JP2008142899A - Printer, method of detecting paper width of printer, and control program of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correctly detect a paper width in a printer which can print to a plurality of kinds of papers of different widths and carries out the detection of the paper width by measuring the width of the paper supplied before printing, thereby specifying a standard value of the paper width from an actually measured value. <P>SOLUTION: After a rolled paper is supplied (step S101), the width is measured (S102), and at the same time a relative humidity near the rolled paper is detected (S103). A permissible range of an error of the rolled paper width according to the humidity is read from a storage part (S104). Standard values of the rolled paper width which agree within the permissible range of the error with the actually measured value of the rolled paper width are searched from standard values of a plurality of kinds of rolled paper widths stored in the storage part by a sequence according to a priority preliminarily set by the operation of a user (S105-S107). The standard value of the rolled paper width which first agrees is specified and displayed as the standard value of the width of the supplied rolled paper (S108). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is capable of printing on a plurality of types of paper having different widths, measures the width of the paper fed before printing, and performs paper width detection for specifying the standard value of the width of the paper from the measured value. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a paper width detection method thereof, and a control program thereof.

  In a printing device such as a printer that can print on multiple types of paper of different sizes, if you print on paper that does not match the paper size of the print data (as intended by the user), the printing will fail, and paper, ink, And processing time is wasted. For this reason, various methods have been proposed for avoiding printing failure due to paper size mismatch.

  For example, if the width of the loaded paper (cut paper) is detected and does not match the long side or the short side length of the print data, printing is suspended and a paper of an appropriate size is loaded. There is a method of displaying an error to prompt the user (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As a paper width detection method, for example, in a dot serial printer, there is a method in which a light reflection type paper detection sensor is provided in the vicinity of a print head on a carriage that reciprocates in parallel with a platen (for example, patent document). 2). In this method, both ends of the sheet in the width direction are detected by a sheet detection sensor as the carriage reciprocates, and the sheet width is measured by the amount of movement of the carriage between them. In a conventional large-format ink jet printer that prints on roll paper, the width of the roll paper is measured and detected by this method.

  On the other hand, in the print data received from the host computer, the user can designate the width of the roll paper assumed to be printed by a print control command. If the width of the roll paper in the print data and the width of the supplied roll paper do not match, printing is suspended and a warning is displayed to the user via the display on the printer's operation panel, etc., and post-processing selection ( Execute or cancel printing).

  This method is particularly effective when performing enlarged printing in accordance with the width of the roll paper on which the original image is printed by the printer driver on the host computer, or when performing borderless printing. That is, in enlarged printing and borderless printing, an effective printed matter cannot be obtained unless printing is performed on a designated paper size. When printing on roll paper that is not of the specified paper size, if the width of the roll paper is small, the image is cut off halfway, and if it is large, extra margins are created.

On the other hand, the roll paper expands by absorbing moisture in the air due to the high and low humidity of the environment in which it is placed, or contracts by drying, so there is no guarantee that the width as per the original standard can be detected. For this reason, a certain error tolerance (for example, ± 1.0%) with respect to the standard value of the roll paper width is specified so that the standard value of the original width of the roll paper can be specified even in the worst environment that guarantees printing. It has established. The printer stores the standard values for the widths of multiple types of paper that can be printed, and searches for the standard value that matches the measured value of the roll paper width measured through the sensor within an allowable range of errors. Thus, the standard value of the original width of the roll paper is specified.
JP 2005-88364 A (paragraphs [0027], [0028], FIG. 2) JP-A-5-69608 (paragraphs [0012], [0013], FIG. 2)

  However, the standard value of the roll paper width includes approximate standard values of, for example, a 300 mm width and an ISO A3 width (297 mm). Considering the error tolerance range (± 1.0%) for these two standard values, the width becomes 300 mm (297.0-303.0 mm) and ISO A3 width (294.1-299.9 mm). There are overlapping areas (297.0-299.9 mm) in the range. In other words, the printer determines whether the original standard value of the width of the roll paper is 300 mm or the ISO A3 width of 297 mm when the measured value of the width of the supplied roll paper is a value within the overlapping area. Cannot be distinguished.

  As a coping method in this case, for example, the printer has to take a method of continuing the processing by specifying the standard value of the width of the roll paper that matches first in the processing order of the roll paper width search. In this case, the roll paper width may be erroneously detected.

  Also, there is a method of allowing the user to input a standard value for the width of the roll paper every time the roll paper is loaded, but this is troublesome and troublesome for the user.

  Furthermore, there is a method of invalidating the roll paper width detection process itself when the standard value of the roll paper width is 300 mm or 297 mm, but this does not make sense for width detection.

  The present invention is not limited to roll paper, and can be printed on a plurality of types of paper having different widths. The width of the paper fed before printing is measured, and the standard value of the width of the paper is specified from the measured value. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems in a printing apparatus that performs sheet width detection. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to enable accurate detection without erroneous detection between standard values of paper widths approximated by paper width detection in a method that does not require a user's trouble in the printing apparatus. There is.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention (Claim 1)
It is a printing device that can print on multiple types of paper with different widths, measures the width of the paper fed before printing, and performs paper width detection that identifies the standard value of the paper width from the measured value. And
Paper width storage means for storing standard values of a plurality of types of printable paper widths;
Priority setting means for variably setting search priority for paper width detection with respect to the standard values of the plurality of types of paper widths in accordance with a user operation;
A measuring means for measuring the width of the fed paper,
Among the standard values of the plurality of types of paper widths, a paper width standard value that matches a measured value of the paper width measured by the measuring unit within a preset allowable error range is the priority order setting unit. And searching means for searching in the order in accordance with the priority order set by the above, and specifying the standard value of the paper width corresponding first as the standard value of the width of the fed paper.

The present invention (Claim 3)
It is a printing device that can print on multiple types of paper with different widths, measures the width of the paper fed before printing, and performs paper width detection that identifies the standard value of the paper width from the measured value. And
Paper width storage means for storing standard values of a plurality of types of printable paper widths;
A measuring means for measuring the width of the fed paper,
Humidity detecting means for detecting the relative humidity in the vicinity of the fed paper;
An allowable range setting means for variably setting an error allowable range at the time of searching for paper width detection according to the relative humidity detected by the humidity detection means;
A standard value of the paper width that matches the actual value of the paper width measured by the measuring means from the standard values of the plurality of types of paper widths within an allowable range of errors set by the allowable range setting means. Searching means for searching and specifying the standard value of the corresponding paper width as the standard value of the width of the fed paper is provided.

  In the present invention, the configuration of the sheet width detection method of the printing apparatus and the control program of the printing apparatus corresponding to the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present invention is employed.

  According to the present invention (claim 1), a sheet approximated by sheet width detection is set by appropriately setting a search priority for sheet width detection for a plurality of types of sheet width standard values by a user operation. Accurate detection can be performed without erroneous detection between standard width values. Further, the user's operation for setting the priority order only needs to be performed occasionally as necessary, and it does not take much time and effort.

  According to the present invention (Claim 3), the allowable error range at the time of searching for paper width detection is variably set according to the relative humidity in the vicinity of the fed paper. Therefore, for example, in an environment of medium humidity where the expansion or contraction of the paper is small, the allowable range of error can be set narrowly, so that the standard value of the paper width approximated by the paper width detection can be reduced. Accurate detection can be performed without erroneous detection. In addition, the user does not need to perform a special operation and does not take time and effort.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, an embodiment of an ink jet printer as a printing apparatus connected to a host computer via a LAN (Local Area Network) as shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The ink jet printer of the embodiment can print on a plurality of types of roll paper having different widths as paper. The material of the roll paper is not limited to what is literally made of paper, but includes that made of materials other than paper such as plastic.

[Host computer configuration]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a control system of a host computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a host) 100 connected to an ink jet printer (hereinafter abbreviated as a printer) 200 of this embodiment via a LAN 190. The control system of the host 100 includes the following units connected to each other via a system bus 109.

  The CPU 101 controls the entire host 100. The RAM 102 is used for writing and reading various execution programs and data. The ROM 103 stores various data and programs and is used only for reading. The FDD 105 is used for writing and reading data such as a document file created by the host 100. The HDD 106 stores a boot program, various application software, a printer driver (print command generation program) 1061, and the like. Various image data are sequentially written in the VRAM 107. An image based on the image data is displayed on the CRT 108. A print setting screen for the user to set various printing conditions is also displayed by the CRT 108. The LAN I / F 104 is a communication unit for communicating with the outside such as the printer 200 via the LAN 190.

  The printer driver 1061 has a function of creating and outputting borderless print data in which a print image is enlarged to the full roll paper width specified by the user, in addition to a generally known printer driver function. The user selects the roll paper width to be printed on the print setting screen. The print data output from the printer driver 1061 includes a roll paper width designation command as part of the print control command. The roll paper width designation command has an ID indicating the roll paper width as a parameter.

[Printer configuration]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the control system of the printer 200, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show the mechanical configuration of the main part of the printer 200. First, the configuration of FIG. 2 will be described.

  The configuration shown in FIG. 2 includes the following units connected to each other by a system bus 211.

  The CPU 201 governs overall control of the printer 200. The RAM 202 is used for writing and reading various data during a printing operation. The ROM 203 stores data such as a control program executed by the CPU 201. The control program includes a control program corresponding to the processing procedure of flowcharts shown in FIGS. The ROM 203 has storage units 2031 to 2033 described later. A LAN I / F 204 is a communication unit for communicating with an external host or the like via a LAN.

  The operation panel 205 includes an input key group for a user to input various operations, and an LCD (liquid crystal display) and an LED (light emitting diode) for displaying. The operation panel 205 is an interface that displays a menu or the like on the LCD to inform the user of the printer status, and receives user instructions and settings by key input.

  An LF motor (paper feed motor) 206 is a motor that drives the LF roller (paper feed roller) 302 in FIGS.

  The CR motor (carriage motor) 207 is a motor that reciprocates along the width direction of the roll paper 301 on the carriage 305 on which the print head (inkjet head) 306 shown in FIGS.

  The suction fan 208 is a fan used to suck air downward from a plurality of holes (not shown) formed in the suction platen 304 in FIGS. The roll paper 301 can be held flat on the suction platen 304 by applying an air suction force to the roll paper 301 conveyed onto the suction platen 304 by the suction fan 208.

  The reading sensor 209 is a means for detecting both ends in the width direction of the roll paper 301 in order to measure the width of the roll paper 301 that is mounted and fed to the printer 200, and is an optical sensor having a light source and a light receiving unit. And mounted on the carriage 305 as shown in FIG. Both ends of the roll paper 301 can be detected by moving the carriage 305 along the width direction of the roll paper 301 and receiving the light reflected from the light source of the reading sensor 209 and reading it. That is, when the reading sensor 209 passes over the end of the roll paper 301, the output of the reading sensor 209 changes due to the difference in light reflectance between the roll paper 301 and the suction platen 304. can do. Note that the reading sensor 209 is also used to detect the leading edge of the roll paper 301.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the temperature / humidity sensor 210 is provided in the vicinity of the mounting portion of the roll paper 301 of the printer (specifically, in the vicinity of the upper side of the portion drawn from the winding portion of the roll paper 301). Then, the temperature (air temperature) and relative humidity at that position are detected.

  The ROM 203 includes a corresponding paper width storage unit 2031, a search priority storage unit 2032, and a humidity / width error storage unit 2033.

  The corresponding sheet width storage unit 2031 stores data of standard values of widths of a plurality of sheets (roll sheets) that can be printed by the printer 200. Specifically, for example, the corresponding sheet width storage unit 2031 is a data table having contents as shown in FIG. is there. This table is a data table in which IDs of roll paper widths corresponding to the printer 200 (printable) and data of standard values (Width) of roll paper widths are associated with each other in the order of numbers (No). The numbers are assigned in ascending order of the standard value of the roll paper width. Among the standard values of the roll paper width, the ISOA3 width (ID_ISOA3) and the 300 mm width (ID_300MM) are approximated by a difference of only 3 mm.

  The search priority storage unit 2032 retrieves each roll paper width when a standard value of the roll paper width corresponding to the actual measured value of the roll paper width measured by the CPU 201 via the reading sensor 209 is searched from the corresponding paper width storage unit 2031 as described later. This stores the priority order of the standard value search. Specifically, the search priority storage unit 2032 is a data table having contents as shown in FIG. 6 (a) or (b), for example. The CPU 201 searches the standard value of the roll paper width corresponding to the actual measured value of the roll paper width from the corresponding paper width storage unit 2031 in the order according to the priority order of this table (Order). For example, in the example of FIG. Search in the order of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,. In the example of (b), no. Search in the order of 0, 1, 3, 2, 4,. For the first time, the standard value that matches the actual measurement value within the allowable range of error is recognized as the standard value of the width of the roll paper loaded in the printer 200.

  In the example of FIG. 6A, the ISOA3 width is set as the third, and the search is performed with priority over the fourth 300 mm width. In the example of (b), the 300 mm width is set as the third, and the search is performed with priority over the fourth ISOA3 width.

  In the ROM 203, at least the search priority storage unit 2032 is configured to be rewritable by an EEPROM or the like, and the data is changed according to the operation of the operation panel 205 as described later, for example, as shown in FIGS. Or vice versa.

  The humidity / width error storage unit 2033 detects an error of the roll paper width when the CPU 201 searches the roll paper width according to the relative humidity in the vicinity of the mounting portion of the roll paper 301 of the printer 200 detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 210. Used to change the set value of the allowable range. The storage unit 2033 is a data table having contents as shown in FIG. 7, for example, and defines an allowable range of roll paper width error for each of high, medium, and low relative humidity. Here, the relative humidity is classified into, for example, a high humidity of 80% RH or more, a medium humidity of 40% RH or more and less than 80% RH, and a low humidity of less than 40% RH. The tolerance of the roll paper width error is ± 1.0% at high and low humidity, and ± 0.5% at medium humidity. In this manner, the allowable range of error is set to be narrowed at medium humidity, which is a relative humidity suitable for printing.

  Next, the configuration and operation of FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described.

  3 and 4, the winding portion of the roll paper 301 is rotatably held by a roll paper holder 309. When the roll paper 301 is set, the part pulled out from the winding part of the roll paper 301 passes between the LF roller 302 and the pressure contact roller 303 that presses the roll paper 301 to the top of the suction platen 304. Has been pulled out. When the LF roller 302 is rotated by the LF motor 206 in FIG. 2, the drawn portion of the roll paper 301 is conveyed on the suction platen 304 in the left direction in the drawing.

  One end of the LF roller 302 is provided with an LF encoder 308 that rotates integrally with the LF roller 302. By measuring the rotation amount of the LF roller 302 via the LF encoder 308 by a sensor (not shown), the CPU 201 can measure the transport amount of the roll paper 301.

  The pressure roller 303 sandwiches the roll paper 301 in conjunction with the LF roller 302 and presses the roll paper 301 onto the suction platen 304 at a position before the area through which the carriage 305 passes. The suction platen 304 is a member that supports the roll paper 301 from below when printing, and can hold the roll paper 301 flat by the suction force of the suction fan 208 in FIG. 2 as described above.

  The carriage 305 is mounted with a print head 306 and a reading sensor 209, and reciprocates along the width direction of the roll paper 301 perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the roll paper 301 by driving the CR motor 207 in FIG. With the one or both directions of the reciprocating direction as the main scanning direction, the print head 306 is driven as the carriage 301 moves in the main scanning direction, and ink droplets are ejected from a plurality of nozzles (not shown). Printing is performed on the roll paper 301 on 304. One band is printed in one main scan, and one band is sequentially printed by alternately repeating one main scan and the conveyance operation of the roll paper 301 for one band. Ink is supplied to the print head 306 from an ink tank (not shown).

  A CR encoder 307 is provided along the moving direction of the carriage 305. The CPU 201 can measure the amount of movement of the carriage 305 by reading a slit (not shown) of the CR encoder 307 and counting by a sensor (not shown) provided on the carriage 305 while moving the carriage 305. Then, while the carriage 305 is moved in one direction, the movement amount of the carriage 305 from when one end in the width direction of the roll paper 301 is detected by the reading sensor 209 until the other end is detected is measured. Can be measured.

[Priority paper width setting]
In the present embodiment, it is possible to variably set which of the ISOA3 width (ID_ISOA3) and 300 mm width (ID_300MM), which are roll paper widths approximate to each other in the roll paper width search, is to be preferentially searched. The roll paper width that is set to be given priority among the two roll paper widths is hereinafter referred to as priority paper width or priority roll paper width. The setting is performed according to the operation of the operation panel 205 by the user. The setting operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU 201 after the display of FIG. 9C is performed in the priority sheet width setting operation. FIG. 9 shows a change in display in the priority sheet width setting operation by the LCD of the same panel in response to an operation of a menu key (not shown) provided on the operation panel 205, a down key, a left / right key, and a confirmation key of the cursor key. Is shown.

  Note that a control program for controlling the priority sheet width setting operation of the CPU 201 previously determined in the search priority storage unit 2032 what number and what order the priority order of the roll paper widths approximated to each other corresponds to. Assume that it has been created above. In FIG. 6, the third and fourth ranks correspond to this. That is, in FIG. 6A, the third rank No value is “2” corresponding to the ISOA 3 width, and the fourth rank No value is “3” corresponding to the 300 mm width. In (b), the reverse is true.

  First, when the user presses the menu key with the online key on the operation panel 205 turned off, the CPU 201 displays the main menu shown in FIG. 9A on the operation panel 205 (LCD). When the left and right keys are further pressed, the paper setting menu in the main menu shown in (b) is displayed. Further, the sub-menu of the paper setting menu is entered when the down key is pressed, and the priority roll paper width setting menu shown in FIG.

  In this state, the processing of FIG. 8 is started. First, in step S81, it is determined whether or not the down key has been pressed while the priority roll paper width setting menu is displayed.

  If pressed, in step S82, the third value (No) of the priority in the search priority storage unit 2032 is read, and the ID corresponding to that value is read from the corresponding paper width storage unit 2031 and is currently set. It is stored as the ID of the priority roll paper width. Then, it is displayed on the operation panel 205 that the roll paper width of that ID is the currently set priority roll paper width. That is, when the ID is ID_ISOA3, a message indicating that the priority roll paper width set as shown in FIG. 9D is the ISOA3 width is displayed. If the ID is ID_300MM, a message indicating that the priority roll paper width is 300 mm is displayed as shown in (e). For example, when the content of the data table of the search priority storage unit 2032 is in the state of FIG. 6A, the third priority value is “2”, so the roll paper width of ID_ISOA3 is set as the priority roll paper width. Thus, the CPU 201 causes the display of FIG. 9D to be performed.

  In step S83, it is determined whether the left / right key is pressed. Then, in step S84, the ID of the priority roll paper width that is currently set and stored is changed to an ID of the roll paper width that approximates it, and the roll of the ID that has changed the display of the set priority roll paper width. Change to the paper width display. For example, if the priority roll paper width ID has been set to ID_ISOA3 and the left and right keys are pressed in the state shown in FIG. 9D, the priority roll paper width ID is changed to ID_300MM and (d ) Is changed to (e). Each time the left / right key is pressed once, the ID of the priority roll paper width is alternately changed between ID_ISOA3 and ID_300MM, and the displays of (d) and (e) are alternately changed.

  If the left and right keys have not been pressed in step S84 and in step S83, it is determined in step S85 whether the confirm key has been pressed. If not, the process returns to step S83 to repeat steps S83 to S85. If pressed, the process proceeds to step S86.

  In step S86, it is assumed that the ID of the priority roll paper width set at the time of pressing the confirmation key is confirmed, a confirmation screen is displayed, and the data of the confirmed ID No value is searched for the search priority storage unit 2032. Overwrite the data of the third value of the priority. Further, the data of the No value of the roll paper width ID approximate to the roll paper width of the ID is overwritten on the data of the fourth value of the priority order.

  For example, when the confirmation key is pressed in the display state of FIG. 9E and ID_300MM is confirmed as the ID of the priority roll paper width, a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 9F is displayed and the state of FIG. Thus, the value “3” of No corresponding to ID_300MM is written in the third priority order. In addition, the value “2” of No corresponding to ID_ISOA3 is written in the fourth priority.

  After the priority roll paper width is confirmed by such writing, the display on the operation panel 205 is returned from the confirmation screen in FIG. 9F to the menu screen for setting the priority roll paper width in FIG. If the down key is pressed, the process of FIG. 8 is performed again, but the end of the process is confirmed when the user presses (turns on) the online key without pressing the down key.

  As described above, it is possible to variably set the priority order as to which of the ISOA 3 width and the 300 mm width between the roll paper widths approximated by the roll paper width search is to be preferentially searched.

[Roll paper width detection]
In the printer of this embodiment, when the user sets roll paper, the roll paper set is fed and the original width value (standard value) of the roll paper is detected. That is, the roll paper width ID is specified. The operation will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the CPU 201 for performing roll paper feeding and roll paper width detection.

  The process in FIG. 10 is started when the user sets the roll paper 301 in the printer 200. In order to set the roll paper 301, the user first loads the roll paper 301 (the winding portion thereof) in the roll paper holder 309 in FIGS. Then, the paper pressing lever (not shown) is released and the pressure roller 303 is raised. Then, the roll paper 301 is pulled out from the winding portion, passed between the LF roller 302 and the pressure roller 303, and pulled out onto the suction platen 304. Then, the paper pressing lever is set, the pressure roller 303 is lowered, and the roll paper is sandwiched between the LF roller 302. Here, for example, it is assumed that roll paper having a standard value width of 300 mm is set.

  When the CPU 201 detects that the roll paper 301 is set on the suction platen 304 by a sensor (not shown), the CPU 201 starts the process of FIG. 10 and first feeds the roll paper in step S101. That is, first, the LF motor 206 is driven to rotate in the forward direction by a predetermined amount, that is, in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. At the same time, the carriage 305 is moved onto the roll paper 301 by driving the CR motor 207. Thereafter, the LF roller 302 is reversely rotated to reversely feed the roll paper 301. When the leading edge of the roll paper is detected by the reading sensor 209, the LF roller 302 is stopped to stop the reverse feed of the roll paper.

  Next, in step S102, the width of the roll paper 301 is measured. For this reason, first, the LF roller 302 is rotated forward by a predetermined amount to convey the roll paper 301 in a direction to pull out the predetermined amount. Then, the reading sensor 209 detects the left and right ends of the roll paper 301 while moving the carriage 305 in one direction along the width direction of the roll paper 301 from end to end on the suction platen 304. Meanwhile, the CR encoder 307 is used to measure the amount of movement of the carriage 305 from the detection of the left and right ends to the detection of the other end. mm]. Here, it is assumed that the actual measurement value is 2990 [mm / 10], for example.

  Next, in step S103, the temperature and humidity sensor 210 detects the relative humidity in the vicinity of the mounting portion of the roll paper 301, that is, the relative humidity of the environment where the roll paper 301 is placed. Here, it is assumed that the detected relative humidity is 60% RH, for example.

  Next, in step S104, an allowable range of roll paper width error corresponding to the detected relative humidity is read from the humidity / width error storage unit 2033 in FIG. For example, when the detected relative humidity is 60%, the allowable range is ± 0.5%.

  Next, a roll paper width search is performed by repeating the loop processing of steps S105 to S107.

  In step S <b> 105, one roll paper width No value to be searched is read from the search priority storage unit 2032 in ascending order of priority. For example, when the content of the storage unit 2032 is (a) in FIG. 6, the value of No is sequentially changed to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,... Read one by one.

  In step S106, it is determined whether or not the search for all Nos is completed depending on whether or not the value of No could be acquired by reading in step S105. If the search is completed, it means that the currently set roll paper is a roll paper that is not compatible with the printer. Therefore, an error message that prompts the user to replace the roll paper in the operation panel 205 in step S109. After displaying, the process is terminated.

  If the search is not completed, that is, if one reading value can be obtained by reading, the standard value of the roll paper width corresponding to the No is read from the corresponding paper width storage unit 2031 in step S107. Then, it is determined whether or not the measured value of the roll paper width measured in step S102 matches the standard value within the allowable range of the error read in step S104.

  If they do not match, the process returns to step S105 to repeat the processes of steps S105 to S107. If they match, the standard value of the roll paper width set in step S108 is specified as the standard value that matches, and the ID of the standard value of the specified roll paper width is obtained as the roll paper width search result. The roll paper width is displayed on the operation panel 205 while being stored. Thereafter, the process ends.

  Here, for example, the content of the search priority storage unit 2032 is (a) of FIG. 6, the measured value of the roll paper width is 2990 [mm / 10], the relative humidity is 60% RH, and the allowable error range is ± 0. In the case of 5%, it is assumed that the processing of steps S105 to S107 is repeated. In that case, in order 0, 1, 2 and the determination of coincidence between the standard value and the actual measurement value is repeated. The actual measured value 2990 [mm / 10] is equal to the standard value within the allowable range of error for the first time at 3000 [mm / 10] ± 0.5% of 3. For this reason, the width of the fed roll paper is specified to be 300 mm width of ID_300MM.

  Conventionally, as described above, the allowable range of error is uniformly fixed to ± 1.0%, for example. In this case, if the processing of steps S105 to S107 is repeated, No. 5 is obtained. The measured value 2990 [mm / 10] is equal to the standard value within the allowable error range for the first time at 2970 [mm / 10] ± 1.0%. Therefore, the width of the fed roll paper is erroneously specified as 297 mm of ID_ISOA3.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in a medium humidity environment suitable for printing (roll paper expansion or contraction is small), the allowable range of error is narrower than that in a high humidity or low humidity environment, and therefore approximate to each other. The roll paper width can be correctly specified even between the roll paper widths. In other words, considering an error tolerance (± 0.5%) between 300 mm width and ISO A3 width (297 mm), 300 mm width (298.5-301.5 mm) and ISO A3 width (295.515-298.485 mm). ) That is, there is no overlapping area within the allowable range of each other. Therefore, it is possible to specify correctly regardless of the priority order of both searches.

  If the printer supports ID_ISOA3 and ID_300MM roll paper widths, but the user uses only ID_300MM roll paper, the data in the search priority storage unit 2032 is set in the priority paper width setting in FIG. It may be set as shown in b). That is, the roll paper width of ID_300MM may be set to have priority over the roll paper width of ID_ISOA3. In this way, ID_300MM can be correctly specified in ID_300MM and ID_ISOA3 even in a high or low humidity environment.

[Print control according to roll paper width specification]
In the printer of this embodiment, as described above, when roll paper is set, the roll paper is fed to detect the roll paper width. After that, when print data is received and there is a command for specifying a roll paper width different from the detected roll paper width in the print data, an error is displayed and the user is asked to select whether or not to execute printing. Printing is performed according to the selection. The printing control operation corresponding to such roll paper width designation will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the CPU 201 that performs print control in accordance with the roll paper width designation.

  The process of FIG. 11 is started when the printer 200 receives print data from the host 100.

  First, in step S111, the CPU 201 analyzes the print data.

  Next, in step S112, it is determined whether there is a roll paper width designation command in the print data as a result of the analysis. Here, it is assumed that the roll paper width designation command designates the roll paper width by the roll paper width ID in FIG. 5 described above.

  If there is no roll paper width designation command, the process jumps to step S116 to perform print processing of the received print data, and thereafter ends the processing.

  On the other hand, if there is a roll paper width designation command, the process advances to step S113 to check whether the roll paper width ID designated by the command matches the roll paper width ID (detected width) supplied. judge. If they match, the process jumps to step S116 to perform print processing of the received print data, and thereafter ends the processing.

  If they do not coincide with each other, an error is displayed on the LCD of the operation panel 205 to notify the user that the roll paper width designated in step S114 does not coincide with the width of the fed roll paper. This error display is further a display prompting the user to select whether or not to execute printing by pressing an online key or a cancel key on the operation panel 205, for example.

  Next, in step S115, it is determined whether or not execution of printing is selected by pressing the key by the user. If execution of printing is selected by pressing an online key or the like, in step S116, the received print data is printed, and then the process ends. If it is selected not to execute printing by pressing the cancel key or the like, in step S117, a process for canceling printing of the received print data is performed, and then the process ends.

  Note that the print data to be printed in step S116 includes conventional paper size setting data, and the drawing size is logically determined by this paper size setting. If this logically determined drawing size width value is larger than the actually measured width of the fed roll paper, the CPU 201 avoids printing on the suction platen 304 so that the CPU 201 logically determines the drawing size width value. Is clipped with the actual measured value of the roll paper width and printed.

  In the above description, the print data is received after the roll paper is fed and the roll paper width is detected. However, the roll paper is fed between immediately after the print data is received and before the process of step S112 is performed. The roll paper width may be detected.

  According to the present embodiment as described above, as described above, the standard value of the roll paper width approximated by the process of detecting the width of the roll paper set and fed to the printer, and the ISOA3 width of 297 mm Can be detected accurately without erroneous detection. Then, based on this accurate detection result, it is possible to appropriately perform printing control according to the roll paper width designation described in FIG.

  Further, in this embodiment, in order to prevent erroneous detection between the approximate standard values of the roll paper width described above, the user operates the key operation for setting the priority paper width described in FIG. 9 as necessary. You only need to do it occasionally. That is, as compared with the conventional method in which the user inputs the roll paper width each time the roll paper is loaded, it takes less time and is not troublesome.

  In the printer of the embodiment, the roll paper width is detected so that printing can be performed on a plurality of types of roll paper having different widths. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to print on multiple types of cut sheets such as standard sizes with different widths as paper. It may be applied to the determination process.

  Further, in the contents of the humidity / width error storage unit 2033 described with reference to FIG. 7, the allowable range of the roll paper width error is uniformly set according to the relative humidity regardless of the type of roll paper. However, the error tolerance range may be set separately for each type of roll paper (type of cut paper when printing on cut paper) according to the relative humidity. As a result, the allowable range of error is variably set according to the type of roll paper fed together with the detected relative humidity.

  In the embodiment, the allowable range of the roll paper width error is set only according to the relative humidity. However, the allowable error range is set according to the combination of the relative humidity and the temperature detected by the temperature / humidity sensor 210. It may be a thing. In that case, the data table of the storage unit 2033 stores the data of a plurality of combinations of the relative humidity range and the temperature range and the data of the error tolerance ranges corresponding to each of the combinations in association with each other. To do. Then, an allowable range of error is set based on this data table.

  Further, in the embodiment, only two roll paper width standard values for which priority order can be changed by setting the priority paper width are set to two, but three or more may be set, or all may be set.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the host computer connected to the inkjet printer of an Example. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the printer according to the embodiment. It is a top view which shows the mechanical structure of the principal part of the printer of an Example. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a mechanical configuration of a main part of the printer of the embodiment. It is a table | surface figure which shows the content of the data table of the corresponding paper width memory | storage part in FIG. It is a table | surface figure which shows the content of the data table of the search priority order memory | storage part in FIG. It is a table | surface figure which shows the content of the data table of the humidity / width error memory | storage part in FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU related to a priority sheet width setting operation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the change of the display in the setting operation | movement of the priority paper width by LCD of the panel according to key operation of the operation panel. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU for performing roll paper feeding and roll paper width detection. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU for performing printing control in accordance with roll paper width designation.

Explanation of symbols

100 Host computer 200 Inkjet printer 201 CPU
202 RAM
203 ROM
205 Operation Panel 206 LF Motor 207 CR Motor 209 Reading Sensor 210 Temperature / Humidity Sensor 301 Roll Paper 302 LF Roller 305 Carriage 306 Print Head 307 CR Encoder 2031 Corresponding Paper Width Storage Unit 2032 Search Priority Storage Unit 2033 Humidity / Width Error Storage Unit

Claims (8)

It is a printing device that can print on multiple types of paper with different widths, measures the width of the paper fed before printing, and performs paper width detection that identifies the standard value of the paper width from the measured value. And
Paper width storage means for storing standard values of a plurality of types of printable paper widths;
Priority setting means for variably setting search priority for paper width detection with respect to the standard values of the plurality of types of paper widths in accordance with a user operation;
A measuring means for measuring the width of the fed paper,
Among the standard values of the plurality of types of paper widths, a paper width standard value that matches a measured value of the paper width measured by the measuring unit within a preset allowable error range is the priority order setting unit. A printing apparatus comprising: search means for searching in an order according to the priority order set by the step, and specifying a standard value of a paper width corresponding first as a standard value of a width of a fed paper. Humidity detecting means for detecting the relative humidity in the vicinity of the fed paper;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an allowable range setting unit that variably sets an allowable range of an error during the search by the search unit according to the relative humidity detected by the humidity detection unit. It is a printing device that can print on multiple types of paper with different widths, measures the width of the paper fed before printing, and performs paper width detection that identifies the standard value of the paper width from the measured value. And
Paper width storage means for storing standard values of a plurality of types of printable paper widths;
A measuring means for measuring the width of the fed paper,
Humidity detecting means for detecting the relative humidity in the vicinity of the fed paper;
An allowable range setting means for variably setting an error allowable range at the time of searching for paper width detection according to the relative humidity detected by the humidity detection means;
A standard value of the paper width that matches the actual value of the paper width measured by the measuring means from the standard values of the plurality of types of paper widths within an allowable range of errors set by the allowable range setting means. A printing apparatus comprising search means for searching and specifying the standard value of the corresponding paper width as the standard value of the width of the fed paper.   3. The allowable range setting unit variably sets an allowable range of error during the search according to the type of paper fed together with the relative humidity detected by the humidity detection unit. The printing apparatus according to 3. Printing device paper that can print on multiple types of paper with different widths, measures the width of the paper fed before printing, and performs paper width detection that identifies the standard value of the paper width from the measured value A width detection method,
A priority setting step for variably setting a search priority for paper width detection with respect to standard values of a plurality of types of printable paper widths stored in the storage means in accordance with a user operation;
A measurement process for measuring the width of the fed paper,
Of the plurality of types of paper width standard values, a paper width standard value that coincides within a preset allowable error range with respect to the actual paper width value measured in the measurement step is set in the priority order setting step. And performing a search process for specifying the standard value of the corresponding paper width as the standard value of the width of the fed paper first. Paper width detection method. Printing device paper that can print on multiple types of paper with different widths, measures the width of the paper fed before printing, and performs paper width detection that identifies the standard value of the paper width from the measured value A width detection method,
A measurement process for measuring the width of the fed paper,
A humidity detection step for detecting the relative humidity in the vicinity of the fed paper;
An allowable range setting step of variably setting an allowable range of error at the time of searching for paper width detection according to the relative humidity detected in the humidity detection step;
Within the tolerance range of the error set in the tolerance range setting step with respect to the actually measured value of the sheet width measured in the measurement step from among the standard values of a plurality of printable sheet widths stored in the storage means. A paper width detection method for a printing apparatus, comprising: searching for a matching standard value of a paper width, and performing a search step of specifying the standard value of the corresponding paper width as a standard value of the width of a fed paper. Control of a printing device that can print on multiple types of paper with different widths and measures the width of the paper fed before printing and performs paper width detection that identifies the standard value of the paper width from the measured value A program,
A control program for a printing apparatus, comprising a control procedure for detecting a paper width by the paper width detection method for a printing apparatus according to claim 5. Control of a printing device that can print on multiple types of paper with different widths and measures the width of the paper fed before printing and performs paper width detection that identifies the standard value of the paper width from the measured value A program,
A control program for a printing apparatus, comprising a control procedure for detecting a paper width by the paper width detection method for a printing apparatus according to claim 6.

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