JP2006123279A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the processing capability of a printer when a plurality of color images are recorded while the waste of papers and the deterioration of the images caused by a change in loading during carrying papers are prevented, and to suppress the generation of a malfunction such as the clogging of the paper when an electric power source is recovered. <P>SOLUTION: While the paper unwound from a paper feeding part 40 faces thermal heads 71a-73a, the paper is carried toward the downstream side in the carrying direction without performing the printing of the color images, and thereafter, while the paper is reversely carried toward the upstream side in the carrying direction, the plurality of color images are continuously printed by the thermal heads 71a-73a. When the electric power source is cut during printing the images, and then, the electric power source is recovered, after the paper is reversely carried toward the upstream side in the carrying direction by a specified distance, the printing of the images which has not been completed yet is started again. The paper on which the images are printed before the electric power source is cut and after the electric power source is recovered is discharged into a print box after the front end and the back end of the images are cut. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that records an image on a recording medium.

  Various techniques are known for printers capable of recording color images on a recording medium. For example, Patent Document 1 includes three thermal heads capable of individually recording each of yellow, magenta, and cyan colors, and the three recording heads that are drawn from the recording paper roll are conveyed in the paper feeding direction. A one-pass color thermal printer that records a color image with a thermal head is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a 3-pass color thermal printer. In such a printer, a color thermal recording paper having a length of one frame drawn from a recording paper roll is sent out so as to face one thermal head, and then a yellow image is recorded while being pulled back, and then the recording paper. Are sent and pulled back alternately, and a magenta image is recorded at the second pull back, and a cyan image is recorded at the third pull back.

Patent Document 3 is provided with three thermal heads of yellow, magenta, and cyan. After the recording paper drawn from the recording paper roll is conveyed in the paper feeding direction and the print preparation is completed, the recording paper is loaded. A one-pass color thermal printer that records a color image of one frame while being conveyed in the pull-back direction is disclosed. In such a printer, when a color image of one frame is recorded, the recording paper is conveyed again in the paper feeding direction and cut at the rear end portion of the color image. Then, the recording paper on which the color image is recorded is discharged, and the next one-frame color image is recorded while the recording paper that has been prepared for printing is conveyed in the pull-back direction.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-174476 JP-A-9-99572 JP 2001-246769 A

  In the printer described in Patent Document 1, a color image can be recorded only by transporting the recording paper in one direction without transporting the recording paper back and forth. However, in such a printer, when the three thermal heads are pressed against the recording paper in order from the one where the recording paper has reached the printing position, the image is deteriorated due to load fluctuations during conveyance of the recording paper. Sometimes. Therefore, in such a printer, in order to prevent the deterioration of the image, the recording of the color image is started after all the three thermal heads are pressed against the recording paper. For this reason, the portion between the thermal head in the vicinity of the leading edge of the recording paper, that is, the length between the most upstream thermal head and the most downstream thermal head in the paper feeding direction from the leading edge of the recording paper is stretched between the thermal heads. Recording of a color image is started. For this reason, there is a problem in that an image is not formed in the length portion where the recording paper is stretched and a blank portion is formed.

  On the other hand, in the printers described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, a color image can be recorded even in the vicinity of the leading end of the recording paper, so that it is possible to prevent the recording paper from being wasted. Here, in the printer described in Patent Document 3, when the recording paper is conveyed in the pullback direction, all three thermal heads are pressed against the recording paper, so that the image is caused by load fluctuations during the conveyance of the recording paper. Is rarely worse.

  However, in the printer of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to repeat feeding and pulling of the recording paper three times in order to record a single color image. Further, in the printer of Patent Document 3, it is necessary to feed and pull back the recording paper once for each color image of one frame. Therefore, in order to record a color image of a plurality of frames in these printers, the reciprocating conveyance of the recording paper has to be repeated many times.

  Here, in the printers of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, a pair of transport rollers is disposed between the recording paper roll and the thermal head, and the transport direction of the recording paper is switched by switching the driving direction of the pair of transport rollers. Is changed to either the paper feed direction or the pull back direction. Therefore, in order to record a color image of a plurality of m frames (m is an integer of 2 or more), the printer of Patent Document 2 must reciprocate the recording paper 3 m times, and the driving direction of the conveying roller pair is changed. It is necessary to switch only (6m-1) times. In the printer of Patent Document 3, the recording paper must be reciprocated and conveyed m times, and the driving direction of the conveying roller pair needs to be switched only (2m-1) times.

  As described above, when the driving direction of the conveying roller pair is switched, a time-related conveying loss occurs due to the switching. Therefore, if the number of times of switching the driving direction of the conveying roller pair is increased, the time-related conveying loss is increased accordingly, and the processing capability of the printer is lowered.

  In addition, when a plurality of images included in one order are recorded, if the printer is turned off for some reason such as a power failure (instantaneous power failure) or an erroneous operation, the recording paper is conveyed. Is stopped and image recording is also interrupted. After that, initialization is performed when the printer power is restored, so that the recording paper once transported in the paper feeding direction is discharged by being transported in the pull-back direction without performing image recording and cutting. The Here, the print box (print receiver) for receiving the discharged recording paper usually has a size capable of storing the recording paper having the length of the recording paper on which the maximum image is recorded. Therefore, the print box often cannot accommodate a long recording sheet that is discharged without image recording and cutting. Therefore, a problem such as paper jam may occur when the recording paper is caught in the print box.

  Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to improve the processing capability when recording a plurality of color images while preventing image deterioration due to waste of the recording medium and load fluctuations during conveyance of the recording medium, and a power source. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of suppressing the occurrence of problems such as a paper jam when the printer returns.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  The printer according to the present invention includes an image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording medium, a supply unit storing a long recording medium, and the image recording unit from the supply unit while the recording medium faces the image recording unit. And a transport mechanism that is transportable in a first direction toward the second direction and a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the supply unit, and the image recording unit. A cutting mechanism capable of cutting the recording medium conveyed by the mechanism, and after the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction until the leading end of the recording medium reaches a position away from the image recording unit in the first direction. A plurality of images are recorded by the image recording unit on a recording medium that is conveyed in the second direction by the conveyance mechanism and a conveyance control unit that controls the conveyance mechanism so as to be conveyed in the second direction. The image recording Image recording control means for controlling the printing section, cutting control means for controlling the cutting mechanism so that the recording medium conveyed in the second direction by the conveying mechanism is cut, and first power supplied A power supply unit that switches to one of a state and a second state in which no power is supplied, and a plurality of images are recorded by the image recording unit on a recording medium transported in the second direction. When the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state and then switched to the first state again, the conveyance control unit is configured to transfer the recording medium to the second state. And the cutting control means controls a plurality of recording media conveyed in the second direction by the conveying means to have a length equal to or less than a reference length. On recording media As cross, it is characterized by controlling the cutting mechanism.

  Note that “when the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state and then switched to the first state again” means that the power supply unit is operated by an operator or the like. Thus, in addition to the case where the power supply unit is sequentially switched from the first state to the second state and the first state, the power supply unit is changed from the first state to the first state due to a power failure or the like (without operation on the power supply unit). The case where the state is switched to the second state and the first state in this order is also included. In addition, “the leading end of the recording medium reaches a position away from the image recording unit in the first direction” means that “the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction from the supply unit to the image recording unit and recorded. This means that the leading end of the medium reaches a position downstream of the image recording unit. In this specification, “upstream side” and “downstream side” relate to a first direction from the supply unit toward the image recording unit.

  According to this configuration, a plurality of images can be recorded on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction after the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction from the supply unit toward the image recording unit. Therefore, an image can be recorded in the vicinity of the leading end of the recording medium (the region from the leading end of the recording medium portion that is transported in the first direction and then fed back in the second direction), and the recording medium is being transported. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image due to the load fluctuation. Further, even when a plurality of images are recorded on the recording medium, it is only necessary to reciprocate the recording medium once, and it is only necessary to switch the conveying direction of the recording medium in the conveying mechanism once. Transport loss can be reduced. As a result, when a plurality of images are recorded on a recording medium, it is possible to improve the processing capability of the printer while preventing image deterioration due to waste of the recording medium and load fluctuation during conveyance of the recording medium.

  In addition, when recording of an image is interrupted by turning off the power while a plurality of images are being recorded on the recording medium by the image recording unit, the recording medium is stored in the second state when the power is restored. Are cut into a plurality of recording media having a length equal to or shorter than a reference length. Therefore, after the power is restored, the recording medium cut to a length equal to or shorter than the reference length is stored in the print box. Therefore, the recording medium can be easily taken out. In addition, after the power is restored, the recording medium that has been transported downstream from the image recording unit is not discharged as it is long. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem such as a paper jam by being caught when the recording medium is ejected after the power is restored.

  The printer according to the present invention preferably further includes a print box for storing the recording medium cut by the cutting mechanism, and the reference length is a maximum length that can be stored in the print box.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of cuts of the recording medium discharged into the print box after the power is restored.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the image recording control unit may be configured such that the power supply unit is in the first state while a plurality of images are being recorded by the image recording unit on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction. When switching from the first state to the second state and then switching to the first state again, image recording is completed when the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state. The image recording unit may be controlled such that at least some of the plurality of images that are not recorded are recorded on a recording medium that is transported in the second direction by the transport mechanism.

  According to this configuration, after the power is restored, the recording medium can be cut and discharged after the image is recorded, instead of cutting and discharging the recording medium without recording the image. For this reason, it is possible to effectively use a part of the recording medium instead of discarding all of the recording medium conveyed downstream from the image recording unit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being wasted.

  In the printer of the present invention, the cutting control means may control the cutting mechanism so that the recording medium conveyed in the second direction is cut at the edge of the image.

  According to this configuration, after the power is restored, the recording medium on which the image is recorded can be discharged as an appropriate print.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the image recording control unit may switch the power source unit from the first state to the second state after the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport unit. Recording of an image for which recording of the image is not completed may be started.

  According to this configuration, the image can be recorded on the recording medium after the power is restored so that the image recorded halfway when the power is interrupted is not overlapped.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the image recording unit includes a plurality of image recording heads arranged in series along a conveyance path by the conveyance mechanism, and the plurality of image recording heads are conveyed by the conveyance mechanism. An image recording position where an image can be recorded while being in contact with the recording medium to be recorded and a retracting position where the recording mechanism is not in contact with the recording medium transported by the transport mechanism can be selectively taken. All may be placed in the retracted position when the recording medium is transported in the second direction by a predetermined distance.

  According to this configuration, since the recording medium is transported in the second direction by a predetermined distance in a state where all of the plurality of image recording heads are not in contact with the recording medium, the recording medium is caught by the image recording head and is not properly transported. Or the meandering of the recording medium due to contact of the image recording head can be suppressed. Further, when the image recording unit is configured to record a color image using a ribbon supplied as the recording medium is conveyed, the recording medium is not recorded in the second direction. It is possible to prevent the ribbon from being wasted by being conveyed to the surface.

  In the printer of the present invention, the plurality of image forming heads may be arranged at the image recording positions immediately before image recording is started in each image recording head.

  According to this configuration, each of the plurality of image forming heads comes into contact with the recording medium immediately before the image recording is started, so that the recording medium is properly caught by being caught by the image recording head where the image recording is not performed. It is possible to prevent the recording medium from meandering due to contact with an image recording head that is not transported (a jam occurs) or where no image is recorded. Further, when the image recording unit is configured to record a color image using a ribbon supplied as the recording medium is conveyed, the recording medium is not recorded in the second direction. It is possible to prevent the ribbon from being wasted by being conveyed to the surface.

  The printer according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a maximum length of a recording medium that can be conveyed downstream from the image recording unit, and the image recording unit that records all of a plurality of images included in one order. A required length calculating means for calculating a required length of a recording medium that needs to be conveyed further downstream, a maximum length stored in the storage means, and a required length calculated by the required length calculating means. The comparison unit for comparison and the conveyance length of the recording medium conveyed downstream from the image recording unit are determined before the conveyance direction of the recording medium is changed from the first direction to the second direction. And determining means for determining the transport length when the comparison means obtains a comparison result that the required length is less than or equal to the maximum length. You may decide to.

  According to this configuration, when a recording medium having a length necessary for recording all of a plurality of images included in one order can be transported downstream from the image recording unit in the first direction, the length is determined. This recording medium can be conveyed downstream of the image recording unit in the first direction. Therefore, it is possible to continuously record all of the plurality of images included in one order on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction.

  Here, “one order” indicates a range that is handled as one unit when a plurality of images are recorded in the printer. For example, in a printer, when a plurality of images corresponding to an order from one customer are handled as one unit, the order from the one customer becomes one order and corresponds to an order from a plurality of customers. When a plurality of images are handled as one unit, the orders from these customers are combined into one order. In addition to the case where one or a plurality of orders for each customer is one order as described above, when the operator supplies a print command for recording a plurality of images to the printer, the print command is One order. Therefore, “a plurality of images included in one order” means a plurality of images included in one or a plurality of orders when one or a plurality of orders per customer is one order as described above. When the operator supplies a print command for recording a plurality of images to the printer, it means a plurality of images recorded based on the print command.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the determination unit may determine the conveyance length as the maximum length when the comparison unit obtains a comparison result that the required length is longer than the maximum length. Good.

  According to this configuration, when a recording medium having a length necessary for recording all of a plurality of images included in one order cannot be conveyed downstream from the image recording unit in the first direction, Regardless of the number of images included in one order, a recording medium having a length that can be conveyed in the first direction can be conveyed. Therefore, in this case, as many images as possible among a plurality of images included in one order can be continuously recorded on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction.

  The printer of the present invention is a replenishment length of a recording medium that needs to be transported downstream from the image recording unit in order to record an image that has not been recorded yet among a plurality of images included in one order. And a replenishment length calculating means for calculating the thickness, wherein the determining means is switched to the first state again after the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state. In this case, when the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state, at least some of the plurality of images that have not been recorded are transported in the second direction by the transport unit. After recording on the recording medium to be recorded, the transport length may be determined as the replenishment length.

  Here, in the portion of the recording medium in which the image has been recorded halfway when the power is turned off, the image cannot be recorded again after the power is restored, and is discarded. Accordingly, the number of images that can be recorded in the discarded portion is not recorded on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction. According to this configuration, all of the recording medium conveyed downstream from the image recording unit is necessary for recording the number of unrecorded images after the image recording is completed while being conveyed in the second direction. After the replenishment length of the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction, the remaining image is recorded while the recording medium is conveyed in the second direction. Therefore, it is possible to print all of a plurality of images included in one order.

  Here, when the comparison means obtains a comparison result that the required length is longer than the maximum length, and the conveyance length is determined to be the maximum length, the maximum length wound around the supply unit Even if all the recording media are conveyed in the second direction and the image is properly recorded, some of the plurality of images included in one order are not recorded. Therefore, in this case, after all the recording media of the maximum length wound up by the supply unit are transported in the second direction and the images are recorded, a plurality of images included in one order are recorded. Among them, the number that cannot be recorded on the recording medium having the maximum length and the length that is necessary for recording the number of images that can be recorded in the discarded portion are calculated as the supplementary length.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing unit of the printer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the movement of the conveying roller pair and the feeding roller pair of the printer of FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a main part of the printer of FIG. 1 and a control device to which these are connected.

  A thermal sublimation thermal printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as “printer 1”) includes an operation unit 10, a control device 20, and a printing unit 30. The operation unit 10 is for an operator to operate the printer 1 and has a display 11 for displaying various information about the printer 1 and notifying the operator. Here, in the present embodiment, a touch panel method is adopted for the operation unit 10, and an operation screen 12 including various buttons is displayed on the display 10. Accordingly, the operator can execute an operation on the printer 1 by touching the operation screen 12.

  The control device 20 receives input from the operation unit 10 and controls various operations in the printer 1. In addition, the control device 20 has a plurality of data input units 20a for acquiring print data from various storage media such as a card slot and a disk drive. The storage medium may be any medium that can store print data, such as a CD-ROM or a memory card. Further, the control device 20 is provided with a power button 20 b of the printer 1. Accordingly, the operator can switch between the ON state in which power is supplied to the printer 1 and the OFF state in which power is not supplied to the printer 1 by pressing the power button 20b.

  Here, the operation unit 10 and the control device 20 are fixedly arranged on the upper surface of the housing 30 a that houses the print unit 30. Here, the display surface of the display 11 of the operation unit 10 and the storage medium insertion surface of the data input unit 20a of the control device 20 substantially coincide with the front of the printer 1 (housing 30a) (the surface on the left front side in FIG. 1). ing. Therefore, it is easy for the operator heading to the front of the printer 1 to operate the display 11 and the data input unit 21.

  The housing 30a has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the lateral width (front width) D1 is smaller than the depth D2. Therefore, the printer 1 can be installed even in a relatively narrow space. Furthermore, an opening 95 is formed on the front surface of the housing 30a for drawing out a print box 96 (described later) housed in the housing 30a to the outside of the housing 30a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print unit 30 includes a paper supply unit 40 that holds a paper wound in a roll shape and a paper winding unit that winds up the paper that has been unwound from the paper supply unit 40. Between the take-up unit 80 and the paper supply unit 40 and the paper take-up unit 80, there is a transport mechanism 38 that can transport the paper along a transport path curved in one direction. A cutting unit 50, an overcoat unit 60, and a printing unit 70 are disposed between the paper supply unit 40 and the paper winding unit 80 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transport path. A print box 96 is provided near the conveyance path between the paper supply unit 40 and the cutting unit 50.

  In the present embodiment, “paper transport direction (transport direction)” means a direction from the paper supply unit 40 toward the paper winding unit 80. Further, the “paper front end” and the “image front end” mean the end on the downstream side of the paper or the image transport direction, and the “paper rear end” and “image rear end” The term “edge” means an end portion on the upstream side of the sheet or image in the conveying direction.

  The paper supply unit 40 has a magazine case 41 provided in the uppermost stream of the transport path, and a long paper is wound around the rotation shaft 43 so that the printing surface is on the outside. The wound winding part 45 is loaded. Here, the rotating shaft 43 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2 when the sheet is unwound from the sheet supply unit 40 and conveyed toward the downstream side in the conveying direction by the motor 43a (see FIG. 4). When the unwound paper is taken up by the paper supply unit 40, it is rotated clockwise in FIG. The rotary shaft 43 is connected to a shaft (not shown) that is rotationally driven by a motor 43a via a one-way clutch 43c having the same function as one-way clutches 34c and 35c described later.

  The transport mechanism 38 is arranged in order from the upstream side in the transport direction, and includes a pair of paper feed rollers 31 that can transport the paper unrolled from the winding unit 45 of the paper supply unit 40 upward, and the cutting unit 50. Also, a turn roller pair 32 that is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction and changes the transport direction of the paper transported upward, and a pressure roller pair that can sandwich the paper between the cutting unit 50 and the overcoat unit 60. 33 and a pair of transport rollers 34 capable of transporting the paper, and a paper which is disposed downstream of the printing unit 70 in the transport direction and transported downstream of the printing unit 70 in the transport direction. A feed roller pair 35 for feeding the inside is provided. In this embodiment, the paper feed roller pair 31, the turn roller pair 32, the pressure roller pair 33, and the feed roller pair 35 are made of resin rollers, and the transport roller pair 34 is made of a metal roller. Has been.

  Here, the pair of feed rollers 31, the pair of turn rollers 32, the pair of pressure rollers 33, the pair of transport rollers 34 and the pair of feed rollers 35 are arranged on a circumference having a predetermined radius (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). It is arranged along. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the head portions 61 and 71 to 73 of the overcoat portion 60 and the printing portion 70 are also arranged along the circumference, and the paper supply portion 40 and the paper take-up portion 80 are It arrange | positions inside the said periphery.

  The paper feed roller pair 31, the transport roller pair 34, and the feed roller pair 35 are connected to motors 31a, 34a, and 35a (see FIG. 4) controlled by the transport control unit 28a (see FIG. 4), respectively, and are rotationally driven. Is possible.

  Here, the movement of the transport roller pair 34 and the feed roller pair 35 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A shows the movement of the transport roller pair 34 and the feed roller pair 35 when the paper is transported downstream in the transport direction, and FIG. 3B shows that the paper is upstream in the transport direction. The movement of the conveying roller pair 34 and the feeding roller pair 35 during reverse feeding is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyance roller pair 34 includes a driving roller 34d and a driven roller 34e. The drive roller 34d is connected to a shaft 34b that is rotationally driven by a motor 34a via a one-way clutch 34c. Similarly, the feed roller pair 35 includes a drive roller 35d and a driven roller 35e, and the drive roller 35d is connected to a shaft 35b that is rotationally driven by a motor 35a via a one-way clutch 35c.

  Since the one-way clutches 34c and 35c have the same function, the function of the one-way clutch 34c will be described here. The one-way clutch 34c is fixed to the driving roller 34d and rotates together with the driving roller 34d. When the drive roller 34d rotates faster than the rotational speed of the shaft 34b, the rotational force of the shaft 34b is not transmitted to the drive roller 34d, and the drive roller 35d rotates idly with respect to the shaft 34b. In other cases, the rotational force of the shaft 34b is transmitted to the drive roller 34d via the one-way clutch 34c, and the shaft 34b and the drive roller 34d rotate together.

  Therefore, when the conveyance roller pair 34 holds the sheet, the conveyance speed of the sheet is slower than the conveyance speed of the sheet based on the rotational force of the conveyance roller pair 34 driven by the motor 34a. Is transmitted to the conveying roller pair 34. Then, the sheet is transported with a transport force applied by the transport roller pair 34. On the other hand, when the paper conveyance speed is faster than the paper conveyance speed based on the rotational force of the conveyance roller pair 34 driven by the motor 34a, the driving force of the motor 34a is not transmitted to the conveyance roller pair 34 and is conveyed. The roller pair 34 is idle. That is, the transport roller pair 34 is driven to rotate at a rotational speed corresponding to the paper transport speed.

  Here, the sheet conveying speed based on the rotational force of the conveying roller pair 34 driven by the motor 34a is V1, and the sheet conveying speed based on the rotational force of the feeding roller pair 34 driven by the motor 35a is V2. Consider the case of transporting a sheet downstream in the transport direction with reference to (a). At this time, as will be described later, after the leading edge of the paper reaches the feed roller pair 35 and is nipped, the drive of the transport roller pair 34 is stopped, and the transport speed V1 becomes zero. On the other hand, the feed roller pair 35 is rotationally driven by the driving force of the motor 35a being transmitted through the shaft 35b and the one-way clutch 35c. Since the sheet sandwiched between the transport roller pair 34 is transported at the transport speed V2, the transport roller pair 34 is idled by the function of the one-way clutch 34c.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3B, consider a case where the paper is fed back upstream in the transport direction. At this time, as will be described later, since the driving of the feed roller pair 35 is stopped, the conveyance speed V2 becomes zero. On the other hand, the conveying roller pair 34 is rotationally driven by the driving force of the motor 34a being transmitted through the shaft 34b and the one-way clutch 34c. Since the sheet sandwiched between the feed roller pair 35 is reversely fed at the conveyance speed V1, the feed roller pair 35 rotates idly by the function of the one-way clutch 35c.

  The pair of paper feed rollers 31 is also connected to a shaft (not shown) that is rotationally driven by a motor 31a via a one-way clutch 31c having the same function as the one-way clutches 34c and 35c described above. Accordingly, the paper feed roller pair 31, the transport roller pair 34, and the feed roller pair 35 are supplied with the paper unrolled from the paper supply unit 40 by individually controlling the motors 31a, 34a, and 35a by the transport control unit 28a. The sheet can be conveyed downstream in the conveying direction and taken up by the paper take-up unit 80, and the paper once taken up in the paper take-up unit 80 can be unwound and unwound from the paper take-up unit 80. The printed paper can be fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction.

  Further, the printing unit 30 includes an encoder 36 that can detect the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34. Here, as described above, the transport roller pair 34 is driven and rotated by the motor 34a to transport the paper, and is driven and rotated along with the paper transported by the feed roller pair 35. obtain. The encoder 36 can detect the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34 even when the conveyance roller 34 is in any of the above states.

  The cutting part 50 is disposed between the turn roller pair 32 and the pressure roller pair 33. The cutting unit 50 includes a rolling cutter 51 disposed above the conveyance path, a fixed blade 52 disposed below the conveyance path, and a chip box 53.

  The rolling cutter 51 has a disk shape, and a blade is formed on the entire circumference of the rolling cutter 51. The center of the rolling cutter 51 is held by a shaft 51a. The rolling cutter 51 is connected to a drive mechanism 55 (see FIG. 4) controlled by the cutting control unit 28c via a shaft 51a. The drive mechanism 55 rotates and drives the rolling cutter 51 via the shaft 51a, and moves forward or backward along the sheet conveyance path along a direction orthogonal to the sheet (in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 2). . On the other hand, the fixed blade 52 is a rectangular blade that is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the paper transport path and is longer than the entire width of the paper transport path.

  Therefore, when the cutting control unit 28c controls the drive mechanism 55 and moves the rolling cutter 51 along the width direction of the paper while the paper is disposed at the cutting position by the cutting unit 50, the rolling cutter 51 The sheet is cut by the interaction between 51 and the fixed blade 52. In the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, as will be described later, the cutting unit 50 cuts the paper at the leading edge and the trailing edge of each image.

  The chip box 53 is disposed below the rolling cutter 51 and the fixed blade 52. Accordingly, when the paper is cut at the leading edge or the trailing edge of each image and the blank portion between the images is cut, the blank portion is stored in the chip box 53.

  The overcoat unit 60 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance roller pair 34 in the conveyance direction. The overcoat part 60 has one head part 61. The head unit 61 is for performing a colorless and transparent overcoat (OC) on the surface of the paper on which an image is printed. Thus, by overcoating the surface of the paper, the light resistance of the image printed on the paper can be improved and the surface of the paper can be protected. Further, by selecting the material of the overcoat, the gloss of the print can be improved and a high-quality print can be provided.

  The printing unit 70 is disposed between the overcoat unit 60 and the feed roller pair 35. The printing unit 70 has three head units 71 to 73. The head portions 71 to 73 are for performing printing corresponding to cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively. Here, in the printer 1, a head unit 71 corresponding to cyan, a head unit 72 corresponding to magenta, and a head unit 73 corresponding to yellow are provided in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction to the downstream side in the transport direction. In the printer 1, the transport roller pair 34 is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the overcoat unit 60 and the printing unit 70, and the feed roller pair 35 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction.

  In the printer 1 of the present embodiment, when the paper unrolled from the paper supply unit 40 is conveyed toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction, the overcoat in the overcoat unit 60 and the color image in the printing unit 70 are performed. Is not performed, and when the paper once wound on the paper take-up unit 80 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction from the print unit 70 is fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction, the print unit 70 The printing of the image at and the overcoat at the overcoat unit 60 are performed. Accordingly, the printer 1 can print a color image in the order of yellow, magenta, and cyan on the paper surface, and can further overcoat the paper surface on which the color image is printed.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the head units 61 and 71 to 73 will be described. In addition, since the structure of the head parts 61 and 71 to 73 is the same, only the head part 73 will be described in detail here.

  The head unit 73 includes a thermal head 73a having a large number of heating elements (not shown) arranged over the entire width of the paper conveyance path, and a tip portion of the thermal head 73a (in the vicinity of the paper conveyance path and the heating elements are arranged). A platen roller 73b facing the other end, a tape-like ribbon 73c having an ink area to which ink corresponding to yellow is attached, a ribbon supply roller 73d around which a ribbon 73c before printing is wound, and a post-printing ribbon A ribbon take-up roller 73e for taking up the ribbon 73c.

  Here, the thermal head 73a can be moved back and forth with respect to the paper transport path by an elevating mechanism 73f (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the thermal head 73a can selectively take the print position where the ribbon 73c and the paper are pressed against each other and the retracted position where the paper 73 is not pressed between the vicinity of the tip and the platen roller 73b.

  In the head unit 73, when the paper is conveyed between the thermal head 73a and the platen roller 73b in a state where the thermal head 73a is disposed at the printing position, the ink of the ribbon 73c heated by the thermal head 73a. Thus, a color image corresponding to yellow can be printed on the paper. At this time, when the sheet is conveyed between the thermal head 73a and the platen roller 73b, the ribbon 73c is also moved from the ribbon supply roller 73d toward the ribbon take-up roller 73e as the sheet is conveyed. Sent.

  The head unit 61 and the head units 71 and 72 are similar to the head unit 73 in that the thermal heads 61a, 71a and 72a, the platen rollers 61b, 71b and 72b, the ribbons 61c, 71c and 72c, and the ribbon supply roller 61d. 71d, 72d, ribbon take-up rollers 61e, 71e, 72e, and elevating mechanisms 61f, 71f, 72f, respectively.

  Here, in the head unit 61 and the head units 71 and 72, ink corresponding to colorless and transparent, cyan and magenta, respectively, instead of the tape-like ribbon 73c having an ink region to which ink corresponding to yellow of the head unit 73 is attached. Tape-shaped ribbons 61c, 71c, and 72c having an ink region to which are attached are used.

  A pair of guides 75 a to 75 c are disposed between the head portion 61 of the overcoat portion 60 and the head portions 71 to 73 of the printing portion 70, respectively. Each of the pair of guides 75a to 75c includes two plate-like members, and guides the sheet (mainly the leading end portion of the sheet) conveyed between the head units 61 and 71 to 73, respectively. is there. Accordingly, the pair of guides 75a to 75c are arranged so as to face each other with a predetermined interval across the sheet conveyance path.

  The paper take-up unit 80 has a storage case 81 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path. The storage case 81 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a part of the storage case 81 opens as a paper insertion opening 82. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the central angle of the portion that becomes the insertion port 82 is about 90 degrees, and one edge 82a is in the vicinity of the left end of the storage case 81, and the other The edge portion 82 b is in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the storage case 81.

  Here, the feeding roller pair 35 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper portion of the edge portion 82 a of the storage case 81, and the sheet conveyed downward by the feeding roller pair 35 is located in the storage case 81 from the vicinity of the end portion 82 a of the insertion port 82. Inserted into. The paper inserted into the paper winding unit 80 is guided by contacting the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 81. As a result, in the storage case 81, the paper is wound in order from the leading edge of the paper so that the printing surface becomes the outer surface according to the curl of the paper. The storage case 81 is rotatably provided with four winding rollers 83a to 83d. A part of each of the winding rollers 83 a to 83 d protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 81. Accordingly, since the frictional force when the paper comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 81 is reduced, the paper is prevented from being damaged.

  The print box 96 is for discharging the paper (print) on which each color image printed by the cutting unit 50 is printed after the image is printed in the printing unit 70 and the overcoat unit 60 is overcoated. Is. The print box 96 is a box-shaped member having an upper end opened, and is supported by a support shaft 97 at the lower end to be rotatable. Accordingly, the print box 96 has a state in which the print box 96 is housed in the housing 30a (shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) and an upper end portion of the print box 96 through the opening 95 provided on the front surface (right surface in FIG. 2). A state in which the vicinity is pulled out of the housing 30a (a state indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2) can be taken. Therefore, the operator can easily take out the paper on which each color image is printed by pulling out the upper end portion of the print box 96 from the front of the printer 1 (housing 30a).

  A sorting mechanism (not shown) is provided above the print box 96 so as to be close to the transport path upstream of the turn roller pair 32 in the transport direction. In this sorting mechanism, the paper is fed back toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction when the paper is wound around the paper supply unit 40 and when the paper on which each color image is printed is discharged to the print box 96. It is possible to switch the paper transport path when printing. Therefore, by controlling the sorting mechanism, only the paper on which each color image is printed can be stored in the print box 96.

  Further, an image detection sensor 90 that can detect an end portion (mainly a rear end portion of the image) of an image printed on a sheet conveyed along the conveyance path, on the upstream side of the cutting unit 50 in the conveyance direction. Is provided. On the other hand, a paper detection sensor 91 that can detect the edge of the paper is provided upstream of the overcoat unit 60 in the transport direction. In the present embodiment, the end of the overcoat unit 60 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction and the detection position by the paper detection sensor 91 substantially coincide with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 20 includes a motor 43 a that drives the rotation shaft 43 of the paper supply unit 40, a motor 31 a that drives the paper feed roller pair 31, the transport roller pair 34, and the feed roller pair 35, respectively. 34a, 35a, an encoder 36 for detecting the rotation speed of the conveying roller pair 34, a driving mechanism 55 for the rolling cutter 51 of the cutting unit 50, and the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a of the overcoat unit 60 and the printing unit 70. The mechanisms 61f and 71f to 73f and the drivers 61g and 71g to 73g, the image detection sensor 90, the paper detection sensor 91, and the operation unit 10 are respectively connected.

  The control device 20 includes hardware such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM controlled by appropriate software, and includes a maximum winding amount storage unit 21, a print information storage unit 22, and a necessary winding amount calculation unit. 23, a replenishment winding amount calculation unit 24, a comparison unit 25, a winding amount determination unit 26, a conveyance amount detection unit 27, a conveyance control unit 28a, a print control unit 28b, a cutting control unit 28c, And an image data storage unit 29.

  The maximum winding amount storage unit 21 maximizes the maximum length of paper that can be transported downstream in the transport direction from the printing unit 70 when the paper is transported from the paper supply unit 40 toward the paper winding unit 80. It is memorized as a winding amount. The maximum winding amount is determined by the length of the conveyance path between the printing position by the head unit 73 arranged on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the printing unit 70 and the insertion port 82 of the sheet winding unit 80, and the sheet winding. This value is calculated by adding together the length of paper that can be taken up in the storage case 81 of the unit 80. The maximum winding amount is input to the maximum winding amount storage unit 21 by the operator.

  Here, the maximum winding amount largely varies depending on the size of the storage case 81. The length of paper that can be wound in the storage case 81 may be the maximum length of paper that can actually be stored in the storage case 81, or the maximum length of paper that can be stored in the storage case 81. It may be shorter than the length and can be set arbitrarily. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the length of the paper that can be wound in the storage case 81 used when the maximum winding amount is calculated is that the paper is not damaged or scratched in the storage case 81. The length of the range is set to be shorter than the maximum length of paper that can be stored in the storage case 81.

  The print information storage unit 22 stores various setting values when a color image is printed. Here, the set values include the print length of one frame for each print type (the length in the transport direction), the number of prints (the number of frames), the length of the margin formed between adjacent images, and the head heat dissipation. Includes additional length. As the print length of one frame for each print type, a plurality of values are stored for each of a plurality of print types such as a standard size and a panorama size, for example. As the number of prints, a value input for each order by the operator before printing is stored. Further, the length of the margin between the images and the additional length for heat radiation of the head are stored as values input by the operator before starting printing. The additional length is such that the temperatures of the thermal heads 71a, 72a, 73a that have generated heat for printing an image and the thermal head 61a that has generated heat for overcoating are substantially the same as the ambient temperature after energization. The sheet is set to such a length that the sheet faces each of the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a. In the present embodiment, the time required for each of the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a that have generated heat to be substantially the same as the ambient temperature, and the sheet to be fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction. The additional length is calculated by the product with the conveyance speed.

  The necessary winding amount calculation unit 23 calculates the length of paper necessary for printing all of a plurality of color images included in one order as the necessary winding amount. In other words, in order to print all of a plurality of color images included in one order, before the printing of the color image by the printing unit 70, paper having a length capable of printing these color images is printed on the printing unit. It is necessary to carry the sheet downstream in the carrying direction from 70. Therefore, when the paper is conveyed from the paper supply unit 40 toward the paper take-up unit 80, the printing position by the head unit 73 of the printing unit 70 is used to print all of the plurality of color images included in one order. The length of the paper to be transported exceeding this is calculated as the required winding amount.

  Here, the necessary winding amount will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of color images included in one order are printed in the vicinity of the leading edge of the paper. Note that FIG. 5 illustrates a case where six images of the same print type are included in one order. As shown in FIG. 5, a region corresponding to the additional length z for heat radiation of the head is provided near the leading end (left end portion in FIG. 5) of the sheet, and from there toward the upstream side (right side in FIG. 5) The area corresponding to the print length x and the area corresponding to the margin length y are alternately provided by the number n of prints.

Accordingly, in the necessary winding amount calculation unit 23, when the print type and the number of prints of a color image included in one order are input by the operator before the start of printing, each value stored in the print information storage unit 22 is set. Based on this, the required winding amount L corresponding to one order is calculated by the following equation.
L = z + x * n + y * (n-1)

  When the printing of a plurality of color images included in one order is interrupted in the middle, the replenishment winding amount calculation unit 24 first applies the sheet conveyed downstream of the printing unit 70 in the conveyance direction after resuming printing. The length of the sheet necessary for printing the color image that could not be printed is calculated as the replenishment winding amount.

  In this embodiment, when the power is turned off in the middle of printing a plurality of images included in one order, an image that has not been printed when the printing of the image is interrupted is restored after the power is restored. Done. Here, for example, when a sheet of a necessary winding amount necessary for printing all of a plurality of color images included in one order is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing unit 70, Since the portion of the paper on which the image in the middle of printing is printed is discarded, even if printing of the image is resumed from the downstream side of the discarded portion, a plurality of pieces included in one order are included by the length of the discarded portion. Insufficient to print all color images. For this reason, after the power is restored, an image that has not been printed is printed as much as possible on the paper remaining downstream in the transport direction from the printing unit 70, but the printing of all images is not completed. Accordingly, it is necessary to dispose a sheet of a length necessary for printing an image that has not yet been printed, toward the downstream side in the transport direction by transporting the sheet again toward the downstream side in the transport direction. There is. Therefore, in the replenishment winding amount calculation unit 24, after the printing of the image is resumed, when there remains an image that could not be printed on the sheet first conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing unit 70, The length of the sheet necessary for printing all the remaining color images is calculated as the replenishment winding amount.

  The comparison unit 25 compares the required winding amount calculated by the required winding amount calculation unit 23 with the maximum winding amount stored in the maximum winding amount storage unit 21. Then, the comparison unit 25 obtains a comparison result regarding the magnitude relationship between the necessary winding amount and the maximum winding amount.

  The winding amount determination unit 26 is actually conveyed downstream of the printing unit 70 in the conveyance direction before the sheet conveyance direction is changed from the direction toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction to the direction toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction. The length of the sheet (actual winding amount), that is, the length of the sheet that is actually conveyed beyond the position facing the head unit 73 of the printing unit 70 is determined. Here, the winding amount determination unit 26 determines the winding amount based on the comparison result by the comparison unit 25. That is, when the comparison unit 25 obtains a comparison result indicating that the required winding amount is equal to or less than the maximum winding amount, the winding amount determination unit 26 determines the actual winding amount as the necessary winding amount, On the other hand, when the comparison unit 25 obtains a comparison result that the required winding amount is longer than the maximum winding amount, the actual winding amount is determined as the maximum winding amount.

  Here, as described above, when image printing is interrupted, after image printing is resumed, an image that could not be printed on the paper first conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing unit 70 is displayed. If it remains, the length of the sheet necessary for printing an image that could not be printed due to the interruption is calculated as a replenishment take-up amount by the replenishment take-up amount calculation unit 24. Accordingly, the comparison unit 25 obtains a comparison result that the required winding amount is equal to or less than the maximum winding amount, and the required winding amount of the sheet is on the downstream side in the transport direction from the printing unit 70. When the printing of the image is interrupted in the case of being conveyed, the paper for the image that could not be printed due to the interruption again is conveyed downstream of the printing unit 70 in the conveying direction, and then the upstream of the conveying direction. All of those images (images that could not be printed due to interruption) can be printed while being fed back to the side. Accordingly, the winding amount determination unit 26 determines the actual winding amount conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing unit 70 as the replenishment winding amount after the power is restored.

  On the other hand, a comparison result that the required winding amount is longer than the maximum winding amount is obtained in the comparison unit 25, and the sheet having the maximum winding amount is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing unit 70. In this case, when printing of an image is interrupted, it is impossible to print on the paper with the maximum winding amount among the images that could not be printed due to the interruption and a plurality of color images included in one order. After the paper for the image is transported to the downstream side in the transport direction from the printing unit 70, the images are transferred back to the upstream side in the transport direction, and those images (images that could not be printed due to interruption and included in one order) Among the plurality of color images, all of the images that cannot be printed on the paper with the maximum winding amount can be printed. Therefore, after the power is restored, the winding amount determination unit 26 sets the actual winding amount conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing unit 70 to the maximum winding amount among a plurality of color images included in one order. The total of the length necessary for printing an image that cannot be printed on the paper and the replenishment winding amount is determined.

  The carry amount detection unit 27 detects the carry amount of the paper based on the number of rotations of the carry roller pair 34 detected by the encoder 36 after the leading edge of the paper is detected by the paper detection sensor 91. That is, the transport amount detection unit 27 detects the length of the paper that is transported downstream in the transport direction from the position detected by the paper detection sensor 91. As a result, the transport amount detection unit 27 is transported downstream of the printing unit 70 in the transport direction before the paper transport direction is changed from the direction toward the downstream side in the transport direction to the direction toward the upstream side in the transport direction. The length of the paper can be detected. As will be described later, after the leading edge of the sheet reaches the feed roller pair 35, the sheet is transported by the transport force applied from the feed roller pair 35 instead of the transport force applied from the transport roller pair 34. However, even in this case, the carry amount detection unit 27 always detects the carry amount of the paper based on the number of rotations of the carry roller pair 34.

  The conveyance amount detection unit 27 can detect the conveyance amount of the paper not only when the paper is conveyed toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction but also when the paper is conveyed toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction. . Therefore, when the paper transport direction is changed from the direction downstream in the transport direction to the direction upstream in the transport direction, the transport direction is changed from the transport amount downstream in the transport direction before the transport direction is changed. The leading end position of the sheet can be detected by subtracting the transport amount upstream in the transport direction after being performed.

  The conveyance control unit 28a controls the motors 43a, 31a, 34a, and 35a that drive the rotation shaft 43, the paper feed roller pair 31, the conveyance roller pair 34, and the feeding roller pair 35, thereby supplying the paper from the paper supply unit 40 to the paper. The sheet is conveyed toward the winding unit 80 and the sheet is fed back from the sheet winding unit 80 toward the sheet supply unit 40.

  The printing control unit 28b controls the raising / lowering timing and printing timing of the thermal head 61a of the overcoat unit 60 and the thermal heads 71a to 73a of the printing unit 70. Specifically, when the paper is transported downstream in the transport direction, the print control unit 28b sets the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a to the retracted position, and before the paper is sent back upstream in the transport direction, The raising / lowering timing is controlled so that the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a are set to the printing positions. Further, the print control unit 28b prints a plurality of color images included in one order on the paper being fed back upstream in the transport direction, separated by the length of the margin, and finally The printing timing is controlled so that the image is not printed in an area corresponding to the additional length on the leading end side of the paper than the printed color image. Further, the print control unit 28b controls the overcoat unit 60 so as to overcoat only the area where the color image of the paper is printed.

  The cutting control unit 28 c controls the cutting timing at the cutting unit 50. In detail, the cutting control unit 28c detects the conveyance amount detection unit 26 to the upstream side in the conveyance direction after the paper conveyance direction is changed from the direction toward the downstream in the conveyance direction to the direction toward the upstream in the conveyance direction. Based on the transport amount of the paper, it is detected that the rear end portion of the color image printed most upstream in the transport direction has reached the cutting position by the cutting unit 50, and the rear end portion of the color image is cut. Thus, the cutting unit 50 is controlled. In addition, the cutting control unit 28c detects the color image based on the conveyance amount of the paper upstream in the conveyance direction after the trailing edge of the image is detected by the image detection sensor 90, which is detected by the conveyance amount detection unit 26. Is detected to have reached the cutting position by the cutting unit 50, and the cutting unit 50 is controlled so that the leading end of the color image is cut. Further, the cutting control unit 28c detects the conveyance direction based on the conveyance amount upstream of the conveyance direction after the sheet is cut at the leading end of the color image, which is detected by the conveyance amount detection unit 26. It is detected that the rear end of the color image adjacent on the downstream side has reached the cutting position by the cutting unit 50, and the cutting unit 50 is controlled so that the rear end of the color image is cut.

  The image data storage unit 29 stores the image data input from the data input unit 20a. In the present embodiment, the image data stored in the image data storage unit 29 is stored without being erased even when the power of the printer 1 is turned off by the power button 20b. Accordingly, even when the printer 1 is turned off due to a power failure or the like, the image data stored in the image data storage unit 29 is stored without being erased.

  Next, the operation when the printer 1 prints an image will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the printer 1.

  First, the leading end of the sheet unwound by rotating the rotary shaft 43 from the paper winding unit 45 loaded in the paper supply unit 40 is transported only by the transport force applied from the paper feed roller pair 31. (Step S101). Then, the conveyance by the paper feed roller pair 31 is continued until the leading edge of the paper passes through the conveyance roller pair 34 and reaches the paper detection sensor 91 (step S102). Here, when the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor 91, a detection signal indicating that the leading edge of the sheet has been detected is transmitted from the sheet detection sensor 91 to the control device 20.

  In this way, when the leading edge of the paper reaches the paper detection sensor 91, the conveyance of the paper is stopped and a standby state is entered (step S103). At this time, if the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a are arranged at the print positions, the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a are moved to the retracted positions (step S104).

  Thereafter, when an order is received from the operator and the print type and the number of prints of color images included in one order are input (step S105), the print information is stored as preparation for starting the conveyance of the paper. Based on the information stored in the unit 22, the necessary winding amount corresponding to the one order is calculated by the necessary winding amount calculation unit 23 (step S106). Then, the required winding amount is compared with the maximum winding amount stored in the maximum winding amount storage unit 21 by the comparison unit 25 (step S107). Based on the comparison result, the actual winding amount is determined by the winding amount determination unit 26 (step S108). In this way, after completion of the sheet conveyance preparation, the sheet is conveyed only by the conveyance force applied from the conveyance roller pair 34 (step S109). At this time, both the rotation shaft 43 and the paper feed roller pair 31 of the paper supply unit 40 are rotatable.

  Thereafter, in a state in which the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a are disposed at the retracted positions, the leading end of the sheet passes through the overcoat unit 60 and the print unit 70 without performing overcoat and image printing, and the feed roller The conveyance is continued only by the conveyance force applied from the conveyance roller pair 34 until the pair 35 is reached (step S110). When the leading edge of the sheet reaches the nipping roller pair 35 and is nipped, the sheet is thereafter conveyed only by the conveying force applied from the feeding roller pair 35 and is wound from the leading edge of the sheet. Are sequentially fed into the storage case 81 of the unit 80 (step S111). At this time, as the paper is fed into the storage case 81, the leading edge of the paper is guided to the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 81 and the take-up rollers 83 a to 83 d, and the paper is wound around the curl in the storage case 81. Therefore, it is wound up. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the feed roller pair 35, the transport roller pair 34 is accompanied by the paper transported by the feed roller pair 35 from the state in which the transport force is applied to the paper by the function of the one-way clutch 34c. It is switched to the state of driven rotation.

  Thereafter, when the sheet having the length of the winding amount determined by the winding amount determination unit 26 is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing position by the head unit 73, the winding of the sheet is finished, The conveyance of the sheet from the sheet supply unit 40 toward the sheet winding unit 80 is stopped (step S112). That is, the conveyance amount detection unit 27 detects the conveyance amount of the paper detected based on the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34 detected by the encoder 36 after the leading edge of the paper is detected by the paper detection sensor 91. When the winding amount determined by the amount determination unit 26 and the length of the conveyance path in the overcoat unit 60 and the printing unit 70 are added, the conveyance control unit 28a finishes winding the sheet. Then, the conveyance of the sheet to the downstream side in the conveyance direction is stopped. At this time, the rear end portion of the image printed on the most upstream side in the transport direction of the sheet having the winding amount is disposed at the printing position by the head unit 73.

  Then, the thermal head 61a of the overcoat unit 60 and the thermal heads 71a to 73a of the printing unit 70 are simultaneously moved from the retracted position to the printing position (step S113). Thereafter, the sheet is fed backward toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the transport force applied from the pair of paper feed rollers 31 and the pair of transport rollers 34 (step S114). Accordingly, at this time, the pair of paper feed rollers 31 and the pair of transport rollers 34 that have been driven to rotate are rotationally driven in the direction of transporting paper toward the upstream side in the transport direction, and the pair of feed rollers 35 The function of the clutch 35c causes the driven rotation. Further, the rotation shaft 43 of the paper supply unit 40 is rotationally driven in a direction to rewind the paper into the magazine case 41.

  Then, while the paper is being fed back toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction, for each color image included in one order, printing corresponding to yellow by the head unit 73, printing corresponding to magenta by the head unit 72, and printing by the head unit 71 Overcoating is sequentially started on the print corresponding to cyan and the surface of the paper on which the color image is printed by the head unit 61 (step S115). In this way, each color image is printed in the order of yellow, magenta, and cyan, thereby completing the color image and performing overcoat.

  In the present embodiment, when the necessary winding amount is shorter than the maximum winding amount, reverse feeding to the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is started, and simultaneously printing of a color image is started. All of the color images included in the order are printed intermittently so that a margin of a predetermined width is formed between the images. On the other hand, when the necessary winding amount is longer than the maximum winding amount, the reverse feeding to the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is started, and at the same time, the printing of the color image is started, and the color image included in one order. Are intermittently printed so that a margin of a predetermined width is formed between the images. That is, as described above, a color image is printed on the paper so that the image areas and the margins are alternately arranged. However, no image is printed in an area corresponding to the additional length for heat radiation near the leading edge of the paper. And in the printing part 70, when there exists an image area | region at the same timing in the position facing at least 2 of the three head parts 71-73, printing is simultaneously performed by those head parts. In addition, the overcoat in the overcoat unit 60 is performed in parallel with the printing of the color image in the print unit 70. In this way, in the printing unit 70 and the overcoat unit 60, a plurality of printable sheets can be printed on the paper having the winding amount determined by the winding amount determination unit 26 or the paper having the maximum winding amount. The color image is printed and overcoated.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7A, it is determined whether or not the printer 1 is turned off during the printing of the image in the printing unit 70 and the overcoating in the overcoat unit 60. (Step S116). In FIG. 7A, printing corresponding to yellow is performed to the middle of the image 104 by the thermal head 73a of the head unit 73, and printing corresponding to magenta is performed to the middle of the image 103 by the thermal head 72a of the head unit 72. FIG. 9 shows a state where printing corresponding to cyan is performed halfway through the image 102 by the thermal head 71a of the head portion 71. FIG. At this time, overcoating is performed to the middle of the image 101 by the thermal head 61 a of the head portion 61.

  Here, if it is determined that the printer 1 is turned off, then it is repeatedly determined whether the printer 1 is turned on (step S117). When the printer 1 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 7B, the thermal head 61a of the overcoat unit 60 and the thermal heads 71a to 73a of the printing unit 70 are simultaneously moved from the printing position to the retracted position. (Step S118). In this state, as shown in FIG. 7C, the sheet is fed back by a predetermined distance (distance A in FIG. 7C) upstream in the transport direction (step S119).

  And it returns to step S113 and the process similar to the above-mentioned is performed. That is, when the sheet is reversely fed to the upstream side in the transport direction by a predetermined distance and the portion of the sheet on which image printing can be resumed reaches the printing position of the head unit 73 as shown in FIG. Only the thermal head 73a is moved from the retracted position to the print position. Then, as shown in FIG. 7E, printing corresponding to yellow of the image 105 is resumed by the head unit 73.

  That is, when the power of the printer 1 is turned off, the portion of the paper on which the images 101 to 104 on which the printing of the image in the printing unit 70 and the overcoat in the overcoat unit 60 are not completed is discarded. Therefore, these images 101 to 104 need to be printed again after the power is restored. For this reason, the image 105 printed first after the power is restored is an image based on the same image data as the image 101.

  Thereafter, when the portion of the paper on which printing of the image 105 has been resumed reaches the print position of the thermal head 72a of the head portion 72, the thermal head 72a of the head portion 72 is moved from the retracted position to the print position. Printing corresponding to magenta of the image 105 is performed by the thermal head 72a. Thereafter, when the portion of the paper on which the printing of the image 105 has been resumed reaches the printing position of the head unit 71, the thermal head 71a of the head unit 71 is moved from the retracted position to the printing position, and by the thermal head 71a of the head unit 71. When printing corresponding to cyan of the image 105 is performed and the portion of the paper on which printing of the image 105 has been resumed reaches the printing position of the head unit 60, the thermal head 60a of the head unit 60 moves from the retracted position to the printing position. Then, overcoating is performed by the thermal head 60 a of the head unit 60. Note that printing of an image arranged downstream in the transport direction from the image 105 is also sequentially performed while the image 105 is printed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S116 that the printer 1 is not turned off, the printing of the image in the printing unit 70 and the overcoat in the overcoat unit 60 are continuously performed without interruption.

  The rear end portion of the color image printed on the most upstream side in the transport direction (which coincides with the rear end portion of the paper having the winding amount determined by the winding amount determination unit 26) is the cutting unit. When the cutting position by 50 is reached, the backward feeding of the paper is stopped, and the paper is cut at the rear end of the color image (step S120). Note that the timing at which the trailing edge of the color image reaches the cutting position by the cutting unit 50 is detected based on the carry amount detected by the carry amount detection unit 27. After the paper is cut in this way, the paper on which the image upstream of the most upstream color image in the transport direction is not formed (the paper of the length of the winding amount determined by the winding amount determination unit 26). The sheet on the upstream side in the transport direction from the rear end portion is rewound to the sheet supply unit 40.

  Subsequently, when the sheet is reversely fed only by the conveyance force applied from the conveyance roller pair 34 and the rear end portion of the image on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction reaches the detection position by the image detection sensor 90, the image detection sensor 90 controls the control device. A detection signal indicating that the rear end of the image has been detected is transmitted to 20 (step S121). Then, after the trailing edge of the image is detected by the image detection sensor 90, the carry amount detection unit 27 detects the amount of the paper to the upstream side in the carry direction based on the number of rotations of the carry roller pair 34 detected by the encoder 36. Detect the transport amount. Based on the transport amount, the cutting control unit 28c detects that the leading end of the color image has reached the cutting position by the cutting unit 50. At this time, the reverse feeding of the paper is stopped and the paper is cut at the leading end of the color image (step S122). In this way, the paper from which the leading edge and trailing edge of the color image are cut is stored in the print box 96.

  Here, when the power of the printer 1 is turned off during the printing of the image in the printing unit 70 and the overcoat in the overcoat unit 60, the image being printed or being overcoated is printed. The paper is cut at the leading edge and the trailing edge of the image during printing or overcoating.

  Each time the paper is cut at the leading edge of the color image, it is determined whether the color image printed on the cut paper is the final image printed closest to the leading edge of the paper. (Step S123). Here, if it is determined that the image is not the final image, the paper is reversely fed again. Then, the conveyance amount detection unit 27 cuts the sheet at the leading end of the color image, and then, based on the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34 detected by the encoder 36, the conveyance amount upstream of the conveyance direction is detected. Detect the transport amount. In the cutting control unit 28c, based on the transport amount, the rear end portion of the color image adjacent to the color image whose front end portion is cut in step S120 on the downstream side in the transport direction reaches the cutting position by the cutting unit 50. Detecting that At this time, the reverse feeding of the paper is stopped, and the paper is cut at the trailing edge of the color image (step S124). Then, it returns to step S121 and the process similar to the above is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the image is the final image, it is determined whether or not printing of all color images included in one order has been completed (step S125). If it is determined that printing of all the color images included in one order has not been completed, the process returns to step S106 and the same processing as described above is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that all the printing of the color images included in one order has been completed, the process ends.

  The case where it is determined in step S123 that printing of all color images included in one order has not been completed is, for example, necessary for performing printing of all color images included in one order. A portion that must be discarded by turning off the power while the image is being printed, even though the paper of the winding amount is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing unit 70 If there is an image that cannot be printed because of the occurrence of the occurrence, or the comparison unit 25 determines that the required winding amount is longer than the maximum winding amount, the winding amount determination unit 26 determines the maximum winding amount. This is the case when it is determined as a typical winding amount, or in both cases. In other words, in these cases, the remaining color image that could not be printed in the color images included in one order is taken up again by the paper take-up unit 80 and then the conveyance direction. This is done while pulling back upstream. In this way, the same processing as described above is repeated until all the printing of the color images included in one order is completed.

  As described above, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, after the paper is transported in the direction from the paper supply unit 40 to the paper winding unit 80, the upstream side in the transport direction from the overcoat unit 60 and the printing unit 70. A plurality of color images can be printed on a sheet that is fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the transport force of the disposed transport roller pair 34. For this reason, it is possible to print a color image in an area from the front end of the paper portion that is reversely fed after conveyance, and it is possible to suppress deterioration of the image due to load fluctuations during conveyance of the paper. Further, even when printing a plurality of color images on paper, it is only necessary to reciprocate the paper once, and it is only necessary to switch the paper transport direction in the transport mechanism 38 once. Loss can be reduced. As a result, when printing a plurality of color images on paper, the processing capability of the printer 1 can be improved while preventing image deterioration due to paper waste and load fluctuations during paper transport.

  In addition, when printing is interrupted by turning off the power while the printing unit 70 is printing a plurality of images on the paper, the paper is moved in the second direction when the power is restored. The printing of the image is resumed while being conveyed. The paper on which the image is printed is cut at the leading edge and the trailing edge of the image and then discharged into the print box. Therefore, the paper discharged into the print box can be easily taken out. In addition, after the power is restored, the paper that has been conveyed to the downstream side of the printing unit 70 is not discharged as it is long. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem such as a paper jam by being caught when the paper is discharged after the power is restored. Thus, after the power is restored, the paper can be cut and discharged after printing the image, rather than being cut and discharged without printing the image. Instead of discarding all of the paper conveyed to the side, a part of the paper can be used effectively. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the paper from being wasted.

  In addition, after the power is restored, the printing of the image is resumed after the paper is fed back to the upstream side in the transport direction by a predetermined distance. Therefore, the image can be printed on the sheet after the power is restored so that it does not overlap with the image printed halfway when the power is interrupted. In addition, with all of the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a being disposed at the retracted position, the sheet is fed back to the upstream side in the transport direction by a predetermined distance, and each of the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a prints an image. Since it is arranged at the print position immediately before starting, the paper is caught by the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a and is not properly conveyed (jamming occurs), or the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a are in contact with each other. This can suppress the meandering of the paper. Further, it is possible to prevent the ribbon from being wasted by preventing the color image from being printed and feeding the paper back to the upstream side in the transport direction.

  In addition, when a sheet having a necessary winding amount necessary for printing all of a plurality of color images included in one order can be transported downstream in the transport direction from the printing unit 70, the necessary winding is performed. A paper sheet having a length of the amount to be picked can be transported downstream in the transport direction from the print position by the head unit 73. Accordingly, it is possible to continuously print all of a plurality of color images included in one order on a sheet that is reversely fed toward the upstream side in the transport direction.

  In addition, when a sheet having a necessary winding amount required for printing all of a plurality of color images included in one order cannot be transported downstream of the printing unit 70 in the transport direction, 1 Regardless of the number of color images included in the order, the sheet having the maximum winding amount can be transported downstream in the transport direction from the print position by the head unit 73. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to continuously record as many color images as possible from among a plurality of color images included in one order on a sheet that is reversely fed toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction. it can.

  In addition, after the power is restored, all the sheets conveyed downstream in the conveying direction from the printing unit 70 are reversely fed upstream in the conveying direction, and after the printing of the image is completed, the number of unprinted images is printed. After the replenishment winding amount necessary for the paper is transported downstream from the printing unit 70 in the transport direction, and again transported from the paper supply unit 40 to the paper winding unit 80, the paper is reversely fed upstream in the transport direction. While the remaining image is printed. Therefore, it is possible to print all of a plurality of images included in one order.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made as long as they are described in the claims. . For example, in the above-described embodiment, the color image is printed on the paper that is reversely fed toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the transport force of the transport roller pair 34 disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the overcoat unit 60 and the print unit 70. Is printed, but is not limited to this. Therefore, a color image may be printed on a sheet that is fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the transport force of the transport roller pair disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction from the overcoat unit 60 and the print unit 70.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the power is turned off while a plurality of images are being printed, the image printing is resumed after the power is restored, but the image is printed after the power is restored. Instead, it may be discharged while being cut to a specified length (length that can be stored in the print box). In this case, the number of cuts of the paper discharged into the print box after the power is restored can be reduced by bringing the specified length of the cut paper close to the maximum length that can be stored in the print box. For example, the specified length can be set to 102 mm for a sheet having a width of 6 inches, and the specified length can be set to 89 mm for a sheet having a width of 5 inches. In this case, since the discharged paper is sheet paper on which no image is printed, if there is a sheet paper printer, the discharged paper may be reused without being discarded depending on conditions. It is also possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image data is stored in the image data storage unit 29 in the control device 20, and when the image printing is resumed, the image data is retransmitted to the printing unit 30. However, when the printing unit 30 is provided with a non-volatile memory (for example, SRAM with backup) and image printing is resumed, image data is transferred from the image data storage unit 29 in the control device 20 to the printing unit 30. The image data may be read from the memory without being retransmitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the power button 20b of the control device 20 also switches the power source of the printer 1 (the power source of the printing unit 30). However, the power source of the control device 20 and the power source of the printing unit 30 are different. It may be switched. When image printing is resumed after the power is restored, it is necessary to store image data and the like while the power is turned off. In the present embodiment, the image data stored in the image data storage unit 29 of the control device 20 stores the image data even while the power is turned off, but the control device 20 can be printed without being turned off. Even when only the power of the unit 30 is turned off or when the control device 20 is provided with a standby power supply, the image data is not erased, so that the printing of the image can be resumed after the power is restored.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the paper is conveyed by a predetermined distance after the power is restored, all of the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a are disposed at the retracted position. The sheet may be conveyed by a predetermined distance in a state where all are arranged at the print position. Further, although each of the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a is disposed at the print position immediately before the image printing is started, all of the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a may be simultaneously disposed at the print position.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 1 includes the overcoat unit 60 that performs overcoating on the surface of the paper on which an image is printed. However, the overcoat unit 60 may be omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the thermal sublimation printer 1, a color image is printed by the three head portions 71 to 73 that are in contact with the paper, which is a paper. For example, the configuration of the image recording unit is not limited to this. Therefore, it may be a thermal printer (including a thermal transfer system and a thermal recording system) having a head that contacts the paper, and includes, for example, an inkjet head, a FOCRT (Fiber Optic Cathode-Ray-Tube), a laser light source, etc. The printer may be capable of recording a color image without contacting the paper. Further, the image recording unit does not necessarily have a plurality of image recording heads, and may have only one image recording head capable of recording a color image. Accordingly, for example, it has three inkjet heads each having nozzles capable of ejecting yellow, magenta, and cyan inks, and these heads reciprocate in a direction crossing the paper transport direction to record a color image. A printer or a single inkjet head having nozzles capable of ejecting yellow, magenta, and cyan inks, and the head reciprocates in a direction crossing the paper transport direction to produce a color image. It may be a printer that records.

1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming unit of the printer of FIG. 1. It is a figure showing a motion of the conveyance roller pair of the printer of FIG. 1, and a sending roller pair. It is a block diagram about the principal part of the printer of FIG. 1, and the control apparatus to which these were connected. It is a figure which shows a mode when the several color image contained in 1 order is printed in the front-end | tip part vicinity of a paper. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the printer 1. It is a figure explaining a mode that the printing of the image in a printing part, and the overcoat in an overcoat part are performed.

Explanation of symbols

1 Thermal printer (printer)
10 Operation Unit 20 Control Device 20b Power Button (Power Supply Unit)
21 Maximum winding amount storage unit (storage means)
22 Print information storage unit 23 Required winding amount calculation unit (necessary length calculation means)
24 Comparison part (comparison means)
25 Replenishment take-up amount determination unit (replenishment length calculation means)
26 Winding amount determination unit (determination means)
27 Conveyance amount detection unit 28a Conveyance control unit (conveyance control means)
28b Print control unit (image recording control means)
28c Cutting control part (cutting control means)
30 Printing section 38 Conveying mechanism 40 Paper supply section (supply section)
50 Cutting part (cutting mechanism)
60 Overcoat part 61a Thermal head 70 Printing part (image recording part)
71a to 73a Thermal head (image recording head)
80 Paper take-up section

Claims (10)

An image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording medium;
A supply unit storing a long recording medium;
A transport mechanism capable of transporting a recording medium in a first direction from the supply unit toward the image recording unit and a second direction opposite to the first direction while facing the image recording unit;
A cutting mechanism that is disposed between the supply unit and the image recording unit and capable of cutting a recording medium conveyed by the conveyance mechanism;
The transport mechanism so that the recording medium is transported in the second direction after being transported in the first direction until the leading end of the recording medium reaches a position away from the image recording unit in the first direction. Transport control means for controlling
Image recording control means for controlling the image recording unit so that a plurality of images are recorded by the image recording unit on a recording medium conveyed in the second direction by the conveyance mechanism;
A cutting control means for controlling the cutting mechanism such that the recording medium conveyed in the second direction by the conveying mechanism is cut;
A power supply unit that switches to one of a first state in which power is supplied and a second state in which no power is supplied;
After the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state while a plurality of images are being recorded by the image recording unit on the recording medium transported in the second direction, , When switched to the first state,
The transport control unit controls the transport mechanism so that the recording medium is transported in the second direction; and
The cutting control means controls the cutting mechanism so that the recording medium conveyed in the second direction by the conveying means is cut into a plurality of recording media having a length equal to or shorter than a reference length. And printer. It further comprises a print box for storing the recording medium cut by the cutting mechanism,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the reference length is a maximum length that can be stored in the print box. The image recording control means includes
After the plurality of images are recorded by the image recording unit on the recording medium transported in the second direction, the power source unit is switched from the first state to the second state, and then again. , When switched to the first state,
Recording in which at least some of the plurality of images for which image recording has not been completed when the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state are transported in the second direction by the transport mechanism The printer according to claim 1, wherein the image recording unit is controlled so as to be recorded on a medium.   The printer according to claim 3, wherein the cutting control unit controls the cutting mechanism so that the recording medium conveyed in the second direction is cut at an end portion of the image.   The image recording control unit is configured to display an image when the power source unit is switched from the first state to the second state after the recording medium is transported in the second direction by the transport unit. 5. The printer according to claim 3, wherein recording of an image that has not been recorded is started. The image recording unit has a plurality of image recording heads arranged in series along a conveyance path by the conveyance mechanism,
The plurality of image recording heads selectively take an image recording position where an image can be recorded while being in contact with the recording medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism and a retracted position where the image recording head is not in contact with the recording medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism. To get
6. The printer according to claim 5, wherein all of the plurality of image recording heads are disposed at the retracted position when the recording medium is conveyed in the second direction by a predetermined distance.   The printer according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of image forming heads are arranged at the image recording positions immediately before image recording is started in each image recording head. Storage means for storing the maximum length of a recording medium that can be conveyed downstream from the image recording unit;
A required length calculating means for calculating a required length of a recording medium that needs to be conveyed downstream from the image recording unit in order to record all of a plurality of images included in one order;
Comparison means for comparing the maximum length stored in the storage means with the required length calculated by the required length calculation means;
Determining means for determining a conveyance length of the recording medium conveyed downstream from the image recording unit before the conveyance direction of the recording medium is changed from the first direction to the second direction; Has
The determining means determines the transport length to the required length when the comparison means obtains a comparison result that the required length is equal to or less than the maximum length. The printer according to any one of 1 to 7.   9. The determination unit according to claim 8, wherein when the comparison unit obtains a comparison result that the required length is longer than the maximum length, the conveyance length is determined to be the maximum length. Printer. A replenishment length for calculating a replenishment length of a recording medium that needs to be conveyed downstream from the image recording unit in order to record an image that has not been recorded yet among a plurality of images included in one order. Further comprising a calculation means,
The determining means includes
After the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state, the power supply unit is switched from the first state to the second state when the power supply unit is switched to the first state again. In this case, after at least a part of the plurality of images for which image recording has not been completed is recorded on the recording medium transported in the second direction by the transport unit, the transport length is set to the replenishment length. The printer according to claim 8, wherein the printer is determined as follows.

Images