JP2010030088A - Control method for printer, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer preventing a printing failure due to the incompatibility of a printing medium specified by print data and the setup of the detection mode on the printer side in the printer using a proper printing medium detection mode according to the kind of a printing medium. <P>SOLUTION: Before printing print data, the printer 1 detects whether a paper detection mode stored as a print setting is incompatible with the type of recording paper 12a to be used for printing, which has been specified by the received print data. If they are incompatible, the printer 1 automatically shifts to a paper type error before printing and stops printing. This reduces wasteful consumption of consumable articles, such as recording paper 12 and ink, which results from making printing the most likely to fail, as it is. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer capable of printing on a plurality of types of print media and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a printer that shifts to a predetermined error state when a setting on the printer side and print data do not match and a control method thereof.

  Conventionally, the status of the printer is grasped on the host device side by the status monitor, and the printer driver side is checked for compatibility between the printer settings and the currently set print paper and print data. A printing system that performs predetermined error processing has been proposed.

Patent Document 1 proposes a printer that checks the compatibility of printer settings and received print data on the printer side, shifts to an error state if it does not conform, and waits for the user to take action. ing. The printer of Patent Document 1 stores a paper size designated by a registration command or the like in a storage unit in the printer and manages it as a set paper size. When print data is received, it is determined whether the paper size specified in the print data matches the set paper size. If they are different, it is determined that a paper size error has occurred and an error is displayed on the operation panel. And a display for allowing the user to select whether or not to register the paper size specified by the print data in the printer.
JP 2006-218749 A

  In the printer of Patent Document 1, even if the status monitor does not operate and the printer setting cannot be confirmed on the host device side, the printer side can determine whether or not there is a mismatch between the printer settings and the print data. Even if there is no error, it is possible to shift to an error state or display a message prompting the user to take a measure for eliminating the error state.

  However, since the printer of Patent Document 1 only checks the compatibility of the paper size, the compatibility of settings other than the paper size cannot be checked, and the types of positioning standards such as labels and marks on the recording paper It was impossible to check whether or not the setting of the paper detection mode that differs depending on the detection method and the like matches the paper type specified in the print data. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the printing is executed while the paper detection mode and the paper type to be printed are different, so that the printing may fail, and the printing paper may be wasted.

  In view of these points, an object of the present invention is to perform printing in an appropriate detection mode for a print medium in a printer that uses different print medium detection modes depending on the type of print medium. If it is not possible, a printer and a printer control method capable of detecting the fact on the printer side and processing so that printing does not fail are proposed.

In order to solve the above problems, a printer control method of the present invention includes:
One of the print medium detection modes corresponding to each of a plurality of types of print media is set as the print medium detection mode used during printing,
Determining whether there is a mismatch between the received print data and the set print medium detection mode;
When it is determined that there is a mismatch, the printing data is shifted to a predetermined error state without starting printing.

  In this way, the present invention can check whether there is a mismatch between the preset print medium detection mode and the content of the received print data on the printer side. This is detected on the side, and automatically shifts to a predetermined error state before starting printing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of consumables such as a print medium and ink due to printing that is highly likely to fail.

  In the present invention, when the setting data including the setting of the print medium detection mode is received, the print medium detection mode is set based on the setting data, and when the setting is completed, the print medium detection mode after the setting is set. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a mismatch with the received print data, and when it is determined that there is a mismatch, the printing data may be shifted to a predetermined error state without starting printing. As described above, if determination is made as to whether or not there is a mismatch when the setting process for setting the print medium detection mode or the like is exited, it is possible to immediately detect a mismatch in the new setting content. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent printing that is highly likely to fail.

  In the present invention, the print medium is recording paper, and the print medium detection mode is a plurality of paper detection modes set in advance according to the paper type of the recording paper, and is included in the received print data. It is determined whether or not the type of recording paper to be printed is a paper type that can be detected by the stored paper detection mode. If it is determined that the recording type is not detectable, printing of the print data is performed. It is better to shift to the paper type error state without starting. In this way, since the printing operation on the undetectable type of recording paper is not started, it is not necessary to waste the recording paper.

  Here, the plurality of paper detection modes include an inter-label gap detection mode for detecting a label paper in which labels are pasted on a peeling mount at predetermined intervals based on a gap between the labels, and a predetermined mark. Is a mark detection mode for detecting a mark-added paper attached at a predetermined interval based on the mark, and a continuous paper detection mode for detecting the recording paper without the gap between labels and the mark. Contains. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform control so that the printing operation is executed only for the recording paper of the label paper, the mark paper, and the continuous paper when the recording paper is in a set state where the recording paper can be reliably detected. it can.

  Next, the printer of the present invention includes a detection unit that detects the print medium, a plurality of the print medium detection modes by the detection unit, a storage unit that stores the set print medium detection mode, and received print data A control unit that executes printing based on the set print medium detection mode read from the storage unit, and the control unit receives the received print data and the set print that has been read from the storage unit. It is characterized in that determination of inconsistency with the medium detection mode and transition to a predetermined error state based on the determination result are performed by the above-described printer control method.

  According to the present invention, the printer can check whether there is a mismatch between the preset print medium detection mode and the content of the received print data. When this is detected, the printer automatically shifts to a predetermined error state before starting printing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of consumables such as a print medium and ink due to printing that is highly likely to fail.

  Embodiments of a printer and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view in a state where an opening / closing lid of the printer is fully opened. The printer 1 includes a printer main body 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and an open / close lid 3 attached to the front surface of the printer main body 2. A discharge port 4 having a predetermined width is formed on the front surface of the outer case 2 a of the printer body 2. A paper discharge guide 5 protrudes forward below the discharge port 4, and a lid opening / closing lever 6 is disposed on the side of the paper discharge guide 5. A rectangular opening 2b for inserting and removing roll paper is formed below the paper discharge guide 5 and the lid opening / closing lever 6 in the outer case 2a. The opening 2b is sealed by the opening / closing lid 3.

  When the lid opening / closing lever 6 is operated, the opening / closing lid 3 is unlocked. When the paper discharge guide 5 is pulled forward after unlocking, the opening / closing lid 3 pivots forward about its lower end and opens until it is almost horizontal. When the opening / closing lid 3 is opened, as shown in FIG. 2, the roll paper storage unit 11 (printing medium loading unit) formed inside the printer is opened. At the same time, the conveyance path A (see FIG. 3) from the roll paper storage unit 11 to the discharge port 4 is opened, and the roll paper 12 can be easily replaced from the front of the printer. In FIG. 2, the opening / closing lid 3 and the lid opening / closing lever 6 are omitted.

  An error lamp (not shown) for notifying various errors in the printer 1 is attached to a predetermined position of the outer case 2a. A plurality of error lamps can be provided in association with the type of error. For example, the error lamp is loaded in the roll paper storage unit 11 that notifies the cover open error state in which the open / close lid 3 is open. The lamp that is turned on when the roll paper 12 is used up and the paper type of the recording paper 12a on the conveyance path A are different from the paper type specified in the setting data stored in the printer 1 or the received print data. There are lamps that turn on when the paper jam occurs, lamps that turn on when a paper jam occurs, and other error lamps that turn on when normal printing is difficult.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration inside the printer 1. A roll paper 12 is stored in the roll paper storage unit 11 so as to be able to roll in a horizontal state facing the printer width direction. The roll paper 12 is obtained by winding a long recording paper 12a having a constant width in a roll shape.

  A head unit frame 13 attached horizontally to the upper end of the printer main body frame 10 is disposed above the roll paper storage unit 11. In the head unit frame 13, an inkjet head 14, a carriage 15 on which the inkjet head 14 is mounted, and a carriage guide shaft 16 that guides the movement of the carriage 15 in the printer width direction are arranged. The inkjet head 14 is mounted on the carriage 15 so that the ink nozzle surface 14a faces downward. A carriage conveyance mechanism including a carriage motor 17 and a timing belt 18 for reciprocating the carriage 15 along the carriage guide shaft 16 is disposed above the roll paper storage unit 11.

  A platen 19 that extends horizontally in the width direction of the printer is disposed below the inkjet head 14 so as to face the ink nozzle surface 14a with a certain gap therebetween, and the printing position of the inkjet head 14 is defined by the platen 19. . A tension guide 20 that is curved downward is attached to the rear end of the platen 19.

  On the rear side of the platen 19 (upstream in the transport direction), a rear paper feed roller 21 and a rear paper press roller 22 are horizontally stretched in the printer width direction. A rear paper pressing roller 22 is pressed against the rear paper feeding roller 21 from above with a predetermined pressing force via the recording paper 12a. A front paper feed roller 23 and a front paper press roller 24 are arranged on the front end side (downstream side in the transport direction) of the platen 19. A front paper pressing roller 24 is pressed against the front paper feeding roller 23 from above via the recording paper 12a. The rear paper feed roller 21 and the front paper feed roller 23 are rotationally driven in synchronization by a paper feed motor 25 mounted on the printer main body frame 10.

  A paper detector 26 is disposed upstream of the inkjet head 14 in the transport path A. The paper detector 26 is constituted by a reflection type photosensor or a transmission type photosensor, and the presence or absence of the recording paper 12a is detected by using reflected light or transmitted light from the recording paper 12a drawn on the conveyance path A. , And the paper type of the recording paper 12a is detected.

  The recording paper 12a fed out from the roll paper 12 in the roll paper storage unit 11 is transported through a printing path A on the platen 19 in a state where a predetermined tension is applied by the tension guide 20 (the thick paper shown in FIG. 3). It is conveyed along the alternate long and short dash line) and set in a state of being pulled out from the discharge port 4. When the paper feed motor 25 is driven and controlled in this state, the rear paper feed roller 21 and the front paper feed roller 23 are rotated, and the recording paper 12a is fed by a constant transport amount. Then, the inkjet head 14 is driven in synchronization with the paper feed of the recording paper 12a, and printing is performed on the surface of the recording paper 12a passing through the printing position. Thereafter, the conveyance is stopped in a state where the printed recording paper 12a is discharged from the discharge port 4, and the leading end portion of the recording paper 12a is cut by the auto cutter 28 arranged in the vicinity of the discharge port 4, so that the printed recording is completed. A piece of paper is issued.

(Control system)
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a control system of the printer 1. The control system of the printer 1 is mainly configured by a control unit 30 including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control unit 30 is connected to a nonvolatile memory 33 such as a flash ROM. Print data and commands are supplied to the control unit 30 from a host device such as the host device 32 via the transmission / reception unit 31. Based on a print command from the host device 32 or the like, the control unit 30 controls the drive of each unit such as a paper feed mechanism that feeds roll paper and a carriage transport mechanism, and executes a paper feed operation and a print operation.

  The inkjet head 14 is connected to the output side of the control unit 30 via a head driver 14b, and the control unit 30 drives and controls the inkjet head 14 via the head driver 14b. The output side of the control unit 30 is connected to the carriage motor 17 and the paper feed motor 25 via the motor driver 17a and the motor driver 25a. The control unit 30 feeds the paper via the motor drivers 25a and 17a. The motor 25 and the carriage motor 17 are driven and controlled. The control unit 30 calculates a predetermined transport amount of the recording paper 12a by accumulating the number of steps or the rotation amount for driving and controlling the paper feed motor 25 in the feed direction.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the recording paper 12 a that can be printed by the printer 1. The printer 1 has a printing reference position at a predetermined position on each label 12c in the label paper P1 and the label paper P1 in which the regular label 12c is attached to the surface of the long peeling board 12b at a predetermined interval in a peelable state. Can be printed on a plurality of types of recording paper 12a, such as a labeled paper P2 with a black mark 12d indicating, a continuous paper P3 with a mark to which no label is attached, and a plain continuous paper P4 without a mark. is there. Further, the label paper P1, the marked label paper P2, and the marked continuous paper P3 include paper types in which the arrangement and dimensions of the label 12c and the black mark 12d are different. In addition, for the plain continuous paper P4, there are paper types having different paper quality. Further, continuous paper such as full-length label paper in which a plain long label 12e is pasted in a peelable state on the peeling mount 12b is also used. Further, there are paper types in which the paper width and label width of the recording paper 12a are appropriately changed. It should be noted that other marks or notches may be formed instead of the black marks 12d.

  Therefore, the control unit 30 of the printer 1 corresponds to the type of recording paper 12a constituting the roll paper 12 loaded in the roll paper storage unit 11 (various specifications such as the layout of labels and black marks, paper quality, and paper width). Thus, the printing control information for each sheet for controlling the printing position, ink discharge amount, and the like on each type of recording sheet 12a is held. In other words, in the nonvolatile memory 33 of the printer 1, various types of print control information corresponding to the various types of recording paper 12a that can be printed by the printer 1 are stored in advance.

  A paper detector 26 is connected to the input side of the control unit 30. In the nonvolatile memory 33 of the printer 1, a paper detection mode (print medium detection mode / paper detection mode) by the paper detector 26 is stored in advance in association with the type of the recording paper 12a. The paper detection mode is a control mode for determining the paper type of the recording paper 12a based on the detection output of the paper detector 26 and grasping the position of each part on the recording paper 12a. Each paper detection mode is determined in accordance with a positioning reference on each recording paper 12a, and a BM (black mark) detection mode in which a black mark 12d on the recording paper 12a is used as a positioning reference, and between labels on the recording paper 12a. A gap detection mode in which the gap G (see FIG. 5) is used as a positioning reference, a continuous paper mode in which the black mark 12d or the inter-label gap G is not used as a positioning reference, and the like are set. The print settings stored in the printer 1 include which of these paper detection modes is used.

  When printing, the control unit 30 refers to the print settings stored in the printer 1 at that time, performs control according to the paper detection mode specified in the print settings, and is loaded in the roll paper storage unit 11. The positioning reference on the recording paper 12a is detected, and the conveyance position of each part on the recording paper 12a is grasped. For example, the detection operation by the paper detector 26 is performed every time the recording paper 12a pulled out from the roll paper 12 and loaded on the conveyance path A is conveyed by a predetermined amount. Then, based on the detection output, the presence or absence of the positioning reference such as the black mark 12d and the gap G between labels, the position and size thereof are grasped, and the type of the recording paper 12a is determined, and each part of the recording paper 12a is determined. Know the transport position. Then, the control unit 30 can perform optimum printing on each sheet by reading the corresponding print control information based on the determined sheet type and controlling each unit of the printer 1.

(Paper type error judgment process)
Next, a paper type error determination process performed before the printing of the print data received by the printer 1 will be described. When receiving the print data, the control unit 30 determines whether the type of paper to be printed included in the print data is compatible with the paper detection mode included in the print settings currently stored in the printer 1. Determine whether.

  In this determination, if it is determined that the currently set paper detection mode and the paper type specified in the print data are compatible, the printing operation starts in the set paper detection mode. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined that they are not suitable, it is determined that a paper type error has occurred, and processing for shifting to a predetermined error state is performed. The paper type error state is a state in which the printer 1 is in a print stop state and is waiting for a predetermined error canceling operation. When an error release operation is performed in this state, a process for returning the printer 1 to a printable state is performed.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a paper type error determination process. Hereinafter, a case where printing is performed on any one of the label paper P1, the marked label paper P2, the marked continuous paper P3, and the continuous paper P4 on the recording paper 12a will be described. Prior to this determination process, the control unit 30 reads out the currently stored paper detection mode in print settings and analyzes the received print data to obtain information on the type of paper designated as the print target. get.

  First, in step S1, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the stored paper detection mode is the label detection mode. If it is determined that the label detection mode is set (step S1: Yes), the process proceeds to step S2, and it is determined whether or not the type of paper to be printed is label paper P1 or marked label paper P2. If it is determined in this determination that the label paper P1 or the labeled label paper P2 is present (step S2: Yes), it is determined that the paper type and the paper detection mode are not incompatible, and the paper type error determination processing ends. To do. Therefore, in this case, printing is started. In this case, the positioning reference of the marked label paper P2 is the gap G between labels.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not the label paper P1 or the labeled label paper P2 (step S2: No), it is determined that the paper type and the paper detection mode are incompatible, and the process proceeds to step S3, where a paper type error is detected. Transition to the state.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that the label detection mode is not selected (step S1: No), the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether or not the stored paper detection mode is the BM detection mode. If it is determined that the mode is the BM detection mode (step S4: Yes), the process proceeds to step S5, and it is determined whether the type of paper to be printed is the marked label paper P2 or the marked continuous paper P3. . If it is determined that the label paper P2 is marked or the continuous paper P3 is marked (step S5: Yes), it is determined that the paper type is not incompatible with the paper detection mode, and a paper type error is determined. The process ends. Therefore, in this case, printing is started. In this case, the positioning reference of the marked label paper P2 is the black mark 12d.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the label paper P2 is not marked or the continuous paper P3 is marked (step S5: No), it is determined that the paper type and the paper detection mode are incompatible, and the process proceeds to step S3. Transitions to a paper type error state.

  If it is determined in step S4 that the stored paper detection mode is not the BM detection mode, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is determined whether the type of paper to be printed is continuous paper P4. . If it is determined in this determination that the paper is continuous paper P4 (step S6: Yes), it is determined that the paper type and the paper detection mode are not incompatible, and the paper type error determination process is terminated. Therefore, in this case, printing is started.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the paper is not continuous paper P4 (step S6: No), it is determined that the paper type and the paper detection mode are incompatible, the process proceeds to step S3, and a paper type error state is entered.

  By performing the above-described paper type error determination process, the printer 1 can determine whether there is a mismatch between the pre-stored paper detection mode and the content of the received print data. In some cases, it is possible to automatically shift to a predetermined error state before starting printing. Therefore, for each type of recording paper 12a such as label paper P1, marked label paper P2, marked continuous paper P3, continuous paper P4, etc., printing operation is performed only in the paper detection mode in which the recording paper 12a can be reliably detected. Can start. Therefore, it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of consumables such as the recording paper 12a and ink due to printing that is highly likely to fail.

  In addition, after receiving the print data or when receiving the setting data for updating the print setting from the host device 32 or the like together with the print data, the above-described paper type error determination processing is completed based on the received setting data. You should do it when you do. In this case, it is determined whether or not the print data received at that time matches the paper detection mode specified by the new print setting. As described above, by determining the inconsistency when the print setting process including the update of the paper detection mode is completed, it is possible to immediately detect the inconsistency between the new paper detection mode and the received print data. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent printing that is predicted to fail.

  The above embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to the printer 1 that prints on a roll paper-like recording paper. However, the present invention is a printer that prints on a sheet that has been cut into a fixed form or a continuous form. The present invention can also be applied to a printer that sets and prints in a state. The print medium is not limited to paper, and any printer that prints using different detection modes according to the type of print medium can be applied.

1 is an external perspective view of a printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the printer with the open / close lid fully opened. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside a printer. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the control system of a printer. It is explanatory drawing of a recording paper. 10 is a flowchart of a paper type error determination process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 2 ... Printer main body, 2a ... Exterior case, 2b ... Opening part, 3 ... Opening / closing lid, 4 ... Discharge port, 5 ... Discharge guide, 6 ... Cover opening / closing lever, 10 ... Printer main body frame, 11 ... Roll Paper storage unit, 12 ... roll paper, 12a ... recording paper (printing medium), 12b ... peeling mount, 12c ... label, 12d ... black mark, 13 ... head unit frame, 14 ... ink jet head, 14a ... ink nozzle surface, 14b ... head driver, 15 ... carriage, 16 ... carriage guide shaft, 17 ... carriage motor, 17a ... motor driver, 18 ... timing belt, 19 ... platen, 20 ... tension guide, 21 ... rear paper feed roller, 22 ... rear side Paper press roller, 23 ... front paper feed roller, 24 ... front paper press roller, 25 ... paper feed motor, 25a ... motor , 26 ... paper detector, 28 ... auto cutter, 30 ... control unit, 31 ... transmission / reception unit, 32 ... host device, 33 ... non-volatile memory, A ... transport path, G ... gap between labels, P1 ... label paper, P2 ... Label paper with mark, P3 ... Continuous paper with mark, P4 ... Continuous paper

Claims (5)

One of the print medium detection modes corresponding to each of a plurality of types of print media is set as the print medium detection mode used during printing,
Determining whether there is a mismatch between the received print data and the set print medium detection mode;
A printer control method, characterized in that if it is determined that there is a mismatch, a transition to a predetermined error state is made without starting printing of the print data. The printer control method according to claim 1, comprising:
When receiving the setting data including the setting of the printing medium detection mode, based on the setting data, the setting of the printing medium detection mode is performed,
When the setting is finished, it is determined whether there is a mismatch between the print medium detection mode after the setting and the received print data,
A printer control method, characterized in that if it is determined that there is a mismatch, a transition to a predetermined error state is made without starting printing of the print data. A method for controlling a printer according to claim 1, wherein:
The printing medium is a recording paper;
The print medium detection mode is a plurality of paper detection modes set in advance according to the paper type of the recording paper,
Determining whether or not the paper type of the recording paper to be printed included in the received print data is a paper type that can be detected by the stored paper detection mode;
If it is determined that the print data cannot be detected, the printer control method shifts to a paper type error state without starting printing of the print data. A printer control method according to claim 3, comprising:
The plurality of paper detection modes are:
An inter-label gap detection mode for detecting a label sheet on which a label is affixed on a peeling mount at a predetermined interval based on the gap between the labels;
A mark detection mode for detecting a mark-added sheet to which a predetermined mark is attached at a predetermined interval based on the mark;
And a continuous paper detection mode for detecting the recording paper that does not include the gap between labels and the mark. A detection unit for detecting the print medium;
A plurality of print medium detection modes by the detection unit; and a storage unit for storing the set print medium detection modes;
A control unit that executes printing of the received print data based on the set print medium detection mode read from the storage unit, and
The control unit determines whether or not there is a mismatch between the received print data and the set print medium detection mode read from the storage unit, and shifts to a predetermined error state based on the determination result. 5. A printer, which is performed by the printer control method described in any one of 4 above.

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