JP2009190211A - Recording method, control method for recorder, and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording method, a control method for a recorder, and the recorder, allowing printing up to a terminal end of a recording paper sheet without generating waste, and capable of eliminating trouble of interrupting the printing in the midway thereof by reaching the terminal end of a recording paper sheet before finishing recording. <P>SOLUTION: A printable amount L5 of the recording paper sheet 100 is measured by feed-conveying the recording paper sheet 100, when a printing use amount L2+L3 of the recording paper sheet 100 based on a print data exceeds a residual amount L1 of the recording paper sheet 100. The recording paper sheet is rerolled, when the printing use amount is not larger than the printable amount, to execute the printing, and the printing is executed after selecting processing of either of the printing up to the midway or the interruption of the printing, when the printing use amount is larger than the printable amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording method for forming an image on a recording sheet, a control method for the recording apparatus, and a recording apparatus, and in particular, a recording method and a recording apparatus that can be suitably applied when recording on a recording sheet wound in a roll shape. The present invention relates to a control method and a recording apparatus.

  A recording apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet by a recording head based on image information. As recording paper, sheets of various materials such as plastic sheets, photographic paper, cloth, etc. are used in addition to paper. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type, and the like according to the recording method of the recording head.

  In the recording apparatus, a configuration using recording paper (so-called roll paper) wound in a roll shape has been widespread. This type of recording apparatus is suitable as a large format printer for printing a large image because the recording paper can be handled easily and the apparatus can be made smaller than the size of the recording paper. With the widespread use of large format printers, various types of roll paper have come to be used for recording. In a recording apparatus that prints on roll paper, it is required to manage the remaining amount of roll paper in order to avoid printing defects especially at the end of the recording paper and to reduce waste of recording paper.

  As methods for managing the remaining amount of roll paper, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method of calculating the remaining amount by detecting the weight and diameter of a roll-shaped recording medium. Patent Document 3 discloses a method of managing the remaining amount by providing an EEPROM in a cartridge that holds and stores a roll-shaped recording sheet and stores the remaining amount. Here, a method of writing a fixed value (for example, 100 m) as an initial value of the remaining amount in the EEPROM and subtracting the usage amount each time is employed. Further, Patent Document 4 discloses a method of managing the remaining amount by storing ID information in a paper magazine that holds and stores the roll-shaped recording paper and stores the remaining amount corresponding to the ID on the printer side. It is disclosed. Here, the initial value of the remaining amount is set by using a previously known value or measuring the length by rewinding.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-115789 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-113402 JP-A-10-254200 JP 2000-169012 A

  In general, the use of roll-shaped recording paper has an advantage that recording products (printed materials) can be efficiently bundled and accommodated in the apparatus. However, in the conventional remaining amount management of roll paper, there is a possibility that an error occurs in the length to the end of the remaining roll paper. For example, even if the length of the roll paper is managed as 30 meters, if the actual length is 29.9 meters, an error of 0.1 meters occurs. Conversely, it may be determined that there is actually no remaining amount (for example, the actual length is 30.3 meters) but there is no remaining amount.

  Accordingly, the following printing failure has occurred only by managing the remaining amount of roll paper. That is, as described above, since the remaining length of the roll paper cannot be accurately grasped, it may be determined that the recording paper has run out even though there is actually a remaining amount, and printing may not be performed. On the contrary, as a result of executing printing when the remaining amount is insufficient, there is a problem that recording paper is lost during printing and printing is interrupted.

  The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording method and a recording apparatus capable of printing without waste until the end of the recording paper, and eliminating the inconvenience that the end of the recording paper is reached before the recording is finished and the printing is interrupted in the middle. A control method and a recording apparatus are provided.

  The present invention relates to a recording method for forming an image on recording paper. When the amount of recording paper used for printing exceeds the remaining amount of recording paper, the recording paper can be sent and conveyed to carry out printing. When the print usage amount is not larger than the printable amount, the recording paper is rewound and printing is performed. When the print usage amount is larger than the printable amount, the process is selected. Printing is performed.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a recording apparatus that forms an image on recording paper, a remaining amount estimating step for estimating a remaining amount of recording paper, A determination step for determining whether or not the printing usage amount is exceeded, a measurement step for measuring the printable amount of the recording paper when the printing usage amount is larger than the remaining amount, and the printing possible amount and the printing usage amount are compared. A comparison step; and a switching step for switching operation based on a result of comparison between the printable amount and the print usage amount, and when the print usage amount is not larger than the printable amount in the comparison step, printing is performed. The operation is switched to an operation for recording based on data, and another processing is performed when the print usage amount is larger than the printable amount in the comparison step.

  Further, the present invention provides a remaining amount estimating means for estimating a remaining amount of recording paper in a recording apparatus that forms an image on the recording paper, and whether or not a printing paper used by print data exceeds the remaining amount of recording paper. Determination means for determining whether or not, measurement means for measuring the printable amount of recording paper, comparison means for comparing the printable amount and the print usage amount, and comparison between the printable amount and the print usage amount Switching means for switching the operation based on the result of the above, and when the print usage amount of the recording paper is larger than the remaining amount of the recording paper by the determination means, the printable amount of the recording paper is measured by the measuring means If the printing means is not larger than the printable quantity by the comparing means, the switching means switches to an operation for performing printing based on the print data, and the printing means can be printed by the comparing means. Larger than quantity Time, and performs other processing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to print without waste until the end of the recording paper, and it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the end of the recording paper is reached before the recording is finished and the printing is interrupted in the middle. A control method and a recording apparatus are provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a recording paper conveyance system of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. In the present embodiment, a case where the recording apparatus is an inkjet recording apparatus will be described as an example. The recording apparatus 2 is configured by mounting the recording apparatus main body 200 on a stand 300, and a stacker 400 for stacking recording paper discharged from the apparatus main body 200 is attached to the stand 300. A manual insertion slot 201 for manually feeding recording paper is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 200, and a roll paper cassette 202 that can be opened and closed on the front surface is provided on the lower side. The recording paper fed by manual feeding from the manual insertion slot 201 or automatic feeding from the roll paper cassette 202 is fed to the image forming unit to be printed using the recording head 11 by the transport system shown in FIG. Sent.

  An upper cover 203 that can be opened and closed for accessing the inside is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 200. On the right side of the apparatus main body 200, an operation panel 12 and an ink supply unit 8 (including an ink tank) are provided. Inside the apparatus main body 200, a main roller direction (direction of an arrow A) that includes the transport roller 204 that constitutes a transport unit for transporting the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction and the recording head 11 and intersects the transport direction. And a carriage 4 that reciprocates in the direction. The carriage 4 is guided and supported so as to be movable along the guide shaft 51 and is driven via a timing belt 205 by a carriage motor (not shown). A platen 104 for supporting the recording paper being printed is disposed at a position facing the recording head 11. The recording head 11 and the platen 104 mounted on the carriage 4 constitute an image forming unit.

  The ink-jet recording head 11 is supplied with ink of each color from the ink supply unit 8 and ejects ink from the ejection port of the recording head 11 to the recording paper based on image information (print data), thereby generating an image. Is formed. The recording paper fed from the roll paper cassette 202 is U-turned by the conveying roller 204, recorded by the recording head 11 in the image forming unit, and then discharged from the front surface of the apparatus main body 200. In the case of roll-shaped recording paper, after being discharged, it is stacked on a stacker 400 disposed below the apparatus main body 200. In addition, a recovery unit 9 is disposed inside the apparatus main body 200 to eliminate ink discharge defects caused by clogging of the discharge ports of the recording head 11. The recovery unit 9 includes a cap that covers the discharge port, a wiper that wipes the surface of the discharge port, and a suction pump that is connected to the cap. The suction pump is used to refresh the ink in the recording head by sucking ink from the discharge port, or to suck the ink that has been ejected in the cap.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the transport system 7 that transports the recording paper 100 through the apparatus main body 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Inside the roll paper cassette 202, a roll paper holder 107, to which a recording paper (roll paper) 100 wound around a paper tube is fixed, is rotatably supported in the roll paper cassette 202. One end of the roll paper holder 107 is coupled to the timing belt 102b via a clutch (not shown). The leading end of the roll paper 100 that is rotatably supported is guided to the nip between the transport roller (LF roller) 105 and the pinch roller 103 after passing through the transport path formed by the transport guide 108 by a user operation. Is done. In this case, the clutch of the roll paper holder 107 is released, and the user can easily guide and set the roll paper.

  Further, when the roll paper 100 is sent out during printing or the like, since the clutch of the roll paper holder 107 is released, the roll paper holder 107 is freely rotated and the roll paper is smoothly conveyed by the conveyance roller 204. On the other hand, when the roll paper 100 is rewound, the clutch of the roll paper holder 107 is in a clutch-on (coupled) state. Therefore, by reversely rotating the transport roller 204, the roll paper holder 107 coupled by the clutch is reversely rotated via the gear wheel 106 and the timing belt 102b, and the roll paper 100 is wound on the roll paper holder 107. Go.

  The conveyance roller 204 is connected to the conveyance motor 101 mounted on the apparatus main body 200 via the timing belt 102 a and the motor pulley 110. The conveyance roller 204 is provided with an encoder wheel 112, a first gear wheel (not shown), and a second gear wheel (not shown). The first gear wheel receives power from the timing belt 102a. The second gear wheel transmits power for rotating the roll paper holder 107 to the gear wheel 106. By reading the pattern formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction by printing or the like on the encoder wheel 112 with the encoder sensor 111, the rotation amount of the transport roller 204 (and hence the transport amount of the recording paper 100) can be detected. .

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation based on the remaining amount of recording paper and the amount of printing used in the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. The conveyance amount (the rotation amount of the conveyance roller 204) detected by the encoder sensor 111 and the encoder wheel 112 is transmitted to the control unit 20 of the apparatus main body. The recording paper (roll paper) 100 guided to the nip between the transport roller 204 and the pinch roller 103 is transported by driving the transport motor 101 (rotation of the transport roller 204). The control unit 20 of the apparatus main body 200 counts the signal (rotation amount) from the encoder sensor 111 by the I / O control unit & driver unit 26 (FIG. 4), while the CPU 34 (sequence control unit 21 (FIG. 4)). The conveyance motor 101 is controlled by FIG. Thereby, the roll paper 100 can be accurately conveyed by a predetermined amount.

  The recording apparatus prints on the recording paper by alternately repeating accurate conveyance of the roll paper 100 on the platen 104 and ink ejection from the recording head 11 synchronized with the movement of the carriage 4 (main scanning). At this time, printing is performed based on the image data sent from the personal computer 1 (FIG. 4) or the like. The conveyance amount of the recording paper (roll paper) used for printing is calculated by the sequence control unit 21 (FIG. 4) and stored in the RAM 32 and the EEPROM 33 (FIG. 4). Further, the sequence control unit 21 sequentially calculates and stores the remaining amount by subtracting the transported amount and the amount used for printing from the amount of roll paper stored in advance. The transport system 7 is provided with an end detection sensor 109 for detecting the end of the recording paper 100. The distance from the position of the end detection sensor 109 to the nip (clamping position) between the conveyance roller 204 and the pinch roller 103 constituting the conveyance means is a predetermined default value and is stored in the ROM 31.

  Next, the control system of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A personal computer (PC) 1 supplies image data and commands to be printed to the recording device 2. The recording device 2 receives image data, commands, parameters, an image processing LUT (lookup table), and the like from the personal computer 1 and records the received image data on a recording sheet according to the commands, parameters, and image processing LUT. The personal computer 1 is a general computer having a keyboard and a display. The personal computer 1 realizes an interface with a user by application software, a printer driver for the recording device 2, and dedicated printer control software such as RIP (Raster Image Processor).

  The recording apparatus 2 includes a control unit 20 for controlling the entire recording apparatus 2, a carriage 4 on which the recording head 11 is mounted, and a carriage drive system 6 that reciprocates the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction. Further, the recording apparatus 2 maintains and recovers the ink ejection performance of the transport system 7 that moves the recording paper in the sub-scanning (transport) direction, the ink supply unit 8 that supplies ink to the recording head 11, and the recording head 11. The recovery unit 9 is provided. Furthermore, the recording apparatus 2 includes a power supply unit 10 that supplies power to the recording head 11, power to the control unit 3, and power to each unit, an operation panel unit 12 having a key switch, a liquid crystal display, and the like. The recovery unit 9 is provided with a cap for capping the ejection port, a wiper for cleaning the ejection surface of the recording head 11, a suction pump for sucking ink from the ejection port, and the like.

  The carriage 4 includes a mechanism capable of attaching and detaching the recording head 11, a joint portion such as an electrical contact and an ink supply tube, and a connection portion with the carriage drive system 6, and is guided and supported by a rail 51 such as a guide shaft. Yes. The carriage 4 is connected to a carriage motor (not shown) by a timing belt 205 (not shown) and reciprocates by forward and reverse rotation of the motor. An encoder sensor is mounted on the carriage 4, and the position and moving speed of the recording head 11 are detected and controlled by reading a linear scale stretched in the carriage moving direction. The carriage 4 is also equipped with a media detection sensor for detecting the presence and size of recording paper.

  The transport system 7 includes transport means that feeds and rewinds the recording paper by controlling the rotation of the transport roller 204 by the transport motor 101 and the rotary encoders 111 and 112. That is, the transport system 7 includes a transport unit that controls the transport amount in the forward and reverse directions by the transport roller 204 to control the feed amount and the rewind amount of the recording paper 100. The ink supply unit 8 supplies ink by connecting the recording head 11 and the ink tank with an ink tube, and closes a valve mechanism provided in the middle of the ink tube when the recording head 11 and the ink tank are replaced. Prevents ink leakage. Control operations such as detecting the open / close state of the valve using a photo interrupter, which is a position sensor, and opening / closing the valve mechanism by driving a motor based on the detection result are also performed.

  The recovery unit 9 includes a motor that drives a wiping mechanism, a capping mechanism, a suction pump, and the like, and includes a drive transmission mechanism and a position sensor that detects the state of each mechanical mechanism. Then, each mechanism is controlled based on the state of the recording operation, the detection result of the position sensor, and the like. The power supply unit 10 is turned on / off by an AC switch, a soft switch of the operation panel unit 12 or the like, and supplies a voltage of 3.3 V or 5 V as a logic power supply to the control unit 20. Further, a power of 24V is supplied to the actuator (motor, etc.) of each unit via the I / O control unit & driver unit 26 in the control unit 20. Further, a power having a predetermined voltage value is supplied to the recording head 11 via a head power control unit (not shown) in the control unit 20.

  The control unit 20 functionally includes an I / F unit 22, a sequence control unit 21, an image processing unit 23, a timing control unit 24, a head drive unit 25, an I / O control unit & driver unit 26, and the like. The sequence control unit 21 manages the I / F unit 22 that interfaces with the personal computer 1 and the overall control operation. The image processing unit 23 performs conversion processing from image information to print data. The timing control unit 24 adjusts the timing of the print data in accordance with the operation of the recording apparatus 2. The head drive unit 25 controls drive data, drive pulses, drive voltage, and the like of the recording head 11. The I / O control unit & driver unit 26 interfaces and drives with sensors and actuators (motors, etc.) of internal units of the recording apparatus 2.

  The control unit 20 is physically an electric board. The sequence control unit 21 includes a CPU 31 such as a microprocessor, and a ROM 31 that stores a control program for the CPU 31 and various data. Further, a RAM 32 that is used as a work area of the CPU 31 and stores various data, an EEPROM 33 that stores data necessary for sequence control as parameters, and the like are also provided. The image processing unit 23, the timing control unit 24, and the head driving unit 25 are mainly composed of an ASIC and a memory. The I / O control unit & driver unit 26 is configured by an electric circuit such as a general-purpose LSI or a transistor.

  The image processing unit 23 has a function of converting image data from the personal computer into the ink color of the recording apparatus 2 and converting it into binary ink color print data. The timing control unit 24 has a function of converting the print data processed by the image processing unit 23 into a predetermined order of the plurality of ejection ports of the recording head 11. In addition, it has a function of controlling each print data of each ink color according to the position and moving direction of the recording head 11 and adjusting so that the recorded image of each ink color does not shift. The head control unit 25 generates a signal that matches the drive data of the recording head 11 based on the print data from the timing control unit 24, and generates a drive signal under the control of the sequence control unit 21. Then, these signals are sent to the recording head 11. The recording head 11 is driven by a signal from the head controller 25 and forms an image by ejecting ink. The I / O control unit & driver unit 26 is driven by a signal whose timing is controlled by the sequence control unit 21, and drives and controls each unit 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 connected to the control unit 20. .

  Next, a control operation when recording is performed using the above-described transport system in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 5, in step S101, the roll paper 100 as the recording paper is mounted on the roll paper holder 107, and this is set in the roll paper cassette 202 as a new recording paper. The new recording paper may be either an unused new roll paper or an already used roll paper used halfway. In step S102, the remaining amount (length) of the set roll paper 100 is input from the operation panel 12. If it is not used (new), a new fixed value is input, but if the roll paper is in use, the current remaining value (value obtained by subtracting the used amount) stored in the RAM 32 or EEPROM 33 is input. The The input length is stored in the RAM 32 and the EEPROM 33 in the apparatus main body 200 as the estimated remaining amount L1 of the recording paper 100. The RAM 32 and the EEPROM 33 constitute an initial setting amount means for setting the initial amount of recording paper and a usage amount management means for managing the usage amount of the recording paper. The EEPROM 33 is used in order to retain data even when the recording device 2 is turned off. As a result, the recording apparatus 2 is ready for printing and waits for print data. Step S102 constitutes remaining amount estimating means for executing a remaining amount estimating step for estimating the remaining amount of the recording paper 100.

  In step S103, the print data transmitted from the host computer 1 is received, and the print length L2 of the print job is confirmed from the print data. At this time, in addition to the print length L2, an accompanying use amount L3 such as a margin length and an auto cut width is added as necessary. This is to accurately determine the length used for actual printing. In this way, the printing usage L2 + L3 is obtained. Next, in step S104, the estimated remaining amount L1 of the roll paper is compared with the print usage L2 + L3. If the length of the print usage is not greater than the length of the estimated remaining amount (L1> L2 + L3), the process proceeds to step S105. If the length of the print usage is greater than the length of the estimated remaining amount (L1 <L2 + L3), step S107 is performed. Proceed to Step S104 constitutes a determination unit that executes a determination step of determining whether or not the printing paper usage amount by the print data exceeds the remaining recording paper amount.

  In step S105, printing (image recording) is performed by alternately repeating conveyance of the recording paper 100 and main scanning of the recording head 11 based on the print data. The recording apparatus 2 counts the signal of the encoder sensor 111, calculates the usage amount L4 of the roll paper 100 from the rotation amount of the transport roller 204, and stores it in the RAM 32 as the usage amount management means. When printing is completed, the process proceeds to step S106, and a new estimated remaining amount L1 is calculated by subtracting the used amount L4 of the recording paper actually used from the remaining amount L1 before printing. The new estimated remaining amount L1 is stored in the RAM 32 and the EEPROM 33 as the initial setting amount means and the usage amount management means. Then, the process returns to step S103 to wait for the next print data.

  As described above, the end of the roll paper 100 is detected by the end detection sensor 109 (FIG. 3) as end detection means. Here, the distance from the end detection position by the sensor 109 to the contact point (nip) of the transport roller 204 and the pinch roller 103 is a predetermined default value and is stored in the ROM 31. Then, a new remaining amount (current remaining amount) can be calculated by subtracting the conveyed amount, the amount used for printing, and the like from the amount (the remaining amount) of roll paper stored in advance. The quantity is also stored in the ROM 31 sequentially.

  Next, the control operation when it is determined in step S104 that the print usage L2 + L3 is larger than the estimated remaining amount L1 will be described. If the print usage L2 + L3> the estimated remaining amount L1, the process proceeds to step S107, and the recording paper 100 is sent out for the length of the print usage L2 + L3, and the actual delivery is counted. Step S107 constitutes a measurement unit that executes a measurement step of measuring the printable amount L5 that is the actual remaining amount of the recording paper. That is, if the print paper usage L2 + L3 is larger than the estimated remaining amount L1 of the recording paper in step S104, the printable amount L5 of the recording paper is measured in step S107. Then, the process proceeds to step S108, and the end of the recording paper (roll paper) 100 is detected by the end detection sensor 109 during the sending of step S107. That is, in the present embodiment, the printable amount L5 is measured by measuring the length of the recording paper from the time when the recording paper is sent out until the end is detected. If the end of the recording paper 100 is not detected, the process proceeds to step S109. If the end is detected, the process proceeds to step S110. Step S108 constitutes a comparison means for executing a comparison step for comparing the printable amount L5 and the print usage amount L2 + L3.

  If the end is not detected, in step S109, the feeding of the recording paper 100 is stopped, the clutch of the roll paper holder 107 is turned on, and the transport motor 101 is driven in reverse to reverse the transport roller 204. Then, the roll paper holder 107 is rotationally driven in the rewinding direction via the gear wheel 106 and the timing belt 102b. As a result, the fed recording paper 100 is wound around the paper tube in conjunction with the transport roller 204. When the predetermined amount of rewinding is completed, the clutch is turned off, and the process proceeds to step S105 to execute printing on the recording paper 100. Step S109 constitutes switching means for executing a switching step for switching the operation based on the result of comparison between the printable amount L5 and the print usage amount L2 + L3. In other words, when the print usage amount L2 + L3 is not larger than the printable amount L5 in step S108, the operation is switched to the operation of performing printing based on the print data (step S105) in step S109. On the other hand, when the print usage amount L2 + L3 is larger than the printable amount L5 in step S108, the operation is switched so as to perform the process selected in step S111 and step S112 described later (another process).

  Here, confirmation of the position detection of the recording paper 100 in the rewinding in step S109 will be described. When rewinding is started, the left and right side edges of the recording paper 100 are detected by a media detection sensor mounted on the carriage 4. And the position of the same side edge part is detected at the end of rewinding. At this time, if there is no change in the position of the side end, the paper is correctly conveyed, and there is no problem even if printing is performed. Therefore, the process proceeds to the next step (step S105 in the present embodiment) as it is. On the other hand, when the position of the side edge of the recording paper changes between the start of rewinding and the end of rewinding, the process proceeds to the next step after correcting the position of the recording paper.

  If the end of the recording paper 100 is detected in step S108, the process proceeds to step S110, the feeding is stopped and the remaining amount is displayed. The printable amount L5 is measured by measuring the length of the recording paper from when the recording paper is sent out until the end is detected. Then, the remaining amount (usable amount) L5 of the recording paper is detected (measured) based on the actual feed amount up to the end position, and the usable amount L5 based on the actual remaining amount is displayed on the operation panel 12. . Next, the process proceeds to step S111, enters a standby state for selecting a process to be executed next, and proceeds to step S112 when the process prescription is input. In step S112, the operator (user) selects whether or not printing is necessary, and inputs printing cancellation if unnecessary.

  If it is selected to continue printing even if the actual remaining amount L5 of the recording paper is insufficient, after performing rewinding in the same manner as in step S109 in step S113, printing is performed until the recording paper 100 is exhausted in step S114. To do. Then, the printing is temporarily stopped, and after the recording paper is discharged in step S115, the process returns to step S101, and a series of processes of restarting printing when a new (other) recording paper is set is performed. On the other hand, if printing stop is selected in step S112, the process proceeds to step S116, the recording paper is sent out and discharged, the process returns to step S101, and printing is resumed when a new (other) recording paper is set. Perform the process. In other words, in the present embodiment, one of the other processes to be selected when the print usage amount L2 + L3 is larger than the printable amount L5 is to execute printing to a possible range in the recording apparatus and discharge the recording paper. This is a process of restarting printing when a new recording sheet is set. Another process is a process for discharging the recording paper and restarting printing when a new recording paper is set.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the recording apparatus is a serial type in which recording is performed with a recording head mounted on a reciprocating carriage has been described as an example. However, the present invention collectively collects one line at a time only by paper feeding. The present invention can be similarly applied to a line type recording apparatus that performs recording. In the above embodiment, the ink jet recording apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is similarly applied to recording apparatuses of other recording systems such as a thermal transfer type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, and a wire dot type. Applicable. Furthermore, the present invention can be similarly applied not only to a single image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine, but also to a recording apparatus in a complex apparatus or a system configuration. The present invention is also applicable to the case where various materials such as paper, plastic sheet, photographic printing paper, and cloth are used as recording paper.

1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which an upper cover is opened in the recording apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a recording paper conveyance system of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the recording apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation based on a remaining amount of recording paper and a print usage amount in the recording apparatus according to the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

2 Recording device 4 Carriage 11 Recording head 12 Operation panel 20 Control unit 100 Recording paper (roll paper)
107 roll paper holder 109 end detection means (end detection sensor)
200 Device body (recording device)
202 Roll paper cassette 204 Conveying roller (conveying means)

Claims (14)

In a recording method for forming an image on recording paper,
Measure the printable amount of recording paper by feeding and transporting the recording paper when the amount of recording paper used by the print data exceeds the remaining amount of recording paper,
When the print usage amount is not larger than the printable amount, the recording paper is rewound to execute printing,
When the printing usage amount is larger than the printable amount, printing is performed after selecting a process.   The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the printable amount is measured by measuring a length of the recording paper from when the recording paper is sent out until the end is detected.   3. The process according to claim 1, wherein one of the processes is a process of executing printing to a possible range by the recording apparatus, discharging the recording sheet, and restarting printing when a new recording sheet is set. The recording method described in 1.   3. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein one of the processes is a process of discharging a recording sheet and restarting printing when a new recording sheet is set. In a control method of a recording apparatus for forming an image on recording paper,
A remaining amount estimating step for estimating the remaining amount of recording paper,
A determination step of determining whether or not the print paper usage amount of the print data exceeds the remaining amount of the recording paper;
A measurement step of measuring a printable amount of recording paper when the print usage amount is larger than the remaining amount;
A comparison step of comparing the printable amount and the print usage amount;
A switching step of switching operation based on a result of comparison between the printable amount and the print usage amount,
When the print usage amount is not larger than the printable amount in the comparison step, switching to an operation for recording based on print data,
A control method for a recording apparatus, wherein another process is performed when the print usage amount is larger than the printable amount in the comparison step.   6. The method of controlling a recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printable amount is measured by measuring a length of the recording paper from when the recording paper is sent out until the end is detected.   7. One of the processes is a process of executing printing to a possible range by the recording apparatus, discharging the recording sheet, and restarting printing when a new recording sheet is set. A control method for the recording apparatus according to the above.   7. The recording apparatus control method according to claim 5, wherein one of the processes is a process of discharging the recording paper and restarting printing when a new recording paper is set. In a recording apparatus that forms an image on recording paper,
A remaining amount estimating means for estimating the remaining amount of recording paper;
Determining means for determining whether or not the print paper usage amount of the print data exceeds the remaining amount of the recording paper;
Measuring means for measuring the printable amount of recording paper;
A comparison means for comparing the printable amount and the print usage amount;
Switching means for switching operation based on a result of comparison between the printable amount and the print usage amount,
When the printing means of the recording paper is larger than the remaining amount of the recording paper by the determination means, the printable amount of the recording paper is measured by the measuring means,
When the printing use amount is not larger than the printable amount by the comparison unit, the switching unit switches to an operation of performing printing based on the print data,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the print usage amount is larger than the printable amount by the comparison unit, another process is performed.   10. The remaining amount estimating unit estimates the remaining amount from an initial setting amount unit that sets an initial amount of recording paper and a usage amount management unit that manages the usage amount of recording paper. The recording device described.   Conveying means for feeding and rewinding recording paper, initial setting amount means for setting the initial amount of recording paper, usage amount management means for managing the usage amount of recording paper, and end detection for detecting the end of the recording paper 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the printable amount is measured by measuring a length of the recording paper from when the recording paper is fed out until the end is detected.   One of the other processes to be performed when the print usage amount is larger than the printable amount is to execute printing to a possible range by the recording apparatus, discharge the recording paper, and print when a new recording paper is set. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording apparatus restarts the process.   The another process performed when the print usage amount is larger than the printable amount is a process of discharging the recording paper and restarting the printing when a new recording paper is set. Item 12. The recording device according to any one of Items 9 to 11.   The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the recording paper is rewound, a side edge portion of the recording paper is detected at the start and end of the rewinding.

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