JP2008100478A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer using a stepping motor as a feed motor by which printing quality can be enhanced by enhancing rotation stop precision of the feed motor in all printing modes. <P>SOLUTION: The printer carries out printing action to the whole sheet for printing by repeating printing of a predetermined printing width to the printing sheet and conveyance of a predetermined printing width. The feed motor for conveying the printing sheet consists of the stepping motor and is rotated and driven by a unit of number steps of integer number times of a total number of phases of the feed motor determined in every printing mode during carrying out the printing action. The printer carries out phase alignment of the feed motor (#2) such that the feed motor is in a condition in which it is in an optimal phase where it is stably stopped in the printing mode at that time when receiving printing command (YES in #1). Further the printer carries out the printing action by rotating and driving the feed motor by a unit of number of steps in the printing mode at that time (#3) from that condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that prints an image on printing paper.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a so-called ink jet printer that prints an image by ejecting ink onto printing paper. In this type of printer, generally, an image having a predetermined print width is printed on printing paper by ejecting ink from the print head while scanning the print head (moving forward or backward). By repeating printing of a predetermined print width by the print head and conveyance of the print paper for a predetermined print width, an image is printed on the entire print paper. The printing paper is conveyed by a feed roller, and the feed roller is rotated by a feed motor. As such a printer, there is a printer using a stepping motor as a feed motor.

  The stepping motor includes a plurality of excitation coils, and is a motor that is step-driven by a certain rotation angle every time the excitation state (phase) of the excitation coil is switched. Further, the stepping motor includes a plurality of teeth, and rotates by one tooth as the excitation state (phase) of the excitation coil makes a round. Switching of the excitation state of the exciting coil (that is, rotation driving of the stepping motor) is performed by a motor driving circuit. That is, the motor drive circuit is configured to rotationally drive the stepping motor by sequentially switching the excitation state of the excitation coil of the stepping motor every time a step pulse is received from the control unit. There are several methods for driving the stepping motor by the motor drive circuit. For example, in the case of the W1-2 phase excitation method, the excitation state of the excitation coil is 16 types (that is, the total number of phases is 16). Therefore, for example, in the case of the W1-2 phase excitation method, the excitation state (phase) of the excitation coil of the stepping motor is completed by outputting 16 step pulses from the control unit, so that the stepping motor has one tooth. Rotate for minutes.

  By the way, the stepping motor has a phase that is likely to cause a phase shift (position shift of the rotation stop position) from a phase that should be stopped when the rotation drive is stopped, and a phase that should be stopped when the rotation drive is stopped. Therefore, there is a phase that is likely to stop stably without causing a phase shift. In the printer, when the rotation stop position of the feed motor is displaced, a displacement occurs in the conveyance stop position of the printing paper, and as a result, images before and after the printing paper is conveyed by a predetermined printing width (that is, once with the print head). The image of the predetermined print width by the scanning in this time and the image of the predetermined print width by the next scanning) are shifted, and the print quality is lowered.

  Therefore, in a printer using a stepping motor as a conventional feed motor, a step that is an integral multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor, starting from a phase that is likely to stop rotation of the feed motor without causing a phase shift. It is controlled in several units. By controlling the rotation drive of the feed motor in this way, the phase when stopping the rotation drive of the feed motor (rotation stop position) is always a phase that is easily and stably stopped without causing a phase shift. As a result, the rotation stop accuracy of the feed motor (that is, the conveyance stop accuracy of the printing paper) is improved, the deviation of the image before and after the printing paper is conveyed by a predetermined printing width is suppressed, and the printing quality is improved.

On the other hand, the phase of the carrier motor consisting of a stepping motor for moving the carrier holding the print head is always kept stable when the carrier is stopped at the print start position, thereby shifting to the printing operation. There is known a printer that sometimes enables stable movement of a carrier and obtains high print quality (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, the phase of the carrier motor composed of the stepping motor is always set to the phase where the power consumption becomes the minimum when the carrier is stopped at the print head replacement position, thereby reducing the power consumption when the print head is replaced. Such a printer is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In addition, the rotational drive of the carrier motor consisting of the stepping motor and the feed motor consisting of the stepping motor is controlled by being divided into predetermined phases according to the operation mode, so that the motor can be driven with the resolution required in each operation mode. There is known a printer that drives (see, for example, Patent Document 3). Prior to transporting the printing paper, a periodic speed fluctuation or torque fluctuation of the printing paper transport device is detected, and the phase angle of this periodic speed fluctuation or torque fluctuation and the stop phase that is the target drive stop position. 2. Description of the Related Art A printer is known that improves the conveyance accuracy of a printing paper by controlling the conveyance of the printing paper so that the offset phase angle relative to the angle is kept constant and optimal (see, for example, Patent Document 4). .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-21121 Utility Model Registration No. 3067636 JP-A-10-225188 JP 2002-137469 A

  By the way, in the printer using a stepping motor as the conventional feed motor described above, when there are a plurality of print modes related to print quality (for example, best mode, better mode, normal mode, draft mode, etc.), feed is performed. The rotational drive of the motor is controlled in units of the number of steps determined for each printing mode (however, in any printing mode, the number of steps is an integral multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor), and in each printing mode, It is conceivable to control the rotational drive of the feed motor in units of the number of steps determined for each printing mode from a phase that is likely to stop stably without causing a phase shift. By controlling the rotation drive of the feed motor in this way, the phase (rotation stop position) when stopping the rotation drive of the feed motor is always stable without causing a phase shift in any printing mode. The phase is considered to be easy to stop, and it is considered that the rotation stop accuracy of the feed motor is improved in all print modes and the print quality is improved.

  However, as a result of the test, the phase at which the feed motor (stepping motor) is likely to stop stably without causing a phase shift depends on the unit of the number of steps (that is, the printing mode) for controlling the rotation drive of the feed motor. The result was different. That is, in a conventional printer, even if the phase is stable and easy to stop without causing a phase shift in a certain printing mode, this is not necessarily the case in other printing modes. Thus, even if the rotation driving of the feed motor is controlled in each printing mode, it is impossible to improve the rotation stop accuracy of the feed motor and improve the printing quality in all the printing modes. Even if the contents disclosed in Patent Document 1 to Patent Document 4 described above are applied, the above problem cannot be solved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in a printer using a stepping motor as a feed motor, the rotation stop accuracy of the feed motor can be improved and the print quality can be improved in all printing modes. An object is to provide a printer.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention includes a feed roller for transporting printing paper, a print head for printing an image of a predetermined printing width on the printing paper transported by the feed roller, and a feed. A feed motor for rotating the roller, a feed motor drive circuit for driving the feed motor to rotate, and a control means for controlling the operation of the apparatus, wherein the feed motor is step-driven two-phase stepping The feed motor drive circuit is driven by the W1-2 phase excitation method, and the control means controls the rotation of the feed motor by the feed motor drive circuit, thereby conveying the printing paper by the feed roller. Control the printing paper conveyance by the feed roller and printing by the print head with the specified print width. By repeating the above, the printing operation for printing the image on the entire printing paper is executed, and when the printing operation is executed, the rotation drive of the feed motor is set to the total number of phases of the feed motor determined for each printing mode relating to the print quality. A printer driver is installed in the computer to control printing in units of integer multiples (hereinafter referred to as “feed step number”), and the printing operation by the operation from the computer, and printing specified by the printer driver. In printers that perform printing operations in mode, when the feed motor is rotationally driven in units of the number of feed steps determined for each printing mode and the rotational drive is stopped, the feed motor does not cause a phase shift from the phase that should be stopped The optimum phase data indicating the optimum phase, which is the phase that stops stably, is The control means further includes a memory stored in association with each mode, and the control means executes the printing operation in response to an instruction from the printer driver, based on the optimum phase data stored in the memory before starting the printing operation. The feed motor is driven to perform phase adjustment of the feed motor so that the feed motor is in the optimum phase corresponding to the print mode specified by the printer driver. From the state where the motor is in the optimum phase corresponding to the printing mode designated by the printer driver, the printing operation is executed by rotating the motor in units of the number of feed steps in the printing mode designated by the printer driver.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a feed roller for conveying a printing paper, a print head for printing an image of a predetermined printing width on the printing paper conveyed by the feed roller, and a feed for rotating the feed roller. The motor includes a motor, a feed motor drive circuit for rotationally driving the feed motor, and a control means for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The feed motor includes a stepping motor that is step-driven, and the control means is driven by the feed motor. By controlling the rotation drive of the feed motor by the circuit, the conveyance of the printing paper by the feed roller is controlled, and by repeating the conveyance of the printing paper by the feed roller and the printing of the predetermined printing width by the print head, When performing a print operation that prints an image on the entire screen, In a printer that controls the rotation of the motor in units of an integer multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor determined for each print mode relating to print quality (hereinafter referred to as “number of feed steps”), the feed motor is controlled for each print mode. Optimal phase data indicating the optimal phase, which is the phase where the feed motor stops stably without causing a phase shift from the phase that should be stopped when the rotational drive is stopped by rotating the unit in units of the number of feed steps specified in Is further stored in association with each printing mode, and the control means, when executing the printing operation, before the start of the printing operation, based on the optimum phase data stored in the memory, the feed motor The feed motor is driven to adjust the phase of the feed motor so that the optimum phase corresponding to the print mode in the printing operation is reached. It is intended to run was.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the second aspect, the feed motor is a two-phase stepping motor, and the feed motor drive circuit drives the feed motor by the W1-2 phase excitation method. .

  According to the first, second, and third aspects of the present invention, the feed motor has an optimum phase corresponding to the print mode (a phase that stably stops without causing a phase shift in the print mode) before starting the printing operation. It is assumed that it exists. From this state, the feed motor is controlled to rotate in units of a step number (feed step number) that is an integral multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor determined for each printing mode, thereby controlling the conveyance of the printing paper by the feed roller. Then, the printing operation for printing the image on the entire printing paper is executed by repeating the conveyance of the printing paper for the predetermined printing width by the feed roller and the printing of the predetermined printing width by the print head. As a result, in any printing mode, the phase (rotation stop position) when the feed motor stops rotating after completion of conveyance of the printing paper for the predetermined printing width is always the printing mode. In this case, the optimum phase that stops stably without causing a phase shift is obtained. Therefore, in all printing modes, the feed motor rotation stop accuracy (that is, the feed roller conveyance stop accuracy by the feed roller) is improved, and the deviation of the print image before and after the print paper is conveyed by a predetermined print width is suppressed. You can increase your rank.

  Hereinafter, a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a printer. The printer 1 is a device that prints an image on the printing paper 2. The printer 1 is a so-called inkjet printer that prints an image by ejecting ink onto the printing paper 2.

  The printer 1 includes a paper rest 3 on which the printing paper 2 is placed, a paper feed roller 4 a for feeding the printing paper 2, a feed roller 4 b, an exit roller 4 c, and an image for printing on the printing paper 2. Print heads 5m and 5c, a carrier 6 for holding the print heads 5m and 5c and moving the print heads 5m and 5c, and a feed motor for rotating the paper feed roller 4a, the feed roller 4b, and the exit roller 4c 7 and a carrier motor 8 for moving the carrier 7 and the like.

  One or a plurality of printing papers 2 are stacked, and the lower end side thereof is inserted into the paper feeding port 11 of the housing 10 and placed on the paper rest 3. The paper feed roller 4a takes in the printing paper 2 placed on the paper rest 3 and conveys it to the feed roller 4b. The feed roller 4b conveys the printing paper 2 conveyed from the paper feeding roller 4a to the exit roller 4c through the lower portions of the print heads 5m and 5c. The exit roller 4c is the printing paper 2 conveyed by the feed roller 4b. Is further conveyed and discharged from the paper discharge port 12 of the housing 10. The sheet feeding roller 4a, the feed roller 4b, and the exit roller 4c are rotationally controlled by a driving force of the feed motor 7 via a roller driving mechanism including a gear (not shown).

  The print heads 5 m and 5 c are ink jet print heads that eject ink to print an image of a predetermined print width on the printing paper 2, and are detachably held on the carrier 6. The print head 5m is a monochrome print head, stores monochrome (black) ink, and ejects the stored ink downward from the nozzle 51m. The print head 5c is a color print head and stores color (cyan, magenta, yellow) ink, and ejects the stored ink downward from the nozzle 51c.

  The carrier 6 is slidably supported on the guide shafts 21 and 22 and is guided by the guide shafts 21 and 22 so as to reciprocate in the extending direction of the guide shafts 21 and 22. The guide shafts 21 and 22 extend above the printing paper 2 conveyed by the feed roller 4b and the exit roller 4c in a direction parallel to the printing surface of the printing paper 2 and orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the printing paper 2. .

  In other words, the carrier 6 reciprocates above the printing paper 2 conveyed by the feed roller 4b and the exit roller 4c along the printing surface of the printing paper 2 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the printing paper 2. It has become. The print heads 5m and 5c held by the carrier 6 reciprocate in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the printing paper 2 together with the carrier 6 between the feed roller 4b and the exit roller 4c when the carrier 6 moves. Then, an ink having a predetermined print width is printed on the printing paper 2 at a position between the feed roller 4b and the exit roller 4c by ejecting ink while moving in the forward path or in the backward path. The movement of the carrier 6 is controlled by a driving force of the carrier motor 8 via a carrier driving mechanism including a carrier belt (not shown).

  The printer 1 having such a configuration performs predetermined printing on the printing paper 2 by ejecting ink from the print heads 5m and 5c while scanning the carrier 6 (print heads 5m and 5c) (moving forward or backward). An image having a width is printed, and by repeating the printing of an image for a predetermined printing width on the printing paper 2 and the conveyance of the printing paper 2 for a predetermined printing width, the image is printed on the entire printing paper 2. It is supposed to print. The printer 1 prints images in a plurality of print modes related to print quality. There are four types of print modes: the best mode, the better mode, the normal mode, and the draft mode, in descending order of print quality.

  FIG. 2 shows an electrical block configuration of the printer 1. In addition to the above-described configuration, the printer 1 includes a control unit 41 including a CPU, ROM, and RAM for controlling the operation of the printer 1, a feed motor driving circuit 42, a carrier motor driving circuit 43, and a head driving circuit. 44, an external device connection unit 45, a memory 46, and the like. The printer 1 is used by being connected to a PC (personal computer) 60 that is an external device, and a printer driver 70 for performing a printing operation by the printer 1 by an operation from the PC 60 is installed in the PC 60. Has been.

  The feed motor drive circuit 42 drives the feed motor 7 under the control of the control unit 41. When the feed motor 7 is driven, the paper feed roller 4a, the feed roller 4b, and the exit roller 4c rotate, and the printing paper 2 is conveyed. The carrier motor drive circuit 43 drives the carrier motor 8 under the control of the control unit 41. When the carrier motor 8 is driven, the carrier 6 moves and the print heads 5m and 5c move. The head drive circuit 44 drives the print heads 5m and 5c under the control of the control unit 41, and ejects ink from the print heads 5m and 5c.

  The external device connection unit 45 communicates with the PC 60 and is connected to the PC 60 via a USB cable. The external device connection unit 45 transmits / receives various data to / from the PC 60 via the USB cable under the control of the control unit 41. The memory 46 stores various data necessary for controlling the operation of the printer 1.

  The control unit 41 controls the conveyance of the printing paper 2 by the paper feed roller 4a, the feed roller 4b, and the exit roller 4c by controlling the rotation drive of the feed motor 7 by the feed motor drive circuit 42. The control unit 41 controls the movement of the print heads 5m and 5c by the carrier 6 by controlling the rotation drive of the carrier motor 8 by the carrier motor drive circuit 43, and at the same time the print heads 5m and 5c by the head drive circuit 44. Is controlled to control printing of a predetermined print width on the printing paper 2 by the print heads 5m and 5c. Then, the control unit 41 executes a printing operation for printing an image on the entire printing paper 2 by controlling the conveyance of the printing paper 2 and the printing of the predetermined printing width on the printing paper 2.

  The printer driver 70 is configured to issue a print instruction to the printer 1 in response to an operation on the PC 60, and designate a print mode when issuing a print instruction to the printer 1. That is, when the printer driver 70 receives an operation on the PC 60 and issues a print instruction to the printer 1, a series of various types including print data for printing an image, mode designation data for designating a print mode, and the like. Data is transmitted to the printer 1. Then, the control unit 41 of the printer 1 executes a printing operation for printing an image on the entire printing paper 2 in a printing mode designated by the printer driver 70 based on a series of various data received from the printer driver 70. To do.

  Here, the configuration and driving method of the feed motor 7 will be described. The feed motor 7 is composed of a stepping motor that is step-driven by a certain rotation angle. The feed motor 7 is composed of a two-phase stepping motor having two sets of exciting coils of A phase and B phase. That is, the feed motor 7 is step-driven by a certain rotation angle every time the excitation states (phases) of the two sets of excitation coils of the A phase and the B phase are switched. The feed motor 7 has a plurality of teeth, and rotates by one tooth when the excitation states (phases) of the two sets of excitation coils of the A phase and the B phase go round. Yes.

  The feed motor drive circuit 42 switches the excitation state of the two sets of excitation coils of the A phase and B phase of the feed motor 7 (that is, the rotational drive of the feed motor 7). Further, switching of the excitation state of the feed motor 7 by the feed motor drive circuit 42 is performed by giving a step pulse from the control unit 41 to the feed motor drive circuit 42. That is, the rotation drive of the feed motor 7 is controlled by the control unit 41, and every time a step pulse is given from the control unit 41 to the feed motor drive circuit 42, the feed motor drive circuit 42 causes the A phase and B phase of the feed motor 7 to The excitation states of the two sets of excitation coils are sequentially switched, and the feed motor 7 is step-driven by a certain rotation angle. Therefore, the feed motor 7 rotates one step (one phase) each time a step pulse is output from the control unit 41 (given to the feed motor drive circuit 42).

  There are several methods for driving the feed motor 7 (stepping motor). In this embodiment, the feed motor drive circuit 42 drives the feed motor 7 by the W1-2 phase excitation method. . In this W1-2 phase excitation method, there are 16 types of excitation states (that is, the total number of phases is 16) of the two sets of excitation coils of the A phase and the B phase of the feed motor 7. Therefore, in this embodiment, by outputting 16 step pulses from the control unit 41, the excitation states (phases) of the two sets of excitation coils of the A phase and the B phase of the feed motor 7 are completed, and the feed motor 7 rotates for one tooth.

  When the control unit 41 receives a command from the printer driver 70 and executes a printing operation for printing an image on the entire printing paper 2, the control unit 41 rotates the feed motor 7 in a predetermined number of steps for each printing mode. Control in units. As described above, there are four types of print modes: best mode, better mode, normal mode, and draft mode. Best mode is in units of 16 steps, better mode is in units of 32 steps, and normal mode is The draft mode controls the rotational drive of the feed motor 7 in units of 64 steps in units of 64 steps.

  In any printing mode, the rotation drive of the feed motor 7 is controlled in units of a step number that is an integral multiple of 16 that is the total number of phases of the feed motor 7. Therefore, in any printing mode, the feed motor is running while the printing operation is being performed (that is, when printing of an image for a predetermined printing width on the printing paper 2 and conveyance of the printing paper 2 for a predetermined printing width are repeated). The phase of the rotation start position (position when stopped before starting rotation) and the phase of the rotation stop position (position when stopped after starting rotation) are always the same.

  The memory 46 previously stores step number unit data indicating the step number unit in each print mode in association with each print mode. Based on the step number unit data stored in the memory 46, the control unit 41 performs rotation driving of the feed motor 7 during the printing operation in steps of an integral multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor 7 determined for each printing mode. Control is performed in several units (any one of 16 step units, 32 step units, 64 step units, and 128 step units). Note that the step number unit is, in other words, the minimum drive step number of the feed motor 7, and therefore the value of the step number unit corresponds to the minimum transport amount of the printing paper 2.

  By the way, the feed motor 7 (stepping motor) has a phase that tends to cause a phase shift (positional shift of the rotation stop position) from a phase that should be stopped when the rotation drive is stopped, and originally stops when the rotation drive is stopped. There is an optimum phase that is a phase that is stable and easily stopped without causing a phase shift from the power phase. The optimum phase, which is a phase in which the feed motor 7 can be stably stopped without causing a phase shift, differs depending on the step number unit (that is, the printing mode) for controlling the rotation drive of the feed motor 7.

  Therefore, when the control unit 41 receives an instruction from the printer driver 70 and executes a printing operation for printing an image on the entire printing paper 2, the feed motor 7 is instructed from the printer driver 70 before the printing operation is started. The phase adjustment of the feed motor 7 is executed so that the optimum phase corresponding to the print mode is obtained. As described above, in any printing mode, a printing operation is being executed (that is, when printing of an image for a predetermined printing width on the printing paper 2 and conveyance of the printing paper 2 for a predetermined printing width are repeated). The phase of the rotation start position of the feed motor 7 and the phase of the rotation stop position are always the same. Therefore, by setting the feed motor 7 in the optimum phase corresponding to the printing mode at that time before starting the printing operation, the feed motor 7 is always stopped at the optimum phase during the subsequent printing operation. Thus, the rotation stop accuracy of the feed motor 7 (that is, the conveyance stop accuracy of the printing paper 2) is improved.

  The memory 46 stores the optimum phase in each printing mode (that is, the phase from the phase that the feed motor 7 should originally stop when the feed motor 7 is rotationally driven by the number of steps determined for each printing mode and stopped. Optimal phase data indicating a phase that stops stably without causing a shift) is stored in advance in association with each print mode. The optimum phase in each of these printing modes is obtained by testing. The control unit 41 executes phase alignment of the feed motor 7 based on the optimum phase data stored in the memory 46.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the printer 1. When receiving a print instruction from the printer driver 70 (YES in # 1), the control unit 41 of the printer 1 first executes phase alignment of the feed motor 7 corresponding to the print mode designated by the printer driver 70 (# 2). ). That is, when the control unit 41 receives a print instruction from the printer driver 70, the print motor 7 designates the print designated by the printer driver 70 based on the optimum phase data stored in the memory 46 before starting the printing operation. The feed motor 7 is driven and stopped at the optimum phase so that the optimum phase corresponding to the mode is reached.

  The phase adjustment of the feed motor 7 is performed from the time when the printing paper 2 is taken in by the paper feed roller 4a until the printing of the first predetermined printing width on the printing paper 2 by the print heads 5m and 5c (that is, before the start of the printing operation). ). That is, the control unit 41 takes in the printing paper 2 by the paper feed roller 4a and transports it to the feed roller 4b, and then feeds the printing roller 2m, 5c to print the first predetermined printing width on the printing paper 2 with the feed roller 4a. When the conveyance of the printing paper 2 by 4 b is stopped, the feed motor 6 is stopped at the optimum phase in the printing mode designated by the printer driver 70. As a result, the phase adjustment of the feed motor 7 is performed, and the feed motor 7 is in the optimum phase in the print mode designated by the printer driver 70.

  Then, the control unit 41 executes the printing operation in the printing mode designated by the printer driver 70 (# 3). That is, the control unit 41 executes the phase adjustment of the feed motor 7 and then causes the printer motor 70 to move the feed motor 7 from the state where the feed motor 7 is in the optimum phase corresponding to the print mode designated by the printer driver 70. Rotation is driven in units of the number of steps in the designated print mode, and conveyance of the print paper 2 by the feed roller 4b and printing of a predetermined print width on the print paper 2 by the print heads 5m and 5c are repeated.

  At this time, the rotational drive of the feed motor 7 is started from the optimum phase, and the unit of the number of steps for rotationally driving the feed motor 7 is an integral multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor 7, so that the next predetermined printing is performed by the print heads 5m and 5c. When the printing paper 2 is conveyed by a predetermined printing width and stopped by the feed roller 4b in order to perform width printing, the feed motor 7 always stops at the optimum phase in the printing mode designated by the printer driver 70. Become.

  According to the printer 1 having such a configuration, the feed motor 7 is in an optimum phase corresponding to the printing mode (a phase that stably stops without causing a phase shift in the printing mode) before the start of the printing operation. State. Then, the conveyance of the printing paper 2 is controlled by rotating and controlling the feed motor 7 in units of a step number that is an integral multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor 7 determined for each printing mode. A printing operation for printing an image on the entire printing paper 2 is performed by repeating conveyance for the printing width and printing on the printing paper 2 with a predetermined printing width. As a result, the phase (rotation stop position) when the feed motor 7 stops rotating after the conveyance of the printing paper 2 for a predetermined printing width is always performed in any printing mode. In the print mode, an optimum phase is obtained that stably stops without causing a phase shift. Accordingly, in all the printing modes, the rotation stop accuracy of the feed motor 7 (that is, the conveyance stop accuracy of the printing paper 2) is improved, and the deviation of the printed image before and after the printing paper 2 is conveyed by a predetermined printing width is suppressed. You can increase your rank.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, the feed motor 7 is not limited to the W1-2 phase excitation method, and may be driven by another excitation method. The feed motor 7 is not limited to a two-phase stepping motor, and may be another stepping motor. The printer 1 is not limited to printing an image based on data received from a printer driver 70 installed in an external device. For example, the printer 1 includes an image reading unit, and based on data obtained by reading an image by the image reading unit. An image may be printed on the printer. In this case, the print mode is designated by operating an operation unit provided in the printer 1, for example.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an electrical block configuration diagram of the printer. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Printing paper 3 Paper rest 4a Paper feed roller 4b Feed roller 4c Exit roller 5m, 5c Print head 6 Carrier 7 Feed motor 8 Carrier motor 10 Housing 11 Paper feed port 12 Paper discharge port 21, 22 Guide shaft 41 Control part 42 Feed Motor Drive Circuit 43 Carrier Motor Drive Circuit 44 Head Drive Circuit 45 External Device Connection Unit 46 Memory 51m, 51c Nozzle 60 PC (Personal Computer) (External Device)
70 Printer driver

Claims (3)

A feed roller for transporting the printing paper, a print head for printing an image of a predetermined printing width on the printing paper transported by the feed roller, a feed motor for rotating the feed roller, and the feed A feed motor drive circuit for rotationally driving the motor, and a control means for controlling the operation of the apparatus,
The feed motor comprises a two-phase stepping motor that is step-driven,
The feed motor driving circuit drives the feed motor by a W1-2 phase excitation method,
The control means includes
By controlling the rotation drive of the feed motor by the feed motor drive circuit, the conveyance of the printing paper by the feed roller is controlled,
A printing operation for printing an image on the entire printing paper is performed by repeating conveyance of the printing paper by the feed roller and printing of a predetermined printing width by the printing head,
When executing the printing operation, the rotation of the feed motor is performed in units of steps (hereinafter referred to as “feed step number”) that is an integral multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor determined for each print mode relating to print quality. Control
A printer driver for performing a printing operation by this apparatus by an operation from a computer is installed in the computer, and the printer performs a printing operation in a printing mode designated by the printer driver.
Phase in which the feed motor is stably stopped without causing a phase shift from the phase that should be stopped when the feed motor is rotationally driven by the number of feed steps determined for each printing mode and stopped. And further comprising a memory that stores the optimum phase data indicating the optimum phase corresponding to each printing mode,
The control means includes
When executing the printing operation in response to an instruction from the printer driver,
Before starting the printing operation, based on the optimum phase data stored in the memory, the feed motor is in an optimum phase corresponding to the printing mode designated by the printer driver. Execute the phase adjustment of the feed motor by driving the feed motor,
After performing the phase alignment, the feed motor is rotated in units of the number of feed steps in the print mode designated by the printer driver from the state in which the feed motor is in the optimum phase corresponding to the print mode designated by the printer driver. To execute the printing operation,
A printer characterized by that. A feed roller for transporting the printing paper, a print head for printing an image of a predetermined printing width on the printing paper transported by the feed roller, a feed motor for rotating the feed roller, and the feed A feed motor drive circuit for rotationally driving the motor, and a control means for controlling the operation of the apparatus,
The feed motor comprises a stepping motor that is step-driven,
The control means includes
By controlling the rotation drive of the feed motor by the feed motor drive circuit, the conveyance of the printing paper by the feed roller is controlled,
A printing operation for printing an image on the entire printing paper is performed by repeating conveyance of the printing paper by the feed roller and printing of a predetermined printing width by the printing head,
When executing the printing operation, the rotation of the feed motor is performed in units of steps (hereinafter referred to as “feed step number”) that is an integral multiple of the total number of phases of the feed motor determined for each print mode relating to print quality. In the printer to control
Phase in which the feed motor is stably stopped without causing a phase shift from the phase that should be stopped when the feed motor is rotationally driven by the number of feed steps determined for each printing mode and stopped. And further comprising a memory that stores the optimum phase data indicating the optimum phase corresponding to each printing mode,
The control means includes
When performing the printing operation,
Before starting the printing operation, based on the optimum phase data stored in the memory, the feed motor is in a state of being in the optimum phase corresponding to the printing mode in the printing operation. Drive the motor to perform phase alignment of the feed motor;
A printer characterized by that. The feed motor comprises a two-phase stepping motor,
The feed motor driving circuit drives the feed motor by a W1-2 phase excitation method.
The printer according to claim 2.

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