JP2003326815A - Method for detecting width of recording medium, width detector and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for detecting the width of various recording media, a width detector and a recorder comprising the width detector. <P>SOLUTION: A recording medium and its mounting face are detected as a recording head moves from one end side to the other end side of the recording medium and the values of detection signals are stored. A specified threshold value is determined based on a profile dependent on the values of detection signals thus stored. Opposite end parts of the recording medium are then specified by the threshold value and the width of the recording medium is determined. Since a threshold value conforming to a recording medium being used can be set, a decision is readily made whether a detection signal has varied over the threshold value or under the threshold value, and the width of the recording medium is determined accurately. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a width detecting method for detecting the width of a recording medium recorded by a recording head, a width detecting device, and a recording device having the width detecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a large-sized printer, which is one of conventional recording devices, has a recording medium for recording information, for example, a paper feed unit for supplying recording roll paper. And a paper discharge unit for discharging the recorded roll paper are arranged in this order from the top. When using such a large-sized inkjet printer, the user stores the roll paper in the paper feed unit and pulls out the leading end of the roll paper. Then, the leading end of the roll paper is passed through a flat paper feed guide that acts as a paper transport surface, and the roll paper is sandwiched between a paper feed roller and a driven roller to activate the ink jet printer.

Then, the ink jet printer scans the carriage on which the recording head is mounted in the width direction of the roll paper while rotating the paper feed roller to feed the roll paper onto a flat platen which acts as a paper conveyance guide surface. While recording, information is recorded on the roll paper by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle openings of the recording head. Then, the paper discharge roller is rotated to discharge the roll paper to the paper receiver through a flat paper discharge guide which functions as a paper transport surface.

In such a large-sized ink jet printer, since the width of roll paper that can be used is highly flexible, a paper width detection device is provided. This paper width detection device detects the width of the roll paper by detecting the paper while moving the paper detection sensor mounted on the carriage in the width direction of the roll paper. FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a conventional paper width detection device. This paper width detection device 1
Encoder 2, photo interrupter 3, paper detection sensor 4, head position determination means 5, A / D converter 6, CP
It has a U7 and a memory 8.

The encoder 2 is arranged on the printer main body side, and the photo interrupter 3 is arranged on the carriage 9, and the slit of the encoder 2 is inserted into the photo interrupter 3.
The pulse signal PLS is generated when the signal crosses. The paper detection sensor 4 detects, for example, the amount of light reflected by the surface of the roll paper or the platen surface (the amount of light reflected by the roll paper> the amount of light reflected by the platen surface) by irradiating light, and the contrast between the end of the roll paper and the platen surface. To generate a detection signal PDA. The head position determination means 5 is
The position of the recording head is determined based on the pulse signal PLS from the photo interrupter 3 to determine the head position signal HPS.
To generate.

The A / D converter 6 converts the analog detection signal PDA from the paper detection sensor 4 into a digital detection signal P.
It is designed to be converted to DD. CPU7 is A / D
Based on the detection signal PDD from the converter 6, the head position signal HPS from the head position determination means 5 is stored in the memory 8.
And the width of the roll paper is calculated based on the head position signal HPS.

The operation of detecting the width of the roll paper in such a configuration will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 23, the time chart of FIG. 24 and the flowchart of FIG. The head position determination means 5 is a pulse signal PLS sent from the photo interrupter 3 and having a cycle of 1/180 inch.
The position of the recording head is determined based on the above, and the head position signal HPS is generated. The CPU 7 reads the head position signal HPS from the head position determination means 5 at a cycle shorter than the pulse interval (step S1), and when it determines that the head position signal HPS has changed (step S).
2), analog detection signal PDA for A / D converter 6
The conversion start command CSS is transmitted.

When the A / D converter 6 receives the conversion start command CSS for the analog detection signal PDA from the CPU 7, the A / D converter 6 converts the analog detection signal PDA sent from the paper detection sensor 4 into a digital detection signal PDD. Start. When the conversion into the digital detection signal PDD is completed, the A / D converter 6 generates the conversion end interrupt signal CES and sends it to the CPU 7.

The CPU 7 has an A / D which enters at the above pulse intervals.
Using the conversion end interrupt signal CES from the converter 6 as a trigger, the detection signal PDD is read from the A / D converter 6 (step S3), and it is determined whether or not the detection signal PDD has changed exceeding a predetermined threshold value (step S3). S4). When the CPU 7 determines that the change in the detection signal PDD exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the CPU 7 stores the head position signal HPS in the memory 8 (step S5).
Then, the CPU 7 reads from the memory 8 the head position signal HPS when the detection signal PDD exceeds the predetermined threshold value and when the detection signal PDD drops from the predetermined threshold value, that is, the head position signals HPS at both ends of the roll paper to read the roll paper. The width is calculated (see Patent Document 1).

[0010]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-103721

[0011]

Inkjet printers for business use handle a large number of paper types, and handle thin paper that cannot be picked up by a paper feeding mechanism (auto sheet feeder (ASF)) of an inkjet printer for consumer use. You can For roll paper that is not conveyed in close contact with the platen, such as thin paper, the output change that occurs when the paper detection sensor 4 of the above-described conventional paper width detection device crosses the boundary between the end of the roll paper and the platen surface does not occur. It is gradual, and it is difficult to accurately determine the width of the roll paper by the method of determining whether or not the change exceeding the predetermined threshold value and the change falling from the threshold value occur as described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above various problems, and an object thereof is a recording medium width detection method, a width detection device, and a width detection device capable of detecting the widths of various recording media. It is to provide a recording device provided with a width detection device.

[0013]

To achieve the above object, in a width detecting method for detecting a width of a recording medium recorded by a recording head, the recording head is moved from one end side to the other end side of the recording medium. The value of the detection signal of the recording medium and its mounting surface that is detected along with is stored, a predetermined threshold value is obtained based on the profile obtained from the value of the detection signal, and both ends of the recording medium are determined by the threshold value. It is characterized in that the width of the recording medium is specified and obtained. The threshold value is obtained based on a profile of the values of all detection signals stored at the pulse intervals input as the recording head moves from one end side to the other end side of the recording medium. The threshold value is calculated by the difference between the value of the detection signal of the recording medium and the value of the detection signal of the mounting surface of the recording medium. Further, the threshold is a detection signal of the recording medium after determining the type of the recording medium by determining the rate of change of the value of the detection signal in the transition region between the end portion of the recording medium and the mounting surface thereof. It is characterized in that it is calculated by the difference between the value of and the value of the detection signal of the mounting surface of the recording medium. With this, it is possible to set a threshold value suitable for a recording medium to be used, and it is possible to easily determine whether or not the change in the detection signal exceeds the threshold value and the change in which the detection signal falls below the threshold value. Can be accurately determined.

To achieve the above object, in a width detecting device for detecting the width of a recording medium recorded by a recording head,
Medium detection means for transmitting a detection signal for the recording medium and its mounting surface, which is detected in accordance with the movement of the recording head from one end side to the other end side of the recording medium, and a detection signal from the medium detection means To a storage means, and a predetermined threshold value is obtained based on the profile of the value of the detection signal stored in the storage means, and both ends of the recording medium are specified by the threshold value to obtain the width of the recording medium. It is characterized by comprising an arithmetic processing means. Head detection means for sending a pulse signal in accordance with movement of the recording head is provided, and the medium detection means sends detection signals for the recording medium and its mounting surface at pulse intervals of the pulse signal from the head detection means. However, the arithmetic processing means is characterized in that the predetermined threshold value is obtained based on a profile obtained from the values of all detection signals stored in the storage means. The arithmetic processing means is characterized in that the threshold value is obtained from a difference between the value of the detection signal of the recording medium and the value of the detection signal of the mounting surface of the recording medium. Further, the arithmetic processing means determines the type of the recording medium after determining the change rate of the value of the detection signal in the transition area between the end portion of the recording medium and the mounting surface thereof, and then determining the type of the recording medium. The threshold value is obtained by the difference between the value of the detection signal and the value of the detection signal on the mounting surface of the recording medium.

With this, since the threshold value suitable for the recording medium used can be set, it is possible to easily judge whether or not the change in the detection signal exceeds the threshold value and the change in the detection signal falls below the threshold value. The width of the medium can be accurately determined. Further, conventionally, the CPU has performed the acquisition of the head position signal, the determination of the position change of the recording head, the transmission of the detection signal conversion start command, and the acquisition and storage of the detection signal. Since reading and writing are performed, each process can be completed in a short time, and the width detection time of the recording medium can be significantly shortened.

Further, the transfer means is a DMAC. The arithmetic processing means is a CPU. As a result, the processing can be switched from software processing to hardware processing, so that the reading and writing processing time of the detection signal can be significantly shortened.

To achieve the above object, a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by scanning a recording head is characterized by comprising a recording medium width detecting device. As a result, it is possible to provide a recording device that achieves each of the above operations.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an ink jet printer which is one of the recording apparatuses according to the embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an internal configuration example of a main part of the ink jet printer. FIG. The inkjet printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a large-sized printer capable of recording even a relatively large-sized recording sheet such as a JIS standard A1 size or a JIS standard B1 size. Unit 120, paper discharge unit 13
0 and the leg portion 140 are arranged in this order from the top. The recording unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130 are integrated as a main body, and are configured to be separable from the paper feed unit 110 and the leg unit 140.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet feeding section 110 is provided so as to project to the upper rear of the main bodies 120 and 130. As shown in FIG. 2, a roll paper holder 111, in which one roll of recording paper (hereinafter referred to as roll paper) can be set, is provided inside the paper feed unit 110.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the front surface of the paper feeding unit 110,
A flip-up type openable and closable roll paper cover 112 is attached so as to cover the roll paper holder 111.

As shown in FIG. 2, the roll paper holder 111 is attached to the spindle 113 for holding the roll paper, a pair of flange-shaped roll paper retainers 114, and the inner surfaces of both side walls of the paper feed section 110, and the spindle 113 It is equipped with a pair of spindle receivers 115 that can be detached and suspended. Then, the spindle 113 is in a state where the roll paper is inserted in the center and is sandwiched by the roll paper presser 114,
Both ends are mounted on the spindle receiver 115, and are rotatably supported by a shaft. Roll paper cover 112
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the whole is rotatably supported, and is opened and closed by the user holding the lower part and lifting or lowering it.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 120 includes a carriage 122 having a recording head 121, a flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as a flexible flat cable) electrically connecting a recording head 121 and a control unit (not shown) for executing recording. ,
FFC) 123, an ink tube 124 that connects the recording head 121 and the ink cartridge 10 containing ink, a paper feed roller (not shown) that conveys the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction, and a paper suction means (not shown) that prevents the roll paper from floating. And so on. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
25 and the front lid 126 are the recording head 121 and the carriage 1.
It is attached so as to cover 22 and the like.

The recording head 121 comprises a black ink recording head for ejecting black ink and a plurality of color ink recording heads for ejecting inks of respective colors such as light yellow, yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta and magenta. I have it. The recording head 121 is provided with a pressure generating chamber and a nozzle opening connected to the pressure generating chamber. By storing ink in the pressure generating chamber and pressurizing it with a predetermined pressure, a size controlled from the nozzle opening toward the roll paper is controlled. Ink droplets are ejected.

The carriage 122, as shown in FIG.
The carriage 127 is hung from a rail 127 provided in the main scanning direction via rollers and is connected to a carriage belt 128. When the carriage belt 128 is operated by a carriage driving device (not shown), the carriage belt 128 is operated.
And is guided by the rail 127 to reciprocate.

The FFC 123 has one end connected to the connector of the controller and the other end connected to the connector of the recording head 121, and sends a recording signal from the controller to the recording head 121. The ink tubes 124 are provided for the inks of the respective colors, one end of each of which is connected to the corresponding ink cartridge 10 of each color through an ink pressurizing supply unit (not shown), and the other end of each of the recording heads corresponds to the corresponding color. It is connected to 121. Then, the ink tube 124 supplies the ink of each color pressurized by the ink pressure supply means from the ink cartridge 10 to the recording head 1.
It will be sent to 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower portion of the front lid 126 is rotatably supported, and is opened and closed by the user holding the upper portion and pushing it down or pushing it up. The user can greatly open the recording unit 120 by opening the front lid 126, and thus can easily perform maintenance work on the recording head 121, the carriage 122, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper discharge unit 130 forms a part of a path for transporting the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction and a transporting roll paper in the sub-scanning direction. Not equipped with a discharge roller. Paper ejection guide 131
Is formed as a flat inclined surface projecting to the front side, so that the roll paper conveyed from above can be smoothly guided downward.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg portion 140 has two supporting columns 142 having a roller 141 for movement.
And a reinforcing rod 143 hung between these support columns 142. The paper feed unit 110 and the main bodies 120 and 130 are placed on the upper portions of the support columns 142 and fixed by screws. By disposing the moving rollers 141 on the support columns 142, the heavy paper feeding unit 110 and the main bodies 120 and 130 can be smoothly moved to desired positions and installed. . In addition, between the support columns 142 of the leg 140,
A paper discharge receiving device that receives the roll paper discharged from the paper discharge unit 130 can be installed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a holder main body 151 for accommodating and holding the ink cartridges 10 of each color and a cover 152 for covering the front surface thereof are provided on the left side of the main bodies 120, 130 as viewed from the front side. An ink cartridge holder 150 is arranged. The ink cartridge holder 150 covers the holder body 151 with the cover 1
A lower portion of 52 is rotatably supported, and a user holds the upper portion to push down or push up to open or close.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an operation panel 160 for the user to operate recording control and the like is arranged on the upper right side when viewed from the front side of the main bodies 120 and 130. The operation panel 160 is provided with a liquid crystal screen and various buttons so that the user can operate the buttons while checking the liquid crystal screen.

When the ink jet printer 100 is used in such a structure, first, the paper feeding section 11 is used.
Spindle 11 constituting roll paper holder 111 from 0
3, the one roll paper holder 114 inserted in the spindle 113 is pulled out from one end of the spindle 113, as shown in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the spindle 1
One end of the roll paper R is inserted from one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R to penetrate the other end, and as shown in FIG. 5, one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R is inserted and fixed to the other end side of the spindle 113. The roll paper holder 114 is fitted into and brought into contact with the roll paper holder 114. Then, one roll paper holder 114 is inserted from one end of the spindle 113 and fitted into the other end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R. This allows the roll paper R to rotate together with the spindle 113.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, by holding the both ends of the spindle 113 into which the roll paper R is inserted, the paper feed section 110.
Lift up to. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, in the spindle receiver 115, a relatively shallow recess 115a for temporarily mounting the end portion of the spindle 113 and the end portion of the spindle 113 are rotatably supported. The relatively deep recesses 115b are arranged side by side in the front and rear. Front depression 115
a is a spindle 1 in which a heavy roll paper R is inserted
Since it is difficult to temporarily insert 13 into the regular recess 115b, it is provided for temporary placement.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, both ends of the spindle 113 into which the roll paper R has been inserted are once placed in the temporary recess 115a of the spindle receiver 115, and thereafter,
As shown in FIG. 8, first, one end of the spindle 113 in which the roll paper R is inserted is attached to the corresponding spindle receiver 114.
Then, the other end of the spindle 113 into which the roll paper R is inserted is hooked on the corresponding regular recess 115b of the corresponding spindle receiver 115. As a result, the spindle 113 with the roll paper R inserted therein can be safely and easily set in the paper feed unit 110.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the leading edge of the roll paper R is pulled out downward and passed through the conveyance path of the recording section 120.
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the sheet is passed to the conveyance path of the sheet discharge unit 130. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the roll paper R is rotated in the winding direction to position the leading end of the roll paper R at the marker M formed on, for example, the paper discharge guide 131. After that, the ink jet printer 100 is activated to feed the roll paper R in the sub-scanning direction and the recording head 1
Ink droplets are ejected while moving 21 in the main scanning direction, predetermined information is recorded on the roll paper R, and the paper is ejected.

FIG. 12 shows the ink cartridge holder 15
It is a perspective view which shows the detail of 0. The ink cartridge holder 150 is a holder main body 151 attached to the front left side of the main body 120 of the inkjet printer 100.
And a cover 152 attached to the front side of the holder body 151. Inside the holder main body 151, a storage portion 153 for storing the ink cartridge 10 and a control lever 154 that is vertically movable are arranged in parallel. The lower portion of the cover 152 is rotatably supported by the lower portion of the holder body 151, and is swung downward to rotate the holder body 151.
The front surface of the holder main body 151 is closed by opening the front surface of the holder main body 151 and turning upward.

The storage portion 153 provided in the holder main body 151 has seven color ink cartridges 10B, namely black, light yellow, yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta, and magenta in order from the left side of the drawing.
0LY, 10Y, 10LC, 10C, 10LM, 10M
Are separated so that they can be individually pulled out and pushed in.

Here, FIG. 13 shows the ink cartridge 1
It is the perspective view which looked at 0 from the back surface side. The ink cartridge 10 includes an outer case 11 formed of, for example, a hard plastic material in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an ink tank, which is formed of, for example, a flexible material in a bag shape and is filled with ink, is sealed. On the front surface side of one side surface of the outer case 11, a concave grip portion 12 on which the user holds his or her hand when the ink cartridge 10 is pulled out from the storage portion 153 and pushed in is formed.

In the holder body of the conventional ink cartridge holder, for example, only ink cartridges of 6 colors are stored, and there is a relatively large space, so when the ink cartridge is pulled out from the storage portion and pushed in, The user was able to put his hands inside the holder body and work. However, in the present embodiment, the holder body 1 of the ink cartridge holder 150 having the same size as the conventional one is used.
Since it is necessary to arrange the storage portion 153 for storing the ink cartridges 10 of seven colors and the control lever 154 in the same space in 51, there is no room in space. Therefore, by forming the concave grip portion 12 in the ink cartridge 10, the work of pulling out and pushing in the ink cartridge 10 into the storage portion 153 can be easily performed.

An ink supply port 13 covered with rubber packing connected to an internal ink tank is formed in the center of the rear surface of the outer case 11, and the ink cartridge 10 is housed in a storage part 153 on both upper and lower sides thereof. Positioning holes 14 are formed for positioning when pushing in. Further, the upper part of the rear surface of the outer case 11 has a recess 1
5 is formed, and the ink cartridge 1 is formed inside thereof.
IC 16 for reading and writing the ink information of 0, for example, the manufacturing number, the color and the remaining amount of the ink, is attached. further,
A locking protrusion 17 for locking the ink cartridge 10 when stored in the storage portion 153 is formed in the center of the upper surface of the outer case 11.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the storage portion 153 of the ink cartridge 10 for one color in the holder body 151. An ink supply needle 21 inserted into the ink supply port 13 of the ink cartridge 10 and a positioning needle 22 inserted into the positioning hole 14 of the ink cartridge 10 are pulled out of the ink cartridge 10 on the inner rear surface of the storage portion 153. , Is arranged so as to project in the pushing direction.

Here, FIG. 15A shows the ink supply needle 2.
It is a top view which shows the detail of 1. This ink supply needle 21
Has a supply port 21a bored on the front side surface and a rear end connected to the ink tube 124. Then, the ink supply needle 21 is a cylindrical rubber that is axially biased by a compression spring 23 inserted at the rear end side and closes a supply port formed in the tip side surface of the ink supply needle 21. A valve 24 made of metal is inserted. As a result, the ink supply system in the inkjet printer 100 can be maintained in the closed state.

With such a configuration, when the user pushes the ink cartridge 10 into the storage portion 153 as shown in FIG. 15A, as shown in FIG. 15B.
The ink supply needle 21 is inserted into the ink supply port 13, and the valve 24 is pushed by the rubber packing of the ink supply port 13 to be pushed toward the rear end side of the ink supply needle 21. As a result, the supply port 21 covered by the valve 24
Since a is exposed, the ink in the ink tank of the ink cartridge 10 is supplied from the ink supply port 13 to the ink tube 124 through the supply port 21a of the ink supply needle 21.

On the other hand, when the user pulls out the ink cartridge 10 from the accommodating portion 153, the ink supply needle 21 is also pulled out from the ink supply port 13, so that the ink supply port 13
The valve 24 pushed by the rubber packing is pushed to the tip side of the ink supply needle 21 by the restoring force of the compression spring 23. As a result, the exposed supply port 21a is covered with the valve 24 again.

As shown in FIG. 14, a connector 25 that is electrically connected to the IC 16 of the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the upper portion of the inner rear surface of the storage portion 153. This connector 25 is connected to the FFC 123,
The control unit of the inkjet printer 100 can read and write ink information with respect to the IC 16 of the ink cartridge 10. Further, a locking claw 153b that locks or unlocks the locking projection 17 of the ink cartridge 10 in conjunction with the cam 159 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the storage portion 153.

As shown in FIG. 12, the control lever 154 provided in the holder body 151 is
1 is provided so as to be vertically swingable along a guide groove 151a provided in the vertical direction. This control lever 154
Swings up and down, so that the ink cartridge 1
The writing of ink information to the IC 16 arranged at 0 is electrically controlled, and the loading / unloading of the ink cartridge 10 into / from the storage portion 153 is mechanically controlled.

That is, when the control lever 154 is positioned at the uppermost end, writing of ink information to the IC 16 arranged in the ink cartridge 10 is prohibited and the storage portion 153 of the ink cartridge 10 is stored. It can be taken in and out. On the other hand, when the control lever 154 is positioned at the lowermost end,
Writing of ink information to the IC 16 provided in the ink cartridge 10 is permitted, and
It is impossible to take the ink cartridge 10 in and out of the storage portion 153.

The control lever 154 having such a function
By providing the above, it becomes possible to use a large ink cartridge. That is, conventionally, the writing of ink information to the IC provided in the ink cartridge has been controlled by the opening / closing operation of the cover of the ink cartridge holder. However, when the large ink cartridge is set in the holder body, it protrudes to the front side and the cover cannot be closed, so that it is not possible to control the writing of ink information to the IC arranged in the ink cartridge. It was

On the other hand, the writing of ink information to the IC 16 arranged in the ink cartridge 10 of this embodiment is controlled by swinging the control lever 154 of the ink cartridge holder 150 as described above.
For this reason, a large ink cartridge is attached to the holder body 15
Even if the cover 152 cannot be closed by protruding to the front side when set to 1, it is possible to control writing of ink information to the IC arranged in the large ink cartridge.

By the way, as described above, the ink in the ink cartridges 10 of the respective colors housed in the ink cartridge holder 150 is pressurized by the ink pressure supply means and sent to the recording head 121. There is. For this reason, in the case of an ink supply means that uses the head difference like a conventional inkjet printer, the ink cartridge holder needs to be arranged above the carriage.
Since the ink 50 can be supplied wherever it is arranged, the arrangement place can be freely set.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the paper width detecting device of the present invention. This paper width detection device 91
Encoder 92, photo interrupter 93, paper detection sensor 94, head position determination means 95, A / D converter 9
6, a CPU 97, a memory 98 and a DMAC 99. The encoder 92 is arranged on the printer main body side, and the photo interrupter 93 is arranged on the carriage 122, and generates a pulse signal PLS when the photo interrupter 93 crosses the slit of the encoder 92.

The paper detection sensor 94 emits light, for example, to reflect the amount of reflected light on the surface of the roll paper or the platen (the amount of reflected light on the surface of the roll paper> the amount of reflected light on the platen surface), and the contrast between the end of the roll paper and the surface of the platen. Is detected and a detection signal PDA is generated. The head position determination means 95 uses the pulse signal P from the photo interrupter 93.
The conversion start command CSS of the analog detection signal PDA is generated at the timing of LS, and the position of the recording head is determined based on the pulse signal PLS to generate the head position signal HPS. The head position determination means 95 is provided as a part of the ASIC.

The A / D converter 96 converts the analog detection signal PDA from the paper detection sensor 94 into a digital detection signal PDD in response to a conversion start command CSS from the head position determination means 95 to generate a transfer request signal RRS. I am supposed to do it. The DMAC 99 detects the detection signal P by the transfer request signal RRS from the A / D converter 96.
The DD is read and written in the memory 98. The CPU 97 is adapted to calculate the width of the roll paper based on the detection signal PDD stored in the memory 98.

The operation of detecting the width of the roll paper in such a configuration will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 16, the time chart of FIG. 17 and the flowchart of FIG. The head position determination means 95 includes the photo interrupter 9
Pulse signal P of 1/180 inch cycle sent from 3
The conversion start command CSS of the analog detection signal PDA is generated at the timing of LS and is sent to the A / D converter 96.

The A / D converter 96 triggers the conversion start command CSS of the analog detection signal PDA from the head position determination means 95 as a trigger to convert the analog detection signal PDA sent from the paper detection sensor 94 into a digital detection signal P.
The process of converting to DD is started. Then, when the conversion into the digital detection signal PDD is completed, the A / D converter 96 generates the transfer request signal RRS and sends it to the DMAC 99.

On the other hand, the head position determining means 95 determines the position of the recording head based on the pulse signal PLS and generates the head position signal HPS. The CPU 97 causes the head position determination unit 95 to have a cycle shorter than the pulse interval.
When the head position signal HPS is read from the head position signal HPS (step S11) and it is determined that the head position signal HPS has changed (step S12), the recording head moves to the encoder 92.
It is determined whether or not the final position has been reached (step S1)
3).

The CPU 97 and the recording head are encoders 9
When it is judged that the final position of 2 has not been reached, D
The MAC 99 uses the transfer request signal RRS from the A / D converter 6 as a trigger to read the detection signal PDD from the A / D converter 96 and write it in the memory 98 (steps S14 and S15). Since the DMAC 99 is a device specialized for data transfer, this process can be executed at a higher speed than the CPU 7 which has to perform a plurality of processes by itself. At this time, the CPU 97
The head position signal HPS corresponding to the detection signal PDD written in the memory 98 may be written in the memory 98.

On the other hand, in step S13, the CPU 9
When it is determined that the recording head has reached the final position of the encoder 92, 7 reads the detection signal PDD from the memory 98, analyzes the profile thereof, and calculates the threshold value (steps S16 and S17). The calculation method of this threshold is
This is a method in which the detection signal PDD on the surface of the roll paper and the detection signal PDD on the surface of the platen are analyzed, and half the difference between them is calculated and used as the threshold value. In addition, the calculation method of this threshold is
It can be applied to all types of paper regardless of the paper type.

Here, the conventional paper width detecting apparatus 1 sends the pulse signal PLS from the photo interrupter 3 and A / A
A / D of detection signals PDA and PDD by D converter 6
The conversion is asynchronous control. Therefore, it is necessary to store the head position signal HPS and the detection signal PDD in association with each other. However, the paper width detection device 91 of the present embodiment is
The transmission of the pulse signal PLS from the photo interrupter 93 causes the detection signals PDA, PD by the A / D converter 96 to be transmitted.
This is a synchronous control that triggers the A / D conversion of D. Therefore, when the detection signals PDD are sequentially stored in the memory 98 over the entire width of the roll paper, the detection signals PDD stored at the adjacent addresses are data with an interval of one pulse signal PLS. HPS and detection signal P
There is no need to store the data in association with the DD.

Therefore, the CPU 97 detects the detection signal P when the calculated threshold value is exceeded and when it falls from this threshold value.
The DD address is read from the memory 98, and the width of the roll paper is calculated based on these addresses (step S
18). When the head position signal HPS is stored in the memory 98, the CPU 97 detects the detection signal PDD when the calculated threshold value is exceeded and when it falls from this threshold value.
The width of the roll paper may be calculated by reading the head position signal HPS corresponding to.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing another operation for detecting the width of the roll paper. The example shown in FIG. 18 is a method that can be applied regardless of the paper type, but the example shown in FIG. 19 is a method that can be applied separately to standard reflective paper (so-called plain paper) and low reflective paper. . The head position determining means 95 outputs 1 / output from the photo interrupter 93.
A conversion start command CSS for the analog detection signal PDA is generated at the timing of the pulse signal PLS having a cycle of 180 inches and is sent to the A / D converter 96.

The A / D converter 96 triggers the conversion start command CSS of the analog detection signal PDA from the head position determination means 95 as a trigger to convert the analog detection signal PDA sent from the paper detection sensor 94 into a digital detection signal P.
The process of converting to DD is started. Then, when the conversion into the digital detection signal PDD is completed, the A / D converter 96 generates the transfer request signal RRS and sends it to the DMAC 99.

On the other hand, the head position determining means 95 determines the position of the recording head based on the pulse signal PLS and generates the head position signal HPS. The CPU 97 causes the head position determination unit 95 to have a cycle shorter than the pulse interval.
When the head position signal HPS is read from (step S21) and it is determined that the head position signal HPS has changed (step S22), the recording head moves to the encoder 92.
It is determined whether or not the final position has been reached (step S2).
3).

The CPU 97 and the recording head are encoders 9
When it is judged that the final position of 2 has not been reached, D
The MAC 99 uses the transfer request signal RRS from the A / D converter 6 as a trigger to read the detection signal PDD from the A / D converter 96 and write it in the memory 98 (steps S24 and S25). Since the DMAC 99 is a device specialized for data transfer, this process can be executed at a higher speed than the CPU 7 which has to perform a plurality of processes by itself. At this time, the CPU 97
The head position signal HPS corresponding to the detection signal PDD written in the memory 98 may be written in the memory 98. On the other hand, in step S23, the CPU 9
When determining that the recording head has reached the final position of the encoder 92, the reading unit 7 reads the detection signal PDD from the memory 98 and analyzes the profile thereof (step S2).
6).

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the profile of the detection signal PDD of standard paper, and FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the profile of the detection signal PDD of low reflection paper. Since the value of the standard paper detection signal PDD is larger than the value of the low reflection paper detection signal PDD, the standard paper detection signal PD in the transition area between the end of the roll paper and the platen surface is detected.
The change of D becomes steeper than the change of the detection signal PDD of the low reflection paper. Therefore, the CPU 97 determines the rate of change of the detection signal PDD in the transition area, that is, the inclination (step S27). If the inclination is larger than the preset inclination, the CPU 97 determines that the paper is standard paper, and if the inclination is smaller, the paper is low reflection paper. To do.

When the CPU 97 determines that the paper is a standard paper, it calculates a value of 80% of the difference between the detection signal PDD on the surface of the roll paper and the detection signal PDD on the surface of the platen and sets it as a threshold value (step S28). Then, the CPU 97 reads from the memory 98 the addresses of the detection signal PDD when the calculated threshold value is exceeded and when it falls from this threshold value, and calculates the width of the roll paper based on these addresses (step S29).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the paper is low reflection paper, the CPU 97 calculates a value of 50% of the difference between the detection signal PDD on the surface of the roll paper and the detection signal PDD on the surface of the platen and sets it as a threshold value (step S30). Then, the CPU 97 reads from the memory 98 the address of the detection signal PDD when the calculated threshold value is exceeded and when it falls from this threshold value,
The width of the roll paper is calculated based on these addresses (step S31). When the head position signal HPS is stored in the memory 98, the CPU 97 reads the head position signal HPS corresponding to the detection signal PDD when the calculated threshold value is exceeded and when the head position signal HPS falls from the calculated threshold value, and rolls the head position signal HPS. The width of the paper may be calculated.

FIG. 22 shows the writing of the paper detection signal in the memories 98 and 8 from the start of the operation of the head position determination means 95 of the paper width detection apparatus 91 and the conventional A / D converters 96 and 6 of the present embodiment. It is the figure which compared the processing time until the end. As is clear from this figure, the conventional paper width detection device 1 shown by the dotted line has a processing time of about 60 μs,
The paper width detection device 91 of the present embodiment requires a processing time of about 30 μs, which can be shortened by about 30 μs.

As described above, A requiring a particularly long processing time
Digital paper detection signal PDD from the / D converter 96
Of the paper detection signal PDD to the memory 98 is not performed by the CPU 97 but by the DMAC 99.
97 is a head position signal H from the head position determination means 95.
Since only PS acquisition and paper width detection end position determination are performed,
The processing capacity of the CPU 97 is not wasted.

Further, recent relatively inexpensive one-chip microcomputers often have a built-in DMAC99 or an A / D converter 96 capable of generating a transfer request signal for the DMAC99, and such a one-chip microcomputer is used. Therefore, high-speed paper width detection can be performed without increasing the cost, and of course an expensive CP with a relatively high processing capacity.
There is no need to use U97. And the carriage 122
The paper width of the roll paper can be detected by moving the paper at a high speed, for example, at a speed almost equal to the speed during recording.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and other embodiments within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Needless to say, also applies. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an ink jet printer is described as an example of the recording device, but the recording device is not limited to this, and any recording device including a paper width detection device in the recording unit may be, for example, a facsimile device or a copy machine. It is also applicable to a device or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an inkjet printer which is one of recording devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration example of a main part of the printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a first diagram showing a procedure of using the printer of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a second diagram showing a procedure for using the printer of FIG.

5 is a third diagram showing a procedure of using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a fourth diagram showing a procedure of using the printer of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fifth diagram showing a procedure of using the printer of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sixth diagram showing a procedure of using the printer of FIG.

9 is a seventh diagram showing a procedure of using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an eighth diagram showing a procedure of using the printer of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a ninth diagram illustrating a procedure of using the printer of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing details of an ink cartridge holder of the printer of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge loaded in the ink cartridge holder of FIG. 12, viewed from the rear surface side.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a storage unit for an ink cartridge for one color in the holder body of the ink cartridge holder of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing details of an ink supply needle in the storage portion of the ink cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a paper width detection device of the present invention.

17 is a time chart showing the operation of detecting the paper width by the paper width detection device of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation of detecting the paper width by the paper width detection device of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing another operation of detecting the paper width by the paper width detection device of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a profile of a detection signal of standard paper.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a profile of a detection signal of low reflection paper.

22 is a diagram comparing the processing time from the start of the operation of the head position determination means of the paper width detection device of FIG. 16 and the head position determination means of the conventional paper width detection device to the end of writing the paper detection signal in the memory.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a conventional paper width detection device.

FIG. 24 is a time chart showing the operation of detecting the paper width by the paper width detection device of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an operation of detecting the paper width by the paper width detection device of FIG. 23.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ink cartridge, 11 outer case, 12
Grip, 13 Ink supply port, 14 Positioning hole, 15
Recess, 16 IC, 17 locking protrusion, 21 ink supply needle, 21a supply port, 22 positioning needle, 23 compression spring, 24 valve, 25 connector, 91 paper width detection device, 92 encoder, 93 photo interrupter, 9
4 paper detection sensor, 95 head position determination means, 96
A / D converter, 97 CPU, 98 memory, 99
DMAC, 100 inkjet printer, 11
0 paper feed unit, 111 roll paper holder, 112 roll paper cover, 113 spindle, 114 roll paper retainer, 115 spindle receiver, 120 recording unit, 121
Recording head, 122 carriage, 123 FFC,
124 ink tube, 125 upper lid, 126 front lid, 127 rail, 128 carriage belt, 13
0 paper discharge unit, 131 paper discharge guide, 140 legs, 141
Rollers, 142 support columns, 143 reinforcing rods, 150 ink cartridge holders, 151 holder body, 151
a guide groove, 152 cover, 153 storage section, 15
3b Locking claw, 154 Control lever, 159 Cam

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C056 EB13 EB46 FA10 KC05                 2C058 AC07 AC11 AD01 AE04 GB03                       GB17 GB33                 2C061 AQ05 AS06 HK07                 2C480 CA01 CA31 CB34                 3F048 AA05 AC04 BA07 CC05 DA08                       DC06 DC12 EB37

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A width detection method for detecting the width of a recording medium recorded by a recording head, comprising: the recording medium detected as the recording head moves from one end side to the other end side of the recording medium; The value of the detection signal of the mounting surface is stored, a predetermined threshold value is obtained based on the profile obtained from the value of the detection signal, both ends of the recording medium are specified by the threshold value, and the width of the recording medium is obtained. A method for detecting the width of a recording medium, characterized in that 2. The threshold value is obtained on the basis of a profile of the values of all detection signals stored at the pulse intervals input along with the movement of the recording head from one end side to the other end side of the recording medium. The method of detecting the width of a recording medium according to claim 1. 3. The threshold value is calculated by the difference between the value of the detection signal of the recording medium and the value of the detection signal of the mounting surface of the recording medium. Recording medium width detection method. 4. The recording medium after determining the type of the recording medium by determining the rate of change of the value of the detection signal in the transition region between the end portion of the recording medium and the mounting surface of the recording medium. 3. The method for detecting the width of a recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the width is calculated by the difference between the value of the detection signal of 1. and the value of the detection signal of the mounting surface of the recording medium. 5. A width detection device for detecting a width of a recording medium recorded by a recording head, the recording medium being detected as the recording head moves from one end side to the other end side of the recording medium, A medium detection unit that sends a detection signal of the mounting surface, a transfer unit that writes the detection signal from the medium detection unit to a storage unit, and a predetermined value based on a profile obtained from the value of the detection signal stored in the storage unit A width detection device for a recording medium, comprising: a threshold value; arithmetic processing means for determining both ends of the recording medium by the threshold value to determine the width of the recording medium. 6. A head detecting means for sending a pulse signal in accordance with the movement of the recording head, wherein the medium detecting means has the recording medium and its mounting surface at a pulse interval of the pulse signal from the head detecting means. 6. The width detection of the recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the arithmetic processing means obtains the predetermined threshold value based on the profile of the values of all the detection signals stored in the storage means. apparatus. 7. The calculation processing means obtains the threshold value by a difference between a value of a detection signal of the recording medium and a value of a detection signal of a mounting surface of the recording medium.
Or the recording medium width detection device according to the sixth aspect. 8. The arithmetic processing means, after determining the change rate of the value of the detection signal in the transition region between the end portion of the recording medium and the mounting surface thereof to determine the type of the recording medium,
The width detection device for a recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the threshold value is obtained based on a difference between the value of the detection signal of the recording medium and the value of the detection signal of the mounting surface of the recording medium. 9. The recording medium width detection device according to claim 4, wherein the transfer unit is a DMAC. 10. The recording medium width detection device according to claim 4, wherein the arithmetic processing unit is a CPU. 11. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by scanning a recording head, comprising: the recording medium width detecting apparatus according to claim 4. .