JP2009057141A - Continuous paper printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous paper printer system capable of reducing the work man-hour for charging paper sheets by automatically calculating the optimum page number of the paper sheets to be fed by a first printer when charging the paper sheets even when the page number of the paper sheets to be passed through between continuous printers is changed according to various kinds of factors. <P>SOLUTION: A control device automatically calculates the optimum page number of paper sheets to be fed out by a first printer when charging the paper sheets by a means for allowing the control device to automatically grasp the distance between the printer and a paper sheet inversion device, and a means for allowing the control device to grasp the amount of the paper sheets necessary for allowing the paper sheet inversion device to charge the paper sheets according to information on the single-face print and the double-face print. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a continuous paper printer system in which a plurality of continuous paper printers are connected.

  A continuous paper printer system in which two continuous paper printers for single-sided printing are connected is known. For example, after printing on the first printer, one side two-color printing in which different colors are printed on the same paper surface on the second printer, or paper is reversed between the first printer and the second printer by a paper reversing device. There is duplex printing in which the second printer prints on the back side of the paper printed by the first printer. In this continuous paper printer system, after a sheet is loaded into the first printer, a sheet having a length necessary for loading the sheet is sent from the first printer to the stacker of the second printer.

  With regard to this paper loading, for example, when the operator manually loads paper after starting up the printer system, the paper path length δ between the printing mechanisms of the two printers can be determined and input to the system. It is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes that the paper loading operation is being performed, but it is ambiguous at which point in the paper loading operation is indicated, and the method of paper loading is not described.

  In addition, by knowing in advance the number of pages of paper to be passed between the two continuous paper printers, when loading the paper into the second continuous paper printer, the first continuous paper printer has the required number of pages. A configuration is known in which the paper loading operation can be easily performed by feeding the paper from the printer. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). However, when the installation position of the continuous paper printer is changed, or when the paper stacking method in the paper reversing device installed between the two continuous paper printers is changed according to single-sided printing or double-sided printing, etc. If the paper path length between the printing mechanism unit of the first printer and the printing mechanism unit of the second printer is changed, or if the paper length of the paper to be used is different from the previous time, two units that have been grasped in advance This necessitates reassessment of the number of pages of paper passing between the continuous paper printers.

JP 2004-358815 A JP 07-237336 A

  When the printer installation position is changed, or when the paper loading method in the paper reversing device is changed according to single-sided printing or double-sided printing, the paper passing through the printing mechanism of the first printer from the printing mechanism of the first printer is changed. Since the paper path length is changed, the number of pages of the paper path length is changed.

  Further, even when the paper length of the paper used for printing is different from that used last time, the number of pages of the paper passing through the printing mechanism section of the first printer from the printing mechanism section of the first printer is changed.

  Therefore, in order to load paper into the stacker of the second printer that has been held by the control device until then, it is necessary to review the optimum number of pages of the amount of paper sent out by the first printer.

  When the number of pages sent out from the first printer is not known when the paper is loaded, for example, when the number of pages sent out is small, the work is repeated until the first printer sends out the paper with the optimum number of pages.

  On the other hand, if the number of pages sent out from the first printer is too large, the amount of paper stays near the paper exit of the first printer, so the paper reversing device or the second printer is loaded with paper. It becomes difficult. In addition, there is an increase in the trouble of sending out the extra paper remaining after the paper is loaded into the second printer. In addition, when the excess remaining paper is sent out by the second printer, the staying position of the paper may interfere, and the paper may be cut and wasted.

  Therefore, when the installation position of the continuous paper printer is changed, when the paper loading method in the paper reversing device installed between two continuous paper printers is changed, or when the paper length of the paper to be used is the last time If it is different from the above, there is a need for a system in which the controller can automatically calculate the number of pages of paper passing between two continuous paper printers.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, even when the number of paper pages passed between continuous paper printers is changed due to various factors, the optimum number of paper pages that the first printer sends out when the paper is loaded is automatically set. It is an object of the present invention to provide a continuous paper printer system that reduces the number of man-hours for paper loading by calculating.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, in a continuous paper printer system having a first printer and a second printer, a paper reversing device that reverses the paper surface between the printers, and a control device that performs printing control, The control device calculates the number of paper pages necessary for loading paper to the paper discharge unit of the second printer in a state where paper is loaded only in the first printer.

  In addition, the control device includes a detecting unit that detects a distance between the printer and the sheet reversing device.

  In addition, the control device includes a calculating unit that calculates a sheet length necessary for loading a sheet into the sheet reversing device based on information on single-sided printing or double-sided printing.

  In the continuous paper printer system having a plurality of printers, at least one paper reversing device for reversing the paper surface between the printers, and a control device for performing print control, the control device performs printing first. It is characterized in that the number of paper pages required to load paper is calculated up to the paper discharge section of the final printer to be printed last when paper is loaded only in the first printer.

  In addition, the control device includes a detecting unit that detects a distance between the printer and the sheet reversing device.

  Furthermore, the control device has a calculating means for calculating a sheet length necessary for loading a sheet into the sheet reversing apparatus based on information on single-sided printing or double-sided printing.

  According to the present invention, even when the number of pages of the paper passing between the continuous paper printers is changed, the control device automatically calculates the optimum number of pages of the paper to be sent out by the first printer when the paper is loaded, and the paper is loaded. It is possible to provide a continuous paper printer system that reduces the number of work steps.

  When the printer installation position is changed, when the paper loading method in the paper reversing device is changed by changing the printing mode, and when the paper length of the paper to be used is changed, the second printer is loaded when the paper is loaded. In order to load paper up to this stacker, the optimal number of pages of paper sent out by the first printer is changed.

  Therefore, the printer and paper reversing device are provided with a sensor consisting of a light emitting unit, a reflecting unit, and a light receiving unit, so that the distance between the printer and the paper reversing device can be ascertained from the detection result of the sensor, and information about single-sided printing or double-sided printing To determine the paper path length necessary for loading the paper into the paper reversing device, and the control device loads the paper up to the stacker of the second printer when loading the paper based on the paper length of the paper to be used. It was realized that the control device automatically calculates the optimum number of pages of paper to be sent out by one printer.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, paper travel of the continuous paper printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a continuous paper printer system showing paper running during double-sided printing in which a paper reversing device is set so that two continuous paper printers respectively print the front and back surfaces of paper.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a continuous paper printer system showing paper running such as single-sided two-color printing in which a paper reversing device is set so that two continuous paper printers print the same surface of paper with different toners.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a continuous paper printer showing paper running during double-sided printing in a linear arrangement, unlike FIG.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the printing operation of the continuous paper printer system.

  The first side image developed by the control device 4c in FIG. 4 is printed on the printing paper 2a by the printing mechanism unit 4a of the first printer 1a. When the printing paper 2a on which the first side image is printed reaches the second printer 1c via the paper reversing device 1b and the paper winding unit 1k, the second side image developed by the control device 4c is the second printer 1c. It is printed on the printing paper 2a by the printing mechanism 4b and stored in the stacker 4d.

  At this time, in the setting of the sheet reversing device 1b in FIG. 1, since the front and back sides of the printing surface of the printing paper 2a are reversed, the second printer 1c prints the second side image on the back side of the first side image, Become. In the setting of the sheet reversing device 1b in FIG. 2, the second printer 1c prints the second surface image on the same surface as the first surface image without inverting the front and back of the printing surface of the printing paper 2a. If the colors printed by the first printer 1a and the second printer 1c are changed, one-sided two-color printing is performed. Note that double-sided multicolor printing can be performed by connecting a plurality of printers and a paper reversing device.

  Next, in order to load the printing paper 2a up to the stacker 4d of the second printer 1c when loading the paper, in order to determine the optimum number of pages of the printing paper 2a sent out by the first printer 1a, the paper path length between the printers is set. A form of means for automatically measuring will be described.

The paper path length between printers is classified into the following five sections.
(1) First paper path length 4e in the first printer 1a (paper path length from the position A where the printing paper 2a is set to the first printer 1a exit)
(2) Second paper path length 4f from the first printer 1a to the paper reversing device 1b
(3) Third paper path length 4g in the paper reversing device 1b
(4) Fourth paper path length 4h from the paper reversing device 1b to the second printer 1c
(5) Fifth paper path length 4i in the second printer 1c (paper path length from the entrance of the second printer 1c to the stacker 4d)
The first paper path length 4e and the fifth paper path length 4i are always constant regardless of the printer arrangement, the printing mode, or the paper length of the printing paper 2a. The length 4i is stored in the memory of the control device 4c.

  Next, an example of a method for measuring the second paper path length 4f will be described below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the second sheet path length 4f.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, or FIG. 3, in order to easily calculate the linear distance L between the first printer 1a and the sheet reversing device 1b, a light emitting unit 1d and a light receiving unit 1f provided in the first printer 1a, The reflecting portion 1e provided in the paper reversing device 1b is preferably installed at the height N (set by the manufacturer) of the start point of the second paper path length 4f and as parallel as possible to the travel of the printing paper 2a. The reason for this is that when the position of the printer 1a, 1c or the paper reversing device 1b is changed, but the printing paper 2a cannot be properly traveled, the printing paper 2a cannot travel correctly. Also has a role to communicate.

  In measurement, when the optical signal emitted from the light emitting unit 1d installed in the first printer 1a is reflected by the reflecting unit 1e and received by the light receiving unit 1f, the sound buzzer for notifying the controller 4c of that fact. Or a lamp may be provided.

  The control device 4c can calculate the linear distance L between the first printer 1a and the sheet reversing device 1b from the time difference from the light emission of the light emitting unit 1d to the light reception by the light receiving unit 1f. For the second paper path length 4f, the height N of the start point of the second paper path length 4f is different from the height M of the end point of the second paper path length 4f, and in order to correctly run the printing paper 2a, It is necessary to consider that the printing paper 2a is slackened. Therefore, the second paper path length 4f is expressed by the following calculation formula.

  Q displayed here is the height of the part with the lowest slack recommended by the manufacturer when the paper is loaded, and is determined in advance. W is the ratio of the distance from the starting point of the second sheet path length 4f to the site with the lowest slackness, and a numerical value recommended by the manufacturer is determined in advance.

  Furthermore, although M may be automatically measured using a sensor, it is used only once when it is used for the first time. From the viewpoint of work man-hours and cost, the operator only has to input it when using it for the first time. .

  The second sheet path length 4f is determined by measuring the linear distance L and determining each value.

  This approximate expression is based on the results of various studies on the height of the paper discharge unit / reversing mechanism and the linear distance L. In the examination, the height N = 420 [mm] of the first paper discharge unit 1a and the height M = 610 [mm] of the sheet reversing device 1b, and the linear distance L is between 50 [cm] and 120 [cm]. The paper travelability due to the slack of the paper was confirmed. In any of these cases, it was confirmed that the paper path length satisfying this approximate expression is optimal. Therefore, it is possible to measure the interval L and calculate the paper path length by this approximate expression.

  Next, an example of a method for measuring the fourth paper path length 4h will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, or FIG. 3, in order to easily calculate the fourth paper path length 4h between the paper reversing device 1b and the second printer 1c, the light emitting unit 1g, the reflecting unit 1h, and the light receiving unit 1j It is good to install parallel to the ground and parallel to the travel of the printing paper 2a as much as possible. The reason for this is that when the position of the printer 1a, 1c or the paper reversing device 1b is changed, but the print paper 2a cannot be properly traveled, the print paper 2a cannot travel correctly. Also has a role to communicate.

  In the measurement, an optical signal emitted from the light emitting unit 1g installed in the second printer 1c is reflected by the reflecting unit 1h, and an audio signal is sent to inform that the control device 4c can detect that the light receiving unit 1j has received the light. A buzzer or lamp may be used. The control device 4c can calculate the distance between the sheet reversing device 1b and the second printer 1c from the time difference from the light emission of the light emitting unit 1g to the light reception by the light receiving unit 1j. As a result, the fourth sheet path length 4h is determined.

  Note that the third paper path length 4g differs depending on the paper loading method to the paper reversing device 1b when the printing mode is duplex printing or single-sided printing. Therefore, the third paper path length 4g at the time of double-sided printing and single-sided printing is stored in the memory of the control device 4c, and a value may be appropriately used when loading paper.

  In order to load paper up to the stacker 4d of the second printer 1c, the optimum number of pages P of paper sent out by the first printer can be calculated by the following formula.

Number of pages P = {4e + 4f + 4g + 4h + 4i} / 1 sheet paper length Although the calculated page number P may have a fractional part, a decimal point is rounded up to one page in this embodiment.

  An example of the flow of paper loading will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When loading the paper, the operator inputs the print mode (selection of single-sided printing / double-sided printing) and the paper length in the paper loading dialog box that opens on the console screen of the control device 4c. FIG. 7 shows an example of a display screen of the paper loading dialog box.

  Next, when the operator presses the calculation button, the control device 4c measures the second paper path length 4f and the fourth paper path length 4h, and displays the number of pages calculated by the above formula in the dialog box.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen displayed in the dialog box after calculating the number of paper pages to be sent out.

  After calculating the number of pages, the dialog box is displayed as shown in FIG. After the page number is displayed, when the operator presses the paper send button, the first printer 1a sends out the print paper 2a by the number of pages displayed in the dialog box shown in FIG.

  After the printing paper 2a is sent out, the operator loads the printing paper 2a into the paper reversing device 1b, and then sets the printing paper 2a on the stacker 4d of the second printer 1c. Since the first printer 1a sends out the optimum amount of paper, there is no waste of printing paper, and the paper loading operation can be performed in the shortest time.

  Regarding the order of installation, the first printer 1a and the paper reversing device 1b are installed at the correct positions, and then the second printer 1c is installed, or conversely, the second printer 1c and the paper reversing device 1b are installed at the correct positions. Either the first printer 1a may be installed later.

  Since the arrangement of the printers 1a and 1c may be a linear arrangement as shown in FIG. 3, if the reflecting portion 1e can be used as 1h, one reflecting portion can be reduced, leading to cost reduction.

  When the positions of the first printer 1a, the second printer 1c, and the paper reversing device 1b are not changed, or in order to avoid the high cost of the light emitting unit, the reflecting unit, and the light receiving unit installed for detecting the paper path length, these are not attached. In this case, the operator may measure the distance between the first printer 1a and the paper reversing device 1b and the distance between the paper reversing device 1b and the second printer 1c and input them to the control device 4c.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the paper length calculation at the time of paper loading in two printers has been described. However, even in the case of three or more printers, the paper length to the stacker of the final printer can be calculated by the same calculation. Is possible.

  The present invention can be applied to a continuous paper printer system composed of two or more continuous paper printers. The printing mechanism is not limited to the electrophotographic method, and can be applied to an ink jet method and various methods.

Explanatory drawing of a printing apparatus and paper loading at the time of duplex printing (right angle arrangement). Explanatory drawing (right-angle arrangement | positioning) of the printing apparatus and paper loading at the time of single-sided printing (two-color printing etc.). Explanatory drawing of a printing apparatus and paper loading at the time of duplex printing (straight line arrangement). Explanatory drawing (front view) of a printing apparatus and paper loading. Calculation method of second sheet path length. The flowchart of paper loading. Display screen 1 of a paper loading dialog box. Display screen 2 of a paper loading dialog box.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a ... 1st printer, 1b ... Paper reversing device, 1c ... 2nd printer, 1d ... Light emission part (for 1st printer), 1e ... Reflection part (for 1st printer), 1f ... Light receiving part (for 1st printer) 1g: Light emitting unit (for the second printer), 1h ... Reflecting unit (for the second printer), 1j ... Light receiving unit (for the second printer), 1k ... Paper winding unit, 2a ... Printing paper, 4a ... First printer Printing mechanism, 4b ... second printing mechanism, 4c ... control device, 4d ... stacker, 4e ... first paper path length, 4g ... second paper path length, 4g ... third paper path length, 4h ... 4th paper path length, 4i... 5th paper path length.

Claims (6)

In a continuous paper printer system having a first printer and a second printer, a paper reversing device for reversing the paper surface between the printers, and a control device for performing printing control,
The continuous paper printer system, wherein the control device calculates the number of paper pages necessary for loading paper to the paper discharge unit of the second printer in a state where paper is loaded only in the first printer.   2. The continuous paper printer system according to claim 1, wherein the control device includes a detecting unit that detects a distance between the printer and the paper reversing device.   2. The continuous paper printer system according to claim 1, wherein the control device includes a calculating unit that calculates a paper length necessary for loading paper into the paper reversing device based on information on single-sided printing or double-sided printing. In a continuous paper printer system having a plurality of printers, at least one paper reversing device that reverses the paper surface between the printers, and a control device that performs printing control,
The control device calculates the number of paper pages necessary for loading paper to the paper discharge section of the final printer to be printed last, in a state where paper is loaded only to the first printer to be printed first. A continuous paper printer system.   5. The continuous paper printer system according to claim 4, wherein the control device includes a detecting unit that detects a distance between the printer and the paper reversing device.   5. The continuous paper printer system according to claim 4, wherein the control device has a calculation unit for calculating a paper length necessary for loading paper into the paper reversing device based on information on single-sided printing or double-sided printing.

Images