JP2009131995A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of replenishing easily a label paper sheet, without opening the printer by a user, when the paper sheet running out. <P>SOLUTION: This printer 1 executes printing on the label paper sheet L fed from an outside to a printing unit 4 in a main body, by the printing unit 4. A paper sheet rear end sensor 21 is arranged on a conveying route of the label paper sheet L in the outside, and detects the passage of a rear end of the label paper sheet L. A control part 30 stops the printing by the printing unit 4, when detecting the passage of the rear end of the label paper sheet L by the paper sheet rear end sensor 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that performs printing on printing paper such as label paper that is sent from the outside to a printing unit in a main body.

  In one of the conventional printers of this type, when the label paper wound in a roll shape runs out of paper, the user opens between the print head and the platen roller provided in the printer, Label paper is replenished (for example, Patent Document 1).

  That is, the platen roller feeds the label paper and the ink ribbon in a state where the ink ribbon is overlapped on the label paper while rewinding from the predetermined supply shaft. The print head performs printing by thermally transferring the ink applied to the ink ribbon to the label paper based on a predetermined print signal. Usually, a paper sensor is disposed at a position close to the print head on the upstream side of the print head.

  During the printing operation, the label paper and the ink ribbon are sandwiched between the platen roller and the print head so as to overlap each other. When the paper sensor detects that the paper is out during the printing operation, printing by the print head and paper feeding by the platen roller for this printing are stopped.

  While the printing operation is stopped, the user first opens the printer cover, and rotates the frame holding the print head and the like with respect to the fixed platen roller. By rotating the frame, the print head and the platen roller are separated from each other. From this state, the user passes the label sheet over the platen roller, and then returns the frame holding the print head and the like to the original state. Then, the label paper and the ink ribbon are sandwiched between the print head and the platen roller, whereby the replenishment of the label paper is completed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-252492 (paragraphs 0010 to 0013, FIG. 5 and the like)

  However, according to the above-described conventional printer, each time the label sheet runs out of paper, the user (1) first opens the printer cover, (2) rotates the frame holding the print head and the like ( 3) It was necessary to perform label paper connection operations such as passing the label paper over the platen roller, (4) returning the frame, and (5) closing the cover of the printer. The connection work for each out of sheets is complicated for the user.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of solving such problems.

The printer according to claim 1 is a printer that performs printing on a printing paper that is sent from the outside to a printing unit in the main body, and is disposed on a conveyance path of the printing paper outside the printing paper. A trailing edge detecting means for detecting that the edge has passed; and a printing control means for stopping printing at the printing portion when the trailing edge detection means detects passage of the trailing edge of the printing paper. It is characterized by that.
A printer according to a second aspect is the printer according to the first aspect, wherein a sheet cutting for cutting the printing paper disposed on the downstream side of the trailing edge detection means on the conveyance path of the printing paper outside. Means are provided.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the second aspect, the printing paper has a separation at a predetermined pitch in the transport direction, and the printing paper from the paper cutting means to the printing unit Using the length of the conveyance path and the pitch of the printing paper separator, the printing paper including the connecting portion between the printing paper cut by the paper cutting means and the printing paper supplemented to the outside. Separation position specifying means for specifying a separation is provided, and the printing control means restricts printing to be performed for the separation of the printing paper specified by the separation position specifying means.
A printer according to a fourth aspect is the printer according to the third aspect, wherein the printing paper disposed on the upstream side of the printing unit on the conveyance path of the printing paper and cut by the paper cutting means, and externally A connection portion detecting means for detecting that a connection portion with the replenished printing paper has passed, wherein the print control means is configured to detect the passage of the printing paper including the connection portion detected by the connection portion detection means; It is characterized in that printing is limited for the separation.

  According to the present invention, the trailing edge detection means provided outside the printer detects passage of the trailing edge of the printing paper. Therefore, when the user runs out of paper, the user can connect the trailing edge of the printing paper and the leading edge of the newly supplied printing paper outside the printer. That is, even if the printing paper runs out of paper, the user can easily replenish the printing paper without opening the printer.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Best Embodiment)
A printer which is the best embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in the printer 1, a label paper L is placed on the rear rear side (right side in FIG. 1). The label paper L is a fanfold specification thermal paper with a sticker label attached thereto, and the printer 1 performs printing by a thermal method. A PC (personal computer) (not shown) is connected to the printer 1, and the printer 1 can perform different printing on each label on the label paper L based on print data laid out by the user on the PC side. It has become.

  The label sheet L passes through a sheet replenishing unit 2 (described later in detail) attached to the upper rear side of the printer 1 and then is fed into the printer 1 from the rear port 3a. Inside the printer 1, the label sheet L is guided by the guide roller 3 b while the printing unit 4 (an example of a printing unit) prints on the label sheet L.

  The printing unit 4 includes a thermal head 4a that prints on the label paper L and a platen roller 4b that feeds the label paper L toward the thermal head 4a. That is, while the label paper L is sandwiched between the platen roller 4b and the thermal head 4a, the label paper L is fed forward from the inside of the printer 1 (left side in FIG. 1) while the thermal head 4a Printing is performed on the paper L based on a predetermined print signal. The label paper L after printing is discharged from the discharge port 3c.

  A paper sensor 5 is disposed on the upstream side of the printing unit 4 in the vicinity thereof. The paper sensor 5 is a photo interrupter, and the label paper L passes between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. Depending on the change in the amount of infrared light received by the light emitting unit at the light receiving unit, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the label paper L may pass, or the portion of the label paper L to which the label is attached may be passing. Can be detected.

That is, when the leading edge of the label paper L passes, the amount of received light decreases rapidly, and when the trailing edge of the label paper L passes, the received light amount increases rapidly. The portion of the label paper L to which the label is attached has a combined thickness of the mount and the label, and the portion of the label paper L without the label has a thickness of only the mount. The amount of received light varies between the two.
The label paper L behind the printer 1 sequentially passes through the paper replenishing unit 2, the rear port 3a, the guide roller 3b, the paper sensor 5, the printing unit 4, the discharge port 3c, and the like. A conveyance path is formed.

  The control unit 30 that controls the operation of the printer 1 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EPROM, an input / output interface, and the like. The control unit 30 includes a stepping motor that drives the thermal head 4a and the platen roller 4b, a paper sensor 5, and the like. It is connected. The control unit 30 drives the thermal head 4a by sending a print signal to the thermal head 4a, and controls the rotation of the platen roller 4b by outputting a drive signal to the stepping motor. The control unit 30 can count the number of labels on the label paper L passing through the paper sensor 5 by a signal from the paper sensor 5.

In addition, a PC (not shown) is connected to the control unit 30, and print data is transmitted from the PC side. The above-described print signal to the thermal head 4a is output based on the print data from the PC side.
One of the features of the printer 1 is that a paper replenishing unit 2 is provided, and it is possible to detect that the label paper L has run out of the printer body. Hereinafter, this feature will be described in detail.

  The paper replenishing unit 2 includes a paper trailing edge sensor 21 and a paper cutter 22. These are necessary for the user to connect the label paper L that is out of paper (close to paper out) and the newly supplied label paper L ′ outside the printer 1.

  The paper trailing edge sensor 21 is a photo interrupter, similar to the paper sensor 5 described above, and is disposed on the conveyance path of the label paper L outside (FIG. 1). When the rear end of the label paper L passes the position where the paper rear end sensor 21 is disposed, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit increases. Therefore, the control unit 30 uses the detection signal from the paper rear end sensor 21 to detect the label paper. The passage of the rear end of L can be detected.

  Further, the paper cutter 22 is provided in order to make the length from the printing unit 4 (the contact portion of the label paper L with the thermal head 4a, etc.) to the rear end of the label paper L uniform. The paper cutter 22 is a manual guillotine type cutter having a movable blade on the upper side and a fixed blade on the lower side. When the user pushes the movable blade downward, the label paper L sandwiched between the fixed blade is cut.

  The paper replacement button 23 is pressed by the user after the label paper L has run out of paper and the replenishment of the label paper L has been completed. When the paper replacement button 23 is pressed, the control unit 30 detects the signal and restarts the printing operation on the label paper L. (The printing operation here includes printing by the thermal head 4a and paper feeding by the platen roller 4b for this printing.)

  (1) The connection structure of the paper replenishment unit 2 with the printer 1 will be described in more detail. In order to allow the user to smoothly replenish the label paper L when the label paper L runs out of paper, the paper replenishment unit 2 is shown on the rear side S of the printer 1 with a dashed line in FIG. It is supported so that it can rotate from the upper position shown by (1) to the lower position shown by a solid line. (FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of the paper replenishing unit 2. FIG. 2 (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of the paper replenishing unit 2, and FIG. (FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet replenishing unit 2 in a lower position from FIG.

  That is, the paper replenishing unit 2 has a through hole 2a as shown in FIG. 2B, and the support shaft 2b is inserted into the through hole 2a. The support shaft 2b is rotatably supported on the back surface S of the printer 1 by support members 3d and 3e attached to the left and right ends near the center of the top and bottom. That is, one end side of the support members 3d and 3e is fixed to the left and right ends near the upper and lower centers of the back surface S of the printer 1, and the other end side projects rearward from the back surface S of the printer 1 to rotate the support shaft 2b. It is designed to hold it as possible.

  Regarding the side opposite to the rotation axis side of the sheet replenishment unit 2, one end side of the support members 3f and 3g is fixed to the left and right ends of the upper part of the back surface S of the printer 1, and the other end side is the back surface S. It protrudes from the rear. Insertion holes 3h and 3i are formed on the other ends of the support members 3f and 3g, respectively, and screw holes 2c and 2d are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the upper portion of the sheet replenishment unit 2. . The knurled screws 2e and 2f are inserted through the insertion holes 3h and 3i and screwed into the screw holes 2c and 2d, respectively.

  While the printer 1 is performing the printing operation, the paper replenishing unit 2 is held in the upper position (position indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 2A) by screwing with the knurled screws 2e and 2f. Yes. When the printer 1 stops the printing operation and the user refills the label paper L, the user removes the screw and moves the paper replenishing unit 2 to the lower position (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2A). It is rotated around the support shaft 2b.

  Specifically, when the user refills the label paper L, the front end of the label paper L ′ to be newly refilled is placed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the paper rear end sensor 21, the fixed blade and the movable blade of the paper cutter 22. Pass through in order. Then, the user connects the leading end of the label sheet L 'coming out from the insertion port 24 and the rear end of the cut label sheet L coming out from the rear port 3a with a cellophane tape or the like.

  As described above, the paper replenishment unit 2 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the printer 1, so that the user can secure a sufficient work space around the insertion port 3 a on the back surface S of the printer 1 during paper replenishment. Thus, it is possible to easily and smoothly connect the label paper L.

  (2) Further, regarding the internal structure of the paper replenishing unit 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the position where the paper trailing edge sensor 21 is provided is on the upstream side of the paper cutter 22, and with the paper cutter 22. The distance x with respect to the paper trailing edge sensor 21 is preferably larger than the pitch p of the label l.

  When the passage of the rear end of the label paper L is detected by the paper rear end sensor 21, the control unit 30 stops the operation of the thermal head 4a and the platen roller 4b. This is because control is performed so that these operations are continued while printing is being performed on the label l. In other words, the operation of the thermal head 4a and the platen roller 4b is not suddenly stopped during printing in order to prevent the printing position from being displaced after printing is resumed.

  If the upstream sheet trailing edge sensor 21 is not separated from the sheet cutter 22 by the pitch p of the label 1, the trailing edge of the label sheet L is detected by the printing operation resumed after the detection of the trailing edge of the label sheet L. Enters the inside of the printer 1. In other words, such an arrangement of the paper trailing edge sensor 21 and the paper cutter 22 prevents a printing position shift after resuming printing and allows the user to easily connect the label paper L outside the printer 1. It becomes possible.

  The control in the printer 1 related to the replenishment of the label paper L using the paper replenishment unit 2 will be described in detail. Each part of the printer 1 shown in the block diagram of FIG. The print control unit 31 and the label position specifying unit 32 shown in the control unit 30 correspond to a part of a program executed by the control unit 30.

  After the normal printing operation is started, when the paper trailing edge sensor 21 detects passage of the trailing edge of the label paper L and detects that the paper has run out, the printing control unit 31 detects the thermal head 4a and the platen. The printing operation by the roller 4b is stopped.

  While the printing operation is stopped, the user cuts the vicinity of the rear end of the label paper L with the paper cutter 22 and connects the refilled label paper L ′ to the new rear end of the label paper L. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the user first cuts out the label paper L that will run out of paper with the paper cutter 22, and removes a portion longer than the length a up to the thermal head 4a. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the user connects the rear end of the cut label paper L and the front end of the newly replenished label paper L ′ with a cellophane tape T or the like.

  After the label paper L and the label paper L ′ are connected, when the user instructs the restart of the printing operation by pressing the paper replacement button 23 (FIG. 4), first, the label position specifying unit 32 displays the label paper L and the label paper L ′. The position of the connection portion with the label paper L ′ is specified.

  The position of this connection portion is specified by the length a (FIG. 5A) of the transport path of the label paper L from the cutting position of the paper cutter 22 to the contact position of the thermal head 4a, and the pitch p of the label l. Is used. The pitch p of the label 1 varies depending on the type of the label paper L used in the printer 1, but the pitch p can be detected during the feed operation.

  That is, in the feed operation, the print control unit 31 starts from the detection of the leading edge of a certain label 1 on the label paper L by the paper sensor 5 until the leading edge of the subsequent label l is detected. Is calculated as the amount of rotation of the stepping motor that drives. Since the pitch p of the label l corresponds to the rotation amount of the platen roller 4b on a one-to-one basis, if the rotation amount of the platen roller 4b, that is, the stepping motor is obtained, the pitch p of the label l is obtained.

Now, assuming that the number of labels 1 included in the length a of the label paper L is k (a positive integer value), the following formula 1 is established using the pitch p of the labels l. Here, for the real number x, [x] is the largest integer equal to or less than x.

[Formula 1] [a / p] = k

Assuming that the label 11 immediately below the thermal head 4a is the _first one, the subsequent label _k up to the _kth label lk is included on the label paper L of length a.

The label position specifying unit 32 calculates the number k of labels 1 from the above equation ₁ , and after cutting the (k + 1) -th label l _{k + 1} of the label paper L and the replenished label paper L ′. It is estimated that the tip of the _first label l ₁ ′ is connected. That is, with respect to k obtained by Equation 1, the (k + 1) th label l _{k + 1} has a connection portion. For example, if a = 400 [mm] and p = 60 [mm], k = 6 [sheets] is obtained, the seventh label ₁₇ is cut, and the trailing edge is the first sheet of label paper L ′. Is connected to the label l ₁ ′.

  As described above, after the label position specifying unit 32 (FIG. 4) specifies the number of labels 1 after the resumption of printing, the print control is performed after the connection portion between the label paper L and the label paper L ′ is included. The unit 31 resumes the printing operation. Here, as described above, the print control unit 31 can count how many labels 1 have passed based on the detection signal from the paper sensor 5. For this reason, it is possible to restrict the printing on the label (jump hole function) by jumping the label (printing paper separator) including the connection portion between the label paper L and the label paper L ′.

  In other words, even if the label paper L runs out during printing based on a series of print data transmitted from the PC side, the label including the connecting portion is printed by this jump hole function. Detected automatically. Then, the printing is smoothly continued from the last label of the label paper L which has run out of paper to the replenished label paper L ′.

  The control unit (CPU) 30 controls the above operation by the printing process shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the printer 1 is turned on, a feed operation is executed in step 1 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S), and a heating element (not shown) of the thermal head 4a is attached to the leading end of the label 1 on the label paper L. ) Is set. Further, the pitch p of the label paper L is obtained while this feed operation is executed.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the label to be printed is a label including the connection portion specified in S8 later after the paper runs out (S2). For example, when the number of labels to be printed is counted immediately after an instruction to resume printing is issued, and the number of labels later becomes the number of labels calculated in S8, the label currently being printed May include a connecting portion. If the label to be printed is not a label including a connection portion (NO in S2), a printing operation is performed on this label by the thermal head 4a and the platen roller 4b (S3). Then, the feeding operation of the label paper L is performed by the platen roller 4b up to the printing start position of the next label (S4).

  In subsequent S5, it is determined whether or not the trailing edge of the label sheet L has been detected. If the trailing edge of label paper L is not detected (NO in S5), the process proceeds to S6. If it is determined in S6 that the label subjected to the printing operation in S3 is not the final label based on the print data (NO in S6), the process returns to S2, and the next label is processed. The printing operation is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S6 that the label that is the target of the printing operation in S3 is the final label (YES in S6), the printing process ends.

  If the trailing edge of label paper L is detected in the previous S5 (YES in S5), the printing operation for the next label is stopped, and the user is notified of the paper out in S7. For example, the printer 1 may be provided with a lamp at a predetermined position on the front surface thereof, and the user may be informed that the paper has run out by lighting the lamp.

When the user replenishes label paper L and presses paper replacement button 23, this is detected (YES in S8), and the process proceeds to S9. In S9, the pitch p of the label l obtained in S1 and the length a from the paper cutter 22 to the thermal head 4a, which are stored in advance, are substituted into the length a by substituting into the above formula 1. The number k of labels l to be obtained is obtained. That is, k is calculated as an integer part of (a / p), a label l _{k + 1} including the connection part corresponding to the (k + 1) th sheet is specified, and the process returns to S2.

Since after the sheet replenishment is present connecting portion to the label sheet L, the processing from S2 to S6 is repeated only label l ₁ to l _k min of the number k calculated in S9, subsequently, the connecting portion If the included label l _{k + 1} is to be printed, YES is determined in S2. In this case, the printing operation in the subsequent S3 is skipped, and in S4, the label paper L is sent to the printing start position of the label following the label _{lk + 1} of the connection portion. That is, the printing operation for the label of the connection portion is restricted by sending the label paper L to the printing start position of the next label without performing the printing operation for the label of the connection portion.

  As described above, according to the printer 1, the paper trailing edge sensor 21 in the external paper replenishing unit 2 detects that the label paper L has run out. Therefore, when the user runs out of paper, the user connects the rear end portion of the label paper L to the front end portion of the label paper L ′ to be replenished outside the printer 1. L can be replenished. That is, unlike the conventional printer, the user does not need the troublesome work of opening the printer cover, separating the platen roller inside the printer and the print head, and passing the label paper between them. Label paper can be refilled.

  Further, in the conventional printer, the label sheet feeding operation is performed immediately after the label sheet is replenished. According to this feed operation, the label paper is fed until the above-mentioned paper sensor 5 detects the leading edge of the replenished label paper, and the label paper is detected in the state where the leading edge of the label paper is detected. Printing that matches the feed position can be resumed. However, in this feed operation, the label paper is fed for two or three labels. According to the printer 1 of the present invention, since the feeding operation is not performed when the label paper is replenished, waste of the label paper is suppressed.

(Other embodiments, etc.)
Although the present invention has been described above with specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention.
a. For example, in the above-described embodiment, even when a paper out of the label paper L is detected during printing on a certain label, the printing operation is not stopped and the next label is printed immediately after printing. The label paper L is sent to the start position. Needless to say, if it is detected that the sheet has run out during printing, it is possible to stop printing while leaving printing for the label. However, as described above, in order to prevent a printing position shift after resuming printing, it is preferable not to stop the printing operation even when a paper out is detected during printing of a certain label.

b. The paper replenishing unit 2 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the printer 1 so that the user can easily replenish the label paper L while the printing operation is stopped (FIG. 2). Unlike this, the paper replenishment unit may be slidable relative to the printer 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the unit body 6a of the sheet replenishing unit 6 is separated from the printer 1 indicated by the solid line from the proximity position adjacent to the printer 1 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line on the back surface S side of the printer 1. Slide to move to.

The paper replenishing unit 6 includes a holding base 6b and a top plate 6c in order to allow the unit main body 6a to slide. The unit main body 6 a includes a paper trailing edge sensor 21 and a paper cutter 22 in the same manner as the paper replenishing unit 2 described above.
The holding table 6b is fixed to the vicinity of the upper and lower centers of the back surface S of the printer 1, and holds the unit main body 6a placed on the upper surface thereof so as to be slidable. The top plate 6c is fixed to the upper part of the back surface S of the printer 1, and assists the holding of the unit main body 6a by the holding base 6b so that the unit main body 6a is prevented from falling during sliding.

  Fixing the unit main body 6a at the above-mentioned proximity position (position shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 7A) and fixing the unit main body 6 at the above-mentioned separated position (position shown by the solid line in FIG. 7A) Is performed by screwing. That is, the protruding plates 6d and 6e protrude upward from the left and right ends of the upper surface of the holding table 6b. Long holes 6f and 6g are formed in the projecting plates 6d and 6e, respectively, and the screw holes 6h and 6g are formed in the unit main body 6a at positions corresponding to the long holes 6f and 6g in the lower portions of the left and right side surfaces. 6i is formed. The knurled screws 6j and 6k are inserted into the long holes 6f and 6g and screwed into the screw holes 6h and 6i.

  During the printing operation of the printer 1, the user fixes the unit main body 6a to the proximity position by screwing the screw holes 6h and 6i with the knurled screws 6j and 6k. When the label paper L is replenished, the user loosens and completely removes the knurled screws 6j and 6k, and in this state, moves the unit main body 6a to the separation position. And a user fixes the unit main body 6 to this separation position by retightening the knurled screws 6j and 6k at the separation position.

  In the state where the unit main body 6 is in the separated position, the user passes the leading end of the label paper L to be newly replenished through the insertion port 61 and connects the leading end to the rear end of the label paper L coming out from the rear port 3a. Easy to do. In other words, by adopting a structure in which the unit main body 6 is slid away from the printer 1, the user can secure a sufficient space for connecting the label paper when the paper is replenished, as in the paper replenishment unit 2 described above. Thus, the connection work can be performed easily and smoothly.

  In these paper replenishment units 6, it is also possible to provide rails on the upper surface of the holding base 6b and the lower surface of the top plate 6c, and to provide a pulley that moves on the rails on the lower surface and upper surface of the unit body 6a. . Thereby, the unit main body 6a can be slid more smoothly between the holding base 6b and the top plate 6c.

c. Further, in these paper replenishment units 6, a micro switch is installed in the vicinity of the unit main body 6a, and this micro switch can detect whether the unit main body 6a is in the close position or the separated position. It is. By detecting the position of the paper replenishing unit 6 as described above, it is possible to prevent the label paper from being wasted at the time of paper replenishment and to ensure a safe connection work for the user.

  For example, the micro switch 6m shown in FIG. 7 detects that the unit main body 6a is in the separated position, and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 30. While it is detected that the unit main body 6a is in the separated position, the control unit 30 does not resume the printing operation even if the paper replacement button 23 or the like is pressed by mistake. As a result, it is possible to prevent the label paper L from being erroneously sent and the label paper L from being wasted or the user from being caught in the paper cutter 22.

As a matter of course, the micro switch detects that the unit main body is in the close position, and the control unit 30 permits the printing operation only when it is detected that the unit main body 6a is in the close position. It may be.
Similarly, for the paper replenishment unit 2, for example, a micro switch is provided on the back surface S of the printer 1 or on the back surface or the lower surface of the paper replenishment unit 2, and the paper replenishment unit 2 is positioned at the upper position. It is possible to prevent wasteful consumption of the label paper L when the paper is replenished by detecting whether the paper is in the lower position.

d. In addition, after the user refills the label paper L and printing is resumed, the paper sensor 5 is used to count the labels to be printed. In addition to this, the paper sensor 5 can detect that the label including the connection portion has passed the arrangement position of the paper sensor 5 in the vicinity of the printing unit 4. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, when looking at the (k + 1) th label lk _{+ 1} of the label paper L that is a connection portion, the (k + 2) th label following from the leading edge is displayed. The pitch p ′ up to the tip of l _{k + 2} is larger than the normal pitch p. This is used for detecting the connection portion.

  That is, the label to be printed is a label that includes a connection portion that has been detected to be passed by the paper sensor 5 and that includes a connection portion that is specified by calculation in the label position specifying unit 32. Only in some cases, the label may be restricted from being printed. By using such connection part detection, it is possible to more accurately identify the label that becomes the connection part.

In this case, the value of k calculated by the label position specifying unit 32 may be given a width in consideration of the error included in the calculation, the deflection of the label paper L, and the like. For example, the label position specifying unit 32, with respect to the calculated k, so as to identify as being included label l _k to l k + ₂ the connection portion from the k-th to (k + 2) th. When any one of the labels is to be printed and the pitch exceeds the normal pitch, the label is jumped to restrict the printing operation. Here, even if an error is included in the calculation of k or the label paper L is bent, it is possible to accurately detect a label that is a connection portion.

e. The rear end of the label sheet L may be connected to the newly replenished label sheet L ′ without cutting with the sheet cutter 22. Also in this case, the vicinity of the connection portion becomes a predetermined thickness or more so that a pitch larger than usual is detected. As described above, it is effective to use joint detection of the sheet sensor 5 while keeping the value of k wide.

f. The sheet trailing edge sensor 21 may be provided below the cutting position of the sheet cutter 22 on the conveyance path of the label sheet L.

g. Further, conventionally, when the pitch between labels becomes equal to or greater than the normal pitch, an error is issued and the printing operation is stopped, and such error processing is also performed in the present invention. Is possible. However, since it is assumed that the pitch between the label including the connecting portion described above and the label following this is equal to or greater than the normal pitch, the print control unit 31 applies the label including the connecting portion to the label including the connecting portion. Thus, such error handling is prohibited.

h. If the paper separation pitch p used in the printer 1 is not changed, the label l included in the length a of the label paper L on the transport path from the cutting position of the paper cutter 22 to the contact position of the thermal head 4a. The number k is a fixed value. The value of k may be stored in advance in a storage unit such as a ROM.

i. The resumption of printing is instructed by the paper replacement button 23. Unlike this, the control unit 30 automatically detects that the label paper L is inserted between the paper trailing edge sensors 21 and can be resumed, and based on the detection of the label paper L, the printing operation is performed. May be resumed. Further, the control unit 30 detects the position of the paper replenishing unit or the like by the micro switch in the above c, and based on the detection of the position of the paper replenishing unit or the like, it is estimated that the label paper L has been replenished. Then, the printing operation may be automatically resumed.

j. It may be instructed to resume printing by pressing a feed button or the like instead of the sheet replacement button 23. This feed button is conventionally provided for the user to instruct the start of a feed operation.

k. It was assumed that the fixed blade and the movable blade of the paper cutter 22 have a cutting edge extending linearly. The paper cutter has a cutting edge on the circumference and a circle cutter that cuts the paper by running on a predetermined rail, or a cutting edge extending along the axis on the side of a cylinder and a fixed cutter. It may be a rotary cutter or the like for cutting the paper.

Further, the paper replenishing unit 2 is provided with only a cutter corresponding to a fixed blade, and the label paper L is cut by moving the blade edge of the cutter that the user separately owns on the fixed blade. May be. Of course, it is also possible to form a paper insertion opening provided on the back side of the printer 1 so as to indicate the cutting position of the label paper L without fixing the cutter to the printer. However, from the viewpoint of user convenience, it is preferable to install a printer that can cut the label paper L independently, such as the paper cutter 22 of the above-described embodiment.
Further, although the paper cutter 22 is manually operated, the label paper L may be automatically cut after detection of paper out.

l. Of course, the printing paper may be roll paper instead of fanfold paper. Further, the printing paper is not limited to label paper, and may be paper such as a tag or a tag, or may be a paper in which an IC tag is embedded. The counting of these sheets can be performed based on detecting a cut for each sheet.

m. Further, the printer may print by other methods such as a thermal method, an ink jet method, and a laser method instead of the thermal transfer method. The printer may be one that can perform printing and write data to an IC tag embedded in paper.

n. By substituting the pitch p of the label l obtained during the feed operation and the length a from the paper cutter 22 to the thermal head 4a, which is stored in advance, into the formula 1, the label l included in the length a It is assumed that the number k is obtained. That is, k is calculated as an integer part of (a / p). Instead, the calculation result and the correspondence relationship with p may be stored in advance on a predetermined table in the storage unit, and k may be read by designating p on this table.

Schematic sectional view for explaining the operation of the printer The figure which shows an example of the structure of a paper replenishment unit Schematic diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the paper trailing edge sensor and the paper cutter. Block diagram for explaining the function of each part related to the replenishment of label paper L The figure for demonstrating the connection of label paper L and label paper L ' The flowchart which shows the flow of the printing process which a control part performs The figure which shows another example of the structure of a paper replenishment unit

Explanation of symbols

1 ……………………………… Printer 2, 6 …………………………… Paper Replenishing Unit 2a …………………………… Through Hole 2b …………… ……………… Support shafts 2c, 2d …………………… Screw holes 2e, 2f, 6j, 6k… Knurled screw 3a …………………………… Back port 3b ……… …………………… Guide roller 3c …………………………… Discharge port 3d, 3e …………………… Lower support members 3f, 3g ………………… ... Upper support members 3h, 3i …………………… Upper support member insertion hole 4 ……………………………… Print unit 4a …………………………… Thermal head 4b ………………………… Platen roller 5 ……………………………… Paper sensor (connection part detection means)
6a ……………………………… Unit body 6b …………………………… Holding base 6c …………………………… Top plate 6d, 6e …………… ......... Projection plates 6f, 6g ........................ Long holes 6h, 6i …………………… Screw holes 6l …………………………… Insertion port 6m ………… ………………… Microswitch 21 …………………………… Paper trailing edge sensor (rear edge detecting means)
22 ……………………………… Paper cutter (paper cutting means)
23 ……………………………… Paper replacement button (Resume instruction means)
24 ……………………………… Inlet 30 …………………………… Control unit 31 ……………………………… Print control unit (print control means)
32 ……………………………… Label position specifying part (separating position specifying means)

Claims (4)

A printer that performs printing on printing paper sent from the outside to the printing unit in the main body,
A rear end detection unit that is disposed on a conveyance path of the print paper on the outside and detects that the rear end of the print paper has passed;
A printer comprising: a printing control unit that stops printing in the printing unit when the trailing edge of the printing paper is detected by the trailing edge detection unit.   2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet cutting unit disposed on the downstream side of the trailing edge detection unit on the conveyance path of the printing sheet outside to cut the printing sheet. . The printing paper has a separation at predetermined pitches in the transport direction,
The printing paper cut by the paper cutting means is replenished to the outside using the length of the conveyance path of the printing paper from the paper cutting means to the printing unit and the separation pitch of the printing paper. A delimiter position specifying means for specifying a delimiter of the print paper including a connecting portion with the print paper,
The print control means includes
The printer according to claim 2, wherein printing is limited to the separation of the printing paper specified by the separation position specifying unit. It is disposed on the upstream side of the printing unit on the printing paper conveyance path, and detects that a connection portion between the printing paper cut by the paper cutting means and the printing paper supplemented to the outside has passed. It has a connection part detection means,
The print control means includes
The printer according to claim 3, wherein printing is limited to the separation of the printing paper including the connection portion detected to be passed by the connection portion detection unit.

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