JP2006289887A - Method of loading recording paper of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of loading a recording paper of printer by which a tape-shaped recording paper with black mark can be loaded without generating a futile recording paper. <P>SOLUTION: A rolled sheet 10 is loaded in a rolled sheet loading section 6 of a rolled-sheet printer 1. If the recording paper 10a is pulled out from the section 6 and inserted toward a nip part 19 of a paper-feed roller 17, the recording paper 10a is detected by photosensors 21, 22, then the operation of feeding the paper by the paper-feed roller 17 starts. The recording paper 10a is conveyed only by the 1st feeding rate L1 equal to the distance from the nip part 19 to a cutting position 24 of a manual cutter 23, and the recording-paper tip edge 10d is positioned in the cutting position 24. If the black mark 10c is detected by the photosensors 21, 22 before the feed rate reaches the 1st feeding rate L1, a normal feed-controlling based on the black mark is performed, then the recording-paper tip edge 10d is positioned in the cutting position 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording paper loading method in a receipt printer that can print on a tape-like recording paper on which black marks are printed at regular intervals along the length direction and issue it as a receipt of a certain length. Is.

  In a receipt printer or the like, when using a roll paper having a configuration in which a tape-like recording paper on which a black mark is printed is rolled up as a recording paper, the recording paper is transported and printed based on the black mark. Is controlled so that receipts of a certain length can be issued one by one.

  In such a printer, in general, a tape-like recording paper fed out from a roll paper is transported along a path leading to a cutting position by a cutter via a paper feed roller and a printing position, and the front side of the paper feeding roller. In this position, the black mark printed on the recording paper is detected. When the black mark is detected, the recording paper is sent out from that time by a predetermined feed amount, thereby forming a state where the leading edge of the recording paper is positioned at the cutting position by the cutter. From this state, when the recording paper is fed out by the length of one receipt (interval of black marks), the next cutting position of the recording paper is positioned at the cutting position by the cutter. When the recording paper is cut in this state, one receipt is obtained.

  When the roll paper is loaded, it is necessary to draw the recording paper fed from the roll paper loaded in the roll paper loading unit of the printer along the conveyance path so that the leading end is positioned at the cutting position by the cutter. The loading is also required when the used roll paper that has been used halfway is taken out from the roll paper loading section and then loaded and used again.

  Here, when loading roll paper with a black mark, after the recording paper is manually inserted into the nip portion of the paper feed roller, the paper feed roller is driven to start the recording paper feed operation, and the black mark is detected. Then, if the recording paper is fed out by a predetermined feeding amount, a loading state in which the leading edge of the recording paper is positioned at the cutting position by the cutter can be formed.

  However, if the interval between the black marks is longer than the distance from the black mark detection position to the cutting position by the cutter, the leading edge of the recording paper passes the cutting position by the cutter before the black mark is detected. End up. In this case, in order to position the leading edge of the recording paper at the cutting position by the cutter, the recording paper is further fed until the next black mark is detected, and the next cutting position of the recording paper is positioned at the cutting position by the cutter. It is necessary to cut off and discard the recording paper part for the first sheet. In this method, the recording paper is always wasted when the roll paper is loaded or reloaded.

  In order to avoid waste of the recording paper, the paper feeding roller is rotated in the reverse direction, the recording paper is fed back, and the leading edge thereof is positioned at the cutting position by the cutter. However, when the recording paper is reversely fed, the recording paper becomes loose on the conveyance path from the roll paper loading unit to the paper feed roller, and there is a possibility that the recording paper may be jammed on the conveyance path.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording paper loading method for a printer capable of loading a tape-shaped recording paper with a black mark without causing waste of the recording paper and paper jam. Is to propose.

In order to solve the above problems, a recording paper loading method for a printer of the present invention includes:
Detecting the passage of the tip of a tape-like recording paper inserted into the nip portion of the paper feed roller at a position before the paper feed roller;
When it is detected that the leading edge of the recording paper has passed, the recording paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller is started,
Detecting the passage of a black mark printed on the recording paper at a position before the paper feed roller;
The first feed amount (L) corresponding to the distance from the nip portion of the paper feed roller to the recording paper cutting position is detected without the passage of the black mark being detected. L1), the recording paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller is terminated,
When the passage of the black mark is detected before the feed amount (L) reaches the first feed amount (L1), the recording paper is fed by a predetermined reference feed amount (L0) from the detection time. Thereafter, the recording paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller is terminated.

  If the interval between the black marks on the recording paper is longer than the printer black mark detection position from the printer black mark detection position, the black mark passage is not detected when the recording paper is loaded. Therefore, the leading edge of the recording paper cannot be positioned at the recording paper cutting position by controlling the feeding amount of the recording paper. However, in the method of the present invention, when the first feed amount (L1) corresponding to the distance from the nip portion of the paper feed roller to the recording paper cutting position is set in advance and a black mark is not detected, An operation of feeding the recording sheet by the first feed amount (L1) is performed. Therefore, even when the black mark cannot be detected, a state where the leading edge of the recording paper is positioned at the recording paper cutting position is formed. Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, the recording paper is not wasted when the recording paper is loaded, and it is not necessary to reversely feed the recording paper, so that the paper jam does not occur.

  Here, the method of the present invention is characterized in that a predetermined delay time is provided between the time point when the passage of the recording paper is detected and the time point when the recording paper feed operation is started by the paper feed roller. Since the position to detect the recording paper is far from the nip portion of the paper feed roller, when inserting the recording paper by manual feed, it is from when the recording paper is detected until it is actually inserted into the nip portion of the paper feed roller. A delay of about 0.1 to 1 second occurs. By driving the paper feed roller in consideration of this delay, it is possible to avoid the idle feed state of the paper feed roller and accurately feed the recording paper.

  In the method of the present invention, in the feeding operation for feeding the recording paper by the first feed amount (L1), the rotation amount of the paper feed roller is made larger than the rotation amount corresponding to the first feed amount. It is characterized by being set to. Even if the recording paper is inserted into the nip portion of the paper feed roller, the recording paper is not immediately inserted into the paper feed roller, but a slight delay occurs until the recording paper is added. Considering this delay, by increasing the rotation amount of the paper feed roller, it is possible to feed the recording paper accurately by the first feed amount (L1).

  Next, in the method of the present invention, the reflection type first and the detection of the passage of the leading edge of the recording paper and the detection of the passage of the black mark are arranged at a constant interval at the same position in the recording paper conveyance direction. It is characterized by using a second photosensor.

  That is, the detection area of the first photo sensor is arranged at the passing position of the black mark, the detection area of the second photo sensor is arranged at a position away from the passing position of the black mark, and the received light amounts of both the photo sensors are predetermined values. In the following cases, it is determined that there is no recording paper. When at least one of the light reception amounts of both photosensors exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that there is recording paper, and the light reception amount of the first photosensor is a predetermined value. In the following, and when the amount of light received by the second photosensor exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the black mark has been detected.

  In this way, the presence or absence of recording paper and the detection of black marks can be easily detected based on the outputs of the two sensors.

Next, the printer of the present invention is
A tape-shaped recording paper loading section wound in a roll;
A paper feed roller for transporting the recording paper fed out from the loading unit;
A print head for printing on the recording paper;
A cutter for cutting the recording paper in the width direction;
A detection unit for detecting black marks printed on the recording paper at regular intervals along the length direction of the recording paper;
A cutting position of the detection unit, the paper feed roller, the print head, and the cutter is arranged in this order along the conveyance direction of the recording paper,
When the leading edge of the recording paper loaded in the loading section is inserted into the nip portion of the paper feeding roller, the loading for positioning the leading edge of the recording paper at the cutting position of the cutter by the loading method described above. It is characterized by performing operations.

  According to the recording paper loading method of the printer of the present invention, even when no black mark is detected when the recording paper is loaded, a loading state in which the leading edge of the recording paper is positioned at the recording paper cutting position by the cutter can be formed. . Therefore, it is not necessary to position the leading edge of the recording paper at the cutting position by the cutter by feeding the recording paper until the next cutting position of the recording paper reaches the cutting position by the cutter and cutting the leading portion. Moreover, it is not necessary to reversely feed the fed recording paper and position its leading edge at the cutting position by the cutter. Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, it is possible to load without causing waste of recording paper and paper jam.

  Embodiments of a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the roll paper printer with a lid opened. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion cut along line III-III in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the control system.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the roll paper printer 1 of the present example includes a vertically long rectangular printer case 2 as a whole. The printer case 2 includes a rectangular frame-shaped case body 3, an opening / closing lid. 4 (case lid). The opening / closing lid 4 is attached to the case body 3 so that the rear end of the opening / closing lid 4 can pivot about a pivot axis extending in the printer width direction, from the closed position 4A shown in FIG. 1 to the fully opened position 4B shown in FIG. It is possible to turn between.

  Inside the printer case 2, a printer mechanism unit 5 is mounted in the front half thereof, and a roll paper loading unit 6 is formed in the rear half thereof. When the opening / closing lid 4 is opened, the roll paper loading unit 6 is exposed, and the roll paper 10 can be loaded from above.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the roll paper 10 of this example has a configuration in which a tape-like recording paper 10a is wound in a roll shape, and the printing surface 10b of the recording paper 10a has an edge portion on one side. The rectangular black marks 10c are printed at regular intervals along the length direction. Based on the black mark 10c, the conveying operation and the printing operation of the recording paper 10a are controlled. Further, as will be described later, the recording paper loading operation executed when the roll paper 10 is loaded in the roll paper loading unit 6 is controlled based on the black mark 10c.

  In the printer mechanism section 5, a recording paper conveyance path 7 is formed as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. A recording paper discharge port in which a tape-like recording paper 10 a fed out from the roll paper 10 loaded in the roll paper loading section 6 is formed in the opening / closing lid 4 through the printing position 8 via the recording paper conveyance path 7. 9 and is discharged upward from here.

  The print position 8 is defined by the surface portion of the platen 11, where the head surface of the print head 12 faces the front surface of the printer with a certain gap. The print head 12 in this example is a dot impact head. The print head 12 is mounted on a head carriage 13, and the head carriage 13 can reciprocate along a guide shaft 14 spanned in the printer width direction. A ribbon cassette mounting portion 15 is formed on the front side of the head carriage 13. When the opening / closing lid 4 is opened, the ribbon cassette mounting portion 15 is exposed, and the ink ribbon cassette 16 can be mounted in a detachable state from above.

  A paper feed roller 17 and a paper pressing roller 18 pressed against the paper feed roller 17 are disposed at a position upstream of the print position 8 in the recording paper feed path 7 in the transport direction. Reflective first and second photosensors 21 and 22 are arranged at a position upstream of the nip portion 19 of these rollers 17 and 18 in the transport direction. These photosensors 21 and 22 detect the presence or absence of recording paper and detect black marks.

  On the other hand, the photo sensor 21 uses the edge portion of the printing surface 10b of the recording paper 10a on the side where the black mark 10c is printed as a detection region. The other photosensor 22 uses the other edge portion of the print surface 10b of the recording paper 10a as a detection area. The detection areas of these photosensors 21 and 22 are at the same position in the recording paper conveyance direction. In the absence of the recording paper 10a, the amount of light received by both the photosensors 21 and 22 is equal to or less than the threshold value. In a state where the recording paper 10a is present, the light reception amount of both the photosensors 21 and 22 may exceed the threshold value, or only the light reception amount of the photosensor 22 may exceed the threshold value. In the latter case, the black mark 10 c is located in the detection area of the photosensor 21. Therefore, in a state where the light reception amount of the photo sensor 22 exceeds the threshold value, it can be determined that the black mark passes when the light reception amount of the photo sensor 21 is equal to or less than the threshold value.

  Next, a manual cutter 23 is attached at a position near the recording paper discharge port 9 in the recording paper conveyance path 7. The leading end portion of the recording paper discharged from the recording paper discharge port 9 can be cut along a cutting edge (cutting position) 24 extending in the printer width direction of the manual cutter 23.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control system of the roll paper printer 1 of the present example is a general control system, and includes a drive control device 30 configured mainly by a computer. Thus, the drive of the print head 12 is controlled. Further, the paper feed motor 33 is driven via the motor driver 32, and the paper feed operation by the paper feed roller 17 is performed. When the print command and print data are supplied from the device 34, the drive control device 30 drives the print head 12 in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper 10a, and is defined by the black mark 10c on the print surface 10b. Print on the area of one receipt. After the end of printing, the rear end position of one receipt, that is, the cutting position is positioned at the cutting position 24 of the manual cutter 23. The operator can hold the leading end portion of the recording paper 10a, cut the leading end portion of the recording paper 10a along the cutting position 24 of the manual cutter 23, and issue it to the customer as a single receipt.

  Here, when the roll paper 10 is loaded into the roll paper loading unit 6, the recording paper 10 a is pulled out along the recording paper conveyance path 7 and the leading edge 10 d is positioned at the cutting position 24 of the manual cutter 23. Operation is performed. The same operation is performed when loading the roll paper that is used. In the printer 1 of this example, recording paper is loaded as described below based on the detection results of the pair of photosensors 21 and 22.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing the recording paper loading operation of the roll paper printer 1. The recording paper loading operation will be described with reference to this figure. The opening / closing lid 4 is opened and the roll paper 10 is loaded into the roll paper loading unit 6. Next, the operator pulls out the recording paper 10 a from the roll paper 10 and inserts the leading end portion thereof toward the nip portion 19 of the paper feed roller 17.

  When the operator inserts the leading end portion of the recording paper 10 a toward the paper feed roller 17, the pair of photosensors 21 and 22 disposed in front of the paper feed roller 17 detects the recording paper 10 a to be inserted. (Step ST1). A little time is required until the leading edge 10d of the recording paper reaches the nip portion 19 of the paper feed roller 17 after the recording paper 10a is detected. Therefore, in this example, the paper feed operation by the paper feed roller 17 is started after a predetermined delay time from the time when it is detected that the recording paper 10a is inserted (steps ST2 and ST3). The delay time may be about 0.1 to 1 second, for example.

  After the conveyance of the recording paper 10a by the paper feed roller 17 is started, the time point when the black mark 10c passes through the position is detected based on the outputs of the pair of photosensors 21 and 22 (step ST4).

  Here, the distance from the nip portion 19 of the paper feed roller 17 to the cutting position 24 of the manual cutter 23 is known, and the first feed amount L1 corresponding to the distance is set in the drive control device 30 in advance. If the black mark 10c is not detected before the feed amount L of the recording paper 10a reaches the first feed amount L1, the paper feed roller 17 is stopped when the feed amount L reaches the first feed amount L1. Then, the paper feeding operation is finished (steps ST4, 5, 6). As a result, a state in which the leading edge 10d of the recording paper 10a is positioned at the cutting position 24 of the manual cutter 23 is formed.

  On the other hand, when the black mark 10c is detected before the feed amount L of the recording paper 10a reaches the first feed amount L1, normal feed control based on the black mark is executed. That is, after the black mark 10c is detected, the recording paper 10a is fed by a preset reference feed amount L0, and then the feeding operation of the recording paper 10a is ended (steps ST4, ST7, ST6). As a result, a state in which the leading edge 10d of the recording paper 10a is positioned at the cutting position 24 of the manual cutter 23 is formed.

  Here, the rotation amount of the paper feed roller 17 for feeding the recording paper 10a by the first feed amount L1 is set to be slightly larger than the feed amount corresponding to the distance from the nip portion 10 to the cutting position 24. That is, even when the leading edge 10d of the recording paper 10a is inserted into the nip portion 19 of the paper feed roller 17, the leading edge 10d of the recording paper 10a is actually inserted into the nip portion 19 and conveyance is started. There will be a slight delay until Considering this delay (the idle state of the paper feed roller), the rotation amount of the paper feed roller 17 is set. As a result, the recording paper leading edge 10d can be accurately positioned at the cutting position 24. For example, the rotation amount of the paper feed roller 17 may be set to a rotation amount that is a feed amount that is about 0.5 mm to 3 mm larger than the first feed amount L1.

  As described above, in the roll paper printer 1 of this example, when the roll paper 10 is loaded, the recording paper leading edge 10d is positioned at the cutting position 24 of the manual cutter 23 regardless of whether or not the black mark 10c is detected. Can do. Therefore, it is not necessary to waste one receipt, and it is not necessary to reversely feed the recording paper.

  In this example, when the black mark is detected before the recording paper 10a feed amount L reaches the first feed amount L1 during loading of the recording paper 10a, normal paper feed control based on the black mark is performed. Like to do. Instead of this, the recording paper 10a may always be sent out by the first feed amount L1 at the time of loading the recording paper regardless of whether or not the black mark is detected.

1 is an external perspective view of a roll paper printer to which the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view of a roll paper printer in a state where a lid is opened. It is a partial expanded sectional view which shows the part cut | disconnected by the III-III line of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a control system of the roll paper printer of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a recording paper loading operation of the roll paper printer of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Roll paper printer, 2 Case, 4 Opening / closing lid, 5 Printer mechanism part, 6 Roll paper loading part, 7 Recording paper conveyance path, 8 Printing position, 9 Recording paper discharge port, 10 Roll paper, 10a Recording paper, 10b Printing surface 10c Black mark, 10d Recording paper leading edge, 12 Print head, 17 Paper feed roller, 18 Paper pressing roller, 19 Nip part, 21, 22 Photo sensor, 23 Manual cutter, 24 Cutting position, 30 Drive controller, 31 Driver, 32 Motor driver, 33 Paper feed motor, 34 Host device

Claims (6)

Detecting the passage of the tip of a tape-like recording paper inserted into the nip portion of the paper feed roller at a position before the paper feed roller;
When it is detected that the leading edge of the recording paper has passed, the recording paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller is started,
Detecting the passage of a black mark printed on the recording paper at a position before the paper feed roller;
Without detecting the passage of the black mark, when the recording paper feed amount by the paper feed roller reaches the first feed amount corresponding to the distance from the nip portion of the paper feed roller to the recording paper cutting position, End the recording paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller,
If the passage of the black mark is detected before the feed amount reaches the first feed amount, the recording paper is fed by a predetermined reference feed amount from the detection point, and then the recording paper by the paper feed roller. A recording paper loading method for a printer, characterized in that the feeding operation is terminated. In claim 1,
A recording paper loading method for a printer, characterized in that a predetermined delay time is provided between a time when the passage of the recording paper is detected and a time when a recording paper feeding operation is started by the paper feeding roller. In claim 1 or 2,
In the feeding operation for feeding the recording paper by the first feed amount, the rotation amount of the paper feed roller is set to be larger than the rotation amount corresponding to the first feed amount. Recording paper loading method. In claim 1,
The detection of the passage of the leading edge of the recording paper and the detection of the passage of the black mark are performed using the reflective first and second photosensors arranged at regular intervals at the same position in the recording paper conveyance direction. A recording paper loading method for a printer. In claim 4,
The detection area of the first photo sensor is arranged at the passage position of the black mark, the detection area of the second photo sensor is arranged at a position away from the passage position of the black mark,
If the amount of light received by both photosensors is less than the predetermined value, it is determined that there is no recording paper,
When the amount of light received by at least one of the first and second photosensors exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that there is a recording sheet,
Recording paper loading of a printer, wherein the black mark is detected when the amount of light received by the first photosensor is less than a predetermined value and the amount of light received by the second photosensor exceeds a predetermined value. Method. A tape-shaped recording paper loading section wound in a roll;
A paper feed roller for transporting the recording paper fed out from the loading unit;
A print head for printing on the recording paper;
A cutter for cutting the recording paper in the width direction;
A detection unit for detecting black marks printed on the recording paper at regular intervals along the length direction of the recording paper;
A cutting position of the detection unit, the paper feed roller, the print head, and the cutter is arranged in this order along the conveyance direction of the recording paper,
When the leading edge of the recording paper mounted on the loading section is inserted into the nip portion of the paper feeding roller, the leading edge of the recording paper is moved by the loading method according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A printer that performs a loading operation for positioning the cutter at the cutting position.

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