JP2004291333A - Printer for continuous web of paper - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer for a continuous web of paper in which the continuous web of paper does not stand on the carrying passage under a state where the continuous web of paper is not held stably. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 2 comprises an imaging unit 6 for forming an image on a continuous web of paper P at a print position, a tractor 14, an intermediate roller 28, and a control section for controlling the imaging unit 6, the tractor 14 and the intermediate roller 28 depending on a received print job. When printing is performed on the continuous web of paper P by carrying it in the Z direction from an initial position where the forward end part of the continuous web of paper is held by the tractor, and when the print length A along the Z direction corresponding to the received print job is shorter than a print length B required for the forward end part of the continuous web of paper P held by the tractor 14 at the initial direction to be carried in the Z direction and held by the intermediate roller 28, the control section controls the tractor 14 such that the forward end of the printed continuous web of paper is set at the initial position after finishing the print job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a continuous paper printer that performs printing on continuous paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a continuous paper printer that performs printing on continuous paper (also referred to as continuous paper) in which a plurality of pages are continuous in a longitudinal direction (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In these continuous paper printers, a tractor, a suction belt, an intermediate roller pair, and a paper discharge roller pair are provided as a transport system from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper transport direction. The tractor is a belt having a projection that engages with a feed hole provided in the continuous paper. When the tractor is driven to rotate, the tractor feeds the paper to a transfer area located on the upstream side of the suction belt. When the toner image is transferred in the transfer area, the continuous paper is conveyed to the downstream side while being sucked by the suction belt, and then, after the toner image is fixed by the fixing device facing the suction belt, the intermediate roller The paper is discharged out of the printer through each nip portion of the pair and the paper discharge roller pair.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-103710 A [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-224647
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above continuous paper printer, if the transport path between the tractor and the intermediate roller pair is relatively long, the continuous paper is placed in the initial position (for example, when the leading edge of the paper is a predetermined distance between the tractor and the transfer area). When the print job is executed with a relatively small number of print pages in the state of being set at the position, the leading edge of the sheet may be located between the tractor and the intermediate roller at the end of the job. If there is a time interval with the next job, the leading end of the sheet may remain on the conveyance path in an unstable state, and may come into contact with a fixing device or the like to cause deterioration of image quality, damage to the sheet, fire, or the like. Further, when the next job is executed, a jam may occur. A method of stably holding the continuous paper by sucking the continuous paper with the suction belt until the next job can be considered, but the running cost increases.
[0005]
In a printer that prints a relatively large number of pages at a time, the printing operation is interrupted during the execution of a job to control image stabilization in the image forming unit, replace parts based on life, and replenish toner. However, if the continuous paper stops while the leading edge of the paper is located between the tractor and the intermediate roller, the above-described problem may occur.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a continuous paper printer that does not stay on the transport path in a state where the continuous paper is not stably held.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, a first aspect of the continuous paper printer according to the present invention is as follows.
Image forming means for forming an image on continuous paper at a printing position,
First and second transport means for holding and transporting the continuous paper, and respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the printing position with respect to the transport direction of the continuous paper;
A continuous paper printer including an image forming unit and a control unit that controls the first and second transport units in accordance with the received print job;
When printing is performed by transporting the continuous paper in the transport direction from a state where the vicinity of the leading end is set at the initial position held by the first transport unit, and the transport corresponding to the received print job The printing length A along the direction is the printing length required for the vicinity of the leading end of the continuous paper to be conveyed in the conveyance direction from the initial position held by the first conveyance means and held by the second conveyance means. If the length is less than B, the control unit controls the first transport unit such that the end of the printed continuous paper portion is set to the initial position after the print job is completed.
In the case of continuous paper in which a plurality of pages (unit print length) are continuous in the transport direction, the print lengths A and B are the number of unit print lengths, respectively.
[0008]
In such a continuous printer, if the leading edge of the paper does not reach the second transport unit at the end of the print job, the continuous paper including the printed portion is transported in the reverse direction and returned to the initial position after the end of the print job. By doing so, the above problem can be avoided.
[0009]
A second aspect of the continuous paper printer according to the present invention is as follows.
Image forming means for forming an image on continuous paper at a printing position,
First and second transport means for holding and transporting the continuous paper, and respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the printing position with respect to the transport direction of the continuous paper;
A control unit for controlling the image forming unit and the first and second transport units in accordance with the received print job, wherein the control unit interrupts image formation by the image forming unit upon receiving predetermined interruption information. In paper printers,
When printing is performed by transporting the continuous paper in the transport direction from a state where the vicinity of the leading end of the continuous paper is set at the initial position held by the first transport unit, the control unit determines that the continuous paper is the second paper. When the interruption information is received in a state where the interruption information is not held by the transporting means, the first transporting means is controlled so that after printing is interrupted, the leading end of the printed continuous paper portion is set at the initial position. And
[0010]
In such a continuous paper printer, even if it is necessary to interrupt printing for stabilizing the image, the continuous paper including the printed portion is transported in the reverse direction and returned to the initial position, and then the image is stabilized. And so on can avoid the above-described problem.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the specification of the present application, terms indicating directions (for example, “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” and other terms including these terms) are used. It is for directional purposes only, and these terms should not be construed as limiting the invention. In the present application, the unit of each sheet of continuous paper is referred to as “page” for simplicity of description, but the unit of each sheet is referred to as “unit print length along the transport direction of continuous paper”. Substantially equivalent.
[0012]
<Configuration of continuous paper printer>
Referring to FIG. 1, a continuous paper printer denoted by reference numeral 2 is provided with an endless intermediate transfer belt 3 at a substantially central portion inside the printer. The intermediate transfer belt 3 is rotatably driven in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing while being supported by outer peripheral portions such as a roller 4 located at a right end and a roller 5 located at a left end.
[0013]
Below the lower horizontal portion of the intermediate transfer belt 3, four image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K corresponding to colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. Are arranged side by side along the intermediate transfer belt 3 to form an image forming section.
[0014]
Although details are omitted, each of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K has a photosensitive drum. Around the photosensitive drums, a charging device, a print head unit, a developing device, a primary transfer roller facing each photosensitive drum with the intermediate transfer belt 3 interposed therebetween, and a cleaner are arranged in this order along the rotation direction. Have been. Toners of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K are supplied with yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner from toner containers 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K, respectively.
[0015]
A transfer charger 10 is arranged to face a portion of the intermediate transfer belt 3 supported by the rollers 4. A space between the transfer charger 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 3 is a secondary transfer area (print position). Note that a transfer roller may be used instead of the transfer charger 10.
[0016]
A belt cleaner (not shown) for scraping the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 3 after the secondary transfer and collecting it in the waste toner box 11 is provided on a portion of the intermediate transfer belt 3 supported by the rollers 5. It is pressed.
[0017]
The continuous paper printer 2 includes a paper feed stacker 12 at a lower portion thereof. In the paper feed stacker 12, continuous paper P in which each page is separated by perforations is stacked and stored. In the present embodiment, the paper feed stacker 12 is disposed immediately below the secondary transfer area.
[0018]
A tractor (first transport unit) 14 is disposed between the secondary transfer area and the paper feed stacker 12. The tractor 14 includes a belt unit (two in the illustrated example) having a large number of tractor pins arranged at regular intervals. Each belt unit can be driven to rotate, and the tractor pins are connected to the continuous paper P. The continuous paper P is fed to the secondary transfer area in a state where the continuous paper P is engaged with feed holes formed at both sides in the width direction at a constant pitch. The tractor 14 can rotate forward and backward, and can control the transport amount (stop position) of the continuous paper P by the rotation speed of the tractor belt.
[0019]
In this embodiment, a tractor 14 as shown in FIG. 2A is used as a feed mechanism (first transport means) for the continuous paper P, but a sprocket as shown in FIG. 141, or a pair of grip rollers 142 having a large number of fine projections (for example, a diameter of 0.03 mm and a height of 0.07 mm) on the surface as shown in FIG. 2C.
[0020]
A pair of pre-transfer guides 16 are provided between the secondary transfer area and the tractor 14. The guide pair 16 is for allowing the continuous paper P sent between the guide pairs 16 by the tractor 14 located below to pass through the secondary transfer area while being pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 3. When the continuous paper P is manually set on the tractor 14, the leading end of the continuous paper P is automatically set at a position near the upstream end of the pre-transfer guide 16 (in the present application, in this state, The position of the continuous paper P or the position of the leading end is referred to as an initial position.)
[0021]
Immediately above the transfer charger 10, an endless transport belt 18 rotatably supported by two rollers is disposed along the longitudinal direction. A number of holes are formed in the transport belt 18, and when the suction fans 20 (two in the illustrated example) arranged on the side of the transport belt 18 are operated, the continuous paper P is placed on the surface of the transport belt 18. It is designed to be adsorbed. By rotating the transport belt 18 in this state, the continuous paper P is transported along the paper transport direction (arrow Z).
[0022]
The continuous paper P can be moved in the direction opposite to the arrow Z direction by driving the tractor 14 in the reverse direction. At this time, the unit including the tractor 14, the transfer charger 10, and the pre-transfer guide pair 16 is indicated by a dotted line. The retracted position is such that the continuous sheet P does not come into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 3 when the continuous sheet P is conveyed in the reverse direction. Even in the standby state before accepting the print job, the unit is retracted to the evacuation position, and upon receiving the print job, the unit moves to the solid line position indicated by the solid line.
[0023]
A planar heater 22 (two in the illustrated example) is disposed in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the transport belt 18, and rotates the transport belt 18 while heating with the planar heater 22 during printing standby. Thus, the temperature of the transport belt 18 can be maintained at a predetermined temperature or higher.
[0024]
A preheater 24 and a flash fixing device 26 are arranged side by side to face the sheet suction surface of the conveyor belt 18. The preheater 24 is arranged on the upstream side of the flash fixing device 26 with respect to the paper transport direction Z. The pre-heater 24 cooperates with the planar heater 22 for heating the transport belt 18 to heat the continuous paper P to supplement the amount of heat required to fix the color toner image. For example, a halogen lamp is used. Can be On the other hand, the flash fixing device 26 is a non-contact type fixing device that fixes a toner image on the continuous paper P by a predetermined length every time a flash is emitted periodically.
[0025]
On the side of the flash fixing device 26, a deodorizing fan 27 for removing the toner vaporized in the fixing process is provided.
[0026]
Above the conveyor belt 18, an intermediate roller pair (second conveying means) 28, a paper discharge guide pair 30, and a paper discharge roller pair 32 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side. Thus, the continuous paper P is discharged outside the continuous paper printer 2. The continuous paper P discharged from the continuous paper printer 2 is loaded and stored in a paper discharge stacker 34 attached to a lower part of the continuous paper printer 2. Here, the second transporting unit located downstream of the printing position is not limited to a roller shape as long as it holds and transports the continuous paper P.
[0027]
A burster 36 is arranged near the upstream side of the paper discharge roller pair 32. The burster 36 includes a cutting disk that can advance into a transport path formed by the paper ejection guide pair 30. This disk is movable in the front and back directions on the paper surface of FIG. If necessary, for example, the continuous paper P is stopped by aligning the perforation forming the rear end of the last page after the end of the print job with the passing position of the disk, and then the disk is moved while being pressed against the continuous paper P. , The continuous paper P can be cut.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the continuous paper printer 2. Reference numeral 50 denotes a control unit for controlling the entire continuous paper printer, which is transmitted from a CPU 52 such as a microprocessor, a ROM 54 for storing a control program of the CPU 52 and various data, a RAM 56 used as a work area of the CPU 52, and a printer controller 58. An image memory 60 for storing the obtained image data for each page, a storage unit 63 for storing the cumulative number of pages, and the like are provided. The cumulative number of pages will be described later.
[0029]
The printer controller 58 receives a print job, the number of print pages, various setting modes, a print interruption command from the user, and the like transmitted from an external terminal (for example, a personal computer) connected to the continuous paper printer 2 via a network (for example, a LAN). The CPU 66, a ROM 67 for storing a control program and various data of the CPU 66, a RAM 68 used as a work area of the CPU 66, an image memory 69 for storing captured image data, and various images for the image data. An image processing unit 70 for performing processing, a communication control unit 71 for communicating with an external terminal, and the like are provided.
[0030]
Various commands from the user can also be input via an operation panel 78 provided on the continuous paper printer 2 side.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing section 80 (including the flash fixing device 26 and its power supply, etc.), the transfer section 82 (including the transfer charger 10 and its power supply, etc.), and the transport section 84 (including the tractor 14, The transport belt 18, the pair of intermediate rollers 28, the pair of discharge rollers 32, and their driving sources, and the like are operated upon receiving a control signal from the control unit 50.
[0032]
<Printing operation of continuous paper printer>
Next, an outline of a printing operation of the continuous paper printer 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0033]
First, when image signals for a predetermined number of pages are transmitted from the external terminal to the printer controller 58 of the continuous paper printer 2 (that is, when the printer 2 receives a print job request), the image processing unit 70 Then, color image data converted into yellow, cyan, magenta, and black is created and stored in the image memory 69. The printer controller 58 outputs color image data to the control unit 50 for each page, and the color image data is stored in the image memory 60. The control unit 50 transmits a control signal to the print head unit of each image forming unit 6 based on the color image data stored in the image memory 60, and each print head unit irradiates the photosensitive drum with laser light. Perform exposure. As a result, an electrostatic latent image for each color is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum of each of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K.
[0034]
The electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums are respectively developed by the respective developing devices to become toner images of respective colors. Then, the toner images of each color are primary-transferred by the action of the respective primary transfer rollers while being sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 3 moving in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
[0035]
The superimposed toner image thus formed on the intermediate transfer belt 3 reaches the secondary transfer area as the intermediate transfer belt 3 moves. In the secondary transfer area, the superimposed toner images of the respective colors are collectively transferred onto the continuous paper P sent from the paper feed stacker 12 by the tractor 14 by the operation of the transfer charger 10.
[0036]
The continuous paper P on which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is transported upward by the transport belt 18, and is heated by the transport belt 18 and the pre-heater 24 heated by the sheet heater 22 in this transport process, and the flash of the flash fixing device 26. The toner image is fixed by receiving the light emission. Then, the continuous paper P is discharged out of the printer 2 via the intermediate roller pair 28, the paper discharge path 30, and the paper discharge roller pair 32, and is stacked and stored in the paper discharge stacker 34.
[0037]
<Print operation control method>
By the way, when a print job is started in a state where the leading end of the sheet is set at the initial position near the upstream end of the pre-transfer guide 16, and the number of printed pages starts from the initial position and the continuous paper P When a print job smaller than the minimum number of print pages (for example, six pages) required to be stably held by the tractor 14 and the intermediate roller 28 is executed, at the end of the job, the leading end of the continuous paper P Since the continuous paper P is located between the intermediate rollers 28, the continuous paper P is not stably held, and may contact the preheater 24 or the flash fixing device 26 to deteriorate the image quality or cause a jam when printing is resumed. .
[0038]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the printing operation is controlled as shown in FIG. First, a state in which the leading end of the sheet is set at the initial position (in this state, the unit including the tractor 14, the transfer charger 10, and the pre-transfer guide pair 16 is set at the retracted position (the dotted line position in FIG. 1)). When a request for a print job of a predetermined number of pages is received in step S401, the unit moves to a printing position (solid line position in FIG. 1) in step S402, and in step S403, the continuous paper P Printing is carried out by being conveyed by one page via the transfer area. In step S404, the index (initial value 0) of the accumulated page number A is incremented. The operations of steps S403 and S404 are repeated until a print job end signal is received (step S405).
[0039]
In step S406, if the accumulated page number A after the end of the print job is less than the minimum print page number B necessary for the continuous paper P to be stably held by the tractor 14 and the intermediate roller 28, in step S407, The unit including the tractor 14, the transfer charger 10, and the pre-transfer guide pair 16 moves to the retracted position. Then, in step S408, the continuous paper P is transported in the direction opposite to the Z direction until the leading end reaches the initial position. Whether or not the leading end of the continuous paper P has reached the initial position can be determined based on the number of rotations of the belt of the tractor 14 corresponding to the transport amount of the continuous paper P. Thereafter, in step S409, the printer 2 switches to a state of waiting for a print job request, and the flow ends. When a new print job is received in the standby state, printing is started after the continuous paper P is transported until the leading end of the blank portion reaches the initial position.
[0040]
As described above, if the leading end of the sheet has not reached the intermediate roller 28 after the end of the print job, the continuous sheet P is conveyed in the reverse direction, and the continuous sheet P is held with the leading end set at the initial position. Thus, the above problems can be avoided. Further, when the continuous paper P is conveyed in the reverse direction, the transfer charger 10 and the pre-transfer belt pair 16 are retracted from the intermediate transfer belt 3, so that the continuous paper P does not contact the intermediate transfer belt 3, Therefore, the image formed on the continuous paper P is not disturbed.
[0041]
If the accumulated page number A after the end of the print job is equal to or greater than the minimum printed page number B in step S406, the flow proceeds to step S410. Although the leading edge of the sheet has already reached the intermediate roller 28, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, after moving the unit to the retracted position in step S410, the continuous sheet P is moved to the rear end sewing machine in step S411. The sheet is conveyed in the direction opposite to the Z direction so that the eyes (that is, the perforations at the leading end of the blank portion serving as the first page of the next job) are set at the initial position. At the end of the print job, the trailing end of the last page is located in the secondary transfer area, so the carry amount is the distance between the secondary transfer area and the initial position. However, it is necessary that the leading end of the sheet does not fall out of the nip portion of the intermediate roller pair 28 due to the conveyance in the reverse direction.
[0042]
Thereafter, the flow proceeds to step S409, the printer 2 switches to a state of waiting for a print job request, and the flow ends.
[0043]
In step S410, the continuous paper P is moved in the direction opposite to the Z direction and the leading end of the blank portion is set to the initial position because the leading end of the first page of the job and the secondary transfer area are set at the start of the next print job. This is for facilitating the control of adjusting the timing of the image output by the image forming section and the timing of the conveyance of the continuous paper P while keeping the distance of the image forming section constant. However, even if the state is switched to the state of waiting for a print job request without moving in the reverse direction after the end of the print job, there is no problem because the continuous paper P is stably held.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, the designated number of printed pages is calculated by counting each time printing of one page is performed. Alternatively, when a print job is received, a signal indicating the designated number of printed pages is transmitted from an external terminal. It may be transmitted to the printer 2.
[0045]
As described above, in the continuous paper printer 2 according to the present embodiment, in the standby state, the continuous paper P is in a state where the leading end is at the initial position or a state where the continuous paper P is held by the tractor 14 and the intermediate roller 28. . If the continuous paper P is held by the tractor 14 and the intermediate roller 28, the control shown in FIG. 4 is not performed even if a print job is received, and a normal printing operation is performed.
[0046]
The reason why printing ends or is interrupted when the leading edge of the sheet has not reached the intermediate roller 28 is not limited to the case where the leading edge of the sheet has reached the intermediate roller 28 at the end of the print job. (2) When stabilizing the image quality every time a predetermined number of pages (for example, 100 pages) are printed in order to maintain high gradation, (2) the user issues an interruption command via an external terminal or the operation panel 78. (3) When it is detected that the toner in the toner containers 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K is empty or remaining, and (4) When the life of the components of the continuous paper printer 2 is detected. And (5) when it is detected that the toner in the waste toner box 11 is full.
[0047]
In the case of (1), that is, when it is necessary to perform image stabilization in a state where the paper is not stably held, after the printing is interrupted, the rear end perforation of the page printed immediately before the interruption is initially set. Until the continuous paper P is set at the position, the continuous paper P is transported in the direction opposite to the Z direction. Thereafter, image stabilization is performed.
[0048]
In the case of (2), after the printing is interrupted, the continuous paper P is transported in the direction opposite to the Z direction until the rear end perforation of the page printed immediately before the interruption is set to the initial position.
[0049]
In the case of (3), when the control unit 50 receives a signal indicating a toner replenishment command from a sensor (not shown) for detecting the amount of toner in the toner containers 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K, the printing is interrupted and immediately before the interruption. The continuous paper P is conveyed in the direction opposite to the Z direction until the perforation at the rear end of the page printed on is set to the initial position.
[0050]
In the cases of (4) and (5), similarly to (3), when the control unit 50 receives the toner supply command signal or the waste toner full signal, after the printing is interrupted, the rear end of the page printed immediately before the interruption is output. Until the perforation is set at the initial position, the continuous paper P is transported in the direction opposite to the Z direction.
[0051]
The above description relates to one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and can be variously modified. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to continuous paper P in which pages are separated by perforations has been described. It is also applicable to roll paper.
[0052]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the operation of the continuous paper printer 2 has been described as an example of forming a full-color image. However, the same control may be performed when only the black image forming unit 16K is operated to form a monochrome image. Can be.
[0053]
In the present invention, as in the above-described embodiment, since printing is performed while the continuous paper P is transported in the vertical direction, if the transport is interrupted or terminated in a state where the leading end of the paper has not reached the intermediate roller, the paper will not be printed. It is particularly effective in a form that is stable, but is also useful in a form in which continuous paper is conveyed in the horizontal direction as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example. The reason is that when transporting continuous paper in the horizontal direction, the paper stays on the transport path due to its own weight even if the paper is not held by the intermediate roller when the transport is interrupted or terminated, but the leading edge curls in the case of roll paper. This is because it is likely to come into contact with another member (for example, a flash fixing device) because it is easy.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly reliable continuous paper printer that does not stay on the transport path in a state where the continuous paper is not stably held, and therefore is less likely to cause deterioration in image quality and jams.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a continuous paper printer according to the present invention.
2A is an enlarged view of the tractor of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 2B and 2C show another example of a paper feed mechanism.
FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the continuous paper printer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a printing operation by the continuous paper printer of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
2: Continuous paper printers 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K: Image forming unit 10: Transfer charger 14: Tractor (first transport unit)
18: Conveying belt 26: Flash fixing device 28: Intermediate roller pair (second conveying means)

Claims (5)

Image forming means for forming an image on continuous paper at a printing position,
First and second transport means for holding and transporting the continuous paper, and respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the printing position with respect to the transport direction of the continuous paper;
A continuous paper printer including an image forming unit and a control unit that controls the first and second transport units in accordance with the received print job;
When printing is performed by transporting the continuous paper in the transport direction from a state in which the vicinity of the leading end of the continuous paper is set at the initial position held by the first transport unit, and corresponds to the received print job. The print length A along the transport direction is necessary for the paper to be transported in the transport direction from the initial position where the vicinity of the leading end of the continuous paper is held by the first transport unit and held by the second transport unit. If the print length is less than the minimum print length B, the control unit controls the first transport unit such that the end of the printed continuous paper portion is set at the initial position after the end of the print job. Continuous paper printer. The continuous paper is composed of a plurality of papers having a unit print length along the transport direction,
2. The continuous paper printer according to claim 1, wherein each of the printing lengths A and B is the number of the unit printing lengths. Image forming means for forming an image on continuous paper at a printing position,
First and second transport means for holding and transporting the continuous paper, and respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the printing position with respect to the transport direction of the continuous paper;
A control unit for controlling the image forming unit and the first and second transport units in accordance with the received print job, wherein the control unit interrupts image formation by the image forming unit upon receiving predetermined interruption information. In paper printers,
When printing is performed by transporting the continuous paper in the transport direction from a state in which the vicinity of the leading end of the continuous paper is set at the initial position held by the first transport unit, the control unit determines that the continuous paper is in the second position. Receiving the interruption information in a state not being held by the second transporting means, controlling the first transporting means such that after printing is interrupted, the leading end of the printed continuous paper portion is set at the initial position. A continuous paper printer. 5. The continuous paper printer according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined interruption information is information indicating that a total of unit printing lengths of the continuous paper along the transport direction has reached a predetermined value. 5. The continuous paper printer according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined interruption information is a print interruption instruction from a user.

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