JP2009131984A - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid to form characters and images based on printing data on a recording medium by detecting changing of a place for installation of a printing apparatus when the printing apparatus is moved to change the place for installation of the printing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The printing apparatus for forming the characters and the images on the recording medium, includes an image forming part for forming the characters and the images based on the printing data on the recording medium, an acceleration detecting part for detecting an acceleration of the printing apparatus, a movement judging part for judging whether or not the printing apparatus moves from the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting part, and an electricity accumulating part 34 for supplying electric power. The image forming part does not form the characters and the images based on the printing data on the recording medium when it is judged that the printing apparatus is moved by the movement judging part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method.

A printing device is designated from a plurality of printing devices connected to the network, and print data is sent to the designated printing device to form characters and images. This may be performed in order to intentionally limit a target person who uses information on characters and images by forming characters and images at a place where a designated printing apparatus is installed.
When using a printing device for such a purpose, if the printing device is moved from a location where it has been installed to another location such as a room, characters or characters formed by the printing device The image may be provided to a person who should not use the image without being provided to the intentionally limited target person. For example, in a hospital, if a printing device placed in a nurse's station for a certain medical subject is moved to another medical subject's station, a treatment content document that should be used by nurses in the intended medical subject's station However, it is output for nurses who are in the place of unintended medical subjects.
Therefore, a method for detecting that the printing apparatus has moved by providing the printing apparatus with an acceleration sensor is conceivable. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method in which a medical device is provided with an acceleration sensor, the impact of the medical device is detected by the acceleration sensor, and the operation of the medical device is stopped.

JP 2000-189440 A

However, in the method of Patent Document 1, the magnitude of impact is detected, and the operation of the device is stopped when a predetermined acceleration exceeds an allowable value. Therefore, it is possible to detect a small vibration when the printing apparatus moves. Can not. Further, if the predetermined acceleration is lowered and small vibrations are detected, even if the printing apparatus is moved a little at the same installation location, the small vibrations are detected and an image is not formed.
In this way, when the printing device is moved and the installation location is changed, it is detected that the printing device is moved and the installation location is changed, and characters and images based on the print data are formed on the recording medium. There is a problem that it cannot be prevented.

  Application Example 1 A printing apparatus that forms characters and images on a recording medium, an image forming unit that forms characters and images based on print data on the recording medium, and an acceleration detection unit that detects acceleration of the printing apparatus And a movement determination unit that determines whether or not the printing apparatus has moved based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit, and a power storage unit that supplies electric power, and the image forming unit includes the movement When the determination unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved, no character or image based on the print data is formed on the recording medium.

  According to this configuration, since the acceleration detection unit that detects the acceleration of the printing apparatus and the power storage unit that supplies electric power are provided, electric power is supplied even when the printing apparatus is not turned on, and the acceleration of the printing apparatus is increased. Can be detected. In addition, since the image forming unit includes the movement determining unit that determines whether or not the printing apparatus has moved based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting unit, the image forming unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved by the movement determining unit. If so, no characters or images based on the print data are formed on the recording medium. Therefore, when the printing apparatus is moved and the installation location is changed, it is detected that the printing apparatus is moved and the installation location is changed, so that characters and images based on the print data are not formed on the recording medium. It becomes possible to.

Application Example 2 The movement determination unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved when a time greater than or equal to a predetermined acceleration exceeds a predetermined time for the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit. The printing apparatus.
According to this configuration, it is possible to detect that the printing apparatus has been moved.

Application Example 3 The printing apparatus, wherein the movement determination unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved when acceleration detection exceeding a predetermined time exceeds a predetermined number of times.
According to this configuration, the detection accuracy for detecting the movement of the printing apparatus is improved.

Application Example 4 The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an identifier storage unit that stores an identifier for identifying the printing apparatus, and receives the print data when the identifier is specified.
According to this configuration, when a printing device connected to the network is moved and the installation location is changed, characters and images are formed at an unintended installation location by the printing device specified by the identifier. Can be prevented.

Application Example 5 The above printing apparatus, wherein the acceleration detection unit further includes a sub CPU.
According to this configuration, power can be supplied to the sub CPU without supplying power to the main CPU. As a result, power consumption used by the main CPU can be suppressed.

Application Example 6 The printing apparatus, wherein the image forming unit prints a message on the recording medium when the movement determination unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved.
According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the user that the printing apparatus has moved.

Application Example 7 The printing apparatus includes a display unit that outputs a message. When the movement determination unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved, the image forming unit displays a message on the display unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an output instruction is issued.
According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the user that the printing apparatus has moved.

  Application Example 8 Printing apparatus for forming characters and images on a recording medium, an image forming process for forming characters and images on a recording medium based on print data, and an acceleration detection process for detecting acceleration of the printing apparatus And a movement determination step for determining whether or not the printing apparatus has moved based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection step, and a power storage step for supplying power, wherein the image forming step includes: When it is determined in the movement determination step that the printing apparatus has moved, a character or image based on the print data is not formed on the recording medium.

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<First embodiment>
In the first embodiment, a printing apparatus including an acceleration detection unit will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet printer 1 as a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The paper S as a recording medium is conveyed by the paper feed motor 9 along the platen 10 to the front side of the drawing. The timing belt 4 is rotated by the carriage drive motor 8. The carriage 11 fixed to the timing belt 4 moves in the horizontal direction of the drawing along the guide shaft 3 fixed to the housing 2 by switching the rotation direction of the carriage drive motor 8. On the carriage 11, a color ink cartridge 6 filled with yellow, magenta and cyan inks and a monochrome ink cartridge 7 filled with monochrome ink are mounted.

  A head (not shown) is provided on the paper S side of the carriage 11, and ink is supplied from the color ink cartridge 6 and the monochrome ink cartridge 7. A circuit board (not shown) on which a head driving circuit for driving the head is mounted and the head are connected by a flexible cable 5.

  Ink can be ejected from the head by the head driving circuit. The ink jet printer 1 repeats main scanning for moving the carriage along the guide shaft 3 and sub-scanning for moving the paper S in the transport direction, and ejects ink from the head to form an image on the paper S. it can.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a computer and an inkjet printer connected to a network. Computer 100, 101, 102, other computers (not shown) and inkjet printers 1, 1a, 1b, and other inkjet printers (not shown) are connected to network A as an intranet indicated by a solid circle. Each computer or inkjet printer has an IP (Internet Protocol) address as an identifier. By designating an IP address from each computer, print data can be sent to the designated inkjet printer to form an image.

  The inkjet printer 1 is installed at an installation location 200 indicated by a broken-line circle. Similarly, the inkjet printers 1a and 1b are installed at installation locations 201 and 202, respectively. When an IP address is designated, an installation location for forming an image can be selected by an ink jet printer having the designated IP address.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the inkjet printer 1. The ink jet printer 1 is generally configured by a printer controller 24, a print engine 31, an acceleration detection unit 35, and a power storage unit 34.

  The printer controller 24 includes an external interface (I / F) 28 that receives print data including character information transmitted from the network A, a RAM 20 that stores various data, a control program for various data processing, and the like. The ROM 21 that has been stored, the flash memory 22 that can rewrite data and retain the memory even when the power is turned off, the control unit 27 including a CPU, the oscillation circuit 23, and the drive signal to be supplied to the head 30 are generated. A drive signal generation circuit 26 and an internal interface (I / F) 25 for outputting print data, drive signals, and the like obtained by developing print data for each dot to the print engine 31 are provided.

  In the flash memory 22 constituting the identifier storage unit of this embodiment, an area for storing an identifier for identifying the inkjet printer 1 is secured, and a code as an identifier is stored.

  The flash memory 22 is provided with a movement flag area. The inkjet printer 1 is provided with an operation button (not shown) for initializing the movement flag, and can be initialized by turning off the setting of the movement flag by pressing the operation button.

  The print engine 31 includes a head 30, a carriage moving unit 32, and a conveyance unit 33. The carriage moving unit 32 includes a carriage drive motor 8, a timing belt 4, a linear encoder, and the like, and performs main scanning that moves the carriage 11 in the main scanning direction under the control of the printer controller 24. The transport unit 33 includes a paper feed motor 9, a paper feed roller (not shown), a paper discharge roller (not shown), a driven roller (not shown), a rotary encoder (not shown), and the like, and is controlled by the printer controller 24. Thus, sub-scanning is performed to move the paper S in the sub-scanning direction. The print engine 31 forms an image on the paper S by ejecting ink from the head 30 while repeating main scanning by the carriage moving unit 32 and sub-scanning by the transport unit 33.

  The image forming unit in this embodiment includes a printer controller 24 and a print engine 31.

  The acceleration detection part 35 is comprised by the acceleration sensor which consists of a piezoelectric element. The acceleration detection unit 35 can detect acceleration when the inkjet printer 1 is moved.

  The power storage unit 34 includes a battery circuit. The main power source of the ink jet printer 1 can obtain electric power when a user inserts a plug (not shown) into an outlet (not shown) connected to an AC power source. When the user unplugs from the outlet and the main power is not turned on to move the inkjet printer 1, the power storage unit 34 functions as a power source for the acceleration detection unit 35, the control unit 27, the RAM 20, the ROM 21, and the flash memory 22. can do.

  The movement determination unit in this embodiment can measure time using the oscillation circuit 23. The movement determination unit can measure the time from when the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit 35 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined acceleration to when the acceleration becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined acceleration.

  The movement determination unit determines that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved when the time from when the detected acceleration is equal to or higher than the predetermined acceleration to when the detected acceleration is equal to or lower than the predetermined acceleration exceeds a predetermined time. . For example, when the predetermined acceleration is 0.5 G, the predetermined time is 10 seconds, and the time during which the acceleration of 0.5 G or more is continued exceeds 10 seconds, it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved.

  The movement determination unit is configured by the control unit 27, the RAM 20, the ROM 21, the flash memory 22, and the oscillation circuit 23. The program stored in the ROM 21 is read into the RAM 20, and the output information from the oscillation circuit 23 and the flash memory 22 are stored. The control unit 27 functions by executing a program using various parameters.

  Next, a method for determining whether or not the inkjet printer 1 has moved by the movement determination unit will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for detecting that the inkjet printer 1 has moved in this embodiment. The program processed in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is executed even when the main power supply is not turned on because power is supplied by the power storage unit 34, and detects whether the inkjet printer 1 has been moved.

  In step S <b> 40, the movement determination unit starts measuring time when the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor of the acceleration detection unit 35 exceeds a predetermined acceleration. In step S41, the movement determination unit stops measuring time when the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined acceleration.

  In step S42, the movement determination unit determines whether or not a time period during which the acceleration is equal to or greater than a predetermined acceleration has exceeded a predetermined time. When the acceleration exceeds a predetermined time (Yes), it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved and the process proceeds to step S47. If the acceleration has not exceeded the predetermined time (No), it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has not been moved, and the process returns to step S40.

  In step S47, the movement flag provided in the area of the flash memory 22 is set to ON, and the process ends.

  Next, a processing method for controlling whether or not the image forming unit forms an image according to the setting state of the movement flag will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for controlling whether the image forming unit forms an image according to the setting state of the movement flag. The program processed according to the flowchart of FIG. 5 is activated when an image is formed on the paper S based on the print data received from the network A.

  In step S50, it is determined whether or not the movement flag is ON. When the movement flag is ON (Yes), the process proceeds to step S52, and when the movement flag is OFF (No), the process proceeds to step S51. In step S52, the control unit 27 stops control for forming characters and images based on the print data received from the network A. In step S53, character information indicating that the control for forming characters and images based on the print data received from the network A is stopped is printed on the paper S as a message.

  In step S51, the control unit 27 executes control for forming characters and images based on the print data received from the network A, and ends the process.

  Next, a processing method for initializing by turning off the movement flag will be described. When the user presses the movement flag initialization operation button provided in the inkjet printer 1, the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is started, and the movement flag is changed from the ON setting state to the OFF setting state. Can be initialized.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for turning off and initializing the movement flag. In step S60, it is determined whether or not the time that the movement flag initialization operation button has been pressed exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds). When the predetermined time is not exceeded (No), step S60 is executed again. When the predetermined time is exceeded (Yes), the process proceeds to step S61. In step S61, the movement flag of the flash memory 22 is set to OFF and is initialized.

  As described above, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment detects the acceleration of the image forming unit that forms characters and images based on the print data on the paper S as the recording medium and the inkjet printer 1 as the printing apparatus. An acceleration sensor as an acceleration detection unit; a movement determination unit that determines whether or not the inkjet printer 1 has moved based on a result detected by the acceleration sensor; and a battery circuit as a power storage unit that supplies power to the acceleration sensor. The inkjet printer 1 does not form an image based on the print data on the paper S when the movement determination unit determines that the inkjet printer 1 has moved.

  According to this configuration, since the acceleration detection unit that detects the acceleration of the inkjet printer 1 as a printing apparatus and the power storage unit 34 that supplies electric power are provided, the user can plug the plug from the outlet in order to move the inkjet printer 1. Even when the main power supply of the inkjet printer 1 is not turned on, power is supplied, and it can be detected that the acceleration of the inkjet printer 1 has changed. In addition, since the image forming unit includes the movement determining unit that determines whether the inkjet printer 1 has moved based on the change in acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting unit, When it is determined that the character has moved, no character or image based on the print data is formed on the paper S as the recording medium. Therefore, when the ink jet printer 1 is moved and the installation location is changed, it is detected that the ink jet printer 1 is moved and the installation location is changed, and characters and images based on the print data are formed on the paper S. It becomes possible not to do.

The movement determination unit determines that the inkjet printer 1 has moved when a time that is equal to or greater than a predetermined acceleration for the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor exceeds a predetermined time.
According to this configuration, it is possible to detect that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved.

An identifier storage unit that stores an IP address as an identifier for identifying the inkjet printer 1 is provided, and print data is received when the identifier is specified.
According to this configuration, when the inkjet printer 1 connected to the network A is moved and the installation location is changed, characters and images are formed at an unintended installation location by the inkjet printer 1 specified by the IP address. Can be prevented.

<Second embodiment>
In the second embodiment, in the detected acceleration, when the time that is equal to or greater than the predetermined acceleration exceeds the predetermined time, it is counted as one time, and when the counted number exceeds the predetermined number of times, A case where it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved will be described. For example, the predetermined acceleration is set to 0.5 G, the predetermined time is set to 10 seconds, the predetermined number of times is set to 3 times, and when the acceleration of 0.5 G or more continues for 10 seconds or more, it is counted as 1 time and counted. When the total exceeds three times, it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for determining whether or not the ink jet printer 1 in the second embodiment has been moved. The flowchart of FIG. 7 is obtained by adding step S43 to the flowchart of FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. The processing from step S40 to step S42 is the same as the processing content described using the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S43, the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor is counted as one time when the time that is equal to or greater than the predetermined acceleration exceeds the predetermined time, and whether or not the counted number exceeds the predetermined number. Determine. When the counted number exceeds the predetermined number (Yes), it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved, and the process proceeds to step S47, and when the counted number does not exceed the predetermined number (No), It is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has not been moved, and the process returns to step S40.

As described above, in the inkjet printer 1 according to the second embodiment, the movement determination unit determines that the inkjet printer 1 has moved when acceleration detection exceeding a predetermined time exceeds a predetermined number of times. For example, it is possible to determine a change in acceleration when the inkjet printer 1 is moved while walking by the user holding the inkjet printer 1 by hand or placing it on a carriage, so that the inkjet printer 1 can be detected.
In this way, the detection accuracy for detecting the movement of the inkjet printer 1 is improved.

<Third embodiment>
In the third embodiment, a case will be described in which it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved when it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved. The ink jet printer 1 of the third embodiment is provided with a display unit using a liquid crystal panel and can output character information.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a processing method for displaying that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved on the display unit when it is determined that the inkjet printer 1 in the third embodiment has been moved. Step S54 is added to the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. The processing from step S50 to step S53 is the same as the processing content described using the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S54, a message indicating that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved is displayed on the liquid crystal panel, and the process ends.

As described above, the ink jet printer 1 of the third embodiment includes the liquid crystal panel as a display unit that outputs a message. When the movement determination unit determines that the ink jet printer 1 has moved, the ink jet printer 1 Instructs the liquid crystal panel to output a message and displays that the inkjet printer 1 has been moved.
According to this configuration, the user can be notified that the inkjet printer 1 has moved.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the fourth embodiment, a case where the inkjet printer 1 includes a sub CPU will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the inkjet printer 1 in the fourth embodiment.

  The ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a sub CPU 36 in addition to a main CPU (not shown) constituting the control unit 27. The sub CPU 36 is supplied with power by the battery circuit as the power storage unit 34 together with the RAM 20, ROM 21, flash memory 22, and oscillation circuit 23.

  The sub CPU 36 executes the program read from the ROM 21 to the RAM 20 using the output value from the acceleration sensor serving as the acceleration detection unit 35, the parameters stored in the flash memory 22, and the number of oscillations from the oscillation circuit 23. Since the sub CPU 36 does not control the drive signal generation circuit 26, the power consumption of the CPU can be made lower than the power consumption of the main CPU.

As described above, the inkjet printer 1 according to the fourth embodiment further includes the sub CPU 36 in addition to the acceleration sensor.
According to this configuration, power can be supplied to the sub CPU 36 without supplying power to the main CPU. As a result, power consumption used by the main CPU can be suppressed.

  The printing apparatus described in the first to fourth embodiments has been described using an ink jet printer. However, a dot impact method in which an ink ribbon is hit with a thin pin, and a thermal transfer method in which a ribbon applied to a tape is melted with heat. It may be a printer.

  Further, the serial printer that performs the main operation and the sub-operation has been described, but a page printer that forms an image in units of one page, a line printer that arranges a head in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the like may be used.

  Further, although an acceleration sensor using a piezoelectric element has been described as an acceleration detector, an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration from a change in capacitance may be used.

  Further, the power of the main power source is obtained by inserting the plug into an outlet connected to the AC power source, but the main power source may be a battery.

1 is an external perspective view of an inkjet printer. 1 is a diagram illustrating a computer and an inkjet printer connected to a network. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an ink jet printer. 6 is a flowchart of processing for detecting that the inkjet printer has moved according to the present exemplary embodiment. 9 is a flowchart of processing for controlling whether or not the image forming unit forms an image according to a setting state of a movement flag. The flowchart of the process which makes a movement flag OFF and initializes. 10 is a flowchart of processing for determining whether or not the ink jet printer in the second embodiment has been moved. The flowchart of the processing method which displays that the inkjet printer was moved to the display part of the inkjet printer in 3rd Example. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an ink jet printer according to a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer, 20 ... RAM, 21 ... ROM, 22 ... Flash memory, 23 ... Oscillator circuit, 24 ... Printer controller, 26 ... Drive signal generation circuit, 27 ... Control part, 30 ... Head, 31 ... Print engine, 34 ... electric storage unit, 35 ... acceleration detection unit, 36 ... sub CPU.

Claims (8)

A printing apparatus for forming characters and images on a recording medium,
An image forming unit that forms characters and images based on print data on a recording medium;
An acceleration detector for detecting the acceleration of the printing apparatus;
A movement determination unit that determines whether or not the printing apparatus has moved based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit;
A power storage unit for supplying electric power,
The image forming unit does not form a character or an image based on the print data on the recording medium when the movement determining unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The movement determination unit determines that the printing device has moved when a time that is equal to or greater than a predetermined acceleration exceeds a predetermined time for the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement determination unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved when acceleration detection exceeding a predetermined time exceeds a predetermined number of times. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
An identifier storage unit for storing an identifier for identifying the printing apparatus;
A printing apparatus that receives the print data when the identifier is specified. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
A printing apparatus, wherein the acceleration detection unit further comprises a sub CPU. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:
The image forming unit prints a message on the recording medium when the movement determination unit determines that the printing device has moved. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising:
The printing apparatus includes a display unit that outputs a message,
When the movement determination unit determines that the printing apparatus has moved, the image forming unit instructs the display unit to output a message. A printing apparatus for forming characters and images on a recording medium,
An image forming process for forming characters and images based on print data on a recording medium;
An acceleration detecting step of detecting an acceleration of the printing apparatus;
A movement determination step for determining whether or not the printing apparatus has moved based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection step;
A power storage process for supplying power,
In the image forming step, when it is determined by the movement determination step that the printing apparatus has moved, characters and images based on the print data are not formed on the recording medium.

Images