sized ink jet printer. It is also possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a display unit and a display example.

FIG. 4 key switch

FIG. 5 is an example of label printing

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 remaining amount display device main unit 2 display unit 3 key switch 4 power switch 5 connector 6 connector 7 cable 8 attachment 9 hanging device 10 cable 11 small printer 12 label paper 13 measuring unit main body 14 torsion coil spring 15 wheel support 16 encoder 17 Bevel gear 18 wheel 19 lever 20 magnet 21 cable 22 attachment screw 23 bevel gear

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuaki Matsui 190, Tatsuno-cho, Tatsuno-cho, Hyogo Prefecture Hikago Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor: Chun Yasu Shin 190 Hikami, Tatsuno-cho, Tatsuno-cho, Hyogo Prefecture Inside the Far East Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Okuno 6-4-1, Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka ) Inventor: Katsushige Tsukuya, 6-4-11 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan (72) Inventor Daimon Umeda Daimon 6-4-1, Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan Inside Lamy Corporation F-term (Reference) 2C056 EB13 EB29 EC26 KD06 2C061 AQ05 AS06 CQ22 CQ33 CQ39 LL04 3F105 AA02 AB04 BA16 BA22 BA33 CC01 CC02 DA23

Claims (3)

[Claims] An ink jet printer using roll-type paper has a length measuring means detachable from the printer for measuring the length of the roll paper used in the printer, and the length measuring means measures the length of the roll paper. And a display device for displaying the calculated remaining amount of roll paper using the calculated roll paper length and a display device for displaying the calculated remaining amount of roll paper. Display device. 2. The remaining amount display device according to claim 1, further comprising an input device for inputting at least the length of the roll paper, such as the length of the roll paper at the start of use and the product number of the roll paper. 3. A printing device for printing, on a removable label, at least the remaining amount of roll paper after use, the remaining amount of roll paper, the product number of roll paper, and the date of use of the apparatus. Item 2. The remaining amount display device according to Item 2.