JP2003063110A - Unit of body being printed, printer, unit for fixing body being printed, element storable of residual quantity information, and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent occurrence of trouble when a printer body reads in the residual quantity information of a body being printed. SOLUTION: The unit of a body being printed which can be set removably in a printer body comprises a body being printed by the printer body, and means storable of information concerning to the residual quantity of the body being printed. The residual quantity information is stored at the head area of a region in the storage means readable through the printer body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing medium unit, a printing apparatus, a printing medium mounting unit, an element capable of storing remaining amount information, and a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a supply form of a printing paper, a printing film, etc. to various printer main bodies such as an ink jet printer, a laser beam printer, etc., a supply form using a cut paper etc. which has been cut into a predetermined size, a core There is a supply form using a roll paper unit including a material and a roll paper around which a printing paper or the like is wound around the core material.

Here, unlike cut sheets and the like, which can be seen at first glance, the remaining amount of paper is difficult to understand in a roll paper unit in which printing paper wound around a core material is continuously supplied. If the remaining amount of paper cannot be managed accurately, a roll paper shortage may occur before the page-by-page printing process is completed, and printing may not be completed.

In order to deal with such a problem, a method of storing and managing the remaining amount of paper in the roll paper unit in the printing apparatus main body may be considered, but this is because the roll paper unit is removable from the main body of the apparatus. Such a remaining paper amount storage management method is not preferable because it may be detached from the printing apparatus main body and attached to another printing apparatus main body.

Therefore, as a technique for managing the remaining amount of paper in the roll paper unit, each roll paper unit is provided with a storage element, and the main body of the printing apparatus writes and reads the remaining paper amount information into this storage element. Is effective.

Further, it is convenient to store various information other than the remaining amount of paper such as the manufacturing date of the roll paper unit in the storage element provided in the roll paper unit.

[0007]

However, when the printer body is reading the information stored in the storage element provided in the roll paper unit, there is no possibility that a reading error will occur due to some factor. I can't say for sure.

When the above-mentioned sheet remaining amount information is erroneously read by the printing apparatus main body due to such a reading error, the actual remaining amount of printing paper and the sheet remaining amount information read by the printing apparatus main unit will be obtained. There will be situations where they will not match.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide information on the remaining amount of a printing medium provided in a printing medium unit such as a roll paper unit. It is intended to realize a printing medium unit, a printing apparatus, a printing medium mounting unit, an element capable of storing remaining amount information, and a computer system that do not cause any inconvenience during reading.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is mainly capable of storing a printing medium to be printed by a printing apparatus main body and remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of the printing medium. In the printing medium unit that is detachably attached to the printing apparatus main body, the remaining amount information is stored in the head area of the storage unit that can be read by the printing apparatus main body. It is characterized by

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS At least the following will be made clear by the description in the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A printing medium unit, which comprises a printing medium to be printed by the printing apparatus main body and storage means capable of storing remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of the printing medium, and is detachable from the printing apparatus main body, The printing medium unit, wherein the remaining amount information is stored in a leading region of the storage unit that can be read by the printing apparatus main body.

According to such a printing material unit, when the printing material unit is attached to the printing apparatus main body, the remaining amount information, which is important information, is first read by the printing apparatus main body. Even if an error occurs, it is possible to realize a printing medium unit in which the remaining amount information can be correctly read into the printing apparatus main body.

Further, the printing medium unit is characterized in that the information stored in the storage means can be serially read by the printing apparatus main body in order from the leading area.

According to such a printing medium unit, the information stored in the storage means can be serially read by the printing apparatus main body in order from the leading area, so that the printing apparatus main body is stored in the storage unit. Even if some kind of error occurs during the serial reading of information, it is possible to realize a printing medium unit in which the remaining amount information can be correctly read into the printing apparatus main body.

Further, the storage means includes a first ROM in which a leading side area of the readable area of the printing apparatus main body is formed and a first ROM in which an area following the leading side area is formed. A printing medium unit having a different second ROM.

According to such a printing medium unit, the storage means forms a first ROM in which a leading side area of the readable area of the printing apparatus main body is formed, and an area following the leading side area. Since it has a second ROM different from the above-mentioned first ROM, even if a failure occurs in the second ROM and the information stored in the area formed in this second ROM is lost, It is possible to realize a printing medium unit in which the remaining amount information stored at the head of the area formed in the 1ROM can be correctly read into the printing apparatus main body.

Furthermore, the readable area is formed in an electrically rewritable ROM, which is a unit to be printed.

According to the printing medium unit, since the readable area is formed in the electrically rewritable ROM, the printing apparatus main body is rewriting information in the readable area. Even if some error occurs, it is possible to realize a printing medium unit in which the remaining amount information can be correctly written in the leading area of the readable area.

A printing device main body, and a storage means detachably mounted on the printing device main body, and a storage medium for storing the printing medium on which printing is performed by the printing system main body and the residual amount information regarding the residual amount of the printing medium. In a printing apparatus having a printing medium unit including: a printing apparatus, the remaining amount information is stored in a leading area of an area of the storage unit that can be read by the printing apparatus main body.

According to such a printing apparatus, when the printing medium unit is attached to the printing apparatus main body, the remaining amount information, which is important information, is first read by the printing apparatus main body, so that some error occurs during the reading. Even if it occurs, it is possible to realize a printing apparatus that can correctly read the remaining amount information.

Further, the printing apparatus is characterized in that the information stored in the storage means is serially read by the printing apparatus main body in order from the leading area.

According to this printing apparatus, since the information stored in the storage means is serially read by the printing apparatus main body from the leading area in order, the printing apparatus main body serially reads the information stored in the storage unit. Even if some error occurs during reading, it is possible to realize a printing apparatus that can correctly read the remaining amount information.

Further, the storage means includes a first ROM in which a leading side area of the readable area of the printing apparatus main body is formed, and a first ROM in which an area following the leading side area is formed. A printing apparatus having a different second ROM.

According to this printing apparatus, the storage means is provided with the first ROM in which the leading side area of the readable area of the printing apparatus main body is formed and the area following the leading side area. A second ROM different from the first ROM
Since the ROM is provided, even if the information stored in the area formed in the second ROM is lost due to a failure in the second ROM, the area formed in the first ROM is at the beginning of the area. It is possible to realize a printing device that can correctly read the stored remaining amount information.

Further, in the printing apparatus, the readable area is formed in an electrically rewritable ROM.

According to such a printing apparatus, since the readable area is formed in the electrically rewritable ROM, it is possible that the printing apparatus body rewrites information in the readable area. Even if an error occurs, it is possible to realize a printing apparatus capable of correctly writing the remaining amount information in the leading area of the readable area.

Further, the printing apparatus main body is equipped with a mounting member for mounting a printing medium to be printed by the printing apparatus main body, and a storage means capable of storing remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of the printing target body. The configuration of the storage unit described above can also be realized with respect to a possible printing material mounting unit.

Further, an element capable of storing remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of the printing object, which is unitized with the printing object to be printed by the printing apparatus main body and is detachable from the printing apparatus main body. Also, the configuration of the storage means described above can be realized.

Further, there are provided a computer main body, a display device, an input device, a flexible drive device, a CD-ROM drive device, and a printer main body and a printer having a printing medium unit detachably attached to the printer main body. In the computer system, the printing medium unit includes a printing medium to be printed by the printer main body, and storage means that stores residual amount information regarding the residual amount of the printing medium, and the printing in the storage means. It is also possible to realize a computer system in which the remaining amount information is stored in the head area of the area readable by the apparatus body.

=== First Embodiment === === Schematic Configuration of Printing Apparatus === First, a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a color printer CP as an example of a printing apparatus. This color printer CP
Has a printer main body as a printing apparatus main body, and a roll paper unit 30 as a printing target unit detachably attached to the printer main body.

The color printer CP is a printer capable of outputting a color image. For example, four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K) are used as roll paper. It is an inkjet printer that forms an image by forming dots by ejecting it onto a printing medium. As color inks, in addition to the above four colors, light cyan (light cyan, LC),
Light magenta (light magenta, LM) and dark yellow (dark yellow, DY) may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer CP
Has a structure for ejecting a printing medium such as printing paper supplied from the back from the front, an operation panel 11 and a paper ejection unit 12 on the front of the printer body 10, and a paper feeding unit on the back. 13 are provided. The operation panel 11 is provided with various operation buttons 111 and a display lamp 112. The paper discharge unit 12 includes a paper discharge tray 121 that closes a paper discharge port when not in use. The paper feed unit 13 includes a paper feed holder 131 that holds cut paper (not shown), a roll paper unit holder 20 that holds the roll paper unit 30,
21 is provided.

The roll paper unit 30 includes a core material 31, a printing roll paper 32 wrapped around the outer periphery of the core material 31,
A storage element 33 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the core 31 as a storage means. The details of the storage element 33 will be described later.

The roll paper unit holders 20 and 21 are arranged so as to form a pair on both sides of the back surface of the printer body 10. One of the roll paper unit holders 20 and 21,
In the present embodiment, the roll paper unit holder 20 includes
An electrical contact 201 with the printer body 10 and a transmitting / receiving unit 202 electrically connected to the electrical contact 201 and for transmitting / receiving data to / from the storage element 33 of the roll paper unit 30 are provided. ing. Note that, in FIG. 1, the roll paper unit holders 20 and 21 are removed from the printer body 10 and the roll paper unit 30 in order to show the contact 201 and the transmission / reception unit 202 provided in the roll paper unit holder 20. Is shown.

=== Configuration of Storage Element 33 === Next, the configuration of the storage element 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the storage element 33. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data array in the memory cell 336 provided in the memory element 33.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage element 33 includes a memory cell 336 and a W / R control section 334 which controls reading and writing of data with respect to the memory cell 336.
And an address counter 332 for designating an address in the memory cell 336 based on the clock signal CLK when the W / R control unit 334 reads or writes data. The W / R control unit 33
Reading or writing of data by 4 is performed serially. Therefore, the printer body 10 serially reads the information stored in the memory cell 336.

The memory cell 336, as shown in FIG.
It has a rewritable area 338 in which data can be read and rewritten, and a non-rewritable area 339 in which data can be read and cannot be rewritten. Here, the rewritable area 338 is an EEPROM, which is a ROM in which data can be electrically erased and rewritten.
M (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only M
non-rewritable area 33
Reference numeral 9 is a one-time ROM that is a ROM that can be written only once.

Writing to the non-rewritable area 339 is performed before the roll paper unit 30 is attached to the printer body 10. For example, this is performed when the roll paper unit 30 is manufactured in a factory. Therefore, the printer body 10 can perform both reading and writing of data with respect to the data stored in the rewritable area 338, but can perform reading of data with respect to the non-rewritable area 339. However, writing data cannot be executed.

The data stored in the rewritable area 338 is 8-bit information for each address, that is, remaining paper amount information, use start information, and use end information. The remaining paper amount information is information indicating the remaining amount of the printing roll paper 32 included in the roll paper unit 30. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the address “00H” and the address “01H” are assigned to the remaining paper amount information, but the address “00H” is assigned.
The remaining paper amount information may be assigned only to “H”. The use start information is information indicating the latest date on which the printer body 10 started to use the roll paper unit 30, and the use end information is used by the printer body 10 to the roll paper unit 30. This is the information indicating the latest date when is ended. The rewritable area 338 may appropriately store information other than the remaining sheet amount information, the use start information, and the use end information described above.

Here, of the remaining paper amount information, the use start information, and the use end information described above, the remaining paper amount information is a region readable by the printer body 10, that is, a rewritable region 338 and a non-rewritable region. It is stored in the top area of the areas including the area 339. Therefore, when the printer body 10 serially reads the information stored in the memory cell 336, the remaining paper amount information is read first. Therefore, when the printer body 10 accesses the storage element 33 and reads the information stored in the memory cell 336, even if some error occurs during the reading, the remaining paper amount information stored in the memory cell 336 is displayed. It can be read correctly.

The head area in which the remaining paper amount information is stored is an 8-bit area indicated by the start address "00H" when the entire remaining paper amount information is 8-bit information. If the entire information is 16 bits or more, the start address "00H" and 1 following this address
It is an area indicated by the above addresses (area having a total of 16 bits or more).

The data stored in the non-rewritable area 339 is 8-bit information for each address, and includes paper type information, paper thickness information, paper color information, paper width information, paper surface quality information, and manufacturing information. This is date information. Paper type information is information about the type of paper (plain paper, photo paper, etc.), paper thickness information is information about the thickness of paper, and paper color information is information about the color of the printing surface of the paper. Yes, the paper width information is information about the width of the paper, the paper surface quality information is information about the surface quality of the printing surface of the paper,
The manufacturing date information is information on the manufacturing date of the printing roll. In the rewritable area 339, information other than the above-mentioned paper type information, paper thickness information, etc. may be stored as appropriate.

In the above description, the memory cell 336 is used.
Has a rewritable area 338 in which data can be read and rewritten, and a non-rewritable area 339 in which data can be read and cannot be rewritten. May be an area in which the In this case,
The entire memory cell 336 may be constituted by an EEPROM, which is a ROM capable of electrically erasing and rewriting data.

=== Position Relationship between Storage Element 33 and Transmitting / Receiving Unit 202 === Next, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the roll paper unit 30 will be described.
The positional relationship between the storage element 33 and the transmission / reception unit 202 of the roll paper unit holder 20 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the storage element 33 and the transmission / reception unit 202 when the roll paper unit 30 is held by the roll paper unit holders 20 and 21. FIG. 5 is FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the sheet viewed from the roll paper unit holder 20 side.

In this embodiment, a non-contact type storage element is used as the storage element 33, and it is not necessary for the storage element 33 and the transmission / reception section 202 to contact each other when transmitting / receiving data. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there is a gap between the transmitting / receiving unit 202 and the storage element 33. Further, in the non-contact type storage element, a carrier wave transmitted from an external transmission / reception circuit is rectified to generate necessary power.

The storage element 33 of the roll paper unit 30 comes closest to the transmitting / receiving section 202 of the roll paper unit holder 20 every time the roll paper unit 30 makes one revolution. When a close contact type storage element having a receivable distance of about 2 mm is used as the storage element 33, data transmission / reception is executed at the timing when the storage element 32 and the transmission / reception unit 202 are closest to each other. When a proximity type storage element having a transmission / reception distance of about 20 cm is used, data transmission / reception is performed regardless of the relative position between the storage element 32 and the transmission / reception unit 202. Needless to say, a contact type storage element can be used as the storage element 33. In such a case, the roll paper unit holder 20 includes the transmitting / receiving unit 2
A contact is provided in place of 02, and when the roll paper unit 30 rotates and the contact on the roll paper unit holder 20 side comes into contact with the contact of the storage element, data transmission / reception is executed.

=== Internal Structure of Color Printer CP ==
= Next, the internal configuration of the color printer CP will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the color printer CP according to this embodiment.

The color printer CP, as shown,
Print heads IH1 to IH4 mounted on the carriage 40
And a mechanism for driving ink to eject ink and form dots,
The carriage 40 includes a mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 40 in the axial direction of the platen 42, a mechanism for conveying the printing roll paper 32 supplied from the roll paper unit 30 by the paper feed motor 43, and a control circuit 50. is doing.

A mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 40 in the axial direction of the platen 42 is installed in parallel with the shaft of the platen 42, and a sliding shaft 44 for slidably holding the carriage 40.
And the endless drive belt 4 between the carriage motor 41 and
It is composed of a pulley 46 and the like on which 5 is stretched.

The mechanism for conveying the printing roll paper 32 supplied from the roll paper unit 30 includes a platen 42, a paper feed motor 43 for rotating the platen 42, a paper feed auxiliary roller (not shown), and a paper feed motor 43. It has a gear mechanism 48 that transmits the rotation to the platen 42 and the paper feed auxiliary roller, and an encoder 47 that detects the rotation angle of the platen 42. In addition, the contact 1 is provided on the printer body 10 so as to face the contact 201 provided on the roll paper unit holder 20.
01 is provided.

The control circuit 50 is the operation panel 1 of the printer.
While exchanging signals with 1, the movements of the paper feed motor 43, the carriage motor 41, and the print heads IH1 to IH4 are appropriately controlled. The printing roll paper 32 of the roll paper unit 30 held by the roll paper unit holders 20 and 21 of the color printer CP is set so as to be sandwiched between the platen 42 and the paper feed auxiliary roller, and is set to the rotation angle of the platen 42. A predetermined amount is sent accordingly.

The carriage 40 has an ink cartridge I.
The NC 1 and the ink cartridge INC2 are mounted.
Each of the ink cartridges INC1 and INC2 is provided with a storage element ME that stores the ink remaining amount and the like. The ink cartridge INC1 contains black (K) ink, and the ink cartridge INC2 contains other inks, that is, three color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Light cyan (LC),
As described above, light magenta (LM) and dark yellow (DY) inks can also be stored.

=== Internal Structure of Control Circuit === Next, referring to FIG. 7, the control circuit 50 of the color printer CP is shown.
The internal configuration of will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the control circuit 50 of the color printer CP according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, inside the control circuit 50, a CPU 51, a PROM 52, a RAM 53, a peripheral device input / output unit (PIO) 54, a timer 55, and a drive buffer 5 are provided.
6 and the like are provided.

The PIO 54 has a contact ME with a personal computer PC and a storage element ME of the ink cartridge.
The transmission / reception unit 2 via C, the carriage motor 41, the paper feed motor 43, the encoder 47, and the contacts 101 and 201.
02 is connected. The drive buffer 56 is used as a buffer that supplies ON / OFF signals for dot formation to the print heads IH1 to IH4. These are connected to each other by a bus 57, and data can be exchanged with each other. The control circuit 50 is also provided with an oscillator 58 that outputs a drive waveform at a predetermined frequency, and a distribution output device 59 that distributes the output from the oscillator 58 to the print heads IH1 to IH4 at a predetermined timing.

The control circuit 50 is provided in the core material 31 of the roll paper unit 30 via the transmission / reception section 202 at the timing of power-on, replacement of the roll paper unit 30, and power-off, for example. Access the element 33. The control circuit 50 reflects the information acquired from the storage element 33 and controls the printing process. The control circuit 50 is
The dot data is output to the drive buffer 56 at a predetermined timing while synchronizing with the movements of the paper feed motor 43 and the carriage motor 42. Details of the access processing to the storage element 33 and the print processing using the information acquired from the storage element 33 will be described later.

=== Operation of Color Printer CP === Next, the operation of the color printer CP according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a printing process including data transmission / reception executed between the control circuit 50 and the storage element 33, which is executed in the color printer CP during printing. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the rewriting process of the RAM 53.

The control circuit 50 determines whether or not a power-on request has been issued (step S100). That is, it is determined whether or not the operation of the color printer CP is started.

When the control circuit 50 determines that the power-on request has not been issued, the control circuit 50 determines that the color printer CP is in operation, and determines whether the roll paper unit 30 replacement request has been issued. (Step S110). A request to replace the roll paper unit 30 is issued, for example, on the operation panel 1
This occurs when the roll paper exchange button 111 on the upper side 1 is pushed down.

When the control circuit 50 determines that the roll paper unit 30 replacement request has been issued (step S1).
10: Yes), the roll paper unit 30 by the user
After the sheet is exchanged, the storage element 33 provided in the core material 31 of the roll sheet unit 30 is accessed via the transmission / reception section 202 to read the sheet-related information (step S120).

When the control circuit 50 determines in step S100 that the power-on request has been generated (step S100: Yes), it also reads the paper-related information from the storage element 33.

When the control circuit 50 determines that the reading of the paper-related information from the storage element 33 is completed (step S130: Yes), the read paper-related information is read.
It is temporarily stored in the AM 53 (step S140).

Even when the control circuit 50 determines that the reading of the sheet-related information from the storage element 33 is completed, some trouble such as garbled data may occur during the reading of the sheet-related information by the printer body 10. In some cases, the information stored in the storage element 33 may not be correctly read in the middle.

However, as described above, the remaining paper amount information indicates the area that the printer body 10 can read, that is, the rewritable area 338 and the non-rewritable area 3.
Since the data is stored in the leading area of the combined area of 39, the remaining paper amount information is first read when the printer body 10 serially reads the paper related information.

Therefore, even if some trouble occurs during the reading of the paper-related information by the printer body 10 and the information stored in the storage element 33 is not read correctly from the middle, the printer body 10 is still ,
At least, it is possible to read correct information regarding the remaining sheet amount information stored in the memory cell 336.

Further, as described above, the memory cell 33
Numeral 6 is an EEPR as a first ROM in which a front side area of the area readable by the printer body 10 is formed.
Since it has the OM and the one-time ROM in which the area following the leading side area is formed, the one-time ROM
Even if a failure occurs in the one-time ROM and the information stored in the area formed in the one-time ROM disappears, the printer main body 10 can determine the remaining amount of paper stored in the head of the area formed in the EEPROM. The information can be read correctly.

Returning to the explanation of the flow chart shown in FIG. The control circuit 50 acquires the remaining paper amount information from the paper-related information stored in the RAM 53 and determines whether the print data amount is larger than the remaining paper amount (step S15).
0). That is, the amount of paper required for printing the requested amount of print data is compared with the remaining amount of paper.

When the control circuit 50 determines that the remaining amount of paper is equal to or larger than the print data amount (step S150: N
o), print processing is executed (step S160). The printing process is executed by the above-described or known process.
Here, the rewriting operation of the RAM 53 executed in the printing process will be described with reference to FIG.

During the printing process, the control circuit 50 sends a drive current to the paper feed motor 43 to rotate the paper feed motor 43 (step S220). As a result, the platen 42 also rotates.

The control circuit 50 detects the actual rotation angle of the platen 42 by the encoder 47,
The actual paper feed amount is acquired (step S230). Further, the remaining paper amount information after the print processing is generated based on the acquired paper feed amount (step S240), and the generated remaining paper amount after the print processing is stored in the RAM 53 (step S250). Return to the flowchart of.

Returning to FIG. 8, the description will be continued. Control circuit 50
Waits for the end of printing (step S170: No),
When it is determined that the printing is completed (step S170: Yes
s), the remaining paper amount information is acquired from the RAM 53 (step S180).

The control circuit 50 accesses the storage element 33 of the roll paper unit 30 via the transmission / reception section 202,
The remaining sheet amount information is written in the storage element 33 (step S1
90) and terminates this processing routine.

Here, since the remaining paper amount information is the information stored in the leading area of the rewritable area 338, the control circuit 50 stores various information including the remaining paper amount information in the storage element 33.
In the case of serially writing in, even if an error occurs during writing, the remaining amount information of the sheet is correctly written.

As described above, the memory cell 336 provided in the memory element 33 has the rewritable area 3 in which data can be read and rewritten as shown in FIG.
38 and a non-rewritable area 339 in which data can be read and cannot be rewritten. The printer body 10 reads data from the data stored in the rewritable area 338. Both writing and writing can be performed, but reading of data can be performed on the non-rewritable area 339, but writing of data cannot be performed. Therefore, when the printer body 10 performs the rewriting operation on the rewritable area 338 of the storage element 33, it is effectively prevented that the information stored in the non-rewritable area 338 that should not be rewritten is accidentally rewritten. It

The control circuit 50 causes the step S110.
If it is determined that the replacement request for the roll paper unit 30 has not been issued (step S110: No), the updated remaining paper amount information is read from the storage element 33 (step S192), and the process of step S150 is performed. To execute. When the control circuit 50 determines in step S130 that the paper-related information cannot be read from the storage element 33 at all (step S130: No),
The occurrence of a read error is notified via a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the display display of the computer PC, or the display lamp 112 on the operation panel 11 (step S194),
This processing routine ends.

Further, the control circuit 50 causes the step S15.
If the requested print data amount is larger than the remaining amount of paper in step 0 (step S150: Yes), a message indicating that printing cannot be completed correctly is displayed on the GUI or the operation panel 1
1 through the display lamp 112 or the like (step S
196), and this processing routine ends.

=== Second Embodiment === Another example of the configuration of the printing apparatus (second embodiment) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the external configuration of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. In addition,
Of the components of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the first
The same components as those of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the color printer CP2 is used as the printing apparatus. In the color printer CP2, the roll paper unit 30 is held with respect to the printer body 10 by the roll paper support shaft 23 and the roll paper unit holder 24 that rotatably holds the roll paper support shaft 23.

The core material 31 of the roll paper unit 30 is provided with a contact type storage element 35, and the roll paper support shaft 23 is also provided with a contact 205 for the storage element 35. A transmission / reception circuit 210 and a power source (not shown) are further included in the shaft of the roll paper support shaft 23. The transmission / reception circuit 210 executes reading / writing of the paper-related information to / from the storage element 35, and also reads it. The sheet-related information that has been sent to the printer main body 10, and the printer main body 1
Receive write information from 0. The printer body 10 is provided with a transmission / reception circuit 120 for transmitting / receiving radio signals to / from the transmission / reception circuit 210 in the roll paper support shaft 23.

In the second embodiment, the transmitting / receiving circuit 21
When the roll paper unit 30 rotates, the contact point 0 between the memory element 35 of the roll paper unit 30 and the roll paper support shaft 23 is 0.
Each time the contact with 05 occurs, reading and writing to the storage element 35 are executed. The transmission / reception circuit 210 should transmit the paper-related information including the remaining paper amount information read from the storage element 35 to the printer body 10 or write it from the printer body 10 in response to a request from the transmission / reception circuit 120 of the printer body 10. The paper related information including the remaining paper amount information is received.

According to the printing apparatus of the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the printing apparatus of the first embodiment can be obtained.

=== Third Embodiment === An example of the configuration of a printing apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a side view of a roll paper unit used in the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment. Among the components of the printing apparatus according to the third aspect, the same components as those of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. .

In the first and second embodiments, the roll paper unit 30 in which the printing roll paper 32 is wound around the core material 31 is used, and the core material 31 attaches the printing roll paper. The mounting member was constructed.

In the third embodiment, FIGS. 11 and 12 are used.
As shown in, the printing roll paper 32 without the core material 31
Roll paper unit 30 that accommodates 1 inside the case 36
0 is used. The printing roll paper 321 is supported by the inner wall of the case 36, and storage means such as the storage element 33 and the storage element 35 is provided in the case 36. In the third embodiment, the case 36 constitutes a mounting member for mounting the printing roll paper.

Since the printing roll paper 321 is supported by the inner wall of the case 36, the printing roll paper 321
When the paper is fed, the printing roll paper 321 obliquely crosses the platen 42, which makes it difficult to feed the paper.
When the printing roll paper 321 is used up, the case 36 is replaced.

According to the printing apparatus of the third embodiment, in addition to the above advantages, the same effects as those of the printing apparatus of the first embodiment can be obtained.

=== Other Embodiments === The printing apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on some embodiments. However, the above-described embodiments of the present invention are understood by the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the remaining amount of paper is stored in the storage element, but the used amount of paper (for example, how many mm is used, what percentage is used, etc.) is stored. It may be configured. Since the remaining amount of the paper can be known if the used amount of the paper is known, the remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of the printing material such as the paper is a concept including not only the remaining amount of the paper and the used amount of the paper. .

The storage element may be an element capable of storing the remaining amount information of the printing medium, and may be an element having various processing units, calculation units and the like in addition to the memory cell.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the printing paper has been described as an example of the printing object, but a film, a cloth, a metal thin plate or the like may be used as the printing object.

As described above, the printing material unit is provided with the printing material to be printed by the printing apparatus main body and the storage means capable of storing various information, and is detachable from the printing apparatus main body. However, this printing material unit is composed of a printing material and a printing material mounting unit.
Here, the printing medium mounting unit includes a mounting member for mounting the printing medium to be printed by the unit printing apparatus main body, and a storage unit capable of storing various information, and is detachable from the printing apparatus main body. It is a thing.

A printer having a printer body according to the above-described embodiment and a printing medium unit detachably mounted on the printer body, a computer body, a display device such as a CRT, an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard, and a flexible drive device. , And a computer system equipped with a CD-ROM drive device can also be realized, and the computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

In the printer having the printer body according to the above-described embodiment and the printing medium unit detachably attached to the printer body, the computer body, the display device,
Input device, flexible disk drive device, and
The CD-ROM drive device may have a part of the function or mechanism of each. For example, as a configuration in which the printer has an image processing unit for performing image processing, a display unit for performing various displays, and a recording medium attaching / detaching unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium recording image data captured by a digital camera or the like, Good.

In the above-described embodiment, the color printers CP and CP2 which can use both the cut paper and the roll paper unit 30 have been described as an example. However, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printer dedicated to roll paper. It goes without saying that it can be applied to.

In the second embodiment, the roll paper support shaft 2
3, the transmission / reception circuit 210 is provided in the printer 3 to transmit / receive the paper-related information to / from the printer body 10. Prepared, printer body 1
The storage element 33 may be directly accessed from 0. In such a case, the additional configuration required for reading and writing the paper-related information with respect to the storage element provided in the roll paper unit 30 can be suppressed to the minimum additional configuration, and the cost can be reduced.

In each of the above embodiments, the color printers CP and CP2 are used as the printing devices. However, the printing device is not limited to this as long as it is a printing device capable of performing print processing on roll paper, and for example, a monochrome printer, a laser printer. Printer,
It may be applied to a facsimile or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the paper feed amount is obtained based on the rotation angle of the paper feed motor 43 (platen 42) detected by the encoder 47. However, the roll paper 32 for printing of the roll paper unit 30 is used. A detection line is printed on the green part of the back side of the unit for each unit length (for example, 1 mm), the number of detection lines passing through is detected by an optical reading sensor, and the paper feed amount is calculated based on the detected number of passing lines. It may be done.

In the above embodiment, the paper feed amount is obtained based on the rotation angle of the paper feed motor 43 (platen 42) detected by the encoder 47. However, the color printers CP, CP from the personal computer PC side.
The paper feed amount may be calculated on the basis of the paper feed amount signal sent to No. 2.

In the above embodiment, the paper feed amount is obtained based on the rotation angle of the paper feed motor 43 (platen 42) detected by the encoder 47, and the remaining amount of paper is calculated from the obtained paper feed amount. For example, the case 36 may be provided with a weight sensor WS, and the remaining amount (usage amount) of the printing roll paper 321 may be detected based on the weight detected by the weight sensor WS. Alternatively, a position sensor PS that linearly detects the height (thickness) of the printing roll paper 321 is provided on the side wall of the case 36, and the position sensor P is provided.
The remaining amount (usage amount) of the printing roll paper 321 may be detected based on the height of the printing roll paper 321 detected by S. The weight sensor and the position sensor are realized by using known sensors.

[0103]

According to the present invention, a printing medium unit that does not cause any inconvenience when the printing apparatus main body reads the remaining amount information of the printing medium provided in the printing medium unit such as a roll paper unit, It is possible to realize the printing apparatus, the printing medium attachment unit, the element capable of storing the remaining amount information, and the computer system.

[0104]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a storage element 33.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data array in a memory cell 336 provided in a storage element 33.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a storage element 33 and a transmission / reception unit 202 when the roll paper unit 30 is held by roll paper unit holders 20 and 21.

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4 viewed from the roll paper unit holder 20 side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a color printer CP according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control circuit of the color printer CP according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a printing process including data transmission / reception executed between the control circuit 50 and the storage element 33, which is executed in the color printer CP during printing.

9 is a flowchart showing a rewriting process of RAM 53. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an external configuration of a printing apparatus according to a second aspect.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a roll paper unit used in the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Printer body 11 ... Operation panel 12 ... Paper output section 13 ... Paper feed unit 20, 21 ... Roll paper unit holder 24: Roll paper unit holder 30 ... roll paper 31 ... Core material 32 ... Roll paper for printing 33 ... Storage element 40 ... Carriage 42 ... Platen 43 ... Paper feed motor 44 ... Sliding shaft 45 ... Drive belt 46 ... Pulley 47 ... Encoder 48 ... Gear mechanism 50 ... Control circuit 51 ... CPU 52 ... PROM 53 ... RAM 54 Peripheral device input / output unit (PIO) 55 ・ ・ ・ Timer 56 ... Drive buffer 57 ... bus 58 ... Oscillator 59: Distribution output device 23 ... Roll paper support shaft 111 ... Operation button 112 ... Indicator lamp 121 ... Paper ejection tray 131: Paper feed holder 201 ... Contact 202 ... Transceiver 205 ... Contact 210 ... Transmit / receive circuit PC: Personal computer INC1, INC2 ... Ink cartridge ME: Memory element MEC ... contact IH1, IH2, IH3, IH4 ... Print head

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C060 BA02 BA05 BA10 BC02 BC12                       BC99                 2C061 AQ05 AQ06 AS06 HH03 HJ10                       HK23 HN02 HN15                 2C087 AC07 AC08 BB16 BC07 BD53                       DA16                 3F052 AA01 AB05 AB08 BA02 BA07                       CA02                 3F105 AA02 AB03 AB04 BA22 DA45                       DB11 DB19 DC10

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A printing body unit, which comprises a printing medium to be printed by the printing apparatus main body and storage means capable of storing remaining amount information relating to the remaining amount of the printing medium, and is detachable from the printing apparatus main body. 2. The printing medium unit according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount information is stored in a leading region of the storage unit that can be read by the printing apparatus main body. 2. The printed material unit according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in the storage unit can be serially read by the printing apparatus main body in order from the leading area. Print unit. 3. The printing medium unit according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a first ROM in which a leading side area of the readable area of the printing apparatus main body is formed. A printing medium unit having a second ROM different from the first ROM in which a region following the leading region is formed. 4. The printing medium unit according to claim 1, wherein the readable region is an electrically rewritable R.
A printed material unit formed on the OM. 5. A printing device main body, and a storage device that is detachably attached to the printing device main body and stores a printing target on which printing is performed by the printing device main body and remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of the printing target member. A unit to be printed having a means,
In the printing apparatus having the above-mentioned item, the remaining amount information is stored in a leading area of the area readable by the printing apparatus main body in the storage unit. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information stored in the storage unit is serially read by the printing apparatus main body in order from the head area. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the storage unit includes a first ROM in which a leading side area of the readable area of the printing apparatus body is formed, and the leading end. A printing apparatus having a second ROM different from the first ROM in which a region following the side region is formed. 8. The printing device according to claim 5, wherein the readable area is an electrically rewritable R.
A printing device formed on an OM. 9. An attachment / detachment member for attaching an object to be printed on which printing is performed by the printing apparatus main body, and a storage unit capable of storing remaining amount information regarding the remaining amount of the printing target body, and being attached to or detached from the printing apparatus main body. A possible printing medium mounting unit, wherein the remaining amount information is stored in a leading region of a region in the storage unit that can be read by the printing apparatus main body. 10. The printing medium attachment unit according to claim 9, wherein the information stored in the storage unit can be serially read by the printing apparatus main body in order from the leading area. Printed material mounting unit. 11. The printing medium attachment unit according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the storage unit includes a first ROM in which a leading side area of the readable area of the printing apparatus main body is formed. A printing medium mounting unit comprising a second ROM different from the first ROM in which a region following the leading region is formed. 12. The printing medium attachment unit according to claim 9, wherein the readable region is an electrically rewritable R.
A printing medium attachment unit, which is formed on an OM. 13. An element capable of storing remaining amount information regarding a remaining amount of the printing object, which is unitized with the printing object to be printed by the printing apparatus main body and is detachable from the printing apparatus main body. , In the top area of the area readable by the printing apparatus main body,
An element characterized in that the remaining amount information is stored. 14. The element according to claim 13, wherein the information stored in the element can be serially read by the printing apparatus main body in order from the leading area. 15. The element according to claim 13 or 14, wherein a first ROM in which an area on the head side of the area readable by the printing apparatus main body is formed, and an area following the area on the head side. A second R different from the first ROM in which
A device having an OM. 16. The element according to claim 13, wherein the readable region is an electrically rewritable R.
An element formed on the OM. 17. A printer having a computer main body, a display device, an input device, a flexible drive device, a CD-ROM drive device, and a printer main body and a printing medium unit detachably attached to the printer main body.
In the computer system, the printing medium unit includes a printing medium on which printing is performed by the printer main body, and a storage unit that stores residual amount information regarding a residual amount of the printing medium. ,
In the top area of the area that can be read by the printer body,
A computer system in which the remaining amount information is stored.