JP2004074743A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress lowering of a printing efficiency caused because an action against jamming is taken against a failure in feeding an ink ribbon caused by a thickness of a paper. <P>SOLUTION: When a signal of conveying of the ink ribbon R is not inputted to a line printing control section 12 of a printer 1 from an ink ribbon jamming sensor 19 during a printing operation, the control section 12 judges that the jamming of the ink ribbon R occurs, and stops the printing operation to perform a predetermined operation for jamming. When a feed signal of the ink ribbon R is not inputted from the ink ribbon jamming sensor 19 during an operation of removing a slack of the ink ribbon R before starting of the printing operation or after completion of the printing operation, the control section 12 judges that the jamming of the ink ribbon R does not occur, and then does not perform the predetermined action against jamming. As a result, when a failure in feeding the ribbon occurs by the constraint of the ink ribbon R by a thick portion of a paper and a print head 14, the printing operation is not stopped by the jamming of the ink ribbon so that it is possible to suppress the lowering of the printing efficiency. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, like a dot impact printer, an ink ribbon is interposed between a print head and paper, and the print head is driven based on print data while conveying the paper and feeding the ink ribbon. More particularly, the present invention relates to a printer device that performs printing by transferring ink on an ink ribbon to a sheet of paper, and particularly relates to a jam detection processing function of the ink ribbon.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the printer device as described above, the printing operation of the print head (pressing a predetermined wire dot on the paper via the ink ribbon based on the print data while moving the print head in a row direction orthogonal to the paper feed to apply the ink to the paper) If the ink ribbon is not sent due to damage to the ink ribbon during the transfer of the ink ribbon, or failure of the electric motor that is the drive source for feeding the ink ribbon, the ink in the same area of the ink ribbon is printed by the print head. When the ink ribbon is actually being fed, it is monitored whether or not the ink ribbon is actually fed when the ink ribbon drive source is being driven. If it is detected that the ink ribbon has not been sent, it is determined that a jam has occurred in the ink ribbon, and a jam error process for the predetermined ink ribbon is performed. Ink ribbon jam detection processing function is provided.
[0003]
The ink ribbon jam detection processing function includes a sensor (hereinafter, referred to as an ink ribbon jam sensor) for detecting a state in which the ink ribbon is being fed, and a predetermined jam error process based on the detection result of the ink ribbon jam sensor. And an error processing circuit. The ink ribbon jam sensor is configured to rotate one of a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the feeding of the ink ribbon with the ink ribbon, and includes, for example, an encoder for detecting rotation of the guide roller. When the guide roller is rotated in accordance with the feeding of the ink ribbon, a pulse signal is output from the encoder. Therefore, the jam error processing circuit determines whether or not a jam has occurred in the ink ribbon based on the presence or absence of the pulse signal. If it is determined that a jam has occurred in the ink ribbon from a state where no pulse signal is output, for example, the operation of the printer apparatus is immediately stopped, and a jam error processing of the ink ribbon such as issuing an alarm buzzer is performed.
[0004]
Further, in the above-described printer device, when a printing operation is started in a state in which the ink ribbon is slackened, the ink in the same area of the ink ribbon is transferred to the paper by the print head until the slack is eliminated. Therefore, only the ink ribbon is sent before the start of the printing operation of the print head or after the end of the previous printing operation of the print head, and the slack of the ink ribbon is removed. The print head is mounted on a print shuttle that reciprocates at high speed in the horizontal direction of the paper (when the paper is transported in the longitudinal direction by continuous paper, in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, that is, in the width direction of the paper). Since the drive of the print head is controlled in synchronization with the reciprocation of the print shuttle, the print shuttle moves to a predetermined stop position or a reversal position even when the print operation of the normal print head is completed. Therefore, in the slack removal of the ink ribbon after the printing operation of the print head is completed, the print head is not moved exactly and only the ink ribbon is sent, but the contents are not explained in this explanation. For simplicity, the movement of the print shuttle (ie, the movement of the print head) is ignored.
[0005]
Then, based on the output signal of the ink ribbon sensor, when the print head is driven and the ink ribbon is slacked before starting the printing operation or when the print head is stopped, the ink ribbon is slacked. Is detected.
[0006]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the ink ribbon jam detection processing in slack removal of the ink ribbon before the print head starts the printing operation.
[0007]
Before the printing operation of the print head is started, first, the ink ribbon feeding mechanism is started (specifically, the electric motor for feeding the ink ribbon is started) (S100), and slack removal of the ink ribbon is started. If the ink ribbon is slack, the ink ribbon will not be fed until the slack disappears.Therefore, after the time until the ink ribbon slack disappears after the start of the ink ribbon feed mechanism, the ink ribbon jam occurs. A pulse signal is output from the sensor. Therefore, in order to monitor the output of the pulse signal, whether the pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor within a predetermined time (a time that can cover the time required to remove the slack of the ink ribbon). It is determined whether or not it is (a loop of S101 and S102). If a pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor within a predetermined time (S102: YES), the ink ribbon is properly fed after the slack is removed. The printing operation is started (S103), and the printing operation on the paper by the print head is started (S104).
[0008]
On the other hand, if the pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor within the predetermined time (S101: YES), it is considered that the slack of the ink ribbon is not normally performed, and some abnormality occurs in the feeding of the ink ribbon. Thereafter, the above-described jam processing of the ink ribbon is performed (S105), and the apparatus is in a print standby state until the jam error is recovered.
[0009]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the ink ribbon jam detection processing in the slack removal of the ink ribbon after the printing operation of the print head is completed.
[0010]
The dot impact printer performs a printing process based on print data for each line, and repeats the printing process to perform a predetermined printing at a predetermined position in each page. Since the print processing job is performed on a line basis, the slack removal of the ink ribbon after printing is basically performed after the print processing job of each line is completed (after the drive of the print head is completed). However, when the printing is performed by driving the print head to the vicinity of the end of the line and the printing of the next line is performed continuously, it is not possible to secure sufficient slack removal time. Picking may be omitted.
[0011]
The flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is a process for detecting a jam of the ink ribbon in a case where the slack of the ink ribbon is performed after the completion of the job of the printing process in line units.
[0012]
When the job from the control unit is completed and the printing operation of the print head is completed (S110), the ink ribbon feeding operation is continued for a predetermined time (a time that can cover the time required to remove the slack of the ink ribbon). Then, the slack of the ink ribbon is removed (S111 to S113). Then, it is determined whether or not a pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor during the period of removing the slack of the ink ribbon (loop of S111 and S112), and the pulse from the ink ribbon jam sensor is continued until the predetermined period elapses. If the signal has been output (S112: YES), it is determined that the slack of the ink ribbon has been normally removed, and the driving of the ink ribbon feeding mechanism is stopped (S113).
[0013]
On the other hand, if no pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor while the ink ribbon feed mechanism is being driven to remove the ink ribbon slack (S111: NO), the slack of the ink ribbon is not removed and the ink ribbon is not removed. Is determined to have occurred, and the above-described jam processing of the ink ribbon is performed (S114), and the printing standby state is set until the jam error is recovered.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, a sheet in which another sheet such as an envelope or a postcard is enclosed, a stepped medium sheet such as a label sheet, and a sheet in which a plurality of sheets are stapled with a paper stapler, as shown in FIG. Are thicker in the area B1 in which the is enclosed and in the area B2 bound by the paper stapler, and the paper thickness changes in the paper. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, a plurality of sheets which are overlapped with line glue or a label sheet having a thick backing is turned into a continuous sheet to form a continuous sheet as shown in FIG. In this state, the sheet thickness greatly changes at this portion.
[0015]
When printing on a sheet by passing such a sheet of varying thickness between the print head and the platen and driving the print head based on print data while transporting the sheet, a specific area B1 where the sheet thickness is increased. When B3 to B3 are conveyed to the printing position (gap between the platen and the print head), the gap between the platen and the print head is kept constant. , And may be difficult to be fed between the paper and the print head.
[0016]
When printing is performed on the paper by driving the print head, the paper is transported. Therefore, when the specific regions B1 to B3 having a large paper thickness are transported to the printing position, the paper and the ink ribbon generated by the print head are transferred. The constraint is temporary and rarely causes a jam error of the ink ribbon. However, when printing is completed in a state where the specific areas B1 to B3 where the paper thickness is thick are located at the printing position (that is, when the specific thickness B When the paper is not conveyed in a state where the areas B1 to B3 are located at the printing position), the ink ribbon is constrained by the paper and the print head, and the ink ribbon is not fed in the slack removal of the ink ribbon after the printing is completed. Therefore, a jam error of the ink ribbon occurs.
[0017]
Also, when printing is started in a state where the specific areas B1 to B3 where the paper thickness is thick are located at the printing position, in the slack removal of the ink ribbon before the printing is started, the ink ribbon is restrained by the paper and the print head. Therefore, if the ink ribbon is not sent and the pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor even after a predetermined time has elapsed, an ink ribbon jam error occurs and printing cannot be started.
[0018]
The phenomenon that the specific areas B1 to B3 where the paper thickness is large are restricted by the paper and the print head at the printing position is caused by the ink ribbon in the original meaning such as damage of the ink ribbon or failure of the electric motor for feeding the ink ribbon. When the specific areas B1 to B3 of the paper are conveyed from the printing position by the printing operation instead of the jam of the ink ribbon, the restrained state of the ink ribbon can be resolved. In addition to lowering the printing efficiency, the user is forced to perform an error recovery process whose cause is uncertain, which is a factor that lowers the reliability of the printer device.
[0019]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when an ink ribbon feeding abnormality is detected by the ink ribbon being constrained by a specific region where the paper thickness is large and the print head, the abnormality is detected. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer device having high printing efficiency and high reliability by invalidating the detection and preventing unnecessary processing of the jam error of the ink ribbon.
[0020]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical measures.
[0021]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printer apparatus for performing printing by transferring ink of an ink ribbon to a sheet by a print head, a ribbon driving unit for feeding the ink ribbon, and a driving unit for driving the ribbon driving unit. An ink ribbon abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon; a jam error processing means for performing a jam error process for a predetermined ink ribbon when the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected by the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means; An ink ribbon slack remover for feeding the ink ribbon by a predetermined amount to remove slack in the ink ribbon during at least one of a predetermined period before and after the start of the printing operation of the print head; While the slack of the ink ribbon is being removed, the ink ribbon is fed by the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means. When normal is detected, the printer apparatus characterized by comprising an abnormality detecting invalid means for disabling the abnormality detection for the jam error processing means.
[0022]
In this printer device, when the ribbon driving means is driven, it is monitored whether or not the ink ribbon is normally fed, and the ink ribbon is not normally fed due to damage to the ink ribbon (feed error). Is detected, jam processing such as notification by a buzzer or display of an ink ribbon jam message on the display unit is performed. Therefore, when printing on paper is performed by driving the print head based on print data while feeding the ink ribbon, if an abnormality of the ink ribbon is detected, the drive of the print head is immediately stopped, and The ribbon is jammed.
[0023]
On the other hand, during at least one of the predetermined periods before or after the end of the printing operation of the print head, the ink ribbon is fed by a predetermined amount to remove the slack of the ink ribbon. Is detected, the feeding error detection is invalidated for the jam error processing means, and the jam processing of the ink ribbon is not performed.
[0024]
Therefore, when the paper of which the paper thickness is changed is set, and the thick paper area in the paper is located at the predetermined printing position facing the print head, the ink ribbon before the printing operation of the print head is started. When the slack is removed, the ink ribbon is constrained by the paper and the print head, and when the ink ribbon is not fed, the feeding error of the ink ribbon is detected, but the feeding error is invalidated. No ink ribbon jam processing is performed. Also, when the printing operation of the print head is completed in a state where the thick paper area in the paper is conveyed to the predetermined printing position facing the print head, and then the slack of the ink ribbon is performed, printing is performed with the paper. When the ink ribbon is not fed because the ink ribbon is constrained by the head, an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected. However, the feeding error is also invalidated, so that the jam processing of the ink ribbon is not performed.
[0025]
As a result, the ink ribbon jam is not unnecessarily removed in the slack removal of the ink ribbon, so that the efficiency of the printing process is not reduced, and the user is allowed to perform an error recovery process of unknown cause. There is no reduction in reliability.
[0026]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer device according to the first aspect, the sheet is a continuous sheet in which a plurality of sheets are folded at a perforation, and the predetermined sheet including a perforation of the continuous sheet. A detection unit that detects that the area is being conveyed to a predetermined print position facing the print head, wherein the abnormality detection invalidation unit includes a predetermined print position including a perforation of the continuous paper at the predetermined print position. When the feeding abnormality of the ink ribbon is detected during the slack removal of the ink ribbon in a state where the area is located, the abnormality detection is invalidated for the jam error processing means. Printer device is provided.
[0027]
In this printer device, the continuous paper folded at the perforation is set, and the printing operation of the printing head is performed in a state where a predetermined area including the perforation of the continuous paper is located at a predetermined printing position facing the print head. If the ink ribbon is removed before the start of printing, the ink ribbon is constrained by the paper and the print head, and the ink ribbon is not fed, an ink ribbon feed error is detected. Is invalidated, the jam processing of the ink ribbon is not performed. Also, when the printing operation of the print head is completed in a state where a predetermined area including a perforation of the continuous paper is conveyed to a predetermined printing position facing the print head, and then the slack of the ink ribbon is performed, the paper is also used. When the ink ribbon is not conveyed because the ink ribbon is constrained by the ink ribbon and the print head, the ink ribbon feeding error is detected, but the feeding error is also invalidated, so that the ink ribbon jam processing is not performed. .
[0028]
Therefore, even in this case, since the ink ribbon jam is not unnecessarily performed in the slack removal of the ink ribbon, the efficiency of the printing process is not reduced, and the user is allowed to perform an error recovery process of unknown cause. There is no reduction in the reliability of the device.
[0029]
Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer device according to claim 1 or 2, the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means performs the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means during the removal of the slack of the ink ribbon after the printing operation of the print head is completed. Further detecting means for determining whether or not the print head is moving when a feed abnormality is detected, and the abnormality detection invalidating means determines that the print head is stopped by the determining means. The printer apparatus is characterized in that when the error occurs, the abnormality detection by the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means is invalidated for the jam error processing means.
[0030]
In this printer device, when an ink ribbon feeding error is detected in the slack removal of the ink ribbon performed after the printing operation of the print head, it is determined whether or not the print head is moving when the feeding error is detected. If the print head is moving, the feeding error is valid and the ink ribbon is jammed.If the print head is not moving, the feeding error is invalid and the ink ribbon jam processing is disabled. Not done.
[0031]
That is, the print head is mounted on the print shuttle and reciprocated in the paper width direction by the print shuttle. The print shuttle reciprocates between a predetermined forward movement start position and a backward movement start position, and the print head performs a printing operation during a period in which the print shuttle performs a constant speed movement while the print shuttle reciprocates. . Therefore, even if the printing operation of the print head is completed, if the print shuttle has been moved to the stop position or the reverse position, the print head is moving, and the paper is conveyed in synchronization with the movement. If the print head is moving when an ink ribbon feed error is detected in the slack removal of the ink ribbon, the paper and the ink ribbon restrained by the print head are released from the restrained state by transporting the paper at that time. Since there is a high possibility that the feeding error will occur, the jam of the ink ribbon is not performed unnecessarily by invalidating the feeding error. On the other hand, if the print head is not moving, the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon has a high possibility of the original jam due to the damage of the ink ribbon or the like.
[0032]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the sheet thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the set sheet, and the thickness of the set sheet is smaller than a predetermined value. Paper thickness determining means for determining whether the sheet is small or not; and prohibiting means for prohibiting invalid processing of abnormality detection by the abnormality detection invalidating means when the thickness of the set sheet is smaller than a predetermined value. Is provided, further comprising:
[0033]
According to this printer device, when the thickness of the set paper is larger than a predetermined value, it is highly possible that the thickness of the paper has changed in the transport direction, and the thickness of the paper inside the paper at a predetermined printing position facing the print head is high. The ink ribbon may be constrained by the specific area where the paper thickness is thick and the print head, and a phenomenon similar to the ink ribbon jam may occur. In the above, even if an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected, the jam processing of the ink ribbon is not performed. On the other hand, when the thickness of the set paper is smaller than the predetermined value, the paper thickness rarely changes in the transport direction, and the ink ribbon is restrained by the paper and the print head, and a phenomenon similar to ink ribbon jam occurs. Since there is no danger of invalidation, the invalidation processing for the detection of the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is prohibited, and when the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected in the slack removal of the ink ribbon, the jam processing of the ink ribbon is performed. This makes it possible to reliably detect the jam of the ink ribbon when removing the slack of the ink ribbon for a thin paper.
[0034]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the mode setting means for setting a mode for prohibiting a process of invalidating abnormality detection by the abnormality detection invalidating device is provided. Further, the abnormality detection invalidating means, when the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means detects the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon during the removal of the slack of the ink ribbon, the abnormality detection is performed when the mode is set. A printer device is provided which is enabled for jam error processing means, and invalidates the abnormality detection for the jam error processing means when the mode is not set.
[0035]
According to this printer device, when a predetermined mode is set by the mode setting means, when an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected in the slack removal of the ink ribbon, the jam processing of the ink ribbon is performed, and the predetermined process is performed. When the mode is not set, the jam removal of the ink ribbon is not performed in the slack removal of the ink ribbon even if the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected. Thus, the user can appropriately set the mode according to the type of paper used by the user to appropriately perform the jam processing of the ink ribbon.
[0036]
Further, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a printer device for performing printing by transferring ink of an ink ribbon to continuous paper by a print head, a ribbon driving unit for feeding the ink ribbon, and a driving of the ribbon driving unit An ink ribbon abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon, and a jam error processing means for performing a jam error processing of a predetermined ink ribbon when the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected by the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means. Detecting means for detecting that a specific area in the paper whose thickness is larger than a predetermined value is conveyed to a predetermined printing position facing the print head, and during the printing operation of the print head, When the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means detects the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon, the specific area in the paper is conveyed to the predetermined printing position. If not, the abnormality detection is made valid for the jam error processing means.When the specific area in the paper is conveyed to the predetermined printing position, the abnormality detection is performed for the jam error processing means. And an abnormality detection invalidating means for invalidating the abnormality.
[0037]
In this printer apparatus, when printing is performed on the paper by driving the print head based on the print data while feeding the ink ribbon while feeding the paper in the longitudinal direction, the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected. Then, when the feeding abnormality is detected when the specific area (the area where the thickness is larger than the predetermined value) in the sheet is not located at the predetermined printing position facing the print head, the abnormality is detected. If the detection abnormality is enabled and the ink ribbon jam is performed, and the feeding error is detected when a specific area in the paper is located at a predetermined printing position, the detection error is invalidated and the ink ribbon is disabled. Is not processed.
[0038]
Therefore, when the ink ribbon is constrained by the thick specific area in the paper and the print head and a state similar to a jam occurs temporarily, the ink ribbon jam processing is not performed unnecessarily. The processing efficiency is not reduced, and the reliability of the printer device is not reduced by causing the user to perform an error recovery process of unknown cause.
[0039]
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention.
[0040]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[0041]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a portion that performs printing of the printer device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a print head of the printer device. FIG. 4 is a side view of a printing portion of the printer device.
[0042]
The printer device 1 according to the present embodiment is an impact printer. The printer device 1 receives various commands and print data transmitted from the externally connected host computer 2, and outputs the print data to predetermined sheets in accordance with the commands.
[0043]
The printer device 1 includes an adapter 11, a line print controller (LPC) 12, a print controller 13, a print head 14, a print head vibration mechanism 15, a platen position adjustment mechanism 16, a platen 17, and an ink ribbon feed mechanism 18. , An ink ribbon R, an ink ribbon jam sensor 19, a paper feed mechanism 20, a paper P, and an operation panel 21.
[0044]
The adapter 11 receives command data and print data transmitted from the host computer, converts the command data into an internal code, and inputs the internal code to the line print control unit 12. The line print control unit 12 decodes the contents of the command converted into the internal code, and controls the driving of the print control unit 13 in accordance with the command to output print data to the paper P (hereinafter, referred to as print processing). Is controlled.
[0045]
The line print control unit 12 controls an MPU (Microprocessor Unit) 121, a BMM (Bit Map Memory) 122, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 123, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 124, and an I / F (I / F) in order to control the printing process. Interface 125).
[0046]
The BMM 122 stores print data (bitmap data) input from the adapter 11. The ROM 123 stores an arithmetic program indicating a print processing procedure and data necessary for the print processing (for example, the type of paper, the size and thickness of each paper, the paper insertion position on special paper in which another paper is enclosed, such as an envelope, and the printing). Data such as an adjustment value of a gap between the head and the platen). The MPU 121 controls the output of the print data stored in the BMM 122 to the paper P by performing arithmetic processing according to the arithmetic program stored in the ROM 123. The I / F 125 connects the line print control unit 12, the print control unit 13, and the operation panel 21.
[0047]
The RAM 124 provides a work area for executing the arithmetic processing of the MPU 121. The MPU 121 reads the operation program stored in the ROM 123 into the RAM 124 and executes the operation program. By executing the calculation program, the MPU 121 reads out print data from the BMM 122 as needed, and outputs the print data to the print control unit 13 at a predetermined timing. The print control unit 13 drives the print head 14 based on the print data input from the line print control unit 12 to perform printing on the paper P line by line.
[0048]
The print control unit 13 controls the driving of a print mechanism mechanism unit (mechanical components for performing printing such as the print head 14, the ink ribbon feed mechanism 18, and the paper feed mechanism 20) of the printer device 1. The print control unit 13 drives the print mechanism mechanism based on the control signal input from the line print control unit 12 (specifically, the platen position adjustment operation of the platen position adjustment mechanism 16, the sheet feed operation of the sheet feed mechanism 20, the ink The operation of feeding the ink ribbon R of the ribbon feeding mechanism 18 and the printing operation of the print head 14 are controlled.
[0049]
The print head 14 has a plurality of wire dots, and performs printing by projecting predetermined wire dots based on print data and transferring the ink impregnated in the ink ribbon R to paper. As shown in FIG. 3, the print head 14 has 12 print head assemblies 141 arranged in a horizontal direction on a surface facing the platen 17, and 12 print head assemblies 141 are vertically arranged at the center of each print head assembly 141. A total of 24 wire dots 141a arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction are provided. These wire dots 141a can be projected.
[0050]
The print head 14 having such a configuration prints the wire dots 141a of each print head assembly 141 while reciprocating (vibrating) the print head 14 in the horizontal direction (the direction B in FIG. 2) by the width of the print head assembly 141. Printing is performed by pressing the ink ribbon R against the paper P while projecting based on the data. The print head 14 is reciprocated in the horizontal direction by the print head vibrating mechanism 15.
[0051]
The print head vibration mechanism 15 includes a print shuttle 151 provided on the lower surface of the print head 14 and a shuttle linear motor 152 provided below the print shuttle 151 (see FIG. 4). The print shuttle 151 is fitted and mounted on the guide shaft 151a, and is capable of reciprocating in the horizontal direction along the guide shaft 151a. A linear motor 152 as a drive source of the print shuttle 151 is provided on a lower surface and a lower position of the print shuttle 151. One permanent magnet 152a constituting the linear motor 152 is provided on the lower surface of the print shuttle 151, and the other electromagnet 152b constituting the linear motor 152 is provided on the upper surface of a base 152c provided below the print shuttle 151. ing. Further, a control circuit for controlling the driving of the electromagnet 152b is built in the base 152c.
[0052]
By periodically inverting the direction of the current flowing through the electromagnet 152b constituting the linear motor 152, the polarity of the magnetic pole generated in the electromagnet 152b is periodically inverted, whereby the permanent lower surface of the print shuttle 151 which receives the magnetic force from the electromagnet 152b. The magnet 152a also periodically reciprocates left and right, and the reciprocation of the print shuttle 151 causes the print head 14 to vibrate in the horizontal direction.
[0053]
A print head 14 and a platen 17 facing the print head 14 are provided at a print position of the printer device 1 so as to be able to advance and retreat. The reason why the platen 17 can be advanced and retracted is that the distance d (see FIG. 4) between the print head 14 and the platen 17 can be adjusted according to the thickness of the paper P. As shown in FIG. 4, a platen position adjusting mechanism 16 for automatically adjusting the position of the platen 17 is provided on the rear surface of the platen 17. The platen position adjusting mechanism 16 includes an elliptical cam 16a, a reduction gear 16b, and a drive motor 16c. The platen 17 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the cam 16a, and when the cam 16a rotates around the cam shaft 161, the distance from the cam shaft 161 to the contact position changes. Approaching / separating from The drive motor 16c is a rotary drive source for the cam 16a, and the rotational force of the drive motor 16c is transmitted to the cam 16a via the reduction gear 16b, whereby the cam 16a rotates.
[0054]
The impact printer performs dot printing by projecting the wire dots 141 from the print head 14 at a high speed as described above and transferring the ink of the ink ribbon R to the paper P passed between the ink ribbon R and the platen 17. Therefore, the gap between the paper P and the platen 17 is set to a predetermined value (for example, about 100 μm) in order to ensure stable and high print quality regardless of the thickness of the paper P. When the sheet P is set through the print position, the platen position adjusting mechanism 16 drives the drive motor 16c to automatically adjust the platen position so that the gap between the sheet P and the platen 17 becomes a predetermined value.
[0055]
The ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18 feeds the ribbon-shaped ink ribbon R in synchronization with the printing operation by the print head 14 so that the ink at the same location on the ink ribbon R is not transferred to the paper P. The ink ribbon R has its both ends connected so that the long ribbon forms a Mobius strip, and is housed in a predetermined cartridge. The ink ribbon feed mechanism 18 is formed of an electric motor such as a step motor, and performs a feeding operation of the ink ribbon R by winding up the ink ribbon R.
[0056]
The ink ribbon jam sensor 19 detects that the ink ribbon R is actually being fed when the ink ribbon R is being fed by the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18. This detection signal is input to the print control unit 13, and if the print control unit 13 determines that the ink ribbon R has not been sent, the print control unit 13 stops the printing process and the determination result (ink ribbon jam). (A detection signal) to the LPU 12. When the ink ribbon jam detection signal is input, the LPU 12 emits a warning buzzer or performs a predetermined operation such as displaying an error and displaying an error content (ink ribbon jam) on a display unit provided on the operation panel 21. Performs jam processing of the ink ribbon.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 2, the ink ribbon R is drawn from a cartridge (not shown) and is arranged so as to pass between the print head 14 and the platen 17. Guide rollers 22 and 23 for guiding the ink ribbon R are disposed on both sides of the print head 14 in the horizontal direction. A guide roller 24 is also arranged behind the guide roller 22, and the gad roller 24 rotates together with the movement of the ink ribbon R in the C direction. The guide roller 24 is provided with an ink ribbon jam sensor 19 composed of an encoder for detecting the rotation of the guide roller 24.
[0058]
When the guide roller 24 rotates, a pulse signal having a cycle corresponding to the rotation speed is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19. This pulse signal is input to the print control unit 13. The print control unit 13 determines whether or not the guide roller 24 is rotating, that is, whether or not the ink ribbon R is actually fed, based on the presence or absence of the pulse signal. You. The ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is not limited to an encoder, and any configuration can be adopted as long as a signal corresponding to the rotation of the guide roller 24 is output when the guide roller 24 rotates. For example, a generator that converts the rotational force of the guide roller 24 into an electric signal may be used.
[0059]
The paper feed mechanism 20 feeds each print line in the paper to a predetermined print position facing the print head 14 in synchronization with a print operation by the print head 14. The paper P applied to the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is a continuous paper such as a copy slip which is formed by arranging a plurality of papers continuously in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. is there. The paper feed mechanism 20 transports the continuous paper P in the longitudinal direction (the direction in which the papers are arranged) so that each paper passes through the printing position.
[0060]
The sheet P is formed of a band-shaped continuous sheet obtained by folding a plurality of sheets at perforations provided at predetermined intervals. At both ends of the continuous paper P, holes Pa for transporting the paper are formed at predetermined intervals. As shown in FIG. 4, a tractor 25 having an endless belt 25b on which a plurality of claws 25a protrude at a predetermined interval is arranged on the paper transport path. The tractor 25 corresponds to the paper feed mechanism 20. The continuous paper P is printed at a printing position (between the print head 14 and the platen 17) by engaging the plurality of claws 25a of the tractor 25 with the holes Pa at both ends of the paper and rotating the endless belt 25b by an electric motor (not shown). Position).
[0061]
The operation panel 21 is provided with operation keys for inputting various types of information relating to print processing, and a display unit for displaying the input information and status information of the printer device 1.
[0062]
Printing on the continuous paper P is performed by outputting information on a print line of the continuous paper P and print data to be printed on the print line from the line print control unit 12 to the print control unit 13. The print control unit 13 conveys the line to be printed on the continuous paper P in the direction A in FIG. 2 based on the information on the print line input from the line print control unit 12, and then moves the print shuttle 151 within a predetermined moving range. (In FIG. 2, when the print shuttle 151 is at a predetermined left stop / reverse position in FIG. 2, it is moved rightward, and the print shuttle 151 moves right or left in a predetermined stop / reverse position). When the ink ribbon R is in the reversing position, the wire dot 141a of the print head 14 is driven based on the print data while the ink ribbon R is moved in the direction C in FIG. And print the characters to be printed on that line. Then, the printing operation is repeated for each line, and predetermined printing is performed on each sheet of the continuous sheet P.
[0063]
Note that, for a line having no print data, the movement of the print head 14 and the ink ribbon R is stopped, and only the paper P is conveyed. Therefore, when lines without print data continue, the continuous paper P is conveyed by the number of lines at a time. Further, when the printing process on the last line where the print data is present in each sheet separated by the perforation is completed, the printing on that sheet is completed, so the continuous sheet P is sent to the first line of the next sheet. The printer enters a printing standby state for the next sheet.
[0064]
As described above, the line print control unit 12 executes a print job in line units. However, depending on the job, the print operation by the print head 14 may not be performed. Looking at the printing process on the paper from the aspect of the drive control, the print shuttle 151 and the print head 14 are continuously driven for an arbitrary number of lines to perform printing for the number of lines, and then the paper is printed for the arbitrary number of lines. The operation of sending P and shifting to the printing process of the next arbitrary number of lines is repeated.
[0065]
In this case, at the time of stopping the driving of the print head 14 and the print head vibrating mechanism 15 in each printing process and shifting to a standby state for the next printing process, the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18 is driven for a predetermined time to cause the ink ribbon R to move. May be loosened. Also, when the next printing process is started, the ink ribbon feed mechanism 18 is activated before the print head vibration mechanism 15 and the paper feed mechanism 20 are activated, and the slack of the ink ribbon R is removed. The slack removal of the ink ribbon R may be performed in either one of the periods before and after the start of the printing operation, but may be performed in both periods.
[0066]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing operation timings of a print head, a print head vibration mechanism, an ink ribbon feeding mechanism, an ink ribbon jam sensor, and the like in a printing process.
[0067]
In FIG. 2, when a print command is received from the LPC 12, the print control unit 13 first activates the ink ribbon feed mechanism 18 (timing a), performs a feed operation of the ink ribbon R for a predetermined time, and Perform slack removal. The slack removal of the ink ribbon R is performed so that printing is performed with a good density from the start of the printing operation by the print head 14. When a pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 within the predetermined time (a-b period), the slack in the ink ribbon R is removed, and printing can be performed normally, and the print head vibrating mechanism 15 is moved at timing b. Is started, and the printing operation by the print head 14 is started.
[0068]
On the other hand, if a pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 within a predetermined time (a-b period), conventionally, it is determined that a jam has occurred in the ink ribbon, and the processing shifts to a predetermined jam processing to perform printing. Although the operation is not performed, in the present embodiment, as described later, even if a pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 in the slack removal of the ink ribbon, the state is ignored, and the print head vibration mechanism 15 Is started, and the printing operation by the print head 14 is started.
[0069]
When the printing operation is shifted to the printing operation by the print head 14, the occurrence of the jam in the ink ribbon R is monitored during the printing operation, and when the pulse signal is no longer output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 (shown by a chain line at timing g in the figure). When it is determined that a jam has occurred in the ink ribbon, the driving of the print head vibrating mechanism 15 and the print head 14 is stopped, the printing operation is stopped, and the process proceeds to a predetermined jam process.
[0070]
When the print operation by the print head is completed at timing d, the print shuttle 151 is moved to a predetermined stop position (or a reverse position) to stop driving the print head vibration mechanism 15 (see timing e), and print processing is started. finish. When the slack of the ink ribbon is to be removed after the printing operation is completed, the drive of the ink ribbon feed mechanism 18 is not stopped at the timing e as shown by a chain line in FIG. The feeding operation of the ink ribbon R is performed for a time.
[0071]
When a pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 within this predetermined time (d-f period), the drive of the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18 is stopped at timing f on the assumption that the slack of the ink ribbon R has been removed. , And enters a standby state for the next printing process. On the other hand, if a pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 within a predetermined time (d-f period), conventionally, it is determined that a jam has occurred in the ink ribbon, and the process proceeds to a predetermined jam process. In this embodiment, as described later, even if a pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 in the slack removal of the ink ribbon, the state is ignored, and the driving of the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18 is stopped at a timing f. The printer enters a standby state for the next printing process.
[0072]
As described above, in the printing process of each line, the printing operation by the print head 14 is performed when the ink ribbon feed mechanism 15 is driven, that is, when the slack of the ink ribbon R is performed. At this time, it is monitored whether or not the ink ribbon R is normally sent based on the output signal from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19, and when the ink ribbon R is not normally sent, that is, When the pulse signal is no longer output from the jam sensor 19 normally, it is conventionally determined that an ink ribbon jam has occurred, and the printing process is stopped (specifically, the operation of the mechanical mechanism for printing is stopped). Jam processing of a predetermined ink ribbon has been performed.
[0073]
However, when printing on continuous paper P of which the paper thickness changes within a paper such as a stepped medium paper or a paper stapled with a plurality of papers, the gap between the print head 14 and the platen 17 is a fixed value. , A specific area with a large sheet thickness (an area B1 in which an envelope or the like is enclosed, an area B2 bound with a paper stapler, a certain area B3 including a perforation where a tent is formed, etc. ) Passes between the print head 14 and the platen 17, the ink ribbon R is constrained by the specific area (the area where the paper thickness is large) of the paper and the print head 14, and the ink ribbon R is normally fed. However, also in this case, the jam processing of the ink ribbon may be performed.
[0074]
When an abnormality occurs in the feeding of the ink ribbon R temporarily due to such a change in the sheet thickness, the printing process is continued as it is, so that the specific area having the thick sheet passes between the print head 14 and the platen 17. Then, although the ink ribbon R may be naturally released from the restrained state, the jamming of the ink ribbon R is always performed, so that the printing operation is unnecessarily stopped and the printing efficiency is significantly reduced. At the same time, the user is forced to remove the jam of the ink ribbon R with the contents whose cause is not clear. Therefore, in order to avoid these problems, in the present embodiment, when there is a possibility that such an abnormality may occur, specifically, when the ink ribbon R is being slackened or during printing by the print head, If a pulse signal is not output properly from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 (abnormal ink ribbon feeding state) when a specific area where the paper thickness is large passes through the printing position, the state is ignored. In addition, the ink ribbon is not jammed, and the printing efficiency is increased. That is, when there is a possibility that such an abnormality may occur, the detection of the jam of the ink ribbon based on the output signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is invalidated for the jam processing of the ink ribbon so that the jam processing is not executed. I have.
[0075]
Next, the jam detection process of the ink ribbon will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 10 and the time chart of FIG.
[0076]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the ink ribbon jam detection processing in the slack removal of the ink ribbon before the start of the printing operation. That is, it is a flowchart showing the jam detection process of the ink ribbon in the period ab in FIG. As described above, when the slack removal of the ink ribbon is performed after the printing operation is completed, the slack removal of the ink ribbon before the start of the printing operation may be omitted. In this case, the ink ribbon of FIG. No ribbon jam detection processing is performed.
[0077]
When the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18 is started at the timing a (S1), it is determined whether or not a pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 17 within a predetermined time (S2, S3 loop). . If a pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 within a predetermined time (S3: YES), for example, if a pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 at timing h in FIG. Since it is determined that the slack of the ribbon R is wound and the ink ribbon R is normally fed, the print head vibrating mechanism 15 for reciprocating (vibrating) the print head 14 in the horizontal direction at a high speed is activated (S4). Then, the printing operation by the print head 14 is started (S5).
[0078]
If the pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 within the predetermined time (S3: YES), the print control unit 13 does not treat the non-output state of the pulse signal as the jam detection of the ink ribbon R, That is, it is invalidated for the jam processing of the ink ribbon R (S6), and the process proceeds to step S4. Therefore, in the slack removal of the ink ribbon R before the start of the printing operation, the print control unit 13 activates the print head vibrating mechanism 15 after a predetermined time has elapsed irrespective of the presence or absence of the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 ( S4) The printing operation by the print head 14 is started (S5).
[0079]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an ink ribbon jam detection process in the slack removal of the ink ribbon after the printing operation. That is, it is a flowchart showing the jam detection process of the ink ribbon in the df period of FIG. Note that, as described above, when the slack removal of the ink ribbon is performed before the start of the printing operation, the slack removal of the ink ribbon after the end of the printing operation may be omitted. In that case, the ink of FIG. No ribbon jam detection processing is performed.
[0080]
When the printing operation of the print head 14 is stopped at the timing d (S10), the feeding operation of the ink ribbon R is continued for a predetermined time, and the slack of the ink ribbon R is performed (S11 to S13). The print head vibrating mechanism 15 is stopped at a timing e when the print shuttle 151 moves to a predetermined stop position or a reverse position. It is also determined whether or not a pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 during a period in which the feeding operation for removing the slack of the ink ribbon R is continued (loop of S11 and S12). If no pulse signal is output from the sensor 19 (S12: YES), it is determined that the slack of the ink ribbon R has been normally removed, and the driving of the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18 is stopped (S13).
[0081]
On the other hand, if no pulse signal is output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 while the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18 is being driven to remove the slack of the ink ribbon R (S11: NO), for example, at timing i in FIG. When the pulse signal is no longer output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19, it is determined whether the print shuttle 151 is operating, that is, the linear motor 152 is being driven or the linear motor 152 is stopped, but the print shuttle 151 is stopped due to inertia. It is determined whether or not 151 is moving (S14).
[0082]
If the print shuttle 22 is not operating (S14: NO), the non-output state of the pulse signal is not treated as the detection of the jam of the ink ribbon R, that is, invalidated for the jam processing of the ink ribbon R. (S15), the process proceeds to step S13, and if the print shuttle 22 is operating (S14: YES), the non-output state of the pulse signal is treated as a jam detection of the ink ribbon R (S16), and the predetermined ink ribbon Is performed (S17), and the apparatus is in a print standby state until the jam error is recovered.
[0083]
Therefore, when the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is not output after the slack of the ink ribbon R after the end of the printing operation, the print control unit 13 sets the undetected state when the print shuttle 151 is stopped. Is ignored, and when the print shuttle 151 is not stopped, the undetected state is detected as a jam detection, and the jam processing of the ink ribbon is performed. As described above, when the print shuttle 151 is operating, the non-output state of the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is set as the jam detection because the paper P is also conveyed when the print shuttle 151 is operating. The paper P is conveyed when a specific area (a specific area having a large paper thickness) including a perforation or a paper stapler of the paper P passes through a predetermined print position facing the print head 14. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the feeding of the ink ribbon R temporarily by being sandwiched between the paper P and the print head 14, it is considered that the abnormality can be resolved by transporting the paper P. This is because the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon R that occurs during the operation is not considered to be such a temporary feeding error, but is considered to be an original feeding error of the ink ribbon R.
[0084]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process for detecting a jam of the ink ribbon during a printing operation by the print head. That is, it is a flowchart showing the jam detection process of the ink ribbon in the period be of FIG.
[0085]
During the printing operation, as described above, basically, when the pulse signal is no longer output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19, it is determined that the ink ribbon R has jammed, and the predetermined ink ribbon jam processing is performed. Is set, when a specific area where the paper thickness is thick passes through the printing position, the ink ribbon R is constrained by being sandwiched between the paper P and the print head 14, and cannot be sent normally. In this case, even if the pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19, the non-output state of the pulse signal is not treated as the detection of the jam of the ink ribbon, and the printing operation is continued and the ink ribbon R is output. Is naturally resolved.
[0086]
That is, when a pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 while the print operation is being performed by the print head 14 (S20: NO), a specific area where the paper P is thick is located at the print position. It is determined whether or not a specific area of the paper P is located at the print position (S21: YES). If the pulse signal is not output, the non-output state of the pulse signal is not treated as a jam detection of the ink ribbon R. That is, it is invalidated for the jam processing of the ink ribbon R (S23), and the process returns to step S20 to continue the printing operation.
[0087]
If the specific area of the paper P is not located at the printing position (S21: NO), the non-output state of the pulse signal is treated as the detection of the jam of the ink ribbon R, and the predetermined jam processing of the ink ribbon is performed ( S22) The print standby state is set until the jam error is recovered. It should be noted that the area of the sheet P where the sheet thickness is large is predetermined in accordance with the type of the sheet. Therefore, when the type of the set sheet P is input from the operation panel 21, the sheet size or other Information such as the position where the paper is inserted can be known by reading from the ROM 123.
[0088]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a jam detection process of another ink ribbon in slack removal of the ink ribbon before the start of the printing operation.
[0089]
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, a predetermined area including a perforation of the continuous paper P (for example, 1/2 before and after the perforation) in the ink ribbon jam detection process in the slack removal of the ink ribbon before the start of the printing operation shown in FIG. Inch area; hereinafter referred to as perforation area), that is, when the jam of the ink ribbon is detected while the area where the paper thickness is thickened by the tent is located at the printing position, the jam detection is invalidated. In this case, the ink ribbon jam processing is not performed.
[0090]
The processing of steps S30 to S34 in the flowchart of FIG. 9 (the processing in which jam of the ink ribbon is not detected) is the same as the processing of steps S1 to S5 of the flowchart of FIG. The detected process will be described.
[0091]
The ink ribbon feed mechanism 18 is driven for a predetermined time in order to remove the slack of the ink ribbon R, and if the pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 within the predetermined time (S31: YES), the sewing machine is moved to the printing position. It is determined whether or not the eye area is located (S35). Since the position of the perforations in the continuous paper P is determined in advance according to the type of the paper, when the type of the set continuous paper P is input from the operation panel 21, the paper size corresponding to the continuous paper P The information such as the position of the perforation and the position of the perforation can be obtained by reading from the ROM 123.
[0092]
If the perforation area is located at the printing position (S35: YES), there is a possibility that the ink ribbon R is sandwiched between the paper P and the print head 14 and temporarily restrained due to the paper thickness. Therefore, the non-output state of the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is not treated as the detection of the jam of the ink ribbon R, that is, invalidated for the jam processing of the ink ribbon R (S36), and the process proceeds to step S33. The print head vibration mechanism 15 is activated, and printing is started (S34).
[0093]
On the other hand, if the perforation area is not located at the printing position (S35: NO), the non-output state of the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is treated as the detection of the jam of the ink ribbon R (S37), and the jam of the ink ribbon is detected. The processing is performed (S38), and the apparatus is in a print standby state until the jam error is recovered.
[0094]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the perforation area of the paper P is located at the printing position, the slack of the ink ribbon R before the printing operation is started, regardless of the presence or absence of the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19, After the time elapses, the print control unit 13 activates the print head vibrating mechanism 15 (S4), and starts the print operation by the print head 14 (S5).
[0095]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another ink ribbon jam detection process in slack removal of the ink ribbon after the end of the printing operation.
[0096]
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, in the ink ribbon jam detecting process in the slack removal of the ink ribbon after the end of the printing operation shown in FIG. 7, the perforated area of the continuous paper P is positioned at the printing position. When a jam is detected, the jam detection is invalidated, and the jam processing of the ink ribbon is not performed.
[0097]
The processing of steps S40 to S43 in the flowchart of FIG. 10 (the processing in which jam of the ink ribbon is not detected) is the same as the processing of steps S10 to S13 of the flowchart of FIG. The detected process will be described.
[0098]
In order to remove the slack of the ink ribbon R, the ink ribbon feed mechanism 18 is continuously driven for a predetermined time, and when the pulse signal is not output from the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 within the predetermined time (S41: NO), the printing position is changed. It is determined whether or not the perforated area of the sheet P is positioned at the position (S44).
[0099]
If the perforated area of the sheet P is located at the printing position (S44: YES), it is further determined whether or not the print shuttle 151 is operating (S45), and if the print shuttle 151 is not operating (S45: NO), there is a possibility that the ink ribbon R is sandwiched between the paper P and the print head 14 and is temporarily restrained due to the paper thickness. Therefore, the non-output state of the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is It is not treated as jam detection of the ink ribbon R, that is, invalidated for the jam processing of the ink ribbon R (S46), the process proceeds to step S43, and the driving of the ink ribbon feeding mechanism 18 is stopped (S44).
[0100]
On the other hand, if the print shuttle 151 is operating (S45: YES), the non-output state of the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is treated as the detection of the jam of the ink ribbon R (S47), and the ink ribbon jam processing is performed. After that (S48), the printing standby state is set until the jam error is recovered. If the perforated area of the paper P is not located at the printing position in step S44 (S44: NO), the process proceeds to step S47, where the pulse signal of the ink ribbon jam sensor 19 is not output because the ink ribbon R is jammed. It is treated as detection, the jam processing of the ink ribbon is performed, and the apparatus is in a print standby state until the jam error is recovered.
[0101]
In the case of continuous paper P in which the paper thickness does not change, for example, as in the case of one continuous paper, the ink ribbon R is sandwiched between the paper P and the print head 14 and constrained, and the phenomenon of in-ribbon jam may occur. In this case, there is no need to perform the in-ribbon jam detection processing according to the present invention. Therefore, when the sheet P is set, the sheet thickness is detected when setting the position of the platen 17, and when the sheet thickness is larger than a predetermined value, that is, when the ink ribbon R is The in-ribbon jam detection process shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 described above is performed only when the paper thickness is such that there is a possibility that the symptoms of in-ribbon jam may occur. When it is small, the conventional in-ribbon jam detection process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be performed.
[0102]
Further, a first ink ribbon jam detection processing mode in which the operation panel 21 performs the ink ribbon jam detection processing according to the present invention and a second ink ribbon jam detection processing mode in which the conventional ink ribbon jam detection processing is performed. And an operation key (mode setting means according to the present invention) for selecting the first and second ink ribbon jam processing modes only when the operation key is used to set the first ink ribbon jam processing mode. The ink ribbon jam detection process shown in FIG. 10 may be performed. In this case, there is an advantage that the user can appropriately perform the jam detection processing of the ink ribbon R according to the paper used by the user.
[0103]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even if an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected in the slack removal of the ink ribbon performed either before the start of the printing operation or after the end of the printing operation, Since the error detection is disabled and the predetermined ink ribbon jam processing is not performed, the ink ribbon is controlled by the paper and the print head when a specific part with thick paper or a perforated area passes the print position. Even if the ink ribbon is temporarily not normally sent due to being restrained, the restrained state of the ink ribbon may be released by the paper transport in the subsequent printing process, and the ink ribbon jam processing will be performed unnecessarily There is no. As a result, the efficiency of the printing process is not reduced, and the reliability of the printer device is not reduced by giving a warning of the jam of the ink ribbon whose cause is unknown.
[0104]
Also, the thickness of the loaded paper is detected, and when the paper thickness is larger than a predetermined value, an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected in the slack removal of the ink ribbon before the start of the printing operation or after the end of the printing operation. In this case, the detection of the feeding error is disabled and the predetermined ink ribbon is not jammed, so that the reduction of the processing efficiency caused by the ink ribbon jamming for the thick paper is reduced. Can be.
[0105]
Further, when a predetermined mode is set by the mode setting means, when an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected in the slack removal of the ink ribbon before the start of the printing operation or after the end of the printing operation, the abnormal feeding is detected. Since the detection is disabled and the predetermined ink ribbon jam processing is not performed, it is possible to perform an appropriate ink ribbon jam detection processing by setting the mode according to the paper to be used.
[0106]
Also, when a specific area where the paper thickness is thick passes through the printing position during the printing operation, if the ink ribbon feeding error is detected, the detection of the feeding error is invalidated and the predetermined ink ribbon jam processing is performed. Is not performed, the same effect as described above can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a portion that performs printing of the printer device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a print head of the printer device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a printing portion of the printer according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating operation timings of a print head, a print head vibration mechanism, an ink ribbon feeding mechanism, an ink ribbon jam sensor, and the like in a printing process.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an ink ribbon jam detection process in slack removal of the ink ribbon before starting a printing operation.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an ink ribbon jam detection process in slack removal of the ink ribbon after the printing operation is completed.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of detecting a jam of an ink ribbon during a printing operation by a print head.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a jam detection process of another ink ribbon in slack removal of the ink ribbon before starting a printing operation.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another ink ribbon jam detection process in slack removal of the ink ribbon after the end of the printing operation.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional jam detection process of the ink ribbon in slack removal of the ink ribbon before the start of a printing operation.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional jam detection process of the ink ribbon in the slack removal of the ink ribbon after the end of the printing operation.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a portion where the sheet thickness of the sheet changes.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer device
11 Adapter
12 Line print control unit (jam error processing means)
121 MPU
122 Bitmap memory (BMM)
123 ROM
124 RAM
125 Interface (I / F)
13 Print control unit (ink ribbon abnormality detection means, jam error processing means, ink ribbon slack removal means, abnormality detection invalidation means, detection means, discrimination means, paper thickness discrimination means, prohibition means)
14 Print head
15 Print head vibration mechanism
151 Printing Shuttle
152 linear motor
16 Platen position adjustment mechanism (paper thickness detection means)
17 Platen
18 Ink ribbon feed mechanism (ribbon drive means)
19 Ink ribbon jam sensor (ink ribbon abnormality detection means)
20 Paper feed mechanism
21 Operation panel (mode setting means)
22, 23, 24 Guide rollers
25 Tractor

Claims (6)

In a printer device that performs printing by transferring the ink of the ink ribbon to paper by a print head,
Ribbon driving means for feeding the ink ribbon,
An ink ribbon abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon during the driving of the ribbon driving means,
A jam error processing unit that performs a jam error process for a predetermined ink ribbon when an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected by the ink ribbon abnormality detecting unit;
An ink ribbon slack removing means for removing the slack of the ink ribbon by sending the ink ribbon by a predetermined amount during at least one predetermined period before or after the start of the printing operation of the print head,
When the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means detects an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon during the removal of the slack of the ink ribbon by the ink ribbon slack removing means, the abnormality detection invalidates the abnormality detection with respect to the jam error processing means. Invalidation means;
A printer device comprising: The printer device according to claim 1,
The paper is a continuous paper in which a plurality of papers are folded at perforations, and a detection for detecting that a predetermined area including the perforations of the continuous paper is being conveyed to a predetermined print position facing the print head. Further comprising means,
The abnormality detection invalidating means is configured to detect a feed abnormality of the ink ribbon during slack removal of the ink ribbon in a state where a predetermined area including a perforation of the continuous paper is located at the predetermined printing position. Invalidating the abnormality detection with respect to the jam error processing means.
A printer device characterized by the above-mentioned. The printer according to claim 1, wherein
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the print head is moving, when the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means detects the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon during the removal of the slack of the ink ribbon after the end of the printing operation of the print head. Further comprising
The abnormality detection invalidating means invalidates the abnormality detection by the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means with respect to the jam error processing means when the determining means determines that the print head is stopped. ,
A printer device characterized by the above-mentioned. The printer device according to claim 1,
Paper thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the set paper;
Sheet thickness determining means for determining whether the thickness of the set sheet is smaller than a predetermined value,
When the thickness of the set sheet is smaller than a predetermined value, a prohibition unit that prohibits the abnormality detection invalidation unit from performing the invalidation process of the abnormality detection,
A printer device further comprising: The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Further comprising a mode setting means for setting a mode for prohibiting the invalid processing of abnormality detection by the abnormality detection invalidating means,
The abnormality detection invalidating means, when the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means detects the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon during the removal of the slack of the ink ribbon, when the mode is set, the abnormality detection is performed by the jam error processing. Means is enabled for the means, and when the mode is not set, the abnormality detection is disabled for the jam error processing means.
A printer device characterized by the above-mentioned. In a printer device that performs printing by transferring the ink of the ink ribbon to continuous paper by a print head,
Ribbon driving means for feeding the ink ribbon,
An ink ribbon abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon during the driving of the ribbon driving means,
A jam error processing unit that performs a jam error process for a predetermined ink ribbon when an abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon is detected by the ink ribbon abnormality detecting unit;
Detecting means for detecting that a specific area in the paper whose thickness is larger than a predetermined value is being conveyed to a predetermined printing position facing the print head,
When the ink ribbon abnormality detecting means detects the abnormal feeding of the ink ribbon during the printing operation of the print head, when the specific area in the paper is not transported to the predetermined printing position, the abnormality detection is performed. Abnormality detection invalidating means to be valid for the jam error processing means, and to invalidate the abnormality detection to the jam error processing means when the specific area in the paper is conveyed to the predetermined printing position; A printer device comprising:

Images