JP2003072964A - Method and device for discharging and feeding paper in recording device, and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for discharging and feeding paper in a recording device, and the recoding device capable of shortening a paper interval between a precedent paper to be discharged and a succeeding paper to be fed, and facilitating improvement of throughput of the recording device. SOLUTION: An ASIC of a printer starts a counting process of a counter (S120), and conducts an initial setting process (S130) when a tip end of the paper is detected by a paper detecting sensor 16 (S110). The counter is reset once in an initial setting position. A paper feed amount when the paper is fed or is discharged, is counted by the counter, and a counting value equivalent to the position from the tip end of the paper is counted by the counter (S140, S150). A paper residual length (a residua length of the paper on a back side) A is calculated from the counting value and paper length data L, and when the paper residual length A is less than a set value A1, an LD roller set operation is conducted (S160, S170). The set value A1 is set to be a value for securing an interval between the precedent paper and the succeeding paper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet discharging method and a sheet discharging apparatus in a recording apparatus for automatically feeding a plurality of sheets set in a recording apparatus one by one.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some printers have an automatic paper feeder (hereinafter referred to as ASF (Auto Sheet Feeder)). The sheet set in the ASF is automatically fed by driving the ASF when the preceding sheet is printed and discharged. Ejecting the paper before printing is completed.The paper ejection process is interrupted midway, and the paper feeding process for the next paper is performed. The paper method was known.

FIG. 11 shows a conventional recording apparatus (printer) equipped with this type of sheet discharging apparatus. The recording apparatus is provided with an automatic sheet feeder (ASF) 81 that stocks a plurality of sheets and automatically feeds the sheets so that the sheets can be continuously printed. The ASF 81 includes a placing plate 82 on which a plurality of sheets are placed, and an LD roller 83 that is arranged to face the leading end (lower end) of the placing plate 82 so as to face each other. A lever-type paper detection sensor (hereinafter, simply referred to as a paper detection sensor) 86 that detects the paper P is provided between the recording head 85 provided at the lower end of the carriage 84 and the LD roller 83.

The LD roller 83 uses a paper feed motor 89 that drives a paper feed roller 87 and a paper discharge roller 88 as a power source. A clutch (not shown) for switching power transmission is interposed between the LD roller 83 and the paper feed motor 89, and at the time of paper feeding, the LD roller setting operation is performed by switching the clutch to the connected state. By driving the paper feed motor 89, the LD roller 83 makes one rotation while contacting the uppermost sheet placed on the placing plate 82 with its arc surface,
The sheet is sent to the sheet feed roller 87. Then, the paper P is indexed by continuously feeding the paper P by a predetermined amount by rotation of the paper feed roller 87. The cue position is
This is the position where the leading edge of the paper coincides with the reference position at the most downstream end of the recording head 85 (the position indicated by ▲ in FIG. 7C).

By the way, if the paper feed of the next paper P2 is started after the paper discharge of the previous paper P1 is completed, the interval (gap) between the paper discharge and the paper feed becomes wide, and the printing throughput is increased. Is reduced. Therefore, conventionally, a discharge / feed processing method has been adopted in which discharge and feed are simultaneously performed to shorten the sheet interval as much as possible to improve throughput.

According to this conventional discharge / feed processing method, the paper feed timing is determined based on the time when the paper inspection sensor 86 detects the trailing edge of the previous paper P. The paper inspection sensor 86 is
When the preceding paper P is fed to the final printing line (final printable path), the trailing edge of the paper P is detected. After the trailing edge of the sheet P is detected, the next sheet P is started to be fed at the timing when the sheet is further ejected by the predetermined amount L1. This paper feed start timing is set so that the previous paper P falls from the paper ejection roller 88 when the previous paper is in the middle of paper ejection and the subsequent paper is fed to the indexing position. It was

[0007]

However, since the paper feed is not started until a predetermined amount of paper is discharged after the trailing edge of the paper is detected, as shown in FIG. The gap G that can be formed becomes relatively wide, and the improvement in throughput was not sufficient. That is, as shown in FIG.
The paper feed trigger (▼ position) where the roller setting operation is performed is
Since the trailing edge of the sheet P1 enters after passing the reference position, the start of sheet feeding is delayed and the sheet interval G is relatively wide. Of course, if it is not necessary for the previous paper to be ejected when the next paper is cueed, it is possible to shift to paper feeding immediately after detecting the trailing edge of the previous paper, but still As described above, the sheet interval cannot be shortened. That is, in the conventional discharge / feed method, there is a limit in shortening the sheet interval, and there is a limit in improving the throughput.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to shorten a sheet interval between a sheet before being ejected and a next sheet to be fed in a recording apparatus. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet discharging method, a sheet discharging apparatus, and a recording apparatus in a recording apparatus, which can easily improve the throughput of the recording apparatus.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a recording position where recording is performed by the recording means, one by one, the sheets set in the automatic paper feeding means. In the paper ejection method in the recording device that feeds paper,
A procedure for detecting the leading edge of a sheet fed from the automatic sheet feeding section by a sheet detection section provided between the automatic sheet feeding section and the recording section, and a procedure for detecting the leading edge of the sheet after the sheet is detected. Based on the procedure for measuring the paper feed amount to be fed, and the previously obtained paper length data and the measured value of the paper feed amount, from the leading end of the succeeding paper set in the automatic paper feeding means to the rear of the paper. A step of determining that the paper has been fed to a setting position set so that the edges are at least separated from each other;
When it is determined that the paper has been fed to the set position, the automatic paper feeding means issues a paper feed command to feed the subsequent paper.

According to the present invention, the leading edge of the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means is detected by the paper detecting means. The paper feed amount at which the paper is fed after the leading edge of the paper is detected is measured. A setting position set so that at least the trailing edge of the preceding sheet is separated from the leading edge of the succeeding sheet set in the automatic sheet feeder based on the sheet length data and the measured value of the sheet feed amount acquired in advance. First, it is determined that the previous sheet has been fed. When it is determined that the previous sheet has been fed to the set position, the automatic sheet feeding unit issues a sheet feeding instruction to feed the subsequent sheet. Therefore, even when the trailing edge of the previous sheet is located upstream of the detection position of the sheet detection unit, it is possible to start feeding the next sheet with the sheet interval secured. Therefore, it is possible to effectively shorten the paper interval between the next paper and the throughput of the recording apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method of discharging paper in the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the trailing edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the succeeding sheet before the sheet reaches the set position. A procedure for determining that the second set position to be separated is reached, a procedure for determining whether or not a paper discharge command is already received, and a procedure for discharging the paper when the paper reaches the second set position. If it is determined that the command has already been received, the procedure for instructing the paper feeding from the automatic paper feeding means and that the paper discharge command has not been received yet when the paper reaches the second set position If the determination is made, the procedure is to wait for reception of a paper discharge command, and to execute a paper feed command for feeding paper from the automatic paper feed means.

According to the present invention, in addition to the function of the invention described in claim 1, the sheet is moved to the second setting position where the trailing edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the succeeding sheet are separated before the sheet reaches the setting position. When it is determined that the number has reached, it is determined whether the paper discharge command has already been accepted. When it is determined that the paper discharge command has already been received when the paper reaches the second set position, the paper feed from the automatic paper feed means is instructed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the paper discharge command has not been received when the paper reaches the second setting position, the paper is fed from the automatic paper feeding means after waiting for the paper discharge command to be received. A paper feed command is issued. Therefore, the paper interval can be made variable according to the discharge command receiving position (time), and the paper interval can be shortened more effectively.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic paper feeding method in a printing apparatus for feeding paper sheets set in the automatic paper feeding means one by one to a recording position where recording is performed by the recording means. A procedure for detecting the trailing edge of the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means by the paper detection means provided between the automatic paper feeding means and the recording means, and a paper ejection command at the time of detecting the trailing edge of the paper. A procedure for determining whether or not it has already been acquired, and a procedure for instructing paper feeding from the automatic paper feeding means if a paper discharge command has already been acquired at the time of detecting the trailing edge,
The gist of the present invention is to provide a procedure for waiting the acquisition of the paper discharge command and instructing the paper feeding if the paper discharge command is not yet acquired at the time of detecting the trailing edge.

According to the present invention, the trailing edge of the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means is detected by the paper detection means. At the time of detecting the trailing edge of the sheet, it is determined whether the sheet discharge command has already been acquired. If the paper discharge command has already been acquired at the time of detecting the trailing edge, the paper feeding from the automatic paper feeding means is instructed. If the paper discharge command has not been acquired at the time of detecting the trailing edge, the paper feed is commanded after waiting for the acquisition of the paper discharge command. For this reason,
The paper interval can be made variable according to the paper ejection command reception position (time), and the paper interval can be shortened more effectively. Further, even if a wrong size of paper is set in the automatic paper feeding means, the trailing edge of the paper is detected, so that the paper interval can be secured almost certainly. By ensuring the sheet interval, it is possible to perform the cueing process for the subsequent sheet, for example.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet placing section capable of setting a plurality of sheets, and an automatic sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets set in the sheet placing section one by one, Recording means for recording on the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means, paper feeding means for feeding the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means according to the progress of recording, and the automatic paper feeding means A sheet detecting unit that detects the leading edge of the sheet fed from the automatic sheet feeding unit between the recording unit and the recording unit; and a measuring unit that measures the sheet feeding amount of the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit, Based on the leading edge position of the paper detected by the paper detecting means, the measured value of the paper feed amount measured by the measuring means, and the paper length data of the paper, a judgment value for judging the trailing edge position of the paper is set. From the judgment value acquisition means to acquire and the leading edge of the succeeding paper set on the paper stacking unit A determination means for determining whether or not the sheet has been fed to a set position set at a position where at least the trailing edge of the sheet being fed is separated and the sheet is set to the set position. When it is determined that it has reached
The gist of the present invention is to include a control unit for instructing the sheet feeding from the automatic sheet feeding unit.

According to the present invention, the trailing edge position of the sheet is based on the leading edge position of the sheet detected by the sheet detecting section, the measured value of the sheet feed amount measured by the measuring section, and the sheet length data of the sheet. The determination value for determining is acquired by the determination value acquisition means. The judgment value is used to determine whether the previous sheet has been fed to the set position where the trailing edge of the sheet being fed is set to be at least a position away from the leading edge of the following sheet set on the sheet stacker. It is judged by the judging means based on the above. When it is determined that the paper has reached the set position, the control means commands the paper feeding from the automatic paper feeding means. Therefore, even when the trailing edge of the previous sheet is located upstream of the detection position of the sheet detection unit, it is possible to start feeding the next sheet with the sheet interval secured. Therefore, it is possible to effectively shorten the paper interval between the next paper and the throughput of the recording apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet discharging device of the recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when the sheet is fed to a final recording line which is a recording limit in the sheet feeding direction, The gist is that the set position is set so that the sheet reaches the set position.

According to this invention, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, the sheet reaches the set position when the sheet is fed to the final recording line which is the recording limit in the sheet feeding direction. Since the set position is set as described above, the feeding of the next sheet is not started before the discharge of the previous sheet is started. For example, it is possible to avoid the need to simultaneously perform the sheet position measurement processing for feeding the previous sheet and the sheet position measurement processing for the next sheet cueing, etc., and reduce the processing load of the sheet position measurement processing. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet discharging device in the recording apparatus according to the fourth or fifth aspect,
Command interpreting means for interpreting a paper discharge command, and determining that the judgment value is reached when the sheet reaches a second setting position where the trailing edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the following sheet are separated before reaching the setting position. A second determination means for determining based on the second
And a discharge command determination unit that determines whether or not a discharge command has already been received, and the control unit determines that the paper has reached the second set position. At this time, if it is determined that the paper discharge command has already been received, the paper feed from the automatic paper feeding means is instructed, and if it is determined that the paper discharge command has not been received yet, the reception of the paper discharge command is waited for. It is the gist to instruct the paper feeding from the automatic paper feeding means.

According to the present invention, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4 or 5, the second end in which the trailing edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the succeeding sheet are separated before the sheet reaches the set position. The second determination means determines that the set position has been reached based on the determination value. When it is determined that the previous sheet has reached the second set position, the sheet discharge command determination unit determines whether or not the sheet discharge command has already been received. When it is determined that the paper discharge command has already been received when the paper reaches the second setting position, the control means instructs the automatic paper feeding means to feed the paper. On the other hand, when it is determined that the paper discharge command has not been received yet, the control means instructs the paper feeding from the automatic paper feeding means after waiting for the reception of the paper discharge command. Therefore, the paper interval can be made variable according to the discharge command receiving position (time), and the paper interval can be shortened more effectively.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet placing section capable of setting a plurality of sheets, and an automatic sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets set in the sheet placing section one by one, Recording means for recording on the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means, paper feeding means for feeding the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means according to the progress of recording, and the automatic paper feeding means And a paper detection means for detecting the trailing edge of the paper between the recording means,
A command interpreting unit that interprets a paper discharge command, a paper discharge command determination unit that determines whether a paper discharge command has already been acquired when the trailing edge of the paper is detected, and a paper discharge command that has already been received when the trailing edge is detected. Control means for instructing the paper feed from the automatic paper feed means, and waiting for the acquisition of the paper discharge command if the paper ejection command has not been received yet, and for instructing the paper feed from the automatic paper feed means. The main point is that.

According to the present invention, when the trailing edge of the sheet is detected,
It is judged by the paper discharge command judgment means whether or not the paper discharge command has already been acquired. If the paper discharge command has already been received at the time of detecting the trailing edge, the control means instructs the paper feeding from the automatic paper feeding means. On the other hand, if the paper discharge command has not been received yet, the control means waits for the acquisition of the paper discharge command, and then the control means instructs the automatic paper feeding means to feed the paper.
Therefore, the paper interval can be made variable according to the discharge command receiving position (time), and the paper interval can be shortened more effectively. Further, even if a wrong size of paper is set in the automatic paper feeding means, the trailing edge of the paper is detected, so that the paper interval can be secured almost certainly. By ensuring the sheet interval, it is possible to perform the cueing process for the subsequent sheet, for example.

The invention described in claim 8 is the paper discharge device in the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the control means is any one of claims 4 to 6. According to the control content of the item, by issuing a paper feed command by the time the paper reaches the set position at the latest,
By the high-speed paper feed mode in which paper is fed at a relatively short paper interval, and the control means issues a paper feed command at a timing after the trailing edge of the paper is detected by the paper detection means, The gist of the present invention is to provide at least two modes including a normal paper feed mode in which paper is fed with a relatively long paper interval.

According to the present invention, the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 4 to 6 can be obtained, and in the high speed sheet feeding mode, the invention described in any one of claims 4 to 6 can be obtained. In accordance with the control content of 1), a paper feed command is issued by the time the paper reaches the set position at the latest, and paper is fed at a relatively short paper interval. On the other hand, in the normal paper feed mode, the paper feed command is issued at a timing after the trailing edge of the paper is detected by the paper detection unit, so that the paper is fed at a relatively long paper interval. In the high-speed paper feed mode, the paper ejection time can be shortened, which is suitable as a paper ejection method for high-speed printing, for example.
On the other hand, in the normal paper feed mode, the paper feed is started after the trailing edge of the paper is detected, so that the paper interval is almost surely secured. For example, the cueing process can be performed almost certainly.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet discharging device of the recording apparatus according to any one of the fourth to eighth aspects, the automatic sheet feeding means includes the sheet feeding means and a drive source. In common, the automatic paper feeding means includes a clutch means for connecting and disconnecting the drive transmission of the drive source, and the control means issues a paper feeding command for the next paper in a state where the clutch means is connected, The gist is to issue a command to drive the drive source.

According to the present invention, in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 4 to 8, when the next sheet feeding command is issued, the clutch means is switched to the connected state. Driving a drive source that is shared with the paper feeding unit is performed as a paper feed command. Therefore, even if the paper feeding unit and the automatic paper feeding unit share the drive source, the paper discharging process for shortening the paper interval can be performed well.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, the recording apparatus is provided with the sheet discharging device according to any one of the fourth to ninth aspects. According to this invention, claims 4 to
The operation of the invention described in any one of claims 4 to 9 can be similarly obtained by the recording apparatus provided with the sheet discharging device described in any one of the ninth aspect.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control device for transmitting print data and various print commands to a recording device provided with the paper ejection device according to the eighth aspect, wherein a high speed print mode is input from an input means. While accepting a setting signal in which one of the normal print mode and the normal print mode is selected, when the high speed print mode is set, a mode designation command for selecting the high speed paper feed mode is transmitted to a recording device, and when the normal print mode is set, A gist of the present invention is that the apparatus further comprises a paper feed mode designating unit for transmitting a mode designation command for selecting the normal paper feed mode to the printing apparatus.

According to the present invention, the print control device is
The print data and various print commands are transmitted to the recording apparatus including the sheet discharging device according to the eighth aspect. A setting signal for selecting either the high-speed printing mode or the normal printing mode is received from the input unit. When the high-speed printing mode is set, a mode designation command for selecting the high-speed sheet feeding mode is transmitted to the recording device by the sheet feeding mode designating unit. When the normal print mode is set, a mode specifying command for selecting the normal paper feeding mode is sent to the recording device by the paper feeding mode specifying means. For example, when the user operates the input unit of the print control device to select the high-speed print mode or the normal print mode, the discharge speed (discharge time) corresponding to the selected print mode can be used. Possible paper feed modes are set.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows a printing device (printer) as a recording device. The printer 1 is equipped with an automatic paper feeder 3 as an automatic paper feeder on the back side of the main body 2. Auto Sheet Feeder
A paper guide 7, which includes a paper support 4, a mounting plate 5, and an edge guide 6, is attached to a (hereinafter referred to as feeder) 3. The feeder 3 includes a paper feed drive mechanism that feeds the papers set in the paper guide 7 one by one into the main body 2. A carriage 8 that reciprocates in the width direction (main scanning direction) is provided in the main body 2, and printing is performed on a sheet by ejecting ink at a predetermined timing from a print head 9 provided below the carriage 8. Be seen. Then, the printed sheet is discharged from a discharge port 2A which is opened at the lower front side of the main body 2. The carriage 8 and the print head constitute recording means.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic paper feeder. As shown in the figure, the LD roller 10 is arranged in the vicinity of the lower end of the mounting plate 5 on the rear surface of the main body so as to face it. A pair of guides 11 and 12 is arranged on the downstream side of the LD roller 10 in the sheet feeding direction. The LD roller 10 makes one rotation while making contact with the uppermost one of the sheets P on the mounting plate 5 at its arcuate surface, so that the sheet P is fed to the sheet feed roller 13.
Then, the paper P is continuously fed by a predetermined amount by the rotation of the paper feed roller 13, so that the leading end of the paper P is recorded by the recording head
Reference position (downstream end) (position ▲ in Figure (b))
Is cued to the position corresponding to. That is, the paper P that has been fed and guided between the guides 11 and 12 is sent to the print position (recording position) between the carriage 8 and the platen 14 through the space between the paper feed rollers 13 and is indexed.

Near the paper entrance of each guide 11, 12,
Lever 15 that extends so that its lower end reaches the paper path
And a paper detection sensor (hereinafter, simply referred to as a paper inspection sensor) 16 that detects the upper end of the lever 15. The paper inspection sensor 16 is turned on when the paper P to be fed pushes the lower end of the lever 15 and rotates it, and when the paper P pushing the lower end of the lever 15 is cut off, the lever 15 is moved to the original position by the urging force of the spring ( Return to the return position) and turn off. In other words, when there is no sheet P for rotating the lever 15, the lever 15 moves to the position shown in FIG.
The sheet P is placed at the return position shown in FIG.
The lever 15 is rotated to the sheet detection position shown in FIG. Therefore, the paper inspection sensor 16 remains on until the trailing edge of the sheet P is cut after the leading edge of the sheet P is detected. The lever 15 and the paper inspection sensor 1
6 and 6 constitute a paper detecting means.

The paper feed roller 13 and the paper discharge roller 17 are driven by the same drive source to cooperatively feed the paper P. The LD roller 10 is also driven by the same drive source as that of the rollers 13 and 17, and at the time of paper feeding, the rollers 13 and 17 discharge the previous paper P1 and the LD roller 10 is driven. And paper feed roller 13
The next sheet P2 is fed by and. However, LD
The roller 10 can be separated from the drive source and can be switched to a state in which power can be transmitted only at the time of sheet feeding.

FIG. 2 shows the electrical construction of a printer having a sheet discharging device. As shown in FIG.
Includes a host computer (PC) 21 and a printer 1. The host computer 21 includes a main body 21A, a display device 21B, and an input device 21C as an input unit. In the main body 21A, a printer driver 22 is constructed by a program and a CPU (not shown).
The printer driver 22 executes a process of converting image data or document data into print data. The printer driver 22 constitutes a print control device and a paper feed mode designating unit.

The printer 1 is communicatively connected to the host computer 21, and the print data converted by the printer driver 22 is transferred from the host computer 21 to the printer 1 and received by the interface 24 of the printer 1. The bus connected to the interface 24
CPU25, ROM26, RAM27 and ASIC2
8 etc. are connected. The CPU 25 executes a program stored in the ROM 26 to issue to the ASIC 28 an instruction necessary for print control and an instruction for paper discharge processing. It should be noted that the ASIC 28 uses a control means, a command interpretation means,
Discharge command determination means is configured.

The ASIC 28 controls printing and C
The paper discharge process is executed based on the instruction from the PU 25. ASIC
28 is a head drive circuit 31 and a motor drive circuit 3
2, 33 are connected. The ASIC 28 controls the print head 9 via the head drive circuit 31, and also controls the carriage motor 3 via the motor drive circuits 32 and 33.
4 and the paper feed motor 35 are controlled. The motor drive circuit 33 and the paper feed motor 35 form a paper feed unit.

The ASIC 28 interprets the command of the print data received from the host computer 21, expands the data, and based on this data, the head drive circuit 31.
The print head 9 is controlled via. Further, various commands are attached to the header of the print data, and, for example, a paper feed command and a paper discharge command are set. Interpretation of these commands is also done by ASI as a command interpreting means.
Performed by C28.

The LD roller 10 is powered by a paper feed motor 35 that drives the paper feed roller 13 and the paper discharge roller 17. A clutch 36 serving as a clutch means for switching power transmission is interposed between the LD roller 10 and the paper feed motor 35. That is, the LD roller 10 is operatively connected to a paper feed motor 35 that drives the paper feed roller 13 and the paper discharge roller 17 via a clutch 36 that switches between disconnection and connection of power transmission. At the time of sheet feeding, the clutch 36 is switched to the connected state, whereby the LD roller setting operation is performed and the LD roller 10 is set in a drivable state. In the present embodiment, the clutch 36 is a mechanism that is mechanically switched by the operation of the trigger lever 37, and at the time of paper feeding, the carriage 8 is moved to the paper feeding standby position opposite to the home position, for example. The clutch 36 is mechanically switched by pushing and operating the trigger lever 37 by the carriage 8.

In this embodiment, a stepping motor is used as the paper feed motor 35. The ASIC 28 internally has a counter 39 as a measuring unit that counts the number of steps of the paper feed motor 35. The ASIC 28 recognizes the position of the paper P from the count value of the counter 39. of course,
In the configuration in which the rotation of the paper feed motor 35 is detected by the encoder, the pulse edge from the encoder can be counted by the counter 39 to recognize the position of the paper P.

In the present embodiment, a sheet discharge processing method is adopted in which sheet discharge and sheet feeding are performed simultaneously to shorten the sheet interval as much as possible to improve throughput. The printer 1 of the present embodiment is provided with two modes for paper ejection processing. There are a normal paper feed mode (normal mode) and a high speed paper feed mode (economy mode). The high-speed paper feed mode is intended to speed up the paper feed process by further shortening the interval between the discharged paper and the fed paper.

The user can select and set the print mode on the print setting screen on the screen of the display device 21B.
The normal mode (normal print mode) or the economy mode (high speed print mode) is operated by inputting the input device 21C. In the normal mode, the normal printing speed is the normal paper feeding speed. The economy mode is a printing mode in which the printing speed and the paper feed speed are executed faster than in the normal mode to improve the throughput. The printer driver 22 accepts the input mode, sets the normal paper feed mode in the normal mode, and sets the high speed paper feed mode in the economy mode. The printer driver 22 adds a paper feed speed command to the header when sending the first print data, and notifies the printer 1 side of the normal paper feed mode or the high speed paper feed mode by a command. Then, the printer 1 interprets the paper feed speed command attached to the header of the print data that is first received, and selectively uses the normal paper feed mode and the high speed paper feed mode according to the set print mode.

Here, the normal paper feed mode is the discharge paper feed processing method of the procedure shown in FIG. 11 described in the prior art, and has been started from the time when the paper detection sensor 16 detects the trailing edge of the previous paper P1. This is a processing method that issues a paper feed command when a fixed amount of paper has been discharged. On the other hand, in the high-speed paper feed mode, the trailing edge position of the paper P1 is grasped from the paper feed count value and the paper length data from when the paper inspection sensor 16 detects the front end of the paper P1 and the paper P1 is detected.
When the trailing edge of the trailing edge of the sheet P2 is separated from the leading edge of the succeeding sheet of paper P2, a sheet feeding command is issued. According to this discharge / feed processing method, even when the trailing edge of the paper P1 is before the paper detection sensor 16 is turned off (off), the paper is fed at a timing with a predetermined space between the paper P1 and the subsequent paper P2. It is possible to issue a paper command. The reason for providing a space between the paper P1 and the paper P2 is that the leading edge of the next paper P2 can be detected by the paper detection sensor 16 and the cueing process of the paper P2 can be performed.

The ROM 26 also stores program data that controls the mode selection process. This program is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 and is executed by the ASIC 28. This mode selection processing routine will be described below.

Step (hereinafter simply referred to as "S") 10
Then, interpret the paper feed speed command,
Determine if it is in high speed paper feed mode. If it is the normal paper feed mode, the operation proceeds to S20, and if it is the high speed paper feed mode, the operation proceeds to S30.

In S20, the normal paper feed mode is selected, and, for example, the paper feed mode flag is set to "0". In S30, the high-speed paper feed mode is selected, and, for example, the paper feed mode flag is set to "1".

The ASIC 28 looks at the paper feed mode flag,
The paper discharge processing in the paper supply mode indicated by the flag is executed. Various commands are included to be generated by the printer driver 22. One of the commands is a paper discharge command. When the ASIC 28 receives the paper discharge command, the paper P is discharged. That is, the paper feed motor 35 is driven. Paper size data is added to the beginning of the print data. The paper length data L can be known from the paper size data.

In the present embodiment, the paper detection sensor 16 is set at the final paper discharge position due to the restriction for performing the normal paper feed mode. That is, the paper inspection sensor 16 determines that the previous paper P
When the sheet 1 is fed to the position of the set final line (final pass that can be printed), the lever 15 cuts the rear end of the sheet P. The set last line is the recording limit (printing limit) of the paper in the paper feed direction.
Describes the method of calculating the position of the paper. Paper P
After the leading edge of 1 is detected by the paper detection sensor 16, the number of steps of the paper feed motor 35 is counted by the counter 39 during the cueing process, and the counter 39 is once reset at the cueing position. Then, the count value K of the paper feed amount is counted with the origin position (reference position) being the origin "0". The count value K indicates the position from the front end of the paper P at the reference position. ASIC2
8 calculates the remaining paper length A based on the count value K of the counter 39 and the paper length data L (A = L−K). In the present embodiment, the paper length data L is based on the information from the host computer 21, but the paper length data may be detected by the printer 1.

In the present embodiment, when the remaining sheet length A becomes equal to or less than the set value A1, sheet feeding is started. That is, the LD roller setting operation is performed. Next, how the set value A1 is determined will be described.

The distance from the head reference position to the leading edge (lower edge) of the paper P set on the feeder 3 is known, and the distance is designated as B. The remaining paper length A is the distance Bo (= B-Gmin
) Is shorter than (A <Bo) is a condition for ensuring a space between the previous sheet P1 and the next sheet P2. Gmi
n is the minimum required paper interval. Here, the sheet interval is secured for the cueing process, and it is necessary to detect the leading edge of the sheet P to be fed by the sheet detection sensor 16. By securing a space between the sheets P1 and P2, the sheet detection sensor 16 switches from “on to off”, and the leading edge of the sheet P can be detected. Therefore, in order to secure the paper interval, it is necessary to satisfy the set distance A1 <Bo.
There are two conditions. A detection signal when the paper inspection sensor 16 detects the trailing edge of the paper P (on-off switching signal)
Is not particularly used for control in this embodiment.

Further, in the present embodiment, the set value A1 is set so that the paper feeding and the paper feeding during printing are not simultaneously performed. This is because the previous sheet P1 is surely ready for the sheet discharge process and then the sheet feed process is started. In other words, the set value A1 is set in timing so that the paper feed process is started when the paper P1 reaches the position of the final setting line. This corresponds to the timing when the lever 15 of the paper detection sensor 16 falls from the rear end of the paper P1, and the set value A1
Is set equal to the distance C from the head reference position to the lever position of the paper inspection sensor 16. The reason for this is that it is not necessary to simultaneously perform the paper feed processing counter processing and the cueing processing counter processing. By finishing the counter processing by one of the paper feed processing and the cueing processing,
The processing load on the ASIC 28 is reduced. Therefore, in order to avoid the simultaneous progress of the paper feed process and the cueing process, the set distance A1 is set to a value that satisfies C. Of course, in consideration of the distance between the front end of the paper P set on the feeder 3 and the lever position of the paper inspection sensor 16, the timing for completely finishing the printing of the previous paper P1 is set while moving this distance. Further, the set value A1 can be set within the range of C ≦ A1 <Bo.

The ROM 26 stores program data for controlling the discharge / feeding control process. This program
It is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 and is executed by the ASIC 28. Hereinafter, the discharge / feed control processing routine of FIG. 5 will be described.

In S110, it is determined whether or not the leading edge of the sheet is detected. That is, the paper inspection sensor 16 detects the leading edge of the paper P and determines whether or not it is turned on. If the leading edge of the sheet has been detected (sensor on), the process proceeds to S120.

In S120, counting by the counter 39 is started. That is, the counter 39 is reset. Start counting the number of steps (paper feed amount) from the time when the leading edge of the paper is detected. In S130, a cueing process is performed. That is, the paper feed motor 35 is driven to feed the paper until the leading edge of the paper coincides with the reference position (position ▲) as shown in FIG.
When the count value of the counter 39 reaches the value of the predetermined distance Lo, it is recognized that the leading edge of the sheet has reached the indexing position, and the driving of the sheet feed motor 35 is stopped at that point. When the cueing process is completed,
The counter 39 is once reset and then counts the position of the paper P at the head reference position.

In S140, it is determined whether a paper feed command or a paper discharge command is accepted. If any command is accepted, the process proceeds to S150. Receiving a paper feed command or a paper discharge command means driving the paper feed motor 35 in the print sequence operation process.

In S150, the paper feed amount is counted. That is, the paper feeding process for driving the paper feeding motor 35 is performed, and the number of steps for driving the paper feeding motor 35 is counted by the counter 39. Therefore, the counter 39 counts the position from the front end of the paper P as a count value.

In S160, it is determined whether or not the remaining paper length A has become equal to or less than the set value A1. If A ≦ A1 holds, S1
If it does not hold true, the process returns to S140 to repeat the paper feeding process or the paper discharging process.

At S170, the LD roller setting operation is executed. That is, the carriage motor 34 is controlled to move the carriage 8 to the paper feed standby position, and the trigger lever 37 is operated (trigger set) to bring the clutch 36 into the connected state.

In S180, a paper feeding process is performed. When the paper feed motor 35 is driven in this LD roller set state, the LD roller 10 is simultaneously driven together with the paper feed roller 13 and the paper discharge roller 17, and paper discharge and paper feed are performed simultaneously.

The counter 39 of the ASIC 28 is used to obtain the position of the paper P, and the cue position in FIG. 1A (the position indicated by ▲ in FIG. 1B) is
As the origin (“0”), the paper feed amount from the cue position is counted. The ASIC 28 controls the paper feed motor 35 with step pulses, and counts the number of steps by which the paper feed motor 35 is driven to count the paper feed amount. In addition,
The paper discharge process and the mode selection process are not limited to the ASIC 28 and may be executed by the CPU 23.

Next, the operation of the paper discharge processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, the paper P is fed. The leading edge of the paper P is the paper inspection sensor 1.
When it is detected by 6, the counting process by the counter 39 is started, and the paper P is fed by a predetermined number of steps from the detection of the leading edge to the indexing position (indexing process). When the leading edge of the paper reaches the indexing position, the counter 39 is reset (FIG. 1 (b)).

The remaining paper length A reaches the set value A1 (A = A1
(= C)) and (state of FIG. 7C), the LD roller set operation is instructed. That is, a command is issued to the carriage 8 to move it to the paper feed standby position, and the carriage 8 is placed at the paper feed standby position, whereby the trigger lever 37 is operated by the carriage 8 and the clutch 36 is connected. At this time, in the present embodiment in which A1 (= C) is set, the previous sheet P1 is already in a sheet discharging stage or in a state of being immediately transferred to sheet discharging. If it is already in the paper discharge stage, the paper feed motor 35 is being driven at the paper discharge speed, and the LD roller setting operation is performed during this driving.
0 starts rotating, and paper discharge and paper feed proceed at the same time. That is,
The processing shifts from the paper discharge processing to the paper feed processing.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the LD roller 10
The next sheet of paper P is fed out by the rotation of
Since a paper interval is secured between the previous paper P1 and the next paper P2, the leading edge of the subsequent paper P2 is reliably detected by the paper inspection sensor 16. As a result, the cueing process is reliably performed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the LD roller setting operation (trigger setting) is performed while the sheet P1 is still in the middle of the head reference position (the position). Therefore, the gap G between the sheets P1 and P2 is relatively small, and the discharge / feed time is shorter than that in the normal feed mode. The narrow interval shortens the time required until the next paper P2 is fed and printed, and the throughput is improved.

(1) The position of the trailing edge of the paper is monitored from the count value of the paper feed amount from the head reference position and the paper size data (paper length data L) based on the detection of the leading edge of the paper, and the remaining paper length is determined. When A becomes equal to or smaller than the set value A1, the paper feeding process is started. Therefore, it is possible to start the paper feeding process earlier than the paper trailing edge detection timing of the paper inspection sensor 16.
Therefore, the paper P when the paper discharge and the paper feed are simultaneously advanced
The interval between 1 and P2 can be shortened, and the paper discharge time can be shortened. Therefore, the printing throughput can be improved.

(2) Since the set value A1 is set to satisfy the condition of A <Bo, the sheet interval can be surely secured. The previous sheet P1 and the next sheet P2 do not overlap,
A constant gap G is secured. By ensuring the space G between the sheets, the leading edge of the next sheet P can be detected by the sheet inspection sensor 16, and the cueing can be reliably performed.

(3) Since the set value A1 is set to A1 = C, the paper feeding process is started when the previous paper P moves to the position of the final set line. Therefore, the paper feeding process and the paper feeding process are not performed at the same time, and either one of the counter processes required when performing both processes can be completed. Therefore, the processing load of the ASIC 28 can be reduced.

(4) Since the economy mode and the normal mode are provided, the interval between the sheets can be shortened in the economy mode to improve the throughput, and in the normal mode, although the throughput cannot be expected to be improved, the sheet is reliably discharged. It can be carried out. For example, even when the paper size is set incorrectly, in the normal mode in which the paper feed is started after the trailing edge of the paper is detected, the paper interval is surely secured, and the next paper can be surely cueed. For example, even if the paper size is wrong and the paper P is set in the feeder 3, since the rear end is detected and then the paper feed is started, the paper P,
Duplication of P is avoided. Further, at the time when the next paper is fed and the next paper is cueed, the previous paper P can be reliably dropped from the paper discharge roller 17.

(5) For example, if the printer driver 22 is provided with a function of setting the paper interval (paper feed speed setting), the user can set the print condition (paper feed speed condition) independently according to the print processing speed desired by the user. Can be customized. For example, if the set value A1 is set to be long, the paper feed start time is advanced, the paper interval can be further shortened, and the print processing time can be shortened according to the user's request.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the setting value A1 = C is set so that the counter processing of the paper feeding processing and the cueing processing can be completed in one. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the previous sheet P1 is moved to the sheet discharge processing stage or the sheet discharge processing (at the time of completion of printing).
If the counter processing for the paper feed processing is already unnecessary, the remaining paper length A ≦ A2 (however, A2 can be secured without waiting for the remaining paper length A ≦ A1 (= C)).
Is characterized in that if the condition of C <A2 <Bo is satisfied, the paper feed processing is immediately started.

That is, in the above embodiment, the succeeding paper P2 is not detected by the paper inspection sensor 1 even when the final set line is printed.
Although the paper interval is set so that 6 is not cut, in the present embodiment, the paper interval is set to be small and variable on condition that it does not overlap the succeeding paper P2 as long as it does not print up to the final set line. . After the printing is completed on the line before the set final line, it is possible to optimize the position so that the paper interval G can be triggered earlier so as to be shorter than “BC”. That is, the remaining paper length A when shifting to the paper feeding process is made variable to the optimum value.

The ROM 26 stores the program data of the paper discharge processing routine shown in FIG. ASIC
28 executes the program of this paper discharge processing routine in the economy mode. The discharge / feed processing routine will be described below.

In S210, it is determined whether or not the leading edge of the sheet is detected. That is, the paper inspection sensor 16 detects the leading edge of the paper P and determines whether or not it is turned on. If the leading edge of the sheet has been detected (sensor on), the process proceeds to S220.

In S220, counting by the counter 39 is started. That is, the counter 39 is reset. Start counting the number of steps (paper feed amount) from the time when the leading edge of the paper is detected. In S230, a cueing process is performed. That is, the paper feed motor 35 is driven to feed the paper until the leading edge of the paper coincides with the reference position (▲ position) as shown in FIG. 9B.
When the count value of the counter 39 reaches the value of the predetermined distance Lo, it is recognized that the leading edge of the sheet has reached the indexing position, and the driving of the sheet feed motor 35 is stopped at that point. When the cueing process is completed,
The counter 39 is once reset and then counts the position of the paper P at the head reference position.

In S240, it is determined whether or not the paper feed command is accepted. If the paper feed command is accepted, the process proceeds to S250. Receiving the paper feed command means driving the paper feed motor 35 in the print sequence operation process.

In S250, the paper feed amount is counted. That is, the paper feeding process for driving the paper feeding motor 35 is performed, and the number of steps at this time is counted by the counter 39. Therefore, the counter 39 counts the position from the front end of the paper P as a count value.

In S260, it is determined whether or not the remaining paper length A is equal to or less than the set value A1. If A ≦ A1 holds, S3
00, and if this is not the case, proceed to S270. S
At 270, it is determined whether a paper discharge command is accepted. If the paper discharge command is accepted, the process proceeds to S280. Receiving a paper discharge command means driving the paper feed motor 35 for paper discharge processing in the print sequence operation processing.

In S280, the paper feed amount is counted. That is, the paper discharge process for driving the paper feed motor 35 is performed, and the number of steps at this time is counted by the counter 39. Therefore, the counter 39 counts the position from the front end of the paper P as a count value.

In S290, it is determined whether or not the remaining paper length A has become equal to or less than the set value A2. If A ≦ A2 holds, S3
00, and if this is not the case, proceed to S280. Therefore, even when the process proceeds to S280, the process of discharging the sheet P1 proceeds, and when the remaining sheet length A becomes equal to or less than the set value A2, the process proceeds to S300.

In S300, the LD roller setting operation is executed. That is, the carriage motor 34 is controlled to move the carriage 8 to the paper feed standby position, and the trigger lever 37 is operated (trigger set) to bring the clutch 36 into the connected state.

In S310, a paper feed process is performed. When the paper feed motor 35 is driven in this LD roller set state, the LD roller 10 is simultaneously driven together with the paper feed roller 13 and the paper discharge roller 17, and paper discharge and paper feed are performed simultaneously. Also in this embodiment, the paper discharge process and the mode selection process are not limited to the ASIC 28 and may be executed by the CPU 23.

Next, the operation of the paper discharge processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 9A, the paper P is fed. The leading edge of the paper P is the paper inspection sensor 1.
When it is detected by 6, the counting process by the counter 39 is started, and the paper P is fed by a predetermined number of steps from the detection of the leading edge to the indexing position (indexing process). When the leading edge of the paper reaches the indexing position, the counter 39 is reset (FIG. 1 (b)).

When the sheet P1 is printed up to the set final line, the sheet discharge command is not accepted until the remaining sheet length A becomes the set value A1 or less. Therefore, when A ≦ A1 is satisfied, the LD roller set is set. The action is taken. Therefore, the working interval G in this case is the same as that in the first embodiment (G = B-A1).

On the other hand, when printing is completed earlier on the line before the final set line, it is assumed that the trailing edge of the sheet P1 overlaps the sheet P2 set in the feeder 3 at that time, for example. At this time, the remaining paper length A is naturally larger than A2 (A> A2 (> A1)), and therefore the paper feeding process cannot be started. The paper P1 is discharged by the paper discharge process.
As the paper discharge progresses, the remaining paper length A gradually decreases,
As shown in FIG. 9C, the remaining paper length A reaches the set value A2 (A ≦ A2 is satisfied). Then, at this time, since the discharge command has already been received (the discharge command flag is ON), the LD roller setting operation is performed. That is, the carriage 8 is instructed to move to the paper feed standby position,
When the carriage 8 is arranged at the paper feed standby position, the trigger lever 37 is operated and the clutch 36 is connected. When the clutch 36 is connected by this LD roller set, the LD roller 10 rotates and the feeding of the next paper P2 is started ((d) in the same figure). Therefore, the sheet gap G at this time is shorter than that in the first embodiment (G
= B-A2).

When the remaining paper length A has become equal to or less than the set value A2, but the paper discharge command has not been received yet (paper discharge command flag is OFF), the remaining paper length A is discharged before reaching the set value A1. If a paper command is accepted, the LD roller setting operation is performed at that point. In such a case, the remaining sheet length A at the time of shifting to the sheet feeding process is optimized within the range of A1 <A <A2. Therefore, the sheet interval G is shorter than that in the first embodiment (B-A2 <G <B-A1).

According to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (6) Setting If the printing is not performed up to the final line, the sheet interval G is set to be small and variable on condition that it does not overlap the succeeding sheet P2. If printing is completed on the line before the set last line, after printing is completed, set the paper interval G to "B".
Optimize for a position that can be triggered early to be shorter than "C". That is, the remaining paper length A when shifting to the paper feeding process
Can be varied to an optimum value according to the paper discharge timing (paper discharge position). Therefore, for the sheet P1 that is not printed up to the final set line, the distance G from the succeeding sheet P2 can be further shortened, the average sheet discharge time can be further shortened, and the printing throughput can be further improved. of course,
Since a sheet space is surely secured between the previous sheet P1 and the next sheet P2, the leading edge of the succeeding sheet P2 can be reliably detected by the sheet inspection sensor 16, and the cueing process can be surely performed. it can. Further, the effects (3), (4), and (5) described in the first embodiment can be similarly obtained. (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on.

As in the second embodiment, the paper gap G
The processing method for varying and optimizing is not limited to the processing content in which the leading edge of the paper P is detected by the paper inspection sensor 16. For example, it is possible to adopt a processing content in which the trailing edge of the paper P is detected by the paper inspection sensor and the timing of shifting to paper feeding is made variable by a paper discharge command.

The paper inspection sensor 16 is disposed closer to the feeder 3 than in the first and second embodiments, and the paper inspection sensor 16 cuts the trailing edge of the paper before the final set line of the paper is reached. Set to.

Even if the trailing edge of the paper P is detected by the paper detection sensor 16, if the paper discharge command is not received yet, the paper feed process is waited for before the paper discharge command is received. On the other hand, the paper P
When the trailing edge is detected by the paper detection sensor 16, if the paper discharge command has already been received, the paper feeding process is started immediately after the trailing edge of the paper is detected. The counting process by the counter 39 is only for the cueing process and the paper feeding process, and the counting process for the discharging / feeding process is not performed.

Program data for the paper discharge processing routine shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the ROM 26. ASI
C28 executes the program of this discharge / feed processing routine in the economy mode. The discharge / feed processing routine will be described below.

In S510, it is determined whether or not the leading edge of the sheet is detected. That is, the paper inspection sensor 16 detects the leading edge of the paper P and determines whether or not it is turned on. If the leading edge of the sheet has been detected (sensor on), the process proceeds to S520.

In S520, counting by the counter 39 is started. That is, the counter 39 is reset. Start counting the number of steps (paper feed amount) from the time when the leading edge of the paper is detected. In S530, a cueing process is performed. That is, the paper feed motor 35 is driven to feed the paper until the leading edge of the paper coincides with the reference position (position ▲) as shown in FIG.
When the count value of the counter 39 reaches the value of the predetermined distance Lo, it is recognized that the leading edge of the sheet has reached the indexing position, and the driving of the sheet feed motor 35 is stopped at that point. When the cueing process is completed,
The counter 39 is once reset and then counts the position of the paper P at the head reference position.

At S540, a paper feeding process is performed. That is, when the paper feed command is accepted, the paper feed motor 35
To feed the paper. At this time, the counting process of the counter 39 is performed, but this is only for knowing the printing position of the paper P, and is not used for determining the paper feed process transition timing.

In S550, it is determined whether or not the trailing edge of the sheet is detected. That is, the paper inspection sensor 16 detects the trailing edge of the paper P1 and determines whether or not it is turned on. If the trailing edge of the sheet has been detected (sensor ON), the process proceeds to S560. If the trailing edge of the sheet has not been detected, the process returns to S540 to repeat the printing process and the paper feeding process. In S560, it is determined whether or not the paper discharge command has already been accepted. If the paper discharge command has been received (paper discharge command flag is on), the process proceeds to S580. On the other hand, if the paper discharge command has not yet been received (paper discharge command flag is on), the process proceeds to S580.

In S570, the paper feed process is performed until the paper discharge command is issued. That is, the print processing and the paper feed processing are repeated until the printing of the paper is completed and the paper discharge command is received.

In S580, the LD roller setting operation is executed. That is, the carriage motor 34 is controlled to move the carriage 8 to the paper feed standby position, and the trigger lever 37 is operated (trigger set) to bring the clutch 36 into the connected state.

In S590, a paper feeding process is performed. When the paper feed motor 35 is driven in this LD roller set state, the LD roller 10 is simultaneously driven together with the paper feed roller 13 and the paper discharge roller 17, and paper discharge and paper feed are performed simultaneously. Also in this embodiment, the paper discharge process and the mode selection process are not limited to the ASIC 28 and may be executed by the CPU 23.

Next, the operation of the paper discharge process in this embodiment will be described. First, when the trailing edge of the paper is detected before the paper ejection of the paper P1 is started, it means that the paper ejection command has not been received yet. At this time, if the printing of the paper P1 is completed on the line before the final setting line, the paper feed process is started upon reception of the paper discharge command at this time. As a result, when the set final line is not printed, the sheet feeding can be started without waiting for the sheet to be sent to the set final line, so that the sheet interval becomes shorter than that in the first embodiment. The sheet spacing is the same as that in the first embodiment only when printing is performed up to the final set line.

On the other hand, if the set final line is not printed and the trailing edge of the sheet P1 is detected after the ejection of the sheet P1 is started, the sheet feeding process is started immediately after the trailing edge of the sheet is detected. As a result, the sheet feeding can be started without waiting for the sheet to be fed to the final set line, so that the sheet interval becomes shorter than that in the first embodiment.

According to the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (7) If the paper discharge command has already been received at the time of detecting the trailing edge of the paper, the paper feed process is started immediately after the detection of the trailing edge. Move on to processing. Therefore, it is possible to variably set the paper interval and optimize it, so that the paper interval during the paper feeding process can be shortened and the printing throughput can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to use a determination value such as the remaining paper length, the calculation processing for calculating the remaining paper length is unnecessary, and the processing load on the ASIC 28 can be reduced. Further, even when the sheet size is set to the feeder 3 by mistake, the sheet interval can be surely secured at the time of discharging and feeding, and the next sheet P can be surely found at the beginning.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and the following modified examples can be implemented. (Modification 1) Two counters may be prepared, and a counter for paper feed processing and a counter for cueing processing may be separately provided. According to this configuration, since the paper feed process and the paper feed process can be performed simultaneously, the paper feed process can be started without waiting for the paper discharge command in the second embodiment. That is, in the first embodiment, an arbitrary set value A1 that satisfies C <A1 ≦ Bo can be set. Therefore, the frequency with which the paper interval can be shortened increases, which is further effective in improving the throughput.

(Modification 2) The printer driver 22 receives data indicating where the actual final line (final printing line) is. For example, in the first embodiment, if the actual final line is known, the optimum value of the set value A1 is calculated in advance based on the data, and the set value A1 is made variable each time. According to this configuration, it is possible to optimize the paper interval, and when the printing is not performed up to the final set line, the paper interval at the time of discharging and feeding can be made shorter than that in the first embodiment. .

(Modification 3) The paper inspection sensor is not limited to the lever type. For example, an optical sensor that optically detects the gap between the sheets is used, and when the gap between the sheets that could be detected up to that point can no longer be detected, it is detected as the leading edge of the sheet. The sheet interval required for detecting the leading edge of the sheet is shorter than that of the lever sensor, and the minimum value of the sheet interval that can be set can be further shortened as compared with the above-described embodiments using the lever sensor.

(Modification 4) In each of the above-described embodiments, the clutch is mechanically switched, but, for example, a structure in which the clutch (for example, an electromagnetic clutch) is electrically switched by the control by the trigger signal is adopted. You can also

(Modification 5) The printer driver 22 includes
A program for designating printing and paper feed control contents of the printer is provided, and for example, a setting program that allows the user to operate the input device 21C to set the paper feed mode on the screen is prepared. Here, the paper feed mode is prepared to select the paper distance at the time of paper feed and specify whether the paper feed throughput is normal or high speed. The paper gap G at the time of paper feed is normally set. The user can select either the normal paper feed mode for which the paper feeding is performed or the high speed paper feed mode for narrowing the paper interval at the time of paper feeding. (Modification) In the second embodiment, it is determined that the sheet P1 has reached the set final line when the remaining sheet length A becomes equal to or less than the set value A1, but this determination processing is abolished. The determination may be made by the sheet discharge command, including that the sheet P1 has reached the set final line.

(Modification 6) In the above-described embodiment, two modes are set as the paper feed speed mode, but it is also possible to set three or more modes in which the degree of width of the paper interval is different.
(Modification 7) It is not necessary to use the paper length data in the recording device in which the paper length of the paper set in the paper placing portion of the automatic paper feeder is always constant. It suffices to determine the judgment value only from the measured value, and set the set value according to the paper length to be used.

(Modification 8) Instead of resetting the counter 39 at the cue position, the remaining paper length may be obtained using the count value from when the paper detection sensor detects the leading edge of the paper. In this case, the remaining sheet length is the length from the leading edge detection position of the sheet detection sensor 16 to the trailing edge of the sheet.

(Modification 9) In each of the above embodiments, the remaining paper length is used as the determination value, but the determination value is not limited to the remaining paper length. For example, the length of the front end side of the paper (paper front length sent to the front side of the head reference position) may be used as the determination value, or the paper interval may be used as the determination value.

(Modification 10) The judgment value may be time. That is, if the paper feeding speed is high so that the paper interval is ensured, the distance can be indirectly and accurately monitored by monitoring the time.

(Modification 11) In the above embodiments, the paper feed roller 13, the paper discharge roller 17, and the LD roller 10 are used.
Is driven by the same drive source, but the drive sources for the rollers 13 and 17 and the LD roller 10 may be provided separately.

(Modification 12) The applicable recording apparatus is not limited to the ink jet printer. For example, it may be applied to a bubble jet (registered trademark) type printer or a dot impact printer.

The technical idea that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and each modification will be described below. (1) In the paper ejection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the automatic paper feeding means shares a drive source of the paper feeding means for feeding paper, and the automatic paper feeding means is A discharging / feeding method comprising: a clutch means for connecting / disconnecting drive transmission, and a command for feeding a next sheet is a command for driving the drive source in a state where the clutch means is connected.

(2) The high-speed paper feed mode in which the paper is ejected and the paper is fed by the paper ejection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the paper is ejected when the trailing edge of the paper is detected by the sensor. A method of discharging paper in a recording apparatus having two paper feeding modes, a normal paper feeding mode for shifting. By narrowing the paper interval during high-speed printing, the paper discharge time can be shortened, and during normal printing, the paper interval can be reliably ensured and the next paper can be reliably located at the beginning.

(3) In the paper discharge method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8, the paper feed command means an automatic paper feed means. This is a command for switching to the paper feed drive state. Here, the paper feed drive state is a state in which the drive of the drive source and the drive of the automatic paper feed means are transmitted. For example, it means connecting a clutch interposed between the drive source and the automatic sheet feeding means.

(4) In the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8, the measuring means obtains paper length data based on the print data, and the paper based on the paper length and the measured value. A value obtained by subtracting the count value from the length is set as a determination value, and when the determination value reaches a set value, the feeding of the next sheet by the automatic sheet feeding means is started.

[0115]

As described above in detail, according to the inventions of claims 1 to 11, it is possible to shorten the sheet interval between the sheet before being ejected and the next sheet to be fed, and recording is possible. The throughput of the device can be easily improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a sheet discharging process according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printing system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a mode selection processing routine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a paper discharge processing routine.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating a remaining sheet length that is a determination value.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view illustrating sheet feeding timing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a sheet discharge processing routine according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view illustrating a sheet discharging process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a paper discharge processing routine according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view illustrating a sheet discharging process according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view illustrating a sheet feeding timing according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer 3 as recording device ... Automatic paper feeding device (feeder) as automatic paper feeding means 5 ... Loading plate 8 as paper loading portion ... Carriage 9 that constitutes recording means ... Print head that constitutes recording means 15 ... Lever constituting paper detection means 16 ... Paper detection sensor 21C constituting paper detection means ... Input device 22 as input means ... Printer driver 28 as print control device and paper feed mode designation means ... Control means, command interpretation ASIC 33 as a discharge command determining means, a motor drive circuit 35 constituting a paper feeding means, a paper feeding motor 36 constituting a paper feeding means and a driving source, a clutch 39 as a clutch means, a counter as a measuring means P ... Paper P1 ... Previous paper (paper being fed) P2 ... Subsequent paper (next paper) K ... Count value L ... Paper length data A ... Paper remaining length A1 as judgment value ... Setting value A2 as setting position ... Setting value as setting position and second setting position

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C059 AA05 AA22 AA26 AA49 AA55                 2C061 AP01 HH06 HJ02 HK07 HK11                       HK19 HK23                 3F048 AA05 AB01 BA05 BA25 BA29                       BB03 CA03 CA04 CA09 CC02                       CC03 CC04 CC11 CC17 DA04                       DA09 DC02 EB02 EB24 EB40                 3F343 FA02 FB04 GA02 GB01 GC01                       GD01 HB01 HC28 JA03 KB04                       KB20 MA13 MA33 MA54 MB03                       MB13 MC04 MC23

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A method of discharging paper in a recording apparatus for feeding, one by one, sheets set in an automatic paper feeding means to a recording position where recording is performed by the recording means, the automatic paper feeding means and the recording means. A procedure for detecting the leading edge of the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means by the paper detecting means provided between the means, and a paper feed amount at which the paper is fed after the leading edge of the paper is detected. Based on the measurement procedure and the previously acquired paper length data and the measured value of the paper feed amount, it is set so that at least the rear end of the paper is separated from the front end of the subsequent paper set in the automatic paper feeding means. The procedure for determining that the sheet has been fed to the set position, and the step of feeding the subsequent sheet from the automatic sheet feeding unit when it is determined that the sheet has been fed to the set position. With a procedure to issue paper commands How discharging feed in the recording apparatus characterized and. 2. The method of discharging paper in the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of the paper is separated from a front end of a succeeding paper before the paper reaches the predetermined position. And a procedure for determining whether or not a paper discharge command has already been received, and that a paper discharge command has already been received when the paper reaches the second set position. If it is determined that the procedure for instructing the sheet feeding from the automatic sheet feeding unit and that the sheet ejection command has not been accepted when the sheet reaches the second set position, the sheet ejection operation is performed. A method of discharging a sheet in a recording apparatus, comprising: a step of issuing a sheet feeding command for feeding a sheet from the automatic sheet feeding unit after receiving a command. 3. An automatic paper feeding method in a recording apparatus for feeding, one by one, sheets set in an automatic paper feeding means to a recording position where recording is performed by the recording means, said automatic paper feeding means and said recording means. The procedure for detecting the trailing edge of the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means by the paper detecting means provided between the means, and whether or not a paper discharge command has already been acquired at the time of detecting the trailing edge of the paper. If you have already obtained the paper ejection command at the time of the trailing edge detection,
A procedure for instructing sheet feeding from the automatic sheet feeding means and a step for instructing sheet feeding after waiting for acquisition of the sheet ejection command if the sheet ejection command has not been acquired at the time of detecting the trailing edge are provided. A paper ejection method for a recording apparatus having a characteristic feature. 4. An automatic paper feed unit, which has a paper loading unit capable of setting a plurality of papers, and feeds the papers set on the paper loading unit one by one; A recording unit for recording on a sheet of paper, a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheet fed from the automatic sheet feeding unit according to the progress of recording, and a unit between the automatic sheet feeding unit and the recording unit. Paper detecting means for detecting the leading edge of the paper fed from the automatic paper feeding means, measuring means for measuring the amount of paper fed by the paper feeding means, and paper detected by the paper detecting means Determination value acquisition means for acquiring a determination value for determining the trailing edge position of the sheet based on the leading edge position of the sheet, the measured value of the sheet feed amount measured by the measuring section, and the sheet length data of the sheet. , Of the paper being fed from the leading edge of the subsequent paper set on the paper stacking unit, Judgment means for judging whether or not the paper has been fed to a set position set at a position where the trailing edge is at least separated from the set position, and it is judged that the paper has reached the set position. And a control unit for instructing the sheet feeding from the automatic sheet feeding unit. 5. The sheet discharging device of the recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sheet reaches the set position when the sheet is fed to a final recording line which is a recording limit in a sheet feeding direction. As described above, the sheet discharging device in the recording device is characterized in that the set position is set. 6. The sheet discharging device in the recording apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a command interpreting unit that interprets a sheet discharging command, and a trailing end of the sheet before the sheet reaches the set position. A second determination unit that determines based on the determination value that a second set position at which the leading edge of the sheet and the trailing edge of the sheet have separated is reached; and, when it is determined that the sheet reaches the second set position, A discharge command determining unit that determines whether or not a discharge command has already been received, wherein the control unit has already received a discharge command when the sheet reaches the second setting position. If it is determined that the sheet feeding from the automatic sheet feeding unit is instructed, and if it is determined that the sheet discharging command has not been received yet, the sheet feeding from the automatic sheet feeding unit is waited for until the sheet discharging command is received. Characterized by ordering Discharging sheet feeding apparatus in recording device. 7. An automatic paper feeding means, comprising a paper loading portion capable of setting a plurality of papers, feeding the papers set in the paper loading portion one by one, and feeding from the automatic paper feeding means. A recording unit for recording on a sheet of paper, a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheet fed from the automatic sheet feeding unit according to the progress of recording, and a unit between the automatic sheet feeding unit and the recording unit. Paper detection means for detecting the trailing edge of the paper, command interpreting means for interpreting the paper ejection command, and ejection command determination means for determining whether or not the ejection command has already been acquired at the time of detecting the trailing edge of the paper. If a paper discharge command has already been received at the time of detecting the trailing edge, the paper feed from the automatic paper feeding means is instructed, and if the paper discharge command has not been received yet, the automatic paper feeding means waits for acquisition of the paper discharge command. Control means for instructing paper feeding from the And a sheet discharging device in a recording apparatus. 8. The sheet discharging device in the recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is in accordance with the control content according to any one of claims 4 to 6. , A high-speed paper feed mode in which paper feed is performed at a relatively short paper interval by issuing a paper feed command at the latest when the paper reaches the set position, At least two modes are provided, including a normal paper feed mode in which paper is fed at relatively long paper intervals by issuing a paper feed command at a timing after being detected by the paper detection means. Ejection / feeding device in a recording device. 9. The sheet discharging device in the recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the automatic sheet feeding unit shares a drive source with the sheet feeding unit, The paper feeding means includes a clutch means for connecting and disconnecting the drive transmission of the drive source, and the control means issues a paper feeding command for the next paper in a state where the clutch means is connected,
A sheet discharging device in a recording apparatus, which issues a command to drive the driving source. 10. A recording apparatus comprising the sheet discharging device according to claim 4. 11. A print control device for transmitting print data and various print commands to a recording device comprising the paper ejection device according to claim 8, which is one of a high speed print mode and a normal print mode from an input means. Accepts the selected setting signal, transmits a mode designation command for selecting the high speed paper feed mode to the recording device when the high speed print mode is set, and selects the normal paper feed mode when the normal print mode is set. And a paper feed mode designating means for transmitting a mode designating command to the printing device.