JP2003246101A - Printer and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid inappropriate printing on a disc-like recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: The lengths LX and LY in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of a disc-like CD-R mounted on a disc tray 23 are measured. Difference between the measured lengths LX and LY in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is then calculated and printing is performed if the difference is not larger than a specified value (e.g. 5 mm), otherwise printing is not performed. Consequently, inappropriate printing on the disc-like CD-R can be avoided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer and its control method, and more particularly to a printer for printing on the surface of a recording medium such as a CD-R or DVD-R and its control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printers capable of printing on the surface of a recording medium such as an optical recording medium typified by a compact disc such as a CD-R have been on the market. When printing on a disk-shaped recording medium with such a printer, a dedicated tray is used so that the recording medium can move in the area scanned by the print head when printing on normal paper. The dedicated tray includes a support portion that supports the recording medium, and the dedicated tray moves in the paper transport direction of the printer, that is, the sub-scanning direction, so that the print head can print on the surface of the recording medium.

In printing on such a recording medium, accurate printing cannot be performed unless the printer recognizes the size and position of the recording medium. Therefore, conventionally, a marker is attached to a predetermined position of a dedicated tray, the marker is read by a sensor, and the position of the recording medium is indirectly obtained from the positional relationship between the marker and the supporting portion of the recording medium.

[0004]

However, even if the recording medium is set in the support portion of the dedicated tray, the recording medium may move slightly within the support portion of the dedicated tray.
Further, the positional relationship between the marker and the supporting portion of the recording medium has a limit in terms of accuracy due to manufacturing tolerances, and since there is a slight variation, the position of the recording medium cannot always be accurately recognized even if the position of the marker can be detected. There is. If the printing operation is performed in this state, printing cannot be performed accurately at a predetermined position on the surface of the recording medium, resulting in a recording medium with low print quality.

Further, in the conventional method of detecting only the marker, the recording medium itself is not detected, so that so-called blank ejection may occur on the tray when the recording medium is not present.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-014001, both ends of the recording medium on the dedicated tray in the sub-scanning direction and both ends in the main scanning direction are detected, and the center of the recording medium is detected from these detected two ends. A technique for accurately detecting a position is disclosed. And this
Even if the recording medium is slightly displaced in the dedicated tray, the printing can be positioned with high accuracy.

When detecting both ends of the recording medium in the main scanning direction, a sensor is used for continuous movement at a constant speed on a line passing through a position deviating from the central portion of the recording medium. Both ends of the recording medium are detected by. Further, when detecting both ends of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction, the carriage equipped with the sensor is stopped at a position outside the central portion of the recording medium, and while the sensing is performed by this sensor, the dedicated tray is moved in the sub-scanning direction. To move continuously at a constant speed. Thereby, both ends of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction are detected.

The line for sensing is set at a position outside the central portion of the recording medium. The central portion of the recording medium such as an optical recording medium is made of a transparent surface, and
This is because the central portion of the recording medium has a protrusion for positioning the disc tray in the support portion, and therefore it is necessary to avoid erroneously detecting these as the edges of the recording medium. However, if the line for sensing is off the center of the recording medium, if the recording medium is disc-shaped,
The relationship between the sensing line and the edge of the recording medium is not a vertical relationship but a slanted relationship, which causes a problem that the sensing accuracy of the sensor is reduced. Therefore, in order to improve the sensing accuracy, it is desirable that the sensing line passes through the center of the recording medium.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-014001, since the sensor senses the edge of the recording medium at a constant speed, a long time is required for the processing for detecting both edges of the recording medium. There is also the problem of doing.

Further, in the case where some stains are attached to the recording medium, the printer may calculate an incorrect center position due to the influence of the stains, and printing may not be performed at an appropriate position. There is also the problem of being lost. In addition, when the print data is created assuming that the recording medium has a disc shape, if a recording medium that is not a disc shape is placed on the disc tray, it will not be present at the position where the recording medium exists. There is also the problem of printing up to. As a result, the disc tray becomes dirty with ink.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is determined whether the both ends of the recording medium detected by the printer are the both ends of the original recording medium, and the recording medium placed on the disc tray has a disc shape. By determining whether there is any, it is an object to avoid improper printing.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, a printer according to the present invention measures the diameter of a disk-shaped recording medium placed on a disc tray for printing in a first direction. First measuring means, a second measuring means for measuring a diameter of the recording medium in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a diameter in the first direction,
Calculating means for calculating a difference from the diameter in the second direction.

In this case, the printer may be provided with a judging means for printing if the difference is less than a predetermined value and not printing if the difference is larger than the predetermined value.

Further, in this case, in the judging means,
If it is determined that the difference is larger than a predetermined value, error processing means for ejecting the disc tray may be further provided.

Further, it is possible to further include a printing means for printing based on print data created on the assumption that the recording medium has a disk shape.

The first direction is a direction in which the print head reciprocates when the printer prints.
The second direction may be a direction in which the printer conveys the disc tray.

In this case, the first measuring means and the second measuring means
A sensor used when measuring the diameter by the measuring means may be provided in the print head.

In this case, the first measuring means carries out sensing while moving the sensor on a line passing through the center of the disk-shaped recording medium and along the first direction. , Detecting both ends of the recording medium,
The diameter in the first direction may be calculated based on the positions of the both ends.

In this case, the second measuring means makes the sensor stand still on a line passing through the central portion of the disk-shaped recording medium and along the second direction, and in this state the disc While moving the tray in the second direction,
Both ends of the recording medium may be detected by performing sensing by the sensor, and the diameter in the second direction may be calculated based on the positions of the both ends.

The present invention can also be realized as a control method for controlling the printer as described above.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sensor is used for sensing in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction on a line passing through a central portion of a recording medium on a disc tray, and the sensing by this sensor is performed. At this time, by skipping the vicinity of the central portion of the recording medium without performing the sensing by the sensor, the positions of both ends of the recording medium can be detected with high accuracy. Further, according to the present embodiment, the diameter of the recording medium in the main scanning direction and the diameter in the sub scanning direction are measured and calculated, and if the difference between them is larger than a predetermined value, printing is not performed, so that improper printing is performed. It is an attempt to avoid that is done. More details will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer equipped with a recording medium position detecting device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the carriage periphery of the ink jet printer, and FIG. 3 is a disc tray. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which a CD-R, which is an example of a recording medium, is placed on the disc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet printer 1 includes a printer body 3 having a paper feed button 2 and a paper discharge section 7 formed on the front side of the printer body 3. The ink jet printer 1 is usually for printing on paper, and when paper is used as a print medium, a paper feed tray for stocking paper can be attached to the rear side of the printer body 3. Has become.

As shown in FIG. 2, a carriage 9 is provided inside the printer body 3. The carriage 9 is
When the printing operation is not performed, the printer 1 is located at the home position on the right side of FIG. 1, and at the time of printing, the printer body 3 can reciprocate in the width direction, that is, the main scanning direction. A print head 11 is provided at the lower end of the carriage 9 and a CD-R (Compact Disk Recordable) which is an example of a recording medium.
A sensor 10 for detecting (abbreviation of e) is provided. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the disc tray 23 is black and the surface of the CD-R is white. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a light reflection type sensor is used as the sensor 10, the light emitted from the sensor 10 is reflected on the surface of the disc tray or the CD-R, and the amount of this reflected light is used. Is detected by the sensor 10 to detect whether or not the CD-R is present at that position. In other words, sensor 1
0 detects the lightness of the color and detects the presence of an object by the change in the lightness.

A platen 14 is provided at a position facing the print head 11 to support the paper from below during printing. Further, on the upstream side of the print head 11, a transport roller 13 having a transport driving roller 13a and a transport driven roller 13b is provided.
And a paper discharge roller 15 having a paper discharge drive roller 15a and a paper discharge driven roller 15b is provided on the downstream side of the print head 11. The transport driving roller 13 a can drive a disc tray, which will be described later, in the front-back direction of the inkjet printer 1 by rotating the transport driving motor 16 in the forward or reverse direction.

Returning to FIG. 1, a disc tray receiving portion 17 is formed on the front side of the printer main body 3, and the tray attachment 19 can be fully inserted into the disc tray receiving portion 17 from the front side until it comes into contact with the stopper. It has become. The tray attachment 19 includes a tray support 21 provided on both left and right sides and the tray support 21.
And a disc tray 23 supported slidably in the front-rear direction along a guide formed inside.
In this embodiment, the disc tray 23 is made of a flat plate and made of black plastic.

A storage unit 25 for a recording medium, such as a CD-R, to be printed is formed on the disc tray 23, and its center is substantially the same as the hole formed in the center of the recording medium. A protrusion 26 having a diameter is formed. This protrusion 26
The recording medium can be concentrically arranged with respect to the storage section 25 by inserting holes of recording media of different sizes such as a 12 cm CD-R12 and an 8 cm CD-R8. Further, a white rectangular position marker 27 is printed at a predetermined position on the disc tray 23. The operation of the position marker 27 will be described later.

In the disc tray receiving portion 17, when the tray attachment 19 is inserted, the flat plate-shaped disc tray 23 has a sheet discharge driving roller 15a and a sheet discharge driven roller 15.
It is configured so as to be sandwiched between b and b and between the transport driving roller 13a and the transport driven roller 13b. As a result, the disc tray 23 is moved to the transport drive roller 13a.
Also, it can be moved in the front-back direction of the printer between the tray supports 21 by receiving the driving force of the paper ejection drive roller 15a.

Further, the ink jet printer 1 is provided with a control device 29 (see FIG. 2) in which a flow for detecting the position of the recording medium is stored and which can perform coordinate system calculation and the like.

Next, a CD-R8, which is an example of a recording medium,
The procedure of performing printing on 12 will be described, and the position detection device and the position detection method for the recording medium according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, the backward direction of the inkjet printer 1, that is, the direction in which the tray attachment 19 is pushed is + Y direction, and the opposite direction is the -Y direction, and the right direction of the printer 1, that is, the home position side of the carriage 9 is + X direction in FIG. The direction and the opposite direction are the -X direction. Here, the + Y direction and the −Y direction correspond to the sheet conveyance direction in the printer, that is, the sub-scanning direction.
The −X direction corresponds to the scanning direction of the carriage 9, that is, the main scanning direction.

(1) First, the user inserts the tray support 21 of the tray attachment 19 into the disc tray receiving portion 1
The printer 7 is pushed into the printer main body 3 and mounted, and the transport drive system for the paper such as the transport roller 13 and the paper discharge roller 15 is set to the release state.

(2) Next, the user selects the disc tray 2
The CD-R is placed on the disk 3, and the disk tray 23 is pushed into the printer body 3 as much as possible. Then, the release state of the transport roller 13 is released so that the disc tray 23 can be transported.

(3) In this state, the user presses the paper feed button 2.

As a result, the recording medium position detection process is started in the control device 29 of the ink jet printer 1. 4 to 6 are flowcharts for explaining the contents of the recording medium position detection processing according to this embodiment.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, in this recording medium position detection processing, the control device 29 moves the carriage 9 from the home position to the vicinity of the position marker 27 (step S10). Subsequently, the control device 29 moves the disc tray 23 in the −Y direction or the + Y direction by rotating the transport roller 13 in the normal direction or the reverse direction, and uses the sensor 10 provided on the carriage 9 to detect the position marker 27. Search (step S12).

In the present embodiment, in the above (2), when the user correctly pushes the disc tray 23 into the printer body 3, the Y-direction coordinates of the position marker 27 correspond to the Y-direction of the sensor 10. It is set to be the same as the coordinates. Therefore, it is possible to move the carriage 9 near the position marker 27 and
Detects the position marker 27.

Therefore, the controller 29 controls the sensor 10
Is used to determine whether or not the position marker 27 has been detected (step S14). If the position marker 27 cannot be detected (step S14: No), it means that the user is not pushing the disc tray 23 properly, so the disc tray 23 is moved forward and backward (+ Y direction and −Y direction), and the sensor The disc tray 23 is stopped at the position where 10 has detected the position marker 27 (step S16).

When the process of step S16 is completed or when it is determined that the position marker 27 is detected in step S14 (step S14: Yes), the controller 29 moves the disc tray 23 in the -Y direction. Move to the upstream side of the position marker 27 (+ Y direction side)
Edge 28 is detected (step S18). The side 28 is detected by finding the boundary between the white position marker 27 and the black disc tray 23 based on the difference in brightness.

By detecting the upstream side 28 of the position marker 27, the Y-direction position (the position of the line m in FIG. 3) to be moved to detect both ends of the CD-R 8, 12 in the X direction is determined. . Therefore, the control device 29 moves the disc tray 23 and moves the carriage 9 so that the sensor 10 is located at the position PS1 on the line m (step S20). In addition, in the present embodiment, the line m is set so as to pass through the central portions of the CD-Rs 8 and 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the position PS1 is closer to the outer peripheral edge of the CD-R 12 of 12 cm which is the maximum size of the CD-R that can be stored in the disc tray 23.
It is located 5 mm outside. This is a 12 cm C
This is to secure a margin so that the sensor 10 can detect the outer edge of the CD-R even when the D-R 12 is placed on the disc tray 23.

Next, the control device 29 moves the carriage 9 to move the position of the sensor 10 from the position PS1 in FIG. 7 to the position PS2 while performing the sensing by the sensor 10 (step S22). This Figure 7
As shown in FIG.
8cm C which is the smallest CD-R size that can be stored
It is located 5 mm inward of the outer edge of D-R8. This means that even if the 8 cm CD-R 8 is placed on the disc tray 23, the sensor 10 is
This is to secure a margin so that the outer edge of the can be detected.

Next, the control device 29 moves the carriage 9 to move the position of the sensor 10 to the position P in FIG.
It moves from S2 to the position PS3 (step S24).
When moving from the position PS2 to the position PS3, the sensing by the sensor 10 is not performed. Usually CD-R
Has a white printing surface 31 located on the outer peripheral side thereof and a transparent surface TSP which is not the printing surface 31 located on the center side thereof. Therefore, the transparent surface TSP and the protrusion 26 are present in the central portion of the CD-R. For this reason,
When the central portion of the CD-R is sensed by the sensor 10, these are detected as noise, and the CD is erroneously detected.
This is because it may be determined that the edge is the outer peripheral side of -R.

Further, in this embodiment, the position PS
The moving speed of the carriage 9 from the position 2 to the position PS3 is set higher than the moving speed of the carriage 9 from the position PS1 to the position PS2. This is because no sensing is performed by the sensor 10, and no problem occurs even if the carriage 9 is moved at a high speed. Also, by moving the carriage 9 at such a high speed, the time required for the recording medium position detection processing can be shortened.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the position PS3 is
For the same reason as the above-mentioned position PS2, the disc tray 23 is located 5 mm inside the outer edge of the 8 cm CD-R 8 which is the smallest CD-R size that can be stored. The position PS3 is on the opposite side of the position PS2 with the center of the CD-R interposed therebetween.

Next, the control device 29 moves the carriage 9 to move the position of the sensor 10 from the position PS3 to the position PS4 in FIG. 7 while performing the sensing by the sensor 10 (step S26). This Figure 7
For the same reason as the position PS1 described above, the position PS2 is a CD-R 12 of 12 cm which is the maximum CD-R size that can be stored in the disc tray 23.
It is located 5 mm outside the outer peripheral edge.
Further, this position PS4 is a CD-R with respect to the position PS1.
It is located on the opposite side of the center.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the controller 29
By moving the carriage 9,
The position of the sensor 10 is moved from the position PS4 in FIG. 7 to the position PS3 while performing the sensing by (step S30).

Next, the control device 29 moves the carriage 9 to move the position of the sensor 10 to the position P in FIG.
The position is moved from S3 to the position PS2 (step S32).
When moving from the position PS3 to the position PS2, the sensing by the sensor 10 is not performed. Also, the position PS3
The moving speed of the carriage 9 from the position P2 to the position PS2 is
It is faster than the moving speed of the carriage 9 from S4 to the position PS3. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following relationship of the moving speed of the carriage 9 is established.

Moving speed V from position PS1 to position PS2
1 = moving speed V3 from position PS3 to position PS4 = moving speed V4 from position PS4 to position PS3 = moving speed V6 from position PS2 to position PS1. Also, the position PS
Moving speed V2 from position 2 to position PS3 = moving speed V5 from position PS3 to position PS2. And V2 = V5
> V1 = V3 = V4 = V6.

Next, the control device 29 moves the carriage 9 to move the position of the sensor 10 from the position PS2 in FIG. 7 to the position PS1 while performing the sensing by the sensor 10 (step S34).

Next, the controller 29 controls the disc tray 2
The center position CX in the X-axis direction of the CD-R placed on No. 3 is calculated (step S36). In the present embodiment, the position of the edge on the outer peripheral side detected in step S22 is set to DPS1.
The outer edge position detected in step S26 is DPS2, the outer edge position detected in step S30 is DPS3, and the outer edge position detected in step S34 is DPS4. . And the position DPS
Based on the value of 1 in the X-axis direction and the value of the position DPS3 in the X-axis direction, the first center position CX1 in the X-axis direction is calculated. Then, the value of the position DPS2 in the X-axis direction and the position DP
A second center position CX2 in the X-axis direction is calculated based on the value of S4 in the X-axis direction. Then, the center position CX is specified by calculating the average of the center position CX1 and the center position CX2.

In this way, the sensing characteristic when the sensor 10 is in the state of detecting the CD-R from the state of detecting the disc tray 23 and the CD-R
This is because there is a difference between the sensing characteristics when the disk tray 23 is detected and when the disk tray 23 is detected. Therefore, in this embodiment, the position D is set so that the sensing characteristics of the sensor 10 are the same.
First center position CX based on PS1 and position DPS3
That is, 1 is calculated, and the second center position CX2 is calculated based on the positions DPS2 and DPS4.

As a result, the center position CX in the X-axis direction is determined, and the control device 29 next specifies the center position CY in the Y-axis direction. Specifically, the control device 29 moves the carriage 9 to move the sensor 10 to the position of the line n shown in FIG. 3 (step S38). In the present embodiment, the position of the line n in the X-axis direction is the position of the center position CX calculated in step S36. However, this X
The position in the axial direction can be mechanically determined at the time when the tray attachment 19 is inserted into the disc tray receiving portion 17, so this mechanically determined position is stored in advance as the position of the line n. Good. Also,
The line n is a line extending in a direction intersecting with the line m described above, and particularly in the present embodiment, the line n and the line m are orthogonal to each other.

Next, the controller 29 controls the disc tray 2
By moving 3 in the + Y direction, the position of the sensor 10 on the carriage 9 is aligned with the position PS5 shown in FIG. 8 (step S40). Then, the control device 2
9 is moving the disc tray 23 in the -Y direction,
By performing sensing, the position of the sensor 10 is adjusted to the position PS6 (step S42).

Next, the control device 29 moves the disc tray 23 in the -Y direction without performing sensing, so that the position of the sensor 10 is changed to the position PS7 shown in FIG.
(Step S44). Position PS6 to position P
The movement speed of the disc tray 23 up to S7 is the position PS.
It is equivalent to the moving speed of the disc tray 23 from 5 to the position PS6. This is because, if the moving speed of the disc tray 23 is changed, the CD-R placed on the disc tray 23 may move and shift, although slightly.

Next, the controller 29 controls the disc tray 2
By performing sensing while moving 3 in the -Y direction, the position of the sensor 10 is adjusted to the position PS8 shown in FIG. 8 (step S46).

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the controller 29
Performs sensing while moving the disc tray 23 in the + Y direction so that the position of the sensor 10 matches the position PS7 shown in FIG. 8 (step S50).
Subsequently, the control device 29 does not perform sensing,
By moving the disc tray 23 in the + Y direction, the position of the sensor 10 is aligned with the position PS6 shown in FIG. 8 (step S52).

Next, the controller 29 controls the disc tray 2
By performing sensing while moving 3 in the + Y direction, the position of the sensor 10 is adjusted to the position PS5 shown in FIG. 8 (step S54).

As described above, in this embodiment,
The moving speed of the disk tray 23 in the −Y direction and the moving speed of the disk tray 23 in the + Y direction are constant. Therefore, the following relationship of the moving speed of the disc tray 23 is established.

Moving speed V from position PS5 to position PS6
7 = moving speed from position PS6 to position PS7 V8 = moving speed from position PS7 to position PS8 V9 = moving speed from position PS8 to position PS7 V10 = moving speed from position PS7 to position PS6 V11 = position from position PS6 PS5
Is a moving speed V12.

Next, the control device 29 calculates the center position CY in the Y-axis direction (step S56). In the present embodiment, the outer edge position detected in step S42 is DPS5, the outer edge position detected in step S46 is DPS6, and the outer edge position detected in step S50. Is defined as DPS7, and the position of the edge on the outer peripheral side detected in step S54 is defined as DPS8. And
For the same reason as the above-described calculation of the center position CX, the value of the position DPS5 in the Y-axis direction and the value of the position DPS7 Y.
The first center position CY1 in the Y-axis direction is calculated based on the value in the axial direction. Subsequently, the second center position CY2 in the Y-axis direction is calculated based on the value of the position DPS6 in the X-axis direction and the value of the position DPS8 in the Y-axis direction. Then, the center position CY is specified by calculating the average of the center positions CY1 and CY2.

Next, the controller 29 calculates the length LX of the CD-R in the X-axis direction (step S58). For the same reason as when the center position CX and the center position CY are calculated, in the present embodiment, the first X is calculated from the difference between the position of the position DPS1 in the X axis direction and the position of the position DPS3 in the X axis direction. Calculate the axial length LX1 and calculate the position DP
The second length LX2 in the X-axis direction is calculated from the difference between the position of S2 in the X-axis direction and the position of position DPS4 in the X-axis direction. Then, the length LX of the CD-R in the X-axis direction is calculated by obtaining the average of the length LX1 and the length LX2. As shown in FIG. 9, for example, a CD-R mounted on the disc tray 23 is a CD-R having a diameter of 12 cm.
When it is 12, the length LX in the X-axis direction is about 12
It should be cm. That is, in the present embodiment, the length LX corresponds to the diameter of the disc-shaped CD-R in the X-axis direction.

Next, the controller 29 calculates the length LY of the CD-R in the Y-axis direction (step S60). For the same reason as when the center position CX and the center position CY are calculated, in the present embodiment, the first Y is calculated by the difference between the position of the position DPS5 in the Y-axis direction and the position of the position DPS7 in the Y-axis direction. Calculate the axial length LY1 and calculate the position DP
A second length LY2 in the Y-axis direction is calculated based on the difference between the position in the Y-axis direction of S6 and the position of the position DPS8 in the Y-axis direction. Then, the length LY of the CD-R in the Y-axis direction is calculated by obtaining the average of the lengths LY1 and LY2. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the length LY in the Y-axis direction should be about 12 cm. That is, in the present embodiment, the length LY corresponds to the diameter of the disc-shaped CD-R in the Y-axis direction.

Next, the control device 29 controls the length L in the X-axis direction.
It is determined whether the difference between X and the length LY in the Y-axis direction is less than or equal to a predetermined value (step S62). In this embodiment, it is determined whether the difference between the length LX and the length LY is 5 mm or less. This value can be determined, for example, by adding an error in the mounting position of the sensor 10, an error in the stop position of the transport drive motor 16, and an arbitrary margin.

When the difference between the length LX and the length LY is 5 mm or less (step S62: Yes), the control device 29 executes printing (step S64). Specifically, the central positions CX, CY, and C
Since the diameter of the D-R (that is, the type of the CD-R) can be specified, the control device 29 controls the printing start position based on the center positions CX, CY and the diameter of the CD-R. The tip in the −Y direction, which is PST (see FIG. 9), is calculated. Then, printing is started from the print start position PST. The data to be printed should match the shape of the printing surface 31,
It is processed into a donut shape. The processing of the print data is performed by the computer that generated the print data or the inkjet printer 1.

On the other hand, the difference between the length LX and the length LY is 5 m.
When it is larger than m (step S62: No), the control device 29 performs error processing and does not execute printing (step S66). This is because the CD-R placed on the disc tray 23 may not be a disc-shaped CD-R, and if the disc-shaped CD-R is not used, a normal printing result cannot be obtained and the disc-shaped CD-R cannot be obtained. This is because there is a risk of printing on the tray 23. Further, even if the CD-R placed on the disc tray 23 has a disc shape, the CD-R may not be properly placed for some reason. Further, even if the CD-R placed on the disc tray 23 has a disc shape, the wrong center positions CX and CY are calculated due to the dirt attached to the CD-R. Because there is a fear that In this embodiment, in this error processing, the disc tray 23 is ejected from the inkjet printer 1 to prompt the user to confirm again.

With the above, the recording medium position detection processing according to the present embodiment is completed. In addition, in FIG. 3, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, the CD-R 12 of 12 cm and the CD-R 8 of 8 cm.
Are shown for the sake of convenience of description, and it goes without saying that only one of the CD-Rs is actually placed on the disc tray 23.

As described above, according to the recording medium position detecting device in the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, when sensing the outer edge of the CD-R in the X-axis direction, the CD-R is detected. Position PS2 which is the central part
From the position to the position PS3, no sensing is performed. Further, when sensing the edge on the outer peripheral side of the CD-R in the Y-axis direction, the position P which is the central portion of the CD-R is detected.
It is decided not to perform sensing from S6 to position PS7. For this reason, the sensor 10 is
The protrusion 26 for inserting the SP or the CD-R is attached to the CD-
It is possible to avoid detecting the edge of R as being the edge.

Further, by not sensing between the position PS2 and the position PS3 in the X-axis direction, the carriage 9 can be moved at a high speed during this period. Therefore, the time required for the recording medium position detection processing can be shortened.

Further, in the present embodiment, the positions of the line m and the line n are set so as to pass through the center of the CD-R, so that the sensor 10 can detect the edge of the CD-R with high accuracy. Can be improved. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a line o displaced from the center
When attempting to sense the upper part of the line and the upper part of the line p using the sensor 10, the sensor 10 detects an edge of the CD-R that is inclined as shown by the line q, and the sensing accuracy is Will fall. On the other hand, when the sensor 10 is used to sense the upper part of the line m and the upper part of the line n passing through the central portion as in the present embodiment, the line m or the line n is indicated by the line r. The sensor 10 detects the edge of the CD-R which is approximately vertical. Therefore, the edge of the CD-R can be detected with higher accuracy.

The lengths LX and Y of the CD-R in the X-axis direction
It is determined whether the difference from the axial length LY is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and if it is greater than the predetermined value, printing is not performed. For this reason, a CD-R that is not a disc shape
It is possible to prevent the disc tray 23 from being soiled by printing the print data generated on the assumption that the disc tray 23 has the disc shape even though the disc tray 23 is placed on the disc tray 23. Further, even if the disc-shaped CD-R is placed on the disc tray 23, dirt is attached to the surface thereof, and the wrong center positions CX and CY are calculated due to the dirt. Even in the case of printing, it is possible to avoid printing at the wrong position as it is.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, in FIG. 8 in the above-described embodiment, the disc tray 2 when the sensor 10 is moved from the position PS6 to the position PS7.
3 and the moving speed V of the disc tray 23 when moving the sensor 10 from the position PS7 to the position PS6.
11 and other moving speeds V7, V9, V10 and V12
May be faster than. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, in order that the CD-R can be fixedly mounted on the disc tray 23, the fixing cap 40 may be fitted into the protrusion 26 from above the CD-R.

Further, in FIG. 7 in the above-described embodiment, the moving speed V2 of the carriage 9 when moving the sensor 10 from the position PS2 to the position PS3 and the carriage 9 when moving the sensor 10 from the position PS3 to the position PS2. The moving speed V5 may be the same as the other moving speeds V1, V3, V4 and V6.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sensor 10 is reciprocated once on the line m to measure both ends of the CD-R twice in the X-axis direction. You may make it measure only once by moving in one direction. Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, the sensor 10 is reciprocated once on the line n to measure both ends of the CD-R in the Y-axis direction twice, but the sensor 10 is unidirectional on the line n. The measurement may be performed only once by moving to. In this case, the center position CX is calculated based on the positions of the two edges in the X-axis direction measured only once, and the center position CY is calculated based on the positions of the two edges in the Y-axis direction measured only once. Will be done.

In the above embodiment, the length LX of the recording medium in the X-axis direction is compared with the length LY of the recording medium in the Y-axis direction, and if the difference is larger than the predetermined value, printing is not performed. However, such a determination process may not be performed. That is, step S58 in FIG.
The processes of step S60, step S62, and step S66 can be omitted.

On the other hand, when this determination processing is performed, the length LX of the recording medium in the X-axis direction and the length L of the recording medium in the Y-axis direction are set.
The method of measuring Y is not limited to the method described above. That is, it is sufficient if the length LX of the recording medium in the X-axis direction and the length LY in the Y-axis direction can be measured by some method.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the CD-R which is an optical recording medium has been described as an example of the recording medium. However, in addition to this, a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memor) is used.
y)), Compact Disc Rewritable (CD-R
W (Compact Disc ReWritable), Dividi (D
A disc-shaped recorded medium such as a VD (Digital Versatile Disc) and a disc-shaped recordable medium are also included in the recording medium.

[0076]

As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, the diameter of the disk-shaped recording medium placed on the disc tray in the first direction and the diameter in the second direction are measured, and both are measured. If the difference is larger than the predetermined value, printing is not performed, so it is possible to avoid improper printing on the recording medium.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer including a recording medium position detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of the carriage of the inkjet printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a CD-R is placed on a disc tray.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the content of a recording medium position detection process executed by the control device according to the present embodiment (No. 1).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the content of recording medium position detection processing executed by the control device according to the present embodiment (No. 2).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the content of a recording medium position detection process executed by the control device according to the present embodiment (part 3).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a sensor and a recording medium when detecting positions of both ends of a CD-R placed on a disc tray in the X-axis direction.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a sensor and a recording medium when the positions of both ends of a CD-R placed on a disc tray in the Y-axis direction are detected.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the positions of both ends detected, which are the basis of the calculation when calculating the length in the X-axis direction and the length in the Y-axis direction on a 12 cm CD-R.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of the above embodiment and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 inkjet printer 2 Paper feed button 3 Printer body 88 cm CD-R 9 carriage 10 sensors 11 print head 12 12 cm CD-R 13 Conveyor rollers 15 Paper ejection roller 16 Transport drive motor 17 Disc tray receiving part 19 Tray Attachment 21 tray support 23 Disc tray 25 Storage 27 position markers 28 upstream side of position marker 29 Control device 31 Printing side

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first measuring means for measuring a diameter in a first direction of a disk-shaped recording medium placed on a disc tray for printing, and a first measuring means which intersects the first direction of the recording medium. A printer comprising: a second measuring unit that measures a diameter in two directions; and a calculating unit that calculates a difference between the diameter in the first direction and the diameter in the second direction. 2. If the difference is less than a predetermined value, printing is performed,
The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that does not print if the difference is larger than a predetermined value. 3. The printer according to claim 2, further comprising error processing means for ejecting the disc tray when the determination means determines that the difference is larger than a predetermined value. 4. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints based on print data created assuming that the recording medium has a disk shape. The printer described in Crab. 5. The first direction is a direction in which a print head reciprocates when the printer prints, and the second direction is a direction in which the printer transports a disc tray. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The printer according to claim 5, wherein a sensor used when measuring the diameter by the first measuring means and the second measuring means is provided in the print head. 7. The first measuring means performs sensing while moving the sensor on a line passing through the center of the disk-shaped recording medium and along the first direction, 7. The printer according to claim 6, wherein both ends of the recording medium are detected, and the diameter in the first direction is calculated based on the positions of the both ends. 8. The second measuring means causes the sensor to stand still on a line passing through the central portion of the disk-shaped recording medium and extending along the second direction, and in this state, the disc tray. While moving the first direction in the second direction, sensing is performed by the sensor to detect both ends of the recording medium, and the diameter in the second direction is calculated based on the positions of the both ends. The printer according to claim 7. 9. A first measuring step of measuring a diameter in a first direction of a disk-shaped recording medium placed on a disc tray for printing, and a first measuring step intersecting the first direction of the recording medium. A method of controlling a printer, comprising: a second measuring step of measuring a diameter in two directions; and a calculating step of calculating a difference between the diameter in the first direction and the diameter in the second direction. .