JP2003276258A - Printer controller and method of controlling printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer controller that can perform a PF measurement operation corresponding to attaching or detaching of an optional device which may cause a fluctuation of a paper-feeding load in order to precisely control a paper feed motor for driving a paper feed mechanism of a printer even in the case where an amount of fed paper at one time is small and to provide a method of controlling the printer. <P>SOLUTION: In this printer controller and the method of controlling the printer, selection of performing or not performing the PF measurement operation for measuring the current of the motor corresponding to the paper-feeding driving load in the driving of the constant speed of the paper feed motor in response to detection of the attaching or detaching of the optional device to or from the printer body is instructed. An operation necessary for the PF measurement is instructed to be performed corresponding to the selection of the PF measurement operation. <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 control device and a printer control method, and more particularly, to controlling a paper feed motor for driving a paper feed mechanism with high accuracy even when the amount of paper fed at one time is small. Therefore, the PF (paper feed) measurement, which measures the motor current according to the motor drive load during constant-speed drive operation and calculates the average value of the motor current, is used for optional equipment that can vary the paper feed load. The present invention relates to a printer control device and a printer control method that can be executed according to attachment / detachment. Further, the present invention relates to a recording medium recording a computer program that executes the printer control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printer control device and a printer control method, when a power supply is turned on in order to control a paper feed motor for driving a paper feed mechanism with high accuracy even when the amount of paper fed at one time is small. In addition, PF (paper feed) measurement has been conventionally performed to measure a motor current according to a motor drive load during a constant speed drive operation and further calculate an average value of the motor current.

In a normal printer, acceleration control by open loop control is performed immediately after the motor driving for paper feeding operation is started, and then PID control is performed when the motor speed approaches the speed of constant speed driving operation. Then, the constant speed drive control of the motor is performed.

Under the PID control, the integral value of the motor current I is sequentially accumulated, and the integral value of the motor current I is proportional to the motor driving load. Further, the appropriate control of the motor current I is performed. Therefore, during the PID control period, the motor current I
Even if the value of fluctuates due to disturbance or the like, the accumulated motor current I
Since the correction can be performed using the integrated value of, high-precision control is possible.

On the other hand, under the open loop control, the integrated value of the motor current I is not stored. Therefore, even if the value of the motor current I fluctuates due to disturbance or the like during the open loop control period, the correction cannot be performed using the integrated value of the motor current I. Therefore, during the open-loop control period immediately after the start of driving, an error is likely to occur in the magnitude of the motor current, and it is difficult to control with high accuracy.

When the paper feed amount per one time is large, the control method is switched from the open loop control to the PID control until the end of the driving operation, so that there is some error in the magnitude of the motor current. However, it is relatively easy to perform accurate positioning by performing correction using the accumulated integral value of the motor current I.

On the other hand, when the paper feed amount per time is small, the end of the driving operation is reached by almost only the open loop control. Therefore, if there is an error in the magnitude of the motor current immediately after the start of driving, the time and distance to the end of the driving operation are short, and the integrated value of the motor current I cannot be used for correction. It is difficult to perform accurate positioning.

Therefore, as described above, every time the power of the printer is turned on, the motor current according to the paper feed drive load during the constant speed drive of the paper feed motor is measured in advance, and the motor current The PF measurement is performed to indirectly measure the paper feed drive load by calculating the average value of the motor current from the integrated value.

This PF measurement performs a paper feed drive operation when the printer power is turned on, measures the motor current for the drive operation, and further integrates the integrated value of the motor current. Then, the drive load of the paper feed mechanism is indirectly measured by calculating the average value of the motor current. When measuring the drive load of the paper feed mechanism, the paper may not be inserted in the paper feed mechanism, that is, the paper feed mechanism may be empty, or the paper may not be inserted in the paper feed mechanism. May be inserted. The average value of the calculated motor current is stored and held in the memory provided in the printer. Further, in the memory provided in the printer, the load due to the paper being inserted into the paper feed mechanism, that is,
The drive load of the paper feed mechanism caused only by the presence of the inserted paper is converted into a corresponding motor current value and stored as an offset value. The memory that stores the average value of the motor current and the memory that stores the offset value may be the same memory or different memories.

The average value of the motor current obtained by the PF measurement as described above is a driving operation which does not lead to PID control because the paper feeding amount per time is small among the paper feeding driving operations performed thereafter. Used in the case of. It should be noted that the average value of the motor current obtained by the PF measurement performed while the paper is inserted in the paper feed mechanism is used alone without using the offset value. on the other hand,
P performed when no paper is inserted in the paper feed mechanism
The average value of the motor current obtained by F measurement is used together with the offset value. This makes it possible to improve control accuracy and perform accurate positioning even when the amount of paper fed once is small.

The conventional PF measurement is performed every time the printer is powered on. The reason why the PF measurement is performed every time the power of the printer is turned on is that the drive load of the paper feeding mechanism changes due to various conditions. For example, the drive load of the paper feeding mechanism of the printer when shipped from the factory is relatively large, but the drive load becomes smaller when the printer is used to some extent and the running-in progresses. Further, when the environmental temperature is low, the driving load is large, and when it is high, the driving load is small. In addition, the drive load fluctuates due to various conditions such as the amount and deterioration of the lubricating oil used in the paper feed mechanism, the wear state of each rotating shaft that makes up the paper feed mechanism, and in extreme cases, the maximum value is It may reach twice the minimum value.

Therefore, conventionally, PF measurement is performed every time the power of the printer is turned on, and the average value of the optimum motor current calculated each time is used to realize highly accurate paper feed drive control. It was

[0013]

However, since the PF measurement by the conventional printer control device and printer control method is performed only when the power of the printer is turned on, the following problems occur. There is.

As printers have become widespread, they have come to be used together with optional equipment for various purposes. For example, when using a roll paper in which a strip-shaped printing paper is wound in a roll when printing an image captured by a digital camera, it is necessary to separate the strip-shaped printing paper for each image after printing. The print paper may be cut off by the user's hand, but it is possible to automatically cut the print paper by installing the cutter built-in housing in which the cutter is built into the printer as an optional device. Possible models are becoming popular.

By the way, some optional devices represented by a housing with a built-in cutter operate by utilizing the driving force of a paper feed motor for driving the paper feed mechanism of the printer body. For example, the above-mentioned housing with a built-in cutter automatically cuts the printing paper by driving the cutter using the driving force of the paper feed motor. In addition, in order to make it possible to use multiple types of printing paper at all times, paper can be fed from within the additional paper feeding tray loaded with printing paper of any type and size and installed in the printer body. There is a paper feed mechanism that uses the driving force of the paper feed motor of the printer body.

However, by utilizing the driving force of the paper feed motor of the printer body in the optional equipment mounted on the printer body, the drive load of the paper feed mechanism and the corresponding motor current value fluctuate. . As a result, the difference between the average value of the motor current used for paper feed drive control and the current value of the motor current according to the actual drive load becomes large, and the accuracy of paper feed drive control decreases. To do.

The same problem occurs when the PF measurement is executed with the optional equipment mounted on the printer body to optimize the paper feed control and then the optional equipment is detached from the printer body. Occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper feed motor for driving a paper feed mechanism of a printer used in various environments with a small paper feed amount. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer control device and a printer control method capable of executing PF measurement in accordance with attachment / detachment of an optional device whose paper feed load may fluctuate in order to control with high precision including the above.

[0019]

According to the printer control apparatus of the present invention, an optional device attachment / detachment detector for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from a printer body, and a paper feed according to the detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. A PF measurement selection command section for instructing a selection of execution or non-execution of a PF measurement for measuring a motor current according to a paper feed drive load when the motor is driven at a constant speed;
A PF measurement command execution unit for instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement according to the selection of execution of the F measurement.

According to the printer control method of the present invention,
According to the detection of the attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer main body, the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement for instructing the measurement of the motor current according to the paper feed drive load during the constant speed drive of the paper feed motor is instructed, and , The operation required for the PF measurement is instructed and executed according to the selection of execution of the PF measurement.

It is preferable that the optional device be capable of changing the drive load of the paper feed motor for driving the paper feed mechanism of the printer body and the current value of the corresponding motor current by being attached to or detached from the printer body.

The optional equipment may be a cutter built-in housing in which a cutter for cutting printing paper is built in a dedicated housing. Also, the optional equipment is
It may be a paper feed tray for feeding the loaded printing paper.

It is preferable that the PF measurement further calculates an average value of the motor current.

With the above configuration, the printer control apparatus and the printer control method according to the present invention detect the attachment / detachment of an optional device and provide an opportunity to select whether to execute or not execute the PF measurement. Even when the paper feed load fluctuates, the paper feed motor that always realizes optimized paper feed control and drives the paper feed mechanism of the printer is included, even when the amount of paper feed at one time is small. It becomes possible to control with high accuracy.

According to the printer control apparatus of the first specific configuration of the present invention, the optional device attachment / detachment detector for detecting attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer body, and the attachment / detachment detection of the optional device are detected. A PF measurement selection command section for instructing the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement for measuring the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed, and the execution or execution of the PF measurement. In response to the non-execution selection command, the selection input unit for inputting the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement, and the paper feed mechanism unit according to the selection of the execution of the PF measurement, Is in a nip state for feeding the printing paper of the above size, or a release shape for feeding the printing paper of a thickness exceeding a predetermined range. And a paper end detector for detecting whether or not printing paper is present in the paper feed mechanism unit according to the selection of execution of the PF measurement, and the PF measurement. The PF is selected according to the selection of execution of the PF, the detection of the nip state, and the detection of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section.
A PF measurement command execution unit for instructing and executing an operation required for measurement; and a memory for sequentially accumulating and storing the integral value of the motor current calculated in the process of the PF measurement. Characterize.

According to the printer controller of the second specific configuration of the present invention, a power-on detector for detecting that the power is turned on, and an optional device for detecting attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer body. Instructing the execution / non-execution of PF measurement, which measures the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed according to the attachment / detachment detector and the detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. PF measurement selection command section, a selection input section for inputting selection of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement in response to the selection instruction of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement, detection of power-on or the PF Depending on the selection of execution of measurement, the paper feed mechanism part
Detects whether it is in the nip state for feeding printing paper with a thickness within the specified range or in the release state for feeding printing paper with a thickness exceeding the specified range. A release detector, a paper end detector for detecting whether or not printing paper is present in the paper feeding mechanism section according to selection of power-on detection or execution of the PF measurement, and power-on detection or According to the selection of the execution of the PF measurement, the detection of the nip state and the detection of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section, the P
PF that commands and executes necessary operations for F measurement
A measurement command execution unit and a memory for sequentially accumulating and storing the integral value of the motor current calculated in the process of the PF measurement are provided.

It is preferable that the optional equipment can change the drive load of the paper feed motor for driving the paper feed mechanism of the printer main body and the current value of the corresponding motor current by being attached to or detached from the printer main body.

The optional equipment may be a cutter built-in housing in which a cutter for cutting the printing paper is built in a dedicated housing. Also, the optional equipment is
It may be a paper feed tray for feeding the loaded printing paper.

The PF measurement further calculates the average value of the motor current, and the memory further updates and stores the average value of the motor current calculated by the PF measurement. It is good to

According to the printer control method of the first specific configuration of the present invention, the optional device attachment / detachment detecting step of detecting attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer body, and the attachment / detachment detection of the optional device are performed. A PF measurement selection command step for instructing the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement for measuring the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed; and the execution or execution of the PF measurement. In response to a selection instruction of non-execution, a paper input mechanism step of inputting selection of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement and selection of execution of the PF measurement,
Detects whether it is in the nip state for feeding printing paper with a thickness within the specified range or in the release state for feeding printing paper with a thickness exceeding the specified range. A release detection step, a printing paper detection step of detecting whether or not a printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism section according to the selection of execution of the PF measurement, a selection of execution of the PF measurement, and PF measurement command execution step of instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement according to the detection of the nip state and the detection of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section, and the calculation in the process of the PF measurement And a step of sequentially storing and storing the integrated value of the motor current.

According to the printer control method of the second specific configuration of the present invention, a power-on detection step for detecting that the power is turned on, and an optional device for detecting attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer body. According to the attachment / detachment detection step and the detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device,
A PF measurement selection command step for instructing the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement for measuring the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed; and the execution or execution of the PF measurement. In response to the selection instruction of non-execution, the paper feed mechanism unit is responsive to a selection input step for inputting selection of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement and selection of detection of power-on or execution of the PF measurement. Is the nip state for feeding the printing paper with the thickness within the specified range, or
In accordance with the release detection step of detecting whether or not the print sheet having a thickness exceeding a predetermined range is in a release state for feeding, and the selection of power-on detection or execution of the PF measurement, A printing paper detection step of detecting whether or not a printing paper exists in the set, selection of detection of power-on or execution of the PF measurement, detection of a nip state, and presence / absence of printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section A PF measurement command execution step of instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement according to the detection, and a storage step of sequentially accumulating and storing the integrated value of the motor current calculated in the process of the PF measurement. And are provided.

It is preferable that the optional equipment can change the drive load of the paper feed motor for driving the paper feed mechanism of the printer main body and the current value of the corresponding motor current by being attached to or detached from the printer main body.

The optional equipment may be a cutter built-in housing in which a cutter for cutting printing paper is built in a dedicated housing. Also, the optional equipment is
It may be a paper feed tray for feeding the loaded printing paper.

The PF measurement further calculates the average value of the motor current, and the storing step further updates and stores the average value of the motor current calculated by the PF measurement. Good thing.

According to the recording medium of the computer program of the present invention, the motor current is measured according to the paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed in response to the detection of the attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer body. Command execution or non-execution of PF measurement to be performed,
And depending on the choice of execution of said PF measurement,
A computer program for executing a printer control method for instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement in a computer system is recorded.

According to the recording medium of the computer program according to the first specific configuration of the present invention, an optional device attachment / detachment detecting step for detecting attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer body, and a detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device are performed. A PF measurement selection command step for instructing the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement for measuring the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed; In response to a selection command of execution or non-execution, a selection input step of inputting selection of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement, and a selection of execution of the PF measurement,
The paper feed mechanism is in a nip state for feeding printing paper with a thickness within a predetermined range, or a release state for feeding printing paper with a thickness exceeding the predetermined range. Release detection step to detect whether
A printing paper detection step of detecting whether or not a printing paper is present in the paper feeding mechanism section in accordance with the selection of execution of the PF measurement, and selection of execution of the PF measurement,
Also, a PF measurement command execution step of instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement according to the detection of the nip state and the detection of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section, and the process of the PF measurement. A storage step of sequentially accumulating and storing the integrated value of the motor current calculated in step 1), a computer program for executing the printer control method in a computer system is recorded.

According to the computer program recording medium of the second specific configuration of the present invention, a power-on detection step of detecting that the power is turned on and the attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from the printer body are detected. Selection of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement, which measures the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed, according to the optional equipment attachment / detachment detection step and the detection of the attachment / detachment of the optional equipment. PF measurement selection command step for instructing the execution, a selection input step for inputting selection of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement in response to a selection command of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement, and detection of power-on or According to the selection of execution of the PF measurement, the paper feeding mechanism unit is configured to print the printing paper having a thickness within a predetermined range. A release detecting step of detecting whether the nip state is for feeding, or a release state for feeding a printing paper having a thickness exceeding a predetermined range; PF
A printing paper detection step of detecting whether or not a printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism section according to the selection of execution of measurement, selection of power-on detection or execution of PF measurement, and nip state PF measurement command execution step of instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement in accordance with the detection of the above and the detection of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feed mechanism section, and the calculation in the process of the PF measurement. A computer program for executing a printer control method, comprising: a storage step of sequentially accumulating and storing the integrated value of the motor current, is recorded.

[0038]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First, a schematic configuration and a control method of an inkjet printer which is a main application target of a printer control apparatus and a printer control method according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the ink jet printer.

The ink jet printer shown in FIG.
A paper feed motor (hereinafter also referred to as a PF motor) 1 for feeding paper, a paper feed motor driver 2 for driving the paper feed motor 1, and a head 9 for ejecting ink onto the printing paper 50 are fixed, and the printing paper 50 is fixed. A carriage 3 that is driven in a direction parallel to the vertical direction and a direction that is perpendicular to the paper feed direction, a carriage motor (hereinafter, also referred to as a CR motor) 4 that drives the carriage 3, and a CR motor driver 5 that drives the carriage motor 4. , A DC unit 6 that delivers a DC current command value to the CR motor driver 5, and a pump motor 7 that controls the suction of ink to prevent clogging of the head 9.
And a pump motor driver 8 that drives the pump motor 7.
A head driver 10 for driving and controlling the head 9, a linear encoder 11 fixed to the carriage 3, and a linear encoder 1 having slits formed at predetermined intervals.
1 code plate 12, a rotary encoder 13 for the PF motor 1, a paper detection sensor 15 for detecting the end position of the paper being printed, and a CP for controlling the entire printer
U16, a timer IC 17 that periodically generates an interrupt signal to the CPU 16, and an interface unit (hereinafter referred to as I
Also called F. ) 19 and the host computer 18
An ASIC 20 that controls the print resolution, the drive waveform of the head 9, and the like based on the print information sent via F19.
And PROM21 and RAM22 used as work areas and program storage areas of the ASIC 20 and the CPU 16.
And the EEPROM 23, the platen 25 supporting the printing paper 50, and the printing paper 50 driven by the PF motor 1.
It is composed of a conveyance roller 27 that conveys, a pulley 30 attached to the rotation shaft of the CR motor 4, and a timing belt 31 driven by the pulley 30.

The DC unit 6 drives and controls the paper feed motor driver 2 and the CR motor driver 5 based on the control command sent from the CPU 16 and the outputs of the encoders 11 and 13. Also, the paper feed motor 1 and the CR motor 4
Are all composed of DC motors.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure around the carriage 3 of the ink jet printer.

As shown in FIG. 6, the carriage 3 is connected to the carriage motor 4 by the timing belt 31 via the pulley 30, and is driven by the guide member 32 so as to move in parallel to the platen 25. A recording head 9 having a nozzle row that ejects black ink and a nozzle row that ejects color ink is provided on the surface of the carriage 3 that faces the printing paper, and each nozzle receives ink from the ink cartridge 34 and prints. Print characters and images by ejecting ink drops onto paper.

In the non-printing area of the carriage 3, a capping device 35 for sealing the nozzle opening of the recording head 9 during non-printing and a pump unit 36 having the pump motor 7 shown in FIG. 5 are provided. Has been. When the carriage 3 moves from the print area to the non-print area, the carriage 3 contacts a lever (not shown), the capping device 35 moves upward, and the head 9 is sealed.

When the nozzle opening row of the head 9 is clogged, the cartridge 34 is replaced, or the like.
When the ink is forcibly ejected from the nozzle, the pump unit 36 is operated with the head 9 sealed, and the negative pressure from the pump unit 36 sucks the ink from the nozzle opening row. As a result, the dust and paper dust adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle opening row are washed, and the bubbles in the head 9 are discharged to the cap 37 together with the ink.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing the construction of the linear encoder 11 attached to the carriage 3.

The encoder 11 shown in FIG. 7 includes a light emitting diode 11a, a collimator lens 11b, and a detection processing section 11c. The detection processing unit 11c includes a plurality of (four) photodiodes 11d and the signal processing circuit 1
It has 1e and two comparators 11fA and 11fB.

When a voltage Vcc is applied to both ends of the light emitting diode 11a via a resistor, light is emitted from the light emitting diode 11a. This light is condensed into parallel light by the collimator lens 11b and passes through the code plate 12. Code plate 1
The slits 2 are provided at predetermined intervals (for example, 1/180 inch (1 inch = 2.54 cm)).

The parallel light which has passed through the code plate 12 enters each photodiode 11d through a fixed slit (not shown) and is converted into an electric signal. The electric signals output from the four photodiodes 11d are processed by the signal processing circuit 11e, the signals output from the signal processing circuit 11e are compared by the comparators 11fA and 11fB, and the comparison result is output as a pulse. Pulses ENC-A, E output from the comparators 11fA, 11fB
NC-B is the output of the encoder 11.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the waveforms of the two output signals of the encoder 11 when the CR motor is rotating normally and when rotating reversely.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), the pulse ENC is used in both the forward and reverse rotations of the CR motor.
-A and pulse ENC-B differ in phase by 90 degrees. When the CR motor 4 is rotating normally, that is, when the carriage 3 is moving in the main scanning direction, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the pulse ENC-A leads the pulse ENC-B by 90 degrees in phase, and when the CR motor 4 is rotating in the reverse direction, as shown in FIG.
Is configured so that the phase is delayed by 90 degrees from the pulse ENC-B. Then, one cycle T of the pulse is the slit interval of the code plate 12 (for example, 1/1
80 inches), which is equal to the time for which the carriage 3 moves in the slit interval.

On the other hand, the rotary encoder 13 for the PF motor 1 has the same structure as the linear encoder 11 except that the code plate is a rotating disk that rotates in accordance with the rotation of the PF motor 1. Two output pulses ENC-A,
Output ENC-B. In the ink jet printer, the slit spacing of the plurality of slits provided on the code plate of the rotary encoder 13 for the PF motor 1 is 1/180 inch, and when the PF motor 1 rotates by the one slit spacing, The paper is fed by 1440 inches.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a portion related to paper feeding and paper detection.

The position of the paper detection sensor 15 shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, the printing paper 50 inserted into the paper feed insertion opening 61 of the printer 60 is fed into the printer 60 by the paper feed roller 64 driven by the paper feed motor 63. The leading edge of the printing paper 50 fed into the printer 60 is detected by, for example, the optical paper detection sensor 15. The paper 50 whose leading edge is detected by the paper detection sensor 15 is fed by the paper feed roller 65 and the driven roller 66 driven by the PF motor 1.

Subsequently, printing is performed by dropping ink from a recording head (not shown) fixed to the carriage 3 which moves along the carriage guide member 32. When the paper is fed to the predetermined position, the paper detection sensor 15 detects the end of the printing paper 50 that is currently printed. The printing paper 50 on which the printing has been completed passes through the gears 67A and 67B driven by the PF motor 1 and the gear 6
Paper discharge roller 68 and driven roller 6 driven by 7C
The sheet 9 is discharged from the sheet discharge port 62 to the outside. The rotary shaft of the paper feed roller 65 has a rotary encoder 13
Are connected.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing in detail the portion related to the paper feeding of the printer.

Of the printer portion shown in FIG. 9, a portion relating to paper feeding will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
This will be described in more detail.

When the paper detection sensor 15 detects the leading edge of the printing paper 50 that has been inserted into the printer 60 by the paper feed roller 61 and fed into the printer 60 by the paper feed roller 64, the PF motor 1 causes the small gear 87 to move. Smap shaft 8 which is a rotation shaft of a large gear 67a driven through
3, a paper feed roller 65 provided around the paper 3, and a driven roller 66 provided at the paper feed direction discharge side end of a holder 89 that presses the printing paper 50 fed from the paper feed side downward in the vertical direction. Thus, the printing paper 50 is fed.

The PF motor 1 is fixed to the frame 86 in the printer 60 by screws 85, the rotary encoder 13 is arranged at a predetermined position around the large gear 67a, and is the rotating shaft of the large gear 67a. Smap axis 83
A rotary encoder code plate 14 is connected to.

The printing paper 50 fed by the paper feed roller 65 and the driven roller 66 passes on the platen 84 supporting the printing paper 50, and the small gear 87 and the large gear 67 are provided.
a, the intermediate gear 67b, the small gear 88, and the paper ejection gear 67c, the paper ejection roller 68 driven by the PF motor 1.
Then, the paper is fed by being nipped by the notched roller 69 which is a driven roller, and is discharged from the paper discharge port 62 to the outside.

While the printing paper 50 is supported on the platen 84, the carriage 3 moves left and right along the guide member 32 in the space on the platen 84, and the recording head fixed to the carriage 3 (not shown). ), Ink is ejected and printing is performed.

Next, the structure of the DC unit 6 which is a conventional DC motor control device for controlling the CR motor 4 of the above-mentioned ink jet printer and the control method by the DC unit 6 will be described.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a DC unit 6 which is a conventional DC motor control device, and FIG. 12 is a CR motor 4 controlled by the DC unit 6.
3 is a graph showing a motor current and a motor speed of the above.

The DC unit 6 shown in FIG. 11 includes a position calculating section 6a, a subtractor 6b, a target speed calculating section 6c, a speed calculating section 6d, a subtractor 6e, a proportional element 6f, and an integrating element 6g. , A differential element 6h, an adder 6i, a D / A converter 6j, a timer 6k, and an acceleration controller 6m.

The position calculator 6a detects the rising edge and the falling edge of each of the output pulses ENC-A and ENC-B of the encoder 11, counts the number of detected edges, and based on this count value. , The position of the carriage 3 is calculated. This count adds "+1" when one edge is detected when the CR motor 4 is rotating normally,
If one edge is detected when the rotation is reversed, "-
1 ”is added. The period of each of the pulses ENC-A and ENC-B is equal to the slit spacing of the code plate 12, and
The phases of the pulse ENC-A and the pulse ENC-B differ by 90 degrees. Therefore, the count value “1” of the above count corresponds to ¼ of the slit interval of the code plate 12. Thus, by multiplying the count value by 1/4 of the slit interval, the movement amount from the position of the carriage 3 corresponding to the count value "0" can be obtained. At this time, the resolution of the encoder 11 is 1 / the interval of the slits of the code plate 12.
It becomes 4. If the interval between the slits is 1/180 inch, the resolution will be 1/720 inch.

The subtractor 6b calculates the position deviation between the target position sent from the CPU 16 and the actual position of the carriage 3 obtained by the position calculation section 6a.

The target speed calculator 6c calculates the target speed of the carriage 3 based on the position deviation output from the subtractor 6b. This calculation is performed by multiplying the position deviation by the gain KP. This gain KP is determined according to the position deviation. The value of this gain KP may be stored in a table (not shown).

The speed calculator 6d is based on the output pulses ENC-A, ENC-B of the encoder 11 and the carriage 3
Calculate the speed of. This speed is obtained as follows. First, the output pulses ENC-A, E of the encoder 11
Each rising edge and falling edge of NC-B is detected, and the time interval between the edges corresponding to 1/4 of the slit interval of the code plate 12 is counted by the timer counter. If this count value is T and the slit spacing of the code plate 12 is λ, the carriage speed is λ / (4T).
Is required as. Note that, here, the speed is calculated by measuring one cycle of the output pulse ENC-A, for example, from the rising edge to the next rising edge with a timer counter.

The subtractor 6e is used for calculating the target speed and the speed calculator 6
The speed deviation from the actual speed of the carriage 3 calculated by d is calculated.

The proportional element 6f has a constant Gp for the speed deviation.
Is multiplied and the multiplication result is output. The integral element 6g integrates the velocity deviation multiplied by a constant Gi. Differential element 6h
Outputs a difference between the current speed deviation and the immediately preceding speed deviation by a constant Gd, and outputs the multiplication result. The encoder 11 calculates the proportional element 6f, the integral element 6g, and the derivative element 6h.
The output pulse ENC-A is performed every one cycle in synchronization with the rising edge of the output pulse ENC-A.

The outputs of the proportional element 6f, the integral element 6g and the derivative element 6h are added in the adder 6i. Then, the addition result, that is, the drive current of the CR motor 4 is sent to the D / A converter 6j and converted into an analog current. The CR motor 4 is driven by the driver 5 based on this analog voltage.

Further, the timer 6k and the acceleration control section 6m are
The PID control used for acceleration control and using the proportional element 6f, the integral element 6g, and the derivative element 6h is used for constant speed and deceleration control during acceleration.

The timer 6k generates a timer interrupt signal at predetermined time intervals based on the clock signal sent from the CPU 16.

The acceleration control unit 6m integrates a predetermined current value (for example, 20 mA) into the target current value each time the timer interrupt signal is received, and the integration result, that is, the target current value of the DC motor 4 during acceleration is , D / A converter 6j. Similar to the case of PID control, the target current value is D /
The A converter 6j converts the analog current, and the driver 5 drives the CR motor 4 based on the analog current.

The driver 5 is provided with, for example, four transistors. By turning on or off each of the above transistors based on the output of the D / A converter 6j, (a) operation for rotating the CR motor 4 in the normal or reverse direction is performed. Mode, (b) regenerative braking operation mode (short braking operation mode, that is, a mode for maintaining the stop of the CR motor), (c) mode for stopping the CR motor,
It is configured to be able to perform.

Next, referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, D
The operation of the C unit 6, that is, the conventional DC motor control method will be described.

When the CR motor 4 is stopped, CP
When a start command signal for starting the CR motor 4 is sent from U16 to the DC unit 6, the start initial current value I0 is sent from the acceleration controller 6m to the D / A converter 6j. This start-up initial current value I0 is the CPU and the start-up command signal.
It is sent from 16 to the acceleration control unit 6m. The current value I0 is converted into an analog voltage by the D / A converter 6j and sent to the driver 5, and the CR motor 4 starts to be activated by the driver 5 (FIGS. 12A and 12B).
reference). After receiving the start command signal, a timer interrupt signal is generated from the timer 6k every predetermined time. Each time the acceleration control unit 6m receives the timer interrupt signal, the acceleration control unit 6m integrates a predetermined current value (for example, 20 mA) into the starting initial current value I0, and sends the integrated current value to the D / A converter 6j. Then, the integrated current value is converted into an analog current by the D / A converter 6j and sent to the driver 5. Then, the CR is adjusted by the driver 5 so that the value of the current supplied to the CR motor 4 becomes the integrated current value.
The motor is driven and the speed of the CR motor 4 increases (Fig. 1
2 (b)). Therefore, the current value supplied to the CR motor 4 has a stepwise shape as shown in FIG. still,
At this time, the PID control system is also operating, but the D / A converter 6j selects and takes in the output of the acceleration control unit 6m.

The current value integration process of the acceleration controller 6m is performed until the integrated current value reaches a constant current value IS.
When the integrated current value reaches the predetermined value Is at time t1, the acceleration control unit 6m stops the integration process and supplies the D / A converter 6j with a constant current value Is. This gives C
It is driven by the driver 5 so that the value of the current supplied to the R motor 4 becomes the current value Is (see FIG. 12 (a)).

Then, in order to prevent the speed of the CR motor 4 from overshooting, when the CR motor 4 reaches a predetermined speed V1 (see time t2), the current supplied to the CR motor 4 is reduced. The acceleration control unit 6m controls. At this time, the speed of the CR motor 4 further increases, but C
When the speed of the R motor 4 reaches a predetermined speed Vc (Fig. 12
(See time t3 in (b)), the D / A converter 6j
Select the output of the ID control system, that is, the output of the adder 6i, and select P
ID control is performed.

That is, the target speed is calculated based on the positional deviation between the target position and the actual position obtained from the output of the encoder 11, and the speed between this target velocity and the actual speed obtained from the output of the encoder 11 is calculated. The proportional element 6f, the integral element 6g, and the differential element 6h operate based on the deviation, proportional, integral, and differential operations are performed, respectively, and the CR motor 4 is controlled based on the sum of these operation results. .
The proportional, integral, and derivative operations are performed in synchronization with the rising edge of the output pulse ENC-A of the encoder 11, for example. As a result, the speed of the DC motor 4 is controlled to the desired speed Ve. The predetermined speed Vc
Is preferably 70 to 80% of the desired speed Ve.

From the time t4, the DC motor 4 reaches the desired speed, and the carriage 3 also reaches the desired constant speed Ve, and the printing process can be performed.

When the printing process is completed and the carriage 3 approaches the target position (see time t5 in FIG. 12B), the position deviation becomes smaller and the target speed also becomes smaller. Therefore, the speed deviation, that is, the subtracter 6e. Output becomes negative, the DC motor 4 is decelerated, and stops at time t6.

Next, the execution timing of PF measurement and the operation and procedure of PF measurement in a normal printer control device and printer control method will be described.
A description will be given with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the arrangement of the paper gap adjusting mechanism section and the release detector of the printer.

The schematic structure of the paper gap adjusting mechanism is as follows. The paper gap adjusting lever 201 is formed integrally with the gear 202, and the gear 202 meshes with the gear 204. Gear 204
Is meshed with the gear 205. The gear 205 has
One end of the connecting member 207 is connected via the eccentric bush 206, and the other end of the connecting member 207 is connected to the gear 209 via the eccentric bush 208. Further, the eccentric bush 208 pivotally supports a holder 89 that presses the printing paper 50 sent from the paper feeding side on the platen 25 downward in the vertical direction. The holder 89 is pressed downward in the vertical direction by the spring 210, whereby the printing paper 5
0 is pressed downward in the vertical direction. A driven roller 66 is arranged at the leading end of the holder 89 on the paper discharge side so as to face the paper feed roller 65. In the above configuration, when the paper gap adjusting lever 201 is rotated, the gear 205 is rotated via the gear 204, and the eccentric bush 208 is moved vertically via the eccentric bush 206 and the connecting member 207. To be made. As the eccentric bush 208 moves up and down, the holder 89 moves up and down to adjust the paper gap.

On the other hand, the arrangement of the release detector is as follows. The paper gap adjusting lever 20
A fan-shaped protrusion 203 is integrally formed on the gear 1 and the gear 202. Then, by operating the paper gap adjusting lever 201, the fan-shaped protrusion 203
The release detectors 211 and 212 are provided in the path along which the
Is provided. Specifically, the release detector 211
And 212 are rotatably arranged so that the tip ends of the projecting members 211a and 212a are located in the path along which the fan-shaped projecting portion 203 rotates. Then, the fan-shaped protrusion 2 is operated by operating the paper gap adjusting lever 201.
As 03 rotates, the protruding members 211a and 212a
Since the direction of is changed sequentially, it is possible to detect, for example, a maximum of five levels of paper gap setting.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation when the power of the normal printer control device is turned on when the PF measurement is performed regardless of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section, that is, the normal printer control method. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure at the time of power-on.

When the power of the printer is turned on (step S141), the power-on operation of the carriage drive mechanism and the paper feed drive mechanism, that is, the system initialization operation is performed (step S142).

After system initialization, release
Detection is performed (step S143). The release detection is performed by the paper feeding mechanism unit described with reference to FIG. 13 for nipping (ni) for feeding the printing paper having a thickness within a predetermined range.
This is performed to detect whether the state is p) or the release state for feeding the printing paper having a thickness exceeding the predetermined range.

Here, for convenience of explanation, the case where the paper gap setting of the paper feed mechanism is adjusted to either the nip state or the release state, that is, the step is adjusted in two steps will be described. It may be adjustable. For example, small paper gap (nip), large paper gap, envelope compatible paper gap, CD-R compatible paper gap, release 5
It may be adjustable in stages. In that case, a PF measurement sequence according to each paper gap setting is used for the PF measurement.

In this example, it is assumed that the paper gap setting is in the nip state or the release state, and P
F measurement measures the current value of the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when there is no printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism that is in the nip state or when there is it.
In addition, the average value of the motor current is calculated from the integrated value of the motor current. If PF measurement is performed with no printing paper in the paper feed mechanism, the paper should be inserted into the paper feed mechanism when the average value of the motor current is used for paper feed control later. The offset value obtained by converting the load due to the above, that is, the drive load of the paper feeding mechanism only due to the presence of the inserted paper into the current value of the corresponding motor current, is used together with the average value of the motor current.

In this example, when it is detected as a result of the release detection that the paper feed mechanism is in the release state, the PF measurement is not performed, and the next operation, here, the ink system at the time of power-on is performed. Then, the operation proceeds (step S147). The ink system operation when the power is turned on is an operation for initializing the ink system including the recording head to a printable state.

On the other hand, as a result of the release detection, when it is detected that the paper feed mechanism is in the nip state, the paper end (PE) is detected (step S14).
4). PE detection is performed by the paper detection sensor 15.
The PE detection is originally to detect the lower end of the printing paper, but here, it is performed to detect the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism unit. As a result of the PE detection, when it is detected that the printing paper does not exist in the paper feeding mechanism unit, the PF measurement is executed according to the PF measurement sequence 1 corresponding to the case where the printing paper does not exist in the paper feeding mechanism unit ( Step S145). The detailed operation and procedure of the PF measurement will be described later. Further, as a result of PE detection, when it is detected that the printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism unit, P is detected according to the PF measurement sequence 2 corresponding to the case where the printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism unit.
F measurement is executed (step S146).

After the completion of the PF measurement, the next operation,
Here, the operation shifts to the ink system operation when the power is turned on (step S147).

The above is the contents of the operation and procedure when the power is turned on in the ordinary printer control apparatus and printer control method. However, the presence / absence and contents of the system initialization operation and the ink system operation are arbitrary. In short, when the power of the normal printer control device and printer control method is turned on, release detection and PE detection are performed, and PF measurement is performed according to the detection result.

Next, the detailed operation and procedure of the PF measurement will be described.

FIG. 15 shows the operation of the PF measurement by the printer control device, that is, the P control by the printer control method.
It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of F measurement. In addition, FIG. 16 is a graph showing the motor speed and the motor current during the PF measurement.

The PF measurement is performed as follows. First, start the paper feed motor (step S5
1), acceleration control is performed by open loop control, and the paper feed motor is accelerated until the motor speed V approaches a predetermined constant speed.

When the motor speed V approaches a predetermined constant speed, the open loop control is shifted to the PID control (step S52), and constant speed driving is performed. While the constant speed drive is being performed by the PID control, the motor current I has a substantially constant value as shown in the graph of FIG.

When the motor current I reaches a substantially constant value, recording of the current value I, that is, sampling of the time interval Δt of the current value I is started (step S53). The recording of the current value I is continued until the paper feed motor starts to be driven at a constant speed by the PID control and the sampling of the current value I is started until the paper feed motor rotates for one and a half cycles or more, and the paper feed motor is only for one and a half cycles. After the rotation, the recording of the current value I is completed (step S54). The rotation speed of the motor corresponding to the period for recording the current value I can be arbitrarily determined according to the time interval and the number of times of sampling the current value I. Here, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, when it is assumed that N times of sampling of the time interval Δt are performed, a time of performing N times of sampling of the time interval Δt and a time of rotation of the paper feed motor by one and a half cycles. Are equal, the paper feed motor starts to be driven at a constant speed, and then one and a half revolutions,
It suffices to sample the motor current value I at time intervals Δt and record each current value.

During the recording of the current value I, each current value I is sampled every time the motor current value is sampled at the time interval Δt.
And an integral value is calculated from the sampling time interval Δt and accumulated.

After the paper feed motor starts to be driven at a constant speed, it makes one and a half rotations, sampling N times of the motor current value time interval Δt is performed and recording of the current value I is completed, and then N integration of the current value I is completed. By calculating the sum of the values and dividing the sum by the length Δt × N of the recording period of the current value I, the average value of the motor current / I ( The symbol "/" means an average value) (step S55).

This is the end of the PF measurement.
The average value of the motor current obtained by this PF measurement is updated and stored in a predetermined memory. In the same or separate memory, the current value of the motor current according to the paper feed drive load caused only by the presence of printing paper is stored and held as an offset value. Then, the average value of the motor current obtained by the PF measurement performed in the state where the paper is not inserted in the paper feeding mechanism unit is used together with the offset value. The average value of the motor current obtained by the PF measurement performed while the paper is inserted in the paper feeding mechanism is used alone without using the offset value. As described above, particularly when the paper feed amount per time is small, the average value of this motor current is used, and stable and highly accurate current control is possible.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view schematically showing the schematic construction of the printer main body and the cutter when the cutter is attached.

Since the printer body shown in FIG. 17 is premised on the use of the roll paper 90, the paper feed roller 64, the paper feed roller 65 and the driven roller 6 thereof.
A roll paper feed roller 91 and a driven roller 92 thereof are disposed between the roll paper feed roller 6 and the roller 6. Other configurations of the printer main body are similar to the configurations of the printer illustrated and described in FIGS. 14 and 15 described above.

On the other hand, the cutter is configured such that a circular blade 97 pivotally supported by a supporting member 96 is arranged on a platen 95 for the cutter, and a cutter paper feed roller 93 and its driven side are provided on the paper feeding side of the circular blade 97. A cutter discharge roller 98 and a driven roller 99 for the cutter are disposed on the discharge side of the roller 94 and the circular blade 97, respectively.

The strip-shaped printing paper 90a pulled out from the roll paper 90 is sequentially fed by each roller, and the head 9
Is printed. After that, the belt-shaped printing paper 90a is further fed by each roller, and the belt-shaped printing paper 90a
When the boundary line between the images in the printed portion of a comes directly under the circular blade 97 of the cutter, the paper feeding operation is temporarily stopped and the strip printing paper 90a is separated for each printing image. In this way, in order to separate the image and the image in the printed portion of the strip-shaped printing paper 90a at the boundary line between them, the paper feeding amount is counted on the printer body side. The separated printing paper for one image is fed by the cutter discharge roller 98 and its driven roller 99, and is discharged from the discharge port of the cutter.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the peripheral portion of the circular blade 97 of the cutter.

The supporting member 96 which pivotally supports the circular blade 97 is fixed to the timing belt 110, and the pulley 111 meshed with the timing belt 110 is rotationally driven to drive the supporting member 96 and the circular blade 97. Then, the printing paper cutting operation is performed, and the strip printing paper 90a can be cut along the cutting surface 90x. Pulley 111
Also, a dedicated motor for driving the timing belt 110 may be provided, but through one or a plurality of gears,
The pulley 111 and the timing belt 110 may be driven by the CR motor of the printer body.

The cutter shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 may be built in the printer main body, but it is built in a housing separate from the printer main body and the cutter built-in housing is attached to the printer main body for use. You may do it.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the cutter built-in housing and the printer main body when the cutter built-in housing is used by mounting the cutter built-in housing on the printer main body.

The cutter can be incorporated in a casing 200 as shown in FIG. 19A, for example. When the cutter is used, as shown in FIG. 200 is attached to the printer body 60. In addition, when performing the cutting operation of the printed strip-shaped printing paper that has been drawn from the roll paper and image-printed, FIG.
A paper receiving basket 201 as shown in (c) may be attached to the paper discharge port of the cutter built-in housing 200 to accommodate the separated print paper.

By the way, the casing with built-in cutter automatically cuts the printing paper by driving the cutter using the driving force of the paper feed motor. Therefore, as a result of the attachment / detachment of the housing with built-in cutter to the printer body, the drive load of the paper feed motor that drives the paper feed mechanism and the corresponding motor current value fluctuate, and the motor current used for paper feed drive control changes. The difference between the average value and the current value of the motor current according to the actual drive load becomes large, and the accuracy of the paper feed drive control may decrease. In addition, the same problem occurs when an optional device using the driving force of the paper feed motor of the printer body is attached or detached.

Therefore, in the printer control apparatus and the printer control method according to the present invention, the PF measurement, which has been conventionally performed only when the power is turned on, is changed according to the attachment / detachment of the optional device in which the paper feeding load can fluctuate. It was made feasible. This is the most characteristic point of the printer control device and the printer control method according to the present invention.

As a result, even when the paper feed load fluctuates due to attachment / detachment of optional equipment, it is possible to always realize optimized paper feed control, and drive the paper feed mechanism of the printer. It is possible to control the motor with high accuracy even when the amount of paper feed per time is small.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printer control apparatus and a printer control method according to the present invention, and a recording medium recording a computer program for executing the printer control method will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer control apparatus according to the present invention.

The printer control apparatus according to the present invention comprises a power-on detector 101 for detecting that the power is turned on,
An optional device attachment / detachment detector 102 for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from the printer body, and a motor current according to a paper feed drive load during constant speed driving of the paper feed motor is measured in response to detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device P
P to command the execution or non-execution of F measurement
F measurement selection command unit 103, host computer 18 which is a selection input unit for inputting selection of execution or non-execution of PF measurement in response to selection command of execution or non-execution of PF measurement, and detection of power-on Or P
In accordance with the selection of execution of F measurement, the paper feed mechanism unit is in a nip state for feeding a printing paper having a thickness within a predetermined range, or printing with a thickness exceeding the predetermined range. A release detector 104 for detecting whether or not the paper is in a release state for paper feeding, and whether a printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism unit according to selection of detection of power-on or execution of PF measurement The paper end detector 105 that detects whether or not the PF measurement is performed depending on whether the power is turned on or whether the PF measurement is performed, the nip state is detected, and the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism unit is detected. The PF measurement command execution unit 106 that commands and executes the necessary operation, and the integrated value of the motor current calculated in the process of the PF measurement is sequentially accumulated. Exists includes a memory 107, a. The release detector 104 corresponds to the release detectors 211 and 212 in FIG.
Further, in the above configuration, the host computer 18 is used as the selection input unit, but the selection input unit may be mounted in the printer body.

In the PF measurement, in addition to the measurement of the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed, the average value of the motor current may be calculated. In that case, the memory 107 stores P
The average value of the motor current calculated by F measurement may be updated and stored.

The printer control apparatus and the printer control method according to the present invention, in addition to the detection of the power-on, when the execution of the PF measurement is selected in response to the detection of the attachment / detachment of the optional device, This is a PF measurement. In the printer control apparatus and the printer control method according to the present invention, the PF measurement is performed according to the detection of the power-on by the power-on detector 101. The operation and the contents of the procedure are the same as those of the normal printer described above. Since it is exactly the same as the PF measurement by the control device and the printer control method, the repetitive description will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer control apparatus according to the present invention, that is, the procedure of the printer control method according to the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the flowchart of FIG. 2 includes not only the operation of the printer control device but also the operation of the printer body.

The operation of the printer control apparatus according to the present invention, that is, the procedure of the printer control method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The optional device attachment / detachment detector constantly monitors the attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer body, that is, the attachment / detachment of the optional device to / from the printer body (step S).
1), when the attachment / detachment of the optional device is detected, the detection of the attachment / detachment of the optional device is detected by the PF measurement selection command unit 10
3 is notified (step S2).

The PF measurement selection command section 103
When the detection of the attachment / detachment of the optional device is notified, the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement is instructed (step S3). Here, a PF measurement selection command is transmitted to the host computer 18 connected to the printer, a message instructing to select execution or non-execution of PF measurement is displayed on the display unit of the host computer 18, and the user is informed of the PF measurement. Have them choose to perform or not to execute the measurement. When the selection input unit and the display unit are mounted on the printer body, the printer body may perform the same operation.

As a result of the PF measurement selection command, PF
When the measurement non-execution is selected, the operation procedure is ended, but when the PF measurement execution is selected, the procedure proceeds to the next operation procedure for executing the PF measurement (step S4).

In the example of the flowchart of FIG. 2, the PF measurement is performed regardless of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section. However, after the execution of the PF measurement is selected, the printer is in the PF measurement executable state. In order to confirm whether or not it is first, release detection is performed (step S5).

The release is detected by the paper feed mechanism unit in the nip state for feeding the print paper having the thickness within the predetermined range, or the paper feed of the print paper having the thickness exceeding the predetermined range. The release detector 104 (release detectors 211 and 212 in FIG. 13) is used to detect whether or not the release state is set.

As a result of the release detection, when it is detected that the paper feed mechanism is in the release state, the PF measurement is not performed and the series of operations is ended.

On the other hand, as a result of the release detection, if it is detected that the paper feed mechanism is in the nip state, PE detection is further performed (step S6). PE detection is
This is performed by the paper end detector 105 in order to detect the presence / absence of printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism of the printer. As the paper end detector 105, the paper detection sensor 15 shown in FIG. 9 can be used.

When it is detected as a result of PE detection that no printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism unit, the PF measurement is performed according to the PF measurement sequence 1 corresponding to the case where no printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism unit. Execute (step S7). Further, as a result of PE detection, when it is detected that the printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism unit, the PF measurement is performed according to the PF measurement sequence 2 corresponding to the case where the printing paper exists in the paper feeding mechanism unit. Yes (step S8). The detailed operation and procedure of the PF measurement are as described above.

Here, for convenience of description, the paper gap setting of the paper feeding mechanism section is described as either the nip state or the release state, that is, the case where the paper gap setting is adjusted in two steps. Alternatively, it may be adjustable in multiple stages. For example, it may be possible to adjust to five levels of a small paper gap (nip), a large paper gap, an envelope compatible paper gap, a CD-R compatible paper gap, and a release. In that case, the operation and procedure from step S5 to step S8 in the flowchart of FIG. 2 are performed corresponding to each paper gap setting. Specifically, the release detection detects which paper gap setting is set, and further, according to the detected paper gap setting and the presence / absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism unit, the corresponding PF measurement is performed. PF measurements are performed using the sequence.

When the PF measurement is completed, a series of operations is completed.

Examples of the optional equipment that can be attached / detached to / from the printer body include the above-described housing with built-in cutter and an additional paper feed tray. Also, as long as the current value of the corresponding motor current can be changed, the configuration of the present invention can be applied to any optional equipment.

As described above, the printer control device and the printer control method according to the present invention detect the drive load of the paper feed mechanism of the printer body and the attachment / detachment of an optional device that can change the current value of the corresponding motor current. By providing an opportunity to select whether or not to execute the PF measurement, it is possible to always realize the optimized paper feed control even when the paper feed load fluctuates due to attachment / detachment of an optional device. Therefore, the paper feed motor that drives the paper feed mechanism of the printer can be controlled with high accuracy even when the paper feed amount per time is small.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of a recording medium in which a computer program for executing the printer control method according to the present invention is recorded and a computer system in which the recording medium is used, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer system shown in FIG.

The computer system 70 shown in FIG.
Is a computer main body 71 housed in a mini tower type housing and a display device 72 such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, and a liquid crystal display device.
And a printer 73 as a recording / output device, a keyboard 74a and a mouse 74b as input devices, a flexible disk drive device 76, and a CD-ROM drive device 77. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer system 70. In a housing in which a computer main body 71 is housed, an internal memory 75 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a hard disk drive unit 78 are included. External memory is further provided. A recording medium in which a computer program for executing the printer control method according to the present invention is recorded is used in this computer system 70. As the recording medium, for example, a flexible disk 81 and a CD-ROM (Read Only Memory) 82 are used, but in addition, an MO (Magneto Optical) disk, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), other optical recording disks, a card memory Alternatively, a magnetic tape or the like may be used.

[0137]

According to the printer control apparatus and the printer control method according to the present invention, since it is possible to detect the attachment / detachment of an optional device and provide an opportunity to select whether or not to execute the PF measurement, it is possible to attach or detach the optional device. Even if a paper feed load fluctuation occurs, the paper feed control can always be optimized, and the paper feed motor that drives the paper feed mechanism of the printer can reduce the amount of paper feed at one time. It is possible to control with high precision including.

According to the computer program recording medium of the present invention, a computer program for executing any one of the printer controlling methods of the present invention in a computer system is recorded, and thus the printer controlling method of the present invention. By executing any of the above in a computer system, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation of the printer control device according to the present invention, that is,
6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a printer control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of a recording medium in which a program for executing the printer control method according to the present invention is recorded and a computer system in which the recording medium is used.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer system shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a carriage 3 of the inkjet printer.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of a linear encoder 11 attached to a carriage 3.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing waveforms of two output signals of the encoder 11 at the time of forward rotation and reverse rotation of the CR motor.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a part related to paper feeding and paper detection.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing in detail a portion related to paper feeding of the printer.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a DC unit 6 which is a DC motor control device.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a motor current and a motor speed of the CR motor 4 controlled by the DC unit 6.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing an arrangement configuration of a paper gap adjusting mechanism section and a release detector of the printer.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure when the power is turned on in the normal printer control method.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure of PF measurement.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing motor speed and motor current during PF measurement.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of a printer main body and a cutter when the cutter is attached.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the periphery of the circular blade 97 of the cutter.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing appearances of a cutter built-in housing and the printer main body when the cutter built-in housing is used by mounting the cutter built-in housing on the printer main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Paper feed motor (PF motor) 2 Paper feed driver 3 carriage 4 Carriage motor (CR motor) 5 Carriage motor driver (CR motor driver) 6 DC unit 6a Position calculation unit 6b subtractor 6c Target speed calculation means 6d Speed calculator 6e Subtractor 6f proportional element 6g integral element 6h differential element 6j D / A converter 7 pump motor 8 Pump motor driver 9 recording head 10 head driver 11 Linear encoder 12 code plate 13 Encoder (rotary encoder) 14 Code plate for rotary encoder 15 Paper detection sensor 16 CPU 17 Timer IC 18 Host computer 19 Interface section 20 ASIC 21 PROM 22 RAM 23 EEPROM 25 platen 30 pulley 31 Timing Belt 32 Carriage motor guide member 34 ink cartridges 35 capping device 36 pump units 37 cap 50 recording paper 60 printer 61 Paper feed insertion slot 62 paper exit 64 paper feed rollers 65 Paper feed roller 66 driven roller 67a large gear 67b Intermediate gear 67c Paper ejection gear 68 Paper ejection roller 69 Driven roller (Giza roller) 83 Smap axis 84 Platen 87 small gear 88 small gears 89 holder 90 roll paper 90a Strip-shaped printing paper drawn from roll paper 90 90x Cut surface of strip printing paper 90a 91 Roll paper Paper feed roller 92 Driven roller 93 Cutter Paper feed roller 94 Driven roller 95 Cutter Platen 96 circular blade support member 97 circular blade 98 Paper ejection roller for cutter 99 driven roller 101 Power-on detector 102 Optional equipment attachment / detachment detector 103 PF measurement selection command section 104 Release detector 105 Paper end detector 106 PF (paper feed) measurement command execution unit 107 memory 110 timing belt 111 pulley 201 Paper gap adjusting lever 202,204,205,209 Gears 203 fan-shaped protrusion 206, 208 Eccentric bush 207 Connection member 210 spring 211,212 Release Detector 300 cutter built-in housing 301 Paper receiving basket

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C058 AB15 AC07 AC11 AD01 AE02                       AF04 AF51 GA06 GB03 GB19                       GE04 GE12                 2C480 CB02 CB07 CB34 EA02                 3F048 AA05 AB01 BA05 BA06 CB02                       DA01 DA06 DA09 DB01 DC12                       EB29

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. An optional device attachment / detachment detector for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from a printer main body, and a motor according to a paper feed drive load when a paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed in response to detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. A PF measurement selection command unit for instructing the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement for measuring the current, and the P operation according to the selection of the execution of the PF measurement.
PF that commands and executes necessary operations for F measurement
A printer control device comprising: a measurement command execution unit. 2. The optional equipment can change the drive load of a paper feed motor for driving the paper feed mechanism of the printer main body and the current value of the corresponding motor current by being attached / detached to / from the printer main body. The printer control device according to claim 1. 3. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the optional device is a cutter built-in housing in which a cutter for cutting printing paper is built in a dedicated housing. 4. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the optional equipment is a paper feed tray for feeding the loaded printing paper. 5. The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the PF measurement further calculates an average value of the motor current. 6. An optional device attachment / detachment detector for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from a printer main body, and a motor according to a paper feed drive load when a paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed in response to detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. A PF measurement selection command unit that commands execution or non-execution of PF measurement for measuring current, and execution or non-execution of the PF measurement in response to a selection command of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement. The selection input unit for inputting the selection of the above and the paper feeding mechanism unit in the nip state for feeding the printing paper having the thickness within the predetermined range according to the selection of the execution of the PF measurement. Or a release detector for detecting whether the release state is for feeding a printing paper having a thickness exceeding a predetermined range, and the PF message. A paper end detector for detecting whether or not a printing paper is present in the paper feeding mechanism section in accordance with the selection of the execution of the maintenance, the selection of the execution of the PF measurement, the detection of the nip state and the paper feeding mechanism. A PF measurement command execution unit that commands and executes an operation required for the PF measurement according to the detection of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the set, and an integrated value of the motor current calculated in the process of the PF measurement. And a memory that sequentially stores and stores the printer control device. 7. A power-on detector for detecting that the power is turned on, an optional device attachment / detachment detector for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from the printer body, and a paper sheet according to the detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. A PF measurement selection command unit for instructing the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement that measures the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the feed motor is driven at a constant speed, and the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement. In response to the execution selection command, a selection input unit for inputting selection of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement, and a paper feed mechanism unit according to selection of detection of power-on or execution of the PF measurement. The nip state is for feeding the printing paper with the thickness within the range, or for feeding the printing paper with the thickness exceeding the specified range. Release detector for detecting whether or not there is a release state, and a paper end for detecting whether or not a printing paper exists in the paper feed mechanism unit according to selection of power-on detection or execution of the PF measurement. Instructing the operation required for the PF measurement in response to the detector, selection of power-on detection or execution of the PF measurement, detection of the nip state, and detection of the presence or absence of printing paper in the paper feed mechanism section. The printer control device further comprises: a PF measurement command execution unit that executes the PF measurement command; and a memory that sequentially accumulates and stores the integrated value of the motor current calculated in the process of the PF measurement. 8. The optional equipment is capable of changing a drive load of a paper feed motor for driving a paper feed mechanism of the printer main body and a corresponding motor current value by being attached to or detached from the printer main body. The printer control device according to claim 6 or 7. 9. The printer control device according to claim 6, wherein the optional device is a cutter built-in housing in which a cutter for cutting printing paper is built in a dedicated housing. . 10. The printer control device according to claim 6, wherein the optional device is a paper feed tray for feeding the loaded printing paper. 11. The PF measurement further calculates an average value of the motor current, and the memory further updates and stores the average value of the motor current calculated by the PF measurement. 11. The printer control device according to claim 6, wherein the printer control device is a printer. 12. A motor current is measured according to a paper feed drive load when a paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed in response to detection of attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from a printer body.
A printer control method characterized by instructing execution or non-execution of F measurement, and instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement according to selection of execution of the PF measurement. . 13. The optional device is capable of changing a drive load of a paper feed motor for driving a paper feed mechanism of the printer main body and a corresponding motor current value by being attached to or detached from the printer main body. The printer control method according to claim 12. 14. The printer control method according to claim 12, wherein the optional device is a cutter built-in housing in which a cutter for cutting printing paper is built in a dedicated housing. 15. The printer control method according to claim 12, wherein the optional device is a paper feed tray for feeding the loaded printing paper. 16. The printer control method according to claim 12, wherein the PF measurement further calculates an average value of the motor current. 17. An optional device attachment / detachment detecting step for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from a printer main body, and a motor according to a paper feed drive load at a constant speed drive of a paper feed motor according to the detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. PF measurement selection command step for instructing execution or non-execution of PF measurement for measuring current, and execution or non-execution of the PF measurement in response to selection command of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement In accordance with the selection input step for inputting the selection, and the selection of execution of the PF measurement, the paper feed mechanism unit is in the nip state for feeding the print paper having the thickness within the predetermined range. , Or a release check to detect whether it is in a release state for feeding printing paper with a thickness exceeding the specified range. Step, a printing paper detection step of detecting whether or not printing paper is present in the paper feeding mechanism section according to the selection of execution of the PF measurement, selection of execution of the PF measurement, and nip state PF measurement command execution step of instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement in accordance with the detection of the above and the presence / absence of the printing paper in the paper feed mechanism section, and the calculation in the process of the PF measurement. And a storing step of sequentially storing and storing the integrated value of the motor current. 18. A power-on detection step for detecting that a power supply is turned on, an optional device attachment / detachment detection step for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device with respect to a printer body, and a paper sheet according to the detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. A PF measurement selection command step for instructing the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement for measuring the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the feed motor is driven at a constant speed, and the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement. In response to the execution selection command, the paper feed mechanism unit determines whether the PF measurement is executed or not executed according to a selection input step, and whether the power-on is detected or the PF measurement is executed. The nip state is for feeding the printing paper within the range, or the thickness exceeds the specified range. The release detection step for detecting whether the print sheet is in the release state for feeding the print sheet and the selection of the power-on detection or the execution of the PF measurement include the print sheet in the paper feed mechanism section. According to the printing paper detection step for detecting whether or not to carry out, selection of power-on detection or execution of the PF measurement, detection of the nip state, and detection of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section, A PF measurement command execution step of instructing and executing an operation required for PF measurement, and a storage step of sequentially accumulating and storing the integrated value of the motor current calculated in the process of the PF measurement are provided. A printer control method characterized by the above. 19. The optional device is capable of changing a drive load of a paper feed motor for driving a paper feed mechanism of the printer main body and a current value of a corresponding motor current by being attached to or detached from the printer main body. The printer control method according to claim 17 or 18. 20. The printer control method according to claim 17, wherein the optional device is a cutter built-in housing in which a cutter for cutting printing paper is built in a dedicated housing. . 21. The printer control method according to claim 17, wherein the optional device is a paper feed tray for feeding the loaded printing paper. 22. The PF measurement further calculates an average value of the motor current, and the storing step further updates the average value of the motor current calculated by the PF measurement. The printer control method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the printer control method is to save. 23. In response to detection of attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from a printer body, a motor current is measured according to a paper feed drive load when the paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed.
In a computer system, there is provided a printer control method for instructing execution or non-execution of F measurement, and instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement according to selection of execution of the PF measurement. A computer program recording medium having a computer program to be executed recorded thereon. 24. An optional device attachment / detachment detecting step for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from a printer main body, and a motor according to a paper feed drive load when a paper feed motor is driven at a constant speed according to the detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. PF measurement selection command step for instructing execution or non-execution of PF measurement for measuring current, and execution or non-execution of the PF measurement in response to selection command of execution or non-execution of the PF measurement In accordance with the selection input step for inputting the selection, and the selection of execution of the PF measurement, the paper feed mechanism unit is in the nip state for feeding the print paper having the thickness within the predetermined range. , Or a release check to detect whether it is in a release state for feeding printing paper with a thickness exceeding the specified range. Step, a printing paper detection step of detecting whether or not printing paper is present in the paper feeding mechanism section according to the selection of execution of the PF measurement, selection of execution of the PF measurement, and nip state PF measurement command execution step of instructing and executing an operation required for the PF measurement in accordance with the detection of the above and the presence / absence of the printing paper in the paper feed mechanism section, and the calculation in the process of the PF measurement. A computer program recording medium for recording a computer program for executing a printer control method, comprising: a storing step of sequentially storing and storing the integrated value of the motor current. 25. A power-on detection step for detecting that the power is turned on, an optional device attachment / detachment detecting step for detecting attachment / detachment of an optional device to / from a printer body, and a paper sheet according to the detection of attachment / detachment of the optional device. A PF measurement selection command step for instructing the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement for measuring the motor current according to the paper feed drive load when the feed motor is driven at a constant speed, and the execution or non-execution of the PF measurement. In response to the execution selection command, the paper feed mechanism unit determines whether the PF measurement is executed or not executed according to a selection input step, and whether the power-on is detected or the PF measurement is executed. The nip state is for feeding the printing paper within the range, or the thickness exceeds the specified range. The release detection step for detecting whether the print sheet is in the release state for feeding the print sheet and the selection of the power-on detection or the execution of the PF measurement include the print sheet in the paper feed mechanism section. According to the printing paper detection step for detecting whether or not to carry out, selection of power-on detection or execution of the PF measurement, detection of the nip state, and detection of the presence or absence of the printing paper in the paper feeding mechanism section, A PF measurement command execution step of instructing and executing an operation required for PF measurement, and a storage step of sequentially accumulating and storing the integrated value of the motor current calculated in the process of the PF measurement are provided. A computer program for executing the printer control method in a computer system is recorded. Recording medium of the computer program.