JP2007015373A - Printer, printing control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure that a self-printing process can be executed in compliance with the specifications of a continuous web of paper by inhibiting wasteful consumption of the continuous web of paper to a maximum possible extent, in a printer capable of printing the continuous web of paper including label paper. <P>SOLUTION: This printer prints the continuous web of paper including the label paper P3/P4 with a plurality of labels arranged at an interval on a pasteboard of continuous length, and comprises a paper feed control part 38 which controls a conveyance mechanism 15, a printing control part 36 which controls the printing mechanism 13 including a printing head, a detector 21 which detects paper information on the continuous web of paper. The paper feed control part 38 comprises a printing starting position control part which decides a position for starting a printing process of self-printing data and positions the continuous web of paper to the printing head and a next line printing position control part which decides a position for starting a printing process of the self-printing data to be printed next and positions the continuous web of paper to the printing head. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a printer capable of printing on label paper, which is continuous paper, a print control method in the printer, and a computer program for executing the print control method.

A printer that stores continuous paper such as roll paper and prints on the continuous paper, for example, POS
Printers, receipt number (numbered ticket) issuing machines, and portable printers are widely used.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of various continuous sheets used in the printer. The plain paper P1 is formed by winding continuous paper without marks in a roll shape (FIG. 11A). The marked plain paper P2 is a mark (black mark) 2 having a predetermined length L3 on one side of the back side (non-printing side) of the plain paper P1.
0 is printed with a predetermined interval L4 (FIG. 11B). The die-cut label paper P3 is formed by adhering a plurality of labels 19 having a predetermined length L1 to the upper mount 18 with a predetermined interval L2 and winding them in a roll shape (FIG. 11C). In the marked die-cut label paper P4, a mark (black mark) 20 having a predetermined length L5 is present at a predetermined interval L6 between the labels on one side of the back surface (non-label sticking surface) of the mount 18 of the die-cut label paper P3. (FIG. 11D). Although illustration is omitted, there is also a continuous paper provided with detection holes or notches as marks 20 instead of printing black marks.

In addition, the printer has a status printing function for printing information on the current setting and / or status. Furthermore, a printer having any one of a test printing function for checking print quality, a demonstration printing function for sales promotion, and a dump printing function for printing information obtained by dumping the contents of the printer memory is also known. In test printing or demonstration printing, character data or image data stored in advance in a printer is generally printed. In this way, the print data transmitted from the host device is not printed immediately, but the function of printing the information that the printer has is hereinafter collectively referred to as a self-print function. Self-printing can be performed by a printer alone.

Print data to be printed in self-printing is uniquely generated by the printer firmware without considering the type of continuous paper stored in the printer. When the continuous paper is plain paper P1, there is no unprintable area in the paper transport direction, so FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, all print data (print lines 92a to 92) are generated based on the generated print data.
g) is printed. On the other hand, when the continuous paper is the die-cut label paper P3, the label portion 19 that is a printable region and the mount portion 18 that is a non-printable region exist in the paper transport direction, and therefore the position of the mount portion 18 is considered. If printing is performed without printing, a part of the print data (print line 92d) is not printed normally as shown in FIG. As described above, when the continuous paper stored in the printer has a non-printable area in the transport direction, there is a problem that self-printing is deficient in printing.

Therefore, before executing self-printing, the operator must set the continuous paper type in the printer in advance, or the printer itself needs to automatically determine the continuous paper type. For example, a printer that includes an optical sensor and can determine the type of continuous paper based on the transmitted and received light levels of reflected light and the reflected light received level of the continuous paper has been proposed (for example,
Patent Document 1).

Also, a perforation skip device that includes a detector that detects perforations of continuous paper (fanfold paper) with perforations and that can automatically provide a desired margin before and after perforations that are unprintable areas. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In the perforation skip device, the first counter sets the number of print end lines counted from the perforation detection position, the second counter sets the number of print start lines counted from the perforation detection position, and the detector detects the perforation. Then, the first and second counters start, and when the count number of the first counter becomes equal to the number of lines where printing has ended, the first counter outputs a signal for stopping the operation of the printing apparatus, and then the count number of the second counter Is equal to the print start line number, the second counter outputs a signal for starting the operation of the printing apparatus, so that margins can be automatically provided before and after the perforation.

There has also been proposed a printer that determines the size of a label and performs appropriate test printing that matches the label size (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In the printer, a mark attached to the back surface of the label sheet corresponding to the label is detected by an optical sensor, a label size is determined from the detection result, and a plurality of test print patterns stored in the memory are selected. By selecting and printing a test print pattern corresponding to the label size, it is possible to perform a test print suitable for the label size.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-205872 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-9769 JP 2002-166634 A

However, in the prior art in which the operator sets the continuous paper type in the printer,
If you forget the setting or make a mistake, there was a risk of printing defects. Or
Some printers do not execute printing when the type of continuous paper set is different from the type of continuous paper stored in the printer.

Further, in the conventional technique for automatically determining the type of continuous paper by a printer, it is necessary to transport the paper in order to specify the continuous paper stored therein, and thus there is a disadvantage that wasteful paper that is not printed is generated. there were. For example, in the case of label paper, about 2 to 3 labels are wasted. In portable printers, roll paper that can be stored is limited to those with a small diameter. Therefore, if paper is consumed wastefully, the frequency of roll paper replacement increases and the burden on the operator increases. There was also the inconvenience that efficiency decreased.

In addition, in the conventional perforation skip device, it is not necessary to set the number of print end lines and the number of print start lines each time according to the type of fanfold paper (interval between perforations). Since it is not possible to start printing only after detecting this, the paper is wasted.

Also, in the prior art that selects and prints a test print pattern according to the label size, it is necessary to store the test print pattern according to the label size in advance in the printer, which requires a memory with a corresponding capacity. In addition, all continuous sheets could not be handled and the versatility was inferior.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. A printer capable of suppressing wasteful consumption of continuous paper as much as possible and executing self-printing according to the specifications of continuous paper, and printing in the printer. It is an object to provide a control method and a computer program for executing the printing control method.

The printer of the present invention is a printer that prints on a continuous sheet including a label sheet in which a plurality of labels are arranged at intervals on a long mount, and a transport mechanism that transports the continuous sheet along a transport path A paper feed control unit that controls the printing mechanism, a print control unit that controls a printing mechanism that includes a print head that is arranged along the conveyance path, and a continuous sheet that is arranged on the upstream side of the conveyance path with respect to the print head. And a print data generation unit that generates self-print data based on information included in the printer, and the paper feed control unit includes the self-data based on the paper information. A print start position control unit for determining a print start position of the print data (print start position of the first line of the self print data) and positioning the continuous paper with respect to the print head; A print start position of self print data to be printed next is determined based on the paper information after the print start position of the print data is determined (or after the start of printing of the first line of the self print data), and the print head And a next line printing position control unit for positioning the continuous sheet.

The detector detects a non-printable area of the continuous paper (presence / absence of a non-printable area), and the print start position control unit moves the continuous paper on the detector before starting the conveyance of the continuous paper. When there is a non-printable area, it is preferable that the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing from the printable area of the continuous paper located immediately upstream of the non-printable area.

In this case, the printing start position control unit starts the conveyance of the continuous paper and the conveyance of the continuous paper when the non-printable area does not exist on the detector before the conveyance of the continuous paper starts. If the non-printable area is detected between the start of printing and the conveyance of the distance between the detector and the print head along the conveyance path, the position is located immediately upstream of the non-printable area. In order to start printing from the printable area, it is preferable to position the continuous paper.

Alternatively, the printing start position control unit starts transporting the continuous paper and starts transporting the continuous paper if the non-printable area does not exist on the detector before the transport of the continuous paper starts. The print head when the non-printable area is detected when the non-printable area is detected after the distance between the detector and the print head is conveyed along the conveyance path. It is preferable to position the continuous paper so as to start printing from the printable area located above.

The detector detects a non-printable area of the continuous paper (presence / absence of non-printable area), and the next-line print position control unit is an unprinted area of the printable area located on the print head. A print area information acquisition unit for acquiring information; and a print execution determination unit for determining whether the self-print data to be printed next in the unprinted area can be printed. When it is determined that the printing is impossible, it is preferable to position the continuous paper so as to start printing from a printable area located immediately upstream of the non-printable area.

Further, it is preferable that the next line printing position control unit positions the continuous sheet every line or every pass (that is, every predetermined number of lines).

It is appropriate to grasp the present invention as a printer control method, and even in that case, the same operation and effect can be obtained.

The control method of the present invention can be supplied as a control program that can be executed by the control unit of the printer, and can be provided via an information recording medium that records the control program.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is an external perspective view of the printer with the cover closed, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printer with the cover open. The printer 1 is covered with a housing 9 and includes a storage unit 3 for storing the roll paper 2 therein. The roll paper 2 is loaded and exchanged through the opening 3a of the storage unit 3, and the opening 3a is opened and closed by a cover 4 that can be turned up and down with the rear end side as a fulcrum. The cover 4 is opened by depressing the cover open button 10.

A slit-like discharge port 8 is formed between the front end portion of the cover 4 and the front end edge of the opening 3a, and one end side of the roll paper 2 held in the storage portion 3 is discharged through the conveyance path. It is discharged from the outlet 8. On the front end portion of the cover 4, a conveying roller 5 is bridged in the width direction of the printer 1, and a driven gear 6 is fixed to the right end portion of the roller shaft 5 a. A guide plate 7 for guiding the roll paper 2 is also attached to the front end portion of the cover 4.

On the housing 9 side of the printer 1, a thermal print head 25 (see FIG. 9) is disposed at a portion facing the conveyance roller 5 with the cover 4 closed. The print head 25 is pressed against the transport roller (platen) 5 by a biasing member such as a pressing spring. Further, the housing 9 is provided with a transport motor and a driving gear (row) that meshes with a pinion provided on the rotation shaft thereof. When the cover 4 is closed, the driven gear 6 meshes with the driving gear (row), and the conveying roller 5 can be driven to rotate by the conveying motor.
Therefore, a conveyance path for conveying the recording paper via the printing position by the print head 25 is formed.

As described above, the recording paper fed from the roll paper 2 stored in the storage unit 3 is printed by the print head 25 while being conveyed upwardly between the print head 25 and the conveyance roller 5. , Discharged from the discharge port 8.

Further, in the vicinity of the upstream side of the print head 25 in the conveyance path, a combined transmission / reflection optical sensor (hereinafter referred to as a sensor) for detecting paper information (information relating to the type and position) of the roll paper 2. ) 21 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor 21 includes sensor units 21 a and 21 b that face each other across the conveyance path. The back side sensor unit 21b facing the back side (non-printing side) of the roll paper 2 is provided on the cover 4 side (guide plate 7), and reflects a pair of the reflective light emitting element 22 and the light receiving element 23 incorporated therein. A mold optical sensor is configured. The front-side sensor unit 21a facing the surface (printing surface) of the roll paper 2 is provided on the housing 9 side, and a light-emitting element 24 for transmission is incorporated therein. Light-emitting element for transmission 24
Is arranged to face the light receiving element 23 and constitutes a transmissive optical sensor with the light emitting element 24 for transmission and the light receiving element 23 as a pair. For example, the light emitting element for reflection 22 and the light emitting element for transmission 24 are driven to emit light alternately at every paper feed pitch (1 dot), and the light receiving element 23 alternately outputs the reflected light receiving level signal and the transmitted light receiving level signal accordingly. Output.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing reflection and transmission light reception levels in various continuous sheets. As shown in FIG. 4, when there is no continuous paper on the sensor 21, the reflected light reception level is Low and the transmission light reception level is High. When plain paper P1 is used, the reflected light reception level is high and the transmission light reception level is low regardless of the paper position. When using plain paper P2 with a mark,
Transmitted / received light levels are high / low at the blank area (outside the mark area) and low / low at the mark area.
When die-cut label paper P3 is used, High / Low at the label part and Hi at the mount part
When the label paper P4 with a mark is used, the label portion becomes High / Low, and the mark portion becomes Low / Low.

The printer 1 detects the reflected light reception level and the transmission light reception level by the sensor 21 while conveying the roll paper 2, and determines the type of the roll paper 2 based on the light reception level. For example,
If the reflection / transmission light reception level is High / Low, and the reflection / transmission light reception level does not change even when the paper feed amount reaches a predetermined amount, it is determined that the paper is plain paper P1. If the reflection / transmission light reception level changes from High / Low to High / High before the paper feed amount reaches the predetermined amount, it is determined that the paper is die-cut label paper P3.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the marked plain paper P2 and the marked label paper P4 cannot be discriminated because their reflection / transmission light reception levels are the same.
In this case, the printer 1 determines that the label paper P4 is marked. This is because the non-printable area does not exist in the marked plain paper P2, but the non-printable area exists in the marked label paper P4, so that the printing failure does not occur by processing as the marked label paper P4. .

However, depending on the sensor to be used and the threshold value setting for discriminating the type of paper, it is possible to discriminate between the white paper portion of plain paper and the label portion of label paper, and accordingly, the marked plain paper P2 and the marked label paper P4. Can be discriminated. For example, the reflection / transmission light reception level is High / High for a white paper portion of plain paper and High / Low for a label portion of label paper.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the printer 1. The printer 1 includes a printing mechanism 13 including a print head 25, a conveyance roller 5, a driven / driven gear, a conveyance mechanism 15 including a conveyance motor, a sensor 21, power on / off, paper feed instruction, and self-printing. The switch 11 for inputting the instruction and the like, and a control unit 30 for controlling these units.

Hereinafter, the control unit 30 will be described. The control unit 30 includes an interface 32 and a main control unit 3
4, a print control unit 36, a paper feed control unit 38, a paper information acquisition unit 40, and a print data generation unit 42.

The print data generation unit 42 generates self print data in response to a self print instruction from an external device connected to the printer 1 or the switch 11. For example, the DIP provided in the printer 1
Information such as the switch setting state, the communication parameter setting state of the interface 32, and firmware version information is collected, and print data suitable for a predetermined print format is generated.

The paper information acquisition unit 40 acquires paper information based on the detection signal of the sensor 21. For example, the type of the roll paper 2 is determined, and the presence / absence and position of the label portion 19 and the mark portion 20 on the roll paper 2 are determined.

The paper feed control unit 38 controls the transport mechanism 15 based on a control command from the external device, print data, and operation of the switch 11 to transport the roll paper 2. During the self-printing process, the paper feed control unit 38 controls the transport mechanism 15 based on the paper information of the roll paper 2 acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 40 and the self-print data generated by the print data generation unit 42. Then, the roll paper 2 is conveyed.

The print control unit 36 controls the printing mechanism 13 based on print data from an external device and self-print data from the print data generation unit 42, and causes the print head 25 to print on the roll paper 2.

The main control unit 34 controls the operation of the entire printer 1. For example, data such as a control command or print data from an external device is received via the interface 32, and each unit of the control unit 30 is controlled to execute processing corresponding to the data. During the printing process, the print control unit 36 controls the printing mechanism 13 to perform printing on the roll paper 2 while synchronizing with the paper feed control of the roll paper 2 by the paper feed control unit 38.

Here, the control unit 30 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores firmware (control program) and the like, and a RAM that functions as a transmission / reception buffer, a print buffer, and a work area.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the paper feed control unit 38. The paper feed control unit 38 includes a print start position control unit 60, a next line print position control unit 62, and a paper carry amount counting unit 70.

The print start position control unit 60 determines the print start position of the first line at the start of the self-printing process, and aligns the roll paper 2 with the print position.

The next line print position control unit 62 determines a print start position for each of the second and subsequent print lines after the start of the self-printing process, and aligns the roll paper 2 with the print position.

The paper transport amount counting unit 70 detects the transport amount of the roll paper 2 after detecting the rear end portion (upstream end portion in the transport direction) of the label portion 19 or the front end portion (downstream end portion in the transport direction) of the mark 20. The first transport amount counting unit 72 to count, and the front end portion (downstream end portion in the transport direction) of the label portion 19 or the mark 20
A second transport amount counting unit 74 that counts the transport amount of the roll paper 2 after detecting the rear end portion (upstream end portion in the transport direction). The count value obtained by the paper conveyance amount counting unit 70 is used for conveyance control of the roll paper 2 by the printing start position control unit 60 and the next line printing position control unit 62.

The print start position control unit 60 determines whether or not a non-printable area exists on the roll paper 2 based on the paper information of the roll paper 2 acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 40. 64. At the start of the self-printing process, the roll paper 2 is transported by a distance D1 along the transport path between the sensor 21 and the print head 25 (hereinafter referred to as sensor-to-head distance). It is determined whether or not a possible area exists. If there is no unprintable area, that position is set as the print start position. If there is an unprintable area, the roll paper 2 is loaded until the next printable area is positioned below the print head 25. The position is set as the print start position.

For example, when the roll paper 2 is label paper (P3, P4), the mount portion 18 is a non-printable area, and therefore the sensor 21 while the roll paper 2 is conveyed by the distance D1 between the sensor and the head.
When the mount portion 18 is detected by the above, the roll paper 2 is conveyed so as to be printed on the label portion 19 following the mount portion 18.

Here, the reason why the roll paper 2 is transported by the distance D1 between the sensor and the head is that, if there is a non-printable area between the sensor 21 and the print head 25 before the transport is started, the sensor 21 performs the printing. This is because the impossible area cannot be detected, and even if printing is performed, the printing is incomplete.

The next line print position control unit 62 includes a print area information acquisition unit 66 and a print execution determination unit 68. Based on the paper information of the roll paper 2 acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 40, the print area information acquisition unit 66 obtains information on the printable area on the roll paper 2 and information on the unprinted area E of the printable area. get. The print execution determining unit 68 prints one line to be printed next out of the unprinted region information on the roll paper 2 acquired by the print region information acquiring unit 66 and the self-print data generated by the print data generating unit 42. Based on the data (hereinafter referred to as “next line print data”), it is determined whether or not the next line print data can be printed in the unprinted area E of the printable area on the roll paper 2. When it is determined by the print execution determination unit 68 that printing can be performed, the next line printing position control unit 62 sets the position as the next line printing start position. When it is determined that printing cannot be performed, the next line printing position control unit 62 The roll paper 2 is conveyed until the printable area is located below the print head 25, and that position is set as the next line print start position.

For example, when the roll paper 2 is label paper (P3, P4), it is determined whether or not the next line print data can be printed in the unprinted area E of the label unit 19 to be printed, and cannot be printed. In this case, the roll paper 2 is transported for printing on the next label unit 19.

Next, an operation procedure in the self-printing process will be described with reference to FIGS. When an instruction for self-printing is input, the printer 1 conveys the roll paper 2 to the printing start position and starts printing. In the self-printing, the next line print data is converted into an unprinted area E of the printable area of the roll paper 2.
It is performed while determining whether or not printing is possible.

When a self-printing instruction is input, first, the paper information acquisition unit 40 acquires the paper information of the roll paper 2 (S102), and determines whether or not the mount 18 is present on the sensor 21 (S102).
S104). That is, it is determined whether the reflection / transmission light reception level by the sensor 21 is High / High (die-cut label paper P3) or Low / Low (marked label paper P4).
When the mount 18 is present on the sensor 21 (S104; Yes, FIG. 9 (a1)), the label portion 19b closest to the upstream side of the mount 18 is conveyed under the print position of the print head 25 (S1).
06). Specifically, the front end portion of the label portion is detected based on the detection signal of the sensor 21 while the roll paper 2 is being conveyed (FIG. 9 (a2)), and the sensor = head distance D1 from the detected position.
And a distance obtained by adding an upper margin distance M1 (M1 ≧ 0) at the time of printing. As a result, the label portion 19b is set at the print start position (FIG. 9 (a3)). The front end portion of the label portion can be detected by the reflection / transmission light receiving level of the sensor 21 changing from High / High or Low / Low to High / Low, and the transport amount after the front end portion of the label portion is detected is Counted by the second transport amount counting unit 74. In the case of the labeled label paper P4, the rear end portion of the mark 20 is regarded as the front end portion of the label for processing. When the roll paper 2 stored in the printer 1 is the plain paper P2 with a mark, as described above, the roll paper 2 is processed as a label paper P4 with a mark in the present embodiment. That is, processing is performed on the assumption that the mark 20 attached to the marked plain paper P2 corresponds to the mount 18 of the marked label paper P4.

On the other hand, when the mount part 18 does not exist on the sensor 21 (S104; No), paper information is acquired (S110) while the roll paper 2 is conveyed (S108), and it is determined whether the mount part 18 is detected. (S112). If the mount 18 is detected between the start of transport and the end of transport of the sensor = head distance D1, (S112; Yes), the mount 18
The label portion 19b closest to the upstream side is conveyed below the print position of the print head 25 (S106).
For example, when the label sheets (P3, P4) are in the state shown in FIG. 9 (a1 ′) before the conveyance is started, the label sheet is changed to the state shown in FIG. 9 (a3) by the above processing. If the mount 18 is not detected between the start of transport and the end of transport of the sensor = head distance D1 (
S112; No / S114; Yes), and the position where the conveyance is completed is set as the print start position.
Examples of this case are shown in FIGS. 9B1 and 9B2 and FIGS. 9C1 and 9C2. When the roll paper 2 stored in the printer 1 is plain paper P1, since the mount portion 18 does not exist in the plain paper P1, the position where the sensor = head distance D1 is transported after the transport is started is the print start position. It becomes.

With the above processing, the print start position of self-printing is determined, and the processing shifts to the processing shown in FIG. 8 and printing is started.

When the roll paper 2 is positioned at the print start position (FIG. 10A), first, print data on the first line is acquired, printed, and a line feed is made (S200). The print data can be acquired by reading from the self print data generated by the print data generation unit 42 and stored in the print buffer.

Then, the next line print data and information relating to the unprinted area E of the roll paper 2 are acquired (S2).
02). The unprinted area E of the roll paper 2 in the paper transport direction is the rear end of the label portion 19 (the mount portion 18).
Is calculated by subtracting the transport amount D2 from the detection of the front end of the mark 20 or the front end of the mark 20 by the sensor 21 and the lower margin distance M2 (M2 ≧ 0) during printing from the sensor = head distance D1. (E = D1-D2-M2, FIG. 10 (b), (d)). At the rear end of the label part, the reflection / transmission light reception level by the sensor 21 is changed from High / Low to High / High or L.
It can be detected by changing to ow / Low, and the transport amount after the rear end of the label portion is detected is counted by the first transport amount counter 72.

Next, it is determined whether or not the print data can be printed in the unprinted area E (S204). That is, the print character height (or the height of one line) of the print data is compared with the unprinted area E, and if the length of the unprinted area E is equal to or greater than the print character height, it is determined that printing is possible. When the length of the unprinted area E is less than the print character height, it can be determined that printing is impossible.

When the roll paper 2 is plain paper P1, since there is no mount portion, the mount portion is not detected, and there is no unprintable area, so printing is always performed until no paper is detected. It becomes possible. When no paper is detected, that is, when the rear end of the plain paper P1 is detected, information related to the unprinted area E is acquired in the same manner as when the rear end of the label unit 19 is detected. Judge whether printing is possible.

When it is determined that printing can be performed in the unprinted area E (S204; Yes, FIG. 10D)
), Printing is performed (S206). On the other hand, when it is determined that printing cannot be performed in the unprinted area E (S204; No, FIG. 10E), the label portion 19b located upstream and adjacent to the label portion 19a located at the current printing position is displayed. After positioning at the printing position (S210, FIG. 10 (f
)), Printing is performed (S206). In the positioning process in step S210, as in step S106 described above, from the position at which the front end portion of the label portion is detected (FIG. 10C), the distance M1 of the upper margin at the time of printing is added to the sensor-to-head distance D1. This is done by transporting a certain distance.

Further, if there is print data (S208; Yes), the above S202 ~
The process of S206 is repeated, and when there is no print data (S208; No), the self-print process is terminated.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described along drawing, this invention is not limited to the matter shown in the said embodiment, Description of the claim and the best form for implementing this invention, The range in which those skilled in the art can make changes and applications based on known techniques is included.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, printing is performed for each line. However, in a printer capable of printing a plurality of lines in one pass (one scan), printing to the printable area is performed for each pass (a plurality of lines). It may be determined whether printing is possible and printing may be executed.

Further, in the embodiment, in the case of the labeled label paper P4, the rear / front end of the mark 20 is regarded as the front / rear end of the label for simple processing. The front / rear end may be detected.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when determining the print start position for self-printing, the mount portion 18 does not exist on the sensor 21 before the start of conveyance, and the mount portion 1 is transferred while the sensor = head distance D1 is conveyed.
8 is detected, the printing is started from the next label unit 19, but (the length of the label unit 19 in the conveyance direction−the upper margin M1) ≧ sensor = inter-head distance D1, and sensor = inter-head distance D1 ≧ (
If self-printing character height + bottom margin M2), the position where the mount 18 (the rear end of the label 19) is detected may be set as the printing start position.

In the embodiment, the unprinted area E is calculated based on the rear end portion of the label portion 19, but may be calculated based on the front end portion of the label portion 19. Further, if the sensor = head distance D1 is less than the print character height, it is determined that printing in the unprinted area E cannot be performed when the rear end of the label portion 19 is detected, and the next label portion 19 may be positioned at the printing position.

In a printer capable of printing on continuous paper having different widths, a detector for detecting the paper width may be provided, and self-print data may be generated according to the detected paper width.

In the embodiment, the program for causing the printer control unit to execute the self-printing process (steps of FIGS. 7 and 8) is stored in the ROM of the printer 1, but the program is recorded on the information recording medium. The program is read from the information recording medium, and the printer RAM
It may be stored in and executed. The program may be downloaded and executed via a network. Here, the information recording medium is a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a hard disk, or an optical disk such as a CD, DVD, or MO, and is electrically, magnetically, optically, etc. Regardless of the reading method, any computer-readable information recording medium
All information recording media are included.

As described above, according to the present invention, while detecting a non-printable area of continuous paper,
Since printing is performed while determining whether or not print data can be printed in an unprinted area of a continuous paper printable area, self-printing can be executed without causing printing defects even if there is no paper setting for continuous paper. In addition, since the print start position at the start of self-printing is appropriately determined based on the presence or absence of a non-printable area on the continuous paper, wasteful discharge of the continuous paper can be suppressed as much as possible.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the printer showing a state where a cover is closed. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the printer showing a state where a cover is opened. Sectional drawing of a sensor. Explanatory drawing which shows the reflection and transmission light reception level in various continuous paper. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a printer. The functional block diagram of a paper feed control part. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining a print start position for self-printing. The flowchart which shows the printing procedure of self-printing. Explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance state of the continuous paper in the printing start position determination process of self-printing. Explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance state of the continuous paper in the printing process of self-printing. The perspective view of various continuous paper. It is a figure which shows the printing result of the conventional self-printing, (A) is the figure which shows the result of printing on plain paper, (B) is the figure which shows the result of printing on label paper.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 2 ... Roll paper, 11 ... Switch, 13 ... Printing mechanism, 15 ... Conveyance mechanism, 1
8 ... Mount part, 19 ... Label part, 20 ... Mark part, 21 ... Sensor, 25 ... Print head, 30
... Control unit 32 ... Interface 34 ... Main control unit 36 ... Print control unit 38 ... Paper feed control unit 40 ... Paper information acquisition unit 42 ... Print data generation unit 60 ... Print start position control unit 6
2 ... Next line print position control unit, 64 ... Unprintable region determination unit, 66 ... Print region information acquisition unit, 68
... print execution determination unit, 70 ... paper conveyance amount counting unit, 72 ... first conveyance amount counting unit, 74 ... second conveyance amount counting unit.

Claims (14)

A printer that prints on continuous paper including label sheets in which a plurality of labels are arranged at intervals on a long mount,
A paper feed controller that controls a transport mechanism that transports the continuous paper along a transport path;
A print control unit for controlling a printing mechanism including a print head arranged along the conveyance path;
A detector that is disposed on the upstream side of the conveyance path with respect to the print head and detects sheet information of the continuous sheet;
A print data generation unit that generates self-print data based on information the printer has;
The paper feed controller is
A print start position control unit that determines a print start position of the self-print data based on the paper information and positions the continuous paper with respect to the print head;
After determining the print start position of the self print data, the next line print position for determining the print start position of the next self print data to be printed based on the paper information and positioning the continuous paper with respect to the print head A control unit;
A printer comprising: The detector detects an unprintable area of the continuous paper;
The printing start position control unit can print the continuous paper positioned immediately upstream of the non-printable area when the non-printable area exists on the detector before the continuous paper conveyance starts. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing from an area. The printing start position control unit starts the conveyance of the continuous paper when the non-printable area does not exist on the detector before the conveyance of the continuous paper starts.
If the non-printable area is detected between the start of conveyance of the continuous paper and the conveyance of the distance between the detector and the print head along the conveyance path, 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing from a printable area located closest to the upstream side. The printing start position control unit starts the conveyance of the continuous paper when the non-printable area does not exist on the detector before the conveyance of the continuous paper starts.
If the non-printable area is detected between the start of conveyance of the continuous paper and the conveyance of the distance between the detector and the print head along the conveyance path, 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing from a printable area located on the print head when detected. The detector detects an unprintable area of the continuous paper;
The next line printing position control unit
A print area information acquisition unit for acquiring unprinted area information of a printable area located on the print head;
A print execution determination unit that determines whether the self-print data to be printed next in the unprinted area can be printed;
When the print execution determination unit determines that printing is impossible, the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing from a printable area located immediately upstream of the non-printable area. The printer according to claim 1. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the next line printing position control unit positions the continuous sheet every line or every predetermined number of lines. A printing control method for a printer that prints on continuous paper including label paper in which a plurality of labels are arranged at intervals on a long mount,
(A) detecting paper information of the continuous paper by a detector arranged upstream of the print head in the transport direction of the continuous paper;
(B) generating self-print data based on information held by the printer;
(C) determining a print start position of the self-print data based on the paper information and positioning the continuous paper with respect to the print head;
(D) after determining the print start position of the self-print data, determining a print start position of the next self-print data to be printed based on the paper information and positioning the continuous paper with respect to the print head When,
(E) printing the self-print data on the continuous paper;
A printing control method characterized by comprising: The step (a) detects an unprintable area of the continuous paper,
In the step (c), when the non-printable area exists on the detector before the conveyance of the continuous paper is started, the printable area of the continuous paper located immediately upstream of the non-printable area. The printing control method according to claim 7, wherein the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing. The step (c) starts the conveyance of the continuous paper when the non-printable area does not exist on the detector before the conveyance of the continuous paper starts.
If the non-printable area is detected between the start of conveyance of the continuous paper and the conveyance of the distance between the detector and the print head along the conveyance path, 9. The print control method according to claim 8, wherein the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing from a printable area located closest to the upstream side. The step (c) starts the conveyance of the continuous paper when the non-printable area does not exist on the detector before the conveyance of the continuous paper starts.
If the non-printable area is detected between the start of conveyance of the continuous paper and the conveyance of the distance between the detector and the print head along the conveyance path, 9. The print control method according to claim 8, wherein the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing from a printable area located on the print head when detected. The step (a) detects an unprintable area of the continuous paper,
The step (d)
(D1) obtaining unprinted area information of a printable area located on the print head;
(D2) determining whether it is possible to print the self-print data to be printed next in the unprinted area;
If it is determined in step (d2) that printing is impossible, the continuous paper is positioned so as to start printing from a printable area located immediately upstream of the non-printable area. The printing control method according to claim 7. The printing control method according to claim 7, wherein the step (d) positions the continuous sheet every line or every predetermined number of lines. The program for making a computer perform each step of the printing control method of Claim 7. An information recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the printing control method according to claim 7.

Images