JP2010234661A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can detect dirt of conveying member with sufficient accuracy and clean the dirt efficiently according to the detected degree of dirt of the conveying member even when using a general reflective photosensor of high versatility. <P>SOLUTION: In a small portable printer 1, after choosing either heating pattern A or C based on the number of straight line-like pattern 84A detected through the photosensor 70 in the first zebra pattern 84 during the time of conveying a cleaning sheet 80 through a platen roller 9, the cleaning sheet 80 is made to be intervened between a thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9 so that a heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 contacts the platen roller 9. Then, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 is made to generate an adhesion by heating the heating element of thermal head 8 from other surface side of a base material sheet 81 based on the chosen heating pattern. In this way, the dirt adhered to the surface of the platen roller 9 is cleaned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention forms a zebra pattern on a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet having a heat-sensitive adhesive layer, and based on the detection result of the zebra pattern detected when the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is conveyed via the conveying member In addition, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus that determines the contamination of the sheet and cleans the conveying member by selecting the heat generation pattern of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer by the thermal head and driving the thermal head to generate heat.

  Conventionally, various prints configured to detect dirt on the transport roller that transports print media, etc. using various indicators, and to clean the transport roller when the index value exceeds the reference value A device has been proposed.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-112556, the reflection density sensor measures the reflection density on the surface of the conveying roller, determines whether the value is lower than a set value, and the measured reflection density value is a set value. If it is determined to be lower than that, the conveyance roller conveyance force may be reduced to cause conveyance failure. Therefore, the recording operation is stopped to prevent recording failure due to uneven conveyance. Describes a recording apparatus configured to manually transport a cleaning sheet coated with a toner into a recording apparatus to clean a transport roller.

JP-A-7-112556

  However, in the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to measure the reflection density on the surface of the transport roller, it is necessary to provide an expensive reflection type density sensor as a dedicated sensor. Such a reflection type density sensor is used only for a special purpose and is not versatile. Therefore, the reflection type density sensor is expensive and increases the cost of the entire recording apparatus.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and even when a general reflection type photosensor having high versatility is used, the conveying member is accurately detected and the detected conveying member is used. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of efficiently cleaning dirt depending on the degree of dirt.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to claim 1 includes a conveying member, and a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements that are arranged opposite to the conveying member and selectively contactable with and separated from the conveying member. In a printing apparatus that prints on a print medium via a thermal head and conveys the print medium via a conveyance member while interposing the print medium with the conveyance member, a linear pattern is continuously formed at regular intervals. A heat-sensitive adhesive sheet having a formed first zebra pattern, on which a heat-sensitive adhesive layer that does not exhibit adhesive strength in an unheated state and exhibits adhesive force in a heated state is formed on one surface of a substrate sheet Detecting means for detecting the first zebra pattern, the number of linear patterns in the first zebra pattern, and a plurality of heat generation patterns by the heat generating elements of the thermal head. Based on the number of linear patterns in the first zebra pattern detected via the detection means while conveying the thermosensitive adhesive sheet by a certain conveyance amount via the conveyance member, Selection means for selecting a heat generation pattern corresponding to the number of patterns from the storage means, and the first detected by the detection means while the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is being conveyed via the conveying member. Based on the number of linear patterns in the zebra pattern, after the heat generation pattern is selected through the selection unit, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is in contact with the transport member between the thermal head and the transport member. A heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is interposed, and the heating element of the thermal head is heated from the other side of the base sheet based on the heating pattern selected through the selection means. With the expression of adhesion to the heat sensitive adhesive layer, characterized in that cleaning the adhering dirt conveying member surface.

  The printing apparatus according to claim 2 is the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second zebra pattern is formed on the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet upstream of the first zebra pattern along the conveying direction, The second zebra pattern is detected by the detection means after the dirt on the surface of the conveying member is cleaned through the adhesive force of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer expressed by the thermal head, and the second zebra pattern is detected through the detection means. If fewer linear patterns than the predetermined number in the zebra pattern are detected, it is determined that the surface of the conveying member has not been cleaned, and more than a predetermined number of linear patterns in the second zebra pattern are detected via the detecting means. If detected, it is determined that the cleaning of the surface of the conveying member is completed.

  The printing apparatus according to claim 3 is the printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a thermosensitive coloring layer is formed on the other side of the base sheet, and the thermal head is transported through the thermosensitive coloring layer. The cleaning information of the member is printed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus of the third aspect, the cleaning information includes heat generation pattern information selected via the selection unit.

  A printing apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the printing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the cleaning information includes incomplete information or completion information of cleaning.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein cleaning of the surface of the conveying member is incomplete based on the fact that less than a predetermined number of linear patterns in the second zebra pattern are detected via the detection means. If it is determined that the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is heated, the heat-generating element of the thermal head generates heat based on the heat-generating pattern having a larger heat-generating load than the heat-generating pattern selected by the selecting means, thereby expressing the adhesive force in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer. Then, the surface of the conveying member is again cleaned.

  A printing apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is cut into a rectangular shape.

  A printing apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is continuously wound in a roll shape.

In the printing apparatus according to claim 1, the selection unit is configured based on the number of linear patterns in the first zebra pattern detected through the detection unit while the thermosensitive adhesive sheet is being conveyed through the conveyance member. After selecting the heat generation pattern via the thermal head, the heat sensitive adhesive sheet is interposed between the thermal head and the conveyance member so that the heat-sensitive adhesive layer contacts the conveyance member, and the heat generation pattern selected via the selection means Since the heat generating element of the thermal head is heated from the other surface side of the base sheet based on the heat sensitive adhesive layer to express adhesive force, and the dirt adhered to the surface of the conveying member is cleaned. The detection means only needs to detect the number of linear patterns in the first zebra pattern. Therefore, the general reflection type photosensor having high versatility is used to precisely remove the contamination of the conveying member. It is possible to improve detection.
In addition, the heating pattern of the thermal head is selected from the other side of the base sheet to generate heat from the other side of the base sheet by selecting the heating pattern of the thermal head based on the detected number of linear patterns of the first zebra pattern. By developing adhesiveness to the heat-sensitive adhesive layer, the dirt adhered to the surface of the conveying member is cleaned, so that the dirt can be efficiently cleaned according to the detected degree of dirt on the conveying member. It becomes.

  In the printing apparatus according to claim 2, the second zebra pattern is detected by the detection unit after the dirt on the surface of the conveying member is cleaned through the adhesive force of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer developed by the thermal head. If fewer linear patterns than the predetermined number in the second zebra pattern are detected via the means, it is determined that the surface of the conveying member has not been cleaned, and the predetermined number in the second zebra pattern is determined via the detecting means. When the above linear pattern is detected, it is determined that the cleaning of the surface of the transport member has been completed. Therefore, after cleaning the stain on the transport member, based on the detection state of the second zebra pattern by the detection means, It is possible to determine whether the cleaning is completed.

  In the printing apparatus according to claim 3, since the cleaning information of the conveying member is printed on the thermosensitive coloring layer formed on the other side of the base sheet through the thermal head, after the cleaning of the conveying member is finished, By visually confirming the cleaning information printed on the other surface side of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, the cleaning state of the transport member can be easily confirmed.

  In the printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, since the cleaning information includes the heat generation pattern information selected via the selection unit, the degree of contamination of the transport member can be easily confirmed by visually checking the heat generation pattern information. It becomes possible.

  In the printing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, since the cleaning information includes incomplete information or completion information of the cleaning, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the cleaning of the conveying member is completed by visually checking the information. .

  In the printing apparatus according to claim 6, when it is determined that the cleaning of the surface of the conveying member is incomplete based on the fact that fewer than a predetermined number of linear patterns in the second zebra pattern are detected through the detection unit, Based on the heat generation pattern having a larger heat generation load than the heat generation pattern selected by the selection means, the heat generating element of the thermal head generates heat and expresses adhesive force in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer, so that the surface of the conveying member is cleaned again. When the cleaning process is performed again, the adhesive force developed in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is further increased, so that dirt remaining on the surface of the conveying member can be reliably cleaned.

  As the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, as described in claim 7, the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet may be cut into a rectangular shape, and as described in claim 8, it is continuous. And may be wound into a roll.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a portable small printer device according to an embodiment. It is a side view of the portable small printer device concerning this embodiment. It is a perspective view of a paper cassette. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of the portable small printer apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is arrow sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the portable small printer apparatus by line AA of FIG. It is a control block diagram of the portable small-sized printer device 1 concerning this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a cleaning sheet typically. It is a top view of a cleaning sheet. It is a flowchart which shows the cleaning processing procedure of a platen roller. 6 is a timing chart showing a relationship among a thermal head, a photo sensor, and a cleaning sheet when performing a cleaning process procedure of a platen roller. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the heat_generation | fever pattern of a thermal head. It is explanatory drawing which shows the cleaning information printed on the thermal coloring layer side of the cleaning sheet at the time of cleaning. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content printed on the thermosensitive coloring layer of a cleaning sheet when cleaning is not performed appropriately.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a schematic structure of a portable small-sized printer device 1 embodied as a printing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The portable small printer apparatus 1 has a top-open box-shaped main body case 2 having a size of about A6 size or A7 size in plan view and a thickness of about 2 cm or less, and one side of the upper surface (left side in FIG. 1) Has a fixed cover body 3. In the main body case 2 excluding the fixed cover body 3, a paper storage section 6 that can store a paper cassette 5 (see FIG. 3) that stores a plurality of paper sheets 4 as cut sheet-like recording media made of thermal paper. (See FIG. 5). In the vicinity of the lower surface side of the fixed cover body 3, a thermal head 8, a platen roller 9, a paper guide 10, a pickup roller 11 as a paper separation unit, a separation block 12, and the like are arranged. The paper storage unit 6 is covered with a lid 14 that is supported to be opened and closed via an opening / closing support member 13 that can be rotated and slid on the main body case 2 side (see FIG. 2).

In addition, on the side surface of the main body case 2, an infrared communication unit 17 that receives data transmitted by infrared from a portable terminal equipped with an infrared transmitter such as a cellular phone 16 described later, a portable terminal, a personal computer, and a USB cable (see FIG. And a USB terminal 18 for receiving data transmitted through a USB cable. Further, a power key 19 for turning on and off the main body is also provided on the side surface. Further, as will be described later, a cleaning key 71 is provided that is pressed when the platen roller 9 is cleaned.
Further, on the side where the fixed cover body 3 is provided, a mounting groove 20 for mounting a support base (not shown) that supports the portable small printer device 1 in an upright state is formed in a “U” shape. Is formed. Further, a plurality of air holes 22 for cooling the thermal head 8 and the drive motor 21 installed in the fixed cover body 3, a strap (not shown), an antitheft wire, etc. are mounted on the mounting groove 20. A locking hole 23 for this purpose is formed.

  The thermal head 8 is a line head type, and prints characters, images, etc. for each line extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the thermal paper 4 sandwiched between the platen roller 9 and transported. it can. The print width for printing one line is set to be approximately equal to the paper width in the orthogonal direction of the paper 4. The thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9 have a length in the short side direction of the paper 4 of about A6 size or A7 size. The thermal head 8 is used as a printing head by using thermal paper as a recording medium, so that no consumable ink or ink ribbon is required, and the mechanism therefor can be omitted, and the portable small printer 1 can be made compact. Because it can be.

  As the thermal paper, there are various types such as a thermal coloring type having a coloring layer that develops color by heating of the thermal head 8, and a thermal punching type in which a perforated layer to be perforated by heating is laminated on a base material layer. Can be used. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paper cassette used in this embodiment.

Next, the internal structure of the portable small printer 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the internal structure of the portable small printer 1, a pickup roller 11 and a separation block 12 are arranged on the side close to the printing mechanism unit 7 in the paper storage unit 6 (see FIG. 5). The paper cassette 5 accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 6 is attached to the bottom plate 26 of the paper accommodating portion 6 via a biasing means 25 such as a leaf spring provided on the inner surface of the closed lid body 14. Be forced. Of the stacked sheets 4 in the sheet cassette 5, the sheet 4 (lowermost sheet) exposed outside the sheet cassette 5 is abutted against the upper surface of the pickup roller 11. Only the lowermost sheet 4 passes through the gap between the lower end of the separation block 12 and the guide plate 28 by the cooperation of the rotational drive of the pickup roller 11 and the guide locking surface 27 of the separation block 12. A platen roller 9 is rotatably provided adjacent to the separation block 12, and the paper guide 10 is urged by an urging means 29 such as a pressing coil spring on the outer peripheral surface thereof.

When a print command and print data are sent from an external device such as the mobile phone 16 to the portable small printer 1 via the infrared communication unit 17 or the USB terminal 18, the paper cassette is formed by the pickup roller 11 and the guide locking surface 27. The sheet 4 separated and conveyed from 5 by 5 is conveyed between the platen roller 9 and the paper guide 10. The paper guide 10 is formed on a slidable contact surface having a concave curved shape such as a substantially U-shaped sideways cross section so that the cross section thereof is along the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 9. A guide film 31 is provided adjacent to the upper surface of the paper guide 10 on the thermal head 8 side. The guide film 31 is formed of polyester into a thin film shape, and the paper 4 is generated between the paper guide 10 and the platen roller 9 by pressing the paper 4 against the peripheral surface of the platen roller 9 by the tip 31A. 9 is prevented from floating. When the sheet 4 is not conveyed, the guide film 31 is in contact with the platen roller 9 at an acute angle from the sheet conveying direction immediately below the printing position of the thermal head 8.
A reflective photosensor 70 that detects the leading edge of the paper 4 and a zebra pattern on a cleaning sheet, which will be described later, is disposed on the sliding contact surface formed on the paper guide 10 along the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 9. ing.

  By the paper guide 10, the guide film 31, and the platen roller 9 disposed so as to be rotatable thereabove, the paper 4 separated and conveyed from the paper container 6 is reversed and conveyed in a horizontal U shape, It is conveyed to the printing position of the platen roller 9. Thereafter, the image is printed on the upper surface of the paper 4 by the thermal head 8 and discharged from the discharge port 34 in the gap between the upper surface of the separation block 12 and the edge of the fixed cover body 3 to the outside of the lid body 14. The thermal head 8 has a spring hook portion of a coil spring (biasing means) 35 engaged with the back surface (upper surface side) of the thermal head 8 and is biased toward the platen roller 9 side. 5) abuts on the upper surface of the platen roller 9.

  The drive mechanism for the platen roller 9 and the pickup roller 11 includes a drive motor 21 and a gear transmission mechanism (gear train) 37 disposed on one inner surface along the long side of the main body case 2. The diameter of the platen roller 9 is larger than the diameter of the pickup roller 11, and the paper conveyance speed at the platen roller 9 is set to be larger than the paper conveyance speed at the pickup roller 11. The sheet separation is performed slowly, and the sheet is conveyed by the platen roller 9 and, consequently, the printing speed is increased. For this purpose, a one-way clutch (not shown) is provided downstream of the platen roller 9 in the gear train so that the pickup roller 11 can be rotated for high-speed conveyance at nine platen rollers.

Next, a control system of the portable small printer 1 configured as described above will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the portable small printer 1, the ROM 42, SRAM 43, power supply SW circuit 44, motor drive circuit 45, thermal head control circuit 46, USB I / F drive circuit 47, IrDA modulation / demodulation circuit with respect to the CPU 41. 48, a rechargeable battery 49 is connected. Further, the drive motor 21 is connected to the motor drive circuit 45, and the thermal head 8 is connected to the thermal head control circuit 46.

The ROM 42 stores a cleaning processing program (to be described later) executed by the CPU 41 and other various programs. In addition, dot pattern data of a large number of characters to be printed are stored in association with code data. Further, the ROM 42 detects a zebra pattern formed on the cleaning sheet via the photo sensor 70 when the cleaning sheet is conveyed by the platen roller 9 as will be described later, and the linear shape in the detected zebra pattern is detected. A heat generation pattern selection table is stored in which the number of patterns and heat generation patterns by the thermal head 8 necessary for eliminating dirt on the surface of the platen roller 9 are associated with each other.
On the other hand, the SRAM 43 stores temporary data necessary for the data processing of the CPU 41. The SRAM 43 includes a data buffer 50 for storing input data, a text buffer 51 for editing and storing a print format and print information in units of pages, storage areas for a print buffer 52 for storing print data, and a later-described storage area. A print setting table 53 is provided in which each print setting is stored based on data transmitted from the mobile phone 16.

  Here, the motor drive circuit 45 controls the drive motor 22 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and the head control circuit 46 controls the heating element of the thermal head 8. The power SW circuit 44 is connected to the power key 19 and turns on / off the power of the portable small printer 1. Further, the cleaning SW circuit 72 is connected to the cleaning key 71, and transmits a cleaning start signal to the CPU 41 based on a pressing signal from the cleaning key 71 that is pressed when the platen roller 9 is cleaned.

Further, the CPU 41 is connected to a USB I / F drive circuit 47 which is an interface circuit for performing communication based on the USB standard with the external device 40 such as the mobile phone 16 and the personal computer, and is connected to the USB terminal 18 from this circuit. ing. The CPU 41 is connected to an IrDA modulation / demodulation circuit 48 which is an interface circuit for performing communication based on the IrDA standard with an external device 40 having an infrared data output device such as a mobile phone 16 or a PDA. Further, the IrDA modulation / demodulation circuit 48 is connected to an IrDA light emitting / receiving element 54 provided in the infrared communication unit 17 so that the portable small printer 1 can perform infrared communication.
Here, IrDA is a standard for infrared communication, and is mainly used to connect a desktop computer and a portable computer such as a notebook computer.

  The power supplied from the rechargeable battery 49 that is the internal power source of the portable small printer 1 is supplied to the CPU 41, the motor drive circuit 45, and the thermal head control circuit 46. A motor drive circuit 45 connected to the CPU 41 operates the drive motor 21 based on a command from the CPU 41 and carries the paper 4. Similarly, the thermal head control circuit 46 is connected to the CPU 41 and drives the thermal head 8 based on a command from the CPU 41 to perform thermal printing.

Next, a description will be given of a cleaning sheet, a cleaning process, and the like for cleaning the surface of the platen roller 9 according to the degree of contamination when the surface of the platen roller 9 is soiled.
First, a cleaning sheet used for cleaning the surface of the platen roller 9 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cleaning sheet 80 is formed by applying and forming a heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 on one surface side (the lower surface side in FIG. 7) of the base sheet 81, and the other surface (FIG. 7). The heat-sensitive color developing layer 83 is formed by coating on the upper surface side).
Here, the substrate sheet 81 is preferably thin enough not to come out under the influence of conveyance by the platen roller 9, and a resin film, paper, or the like is used. In addition, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 is a thermally active pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that has a characteristic of not exhibiting adhesive force in a non-heated state and exhibiting adhesive force in a heated state. The formation is performed by applying and forming a heat-sensitive adhesive described in Japanese Patent No. 3431768 on the substrate sheet 81. The adhesive force developed in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 when heated may be at least 3 N / 25 mm. Further, the heat-sensitive color forming layer 83 uses a heat-sensitive color former used for general thermal paper.
As in the case of the paper 4 described above, a plurality of cleaning sheets 80 configured as described above are stored in the paper cassette 5 and used.

  The characteristics of the cleaning sheet 80 will be described with reference to FIG. When cleaning the platen roller 9, the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed between the platen roller 9 and the thermal head 8. During this time, when heat generation control of the thermal head 8 is performed, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 of the cleaning sheet 80 develops adhesiveness from the portion heated by the thermal head 8 and becomes the adhesive layer 82A. At the same time, the adhesive layer 82A becomes the platen. The dirt such as dust, paper powder and dust adhering to the surface of the roller 9 is adhered and cleaned. In the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82, the portion not yet heated by the thermal head 8 on the upstream side of the thermal head 8 does not exhibit adhesiveness and remains as the non-adhesive layer 82B.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, a first zebra pattern 84 is printed on one side of the surface of the cleaning sheet 80 where the thermosensitive coloring layer 83 is formed. The first zebra pattern 84 is formed by continuously forming a plurality of linear patterns 84A (12 in FIG. 8) at regular intervals, and the number of the linear patterns 84A is detected via the photosensor 70. . Here, when the surface of the platen roller 9 is soiled, when the cleaning sheet 30 is conveyed, it slips between the surface of the platen roller 9 and the cleaning sheet 80 due to the degree of the soiling. Will occur. This slip increases as the degree of contamination on the surface of the platen roller 9 increases. Therefore, when slip occurs between the surface of the platen roller 9 and the cleaning sheet 80, the number of linear patterns 84A that are properly detected via the photosensor 70 when the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed by a certain conveyance amount is compared with the number of linear patterns 84A. Thus, only a small number of linear patterns 34A are detected according to the degree of contamination. Based on this principle, based on the number of linear patterns 84A of the first zebra pattern 84 detected through the photo sensor 70, the cleaning sheet 80 becomes soiled when conveyed through the platen roller 9 as will be described later. The degree is judged.

Further, a second zebra pattern 85 is printed and formed on the upstream side of the first zebra pattern 84 along the paper conveyance direction. Similarly to the first zebra pattern 84, the second zebra pattern 85 is formed by continuously forming a plurality of linear patterns 85A (12 in FIG. 8) at regular intervals, and the number of the linear patterns 85A is the photosensor. 70 is detected.
Here, the number of the linear patterns 85A of the second zebra pattern 85 detected through the photosensor 70 is based on the same principle as described above, and after the platen roller 9 is cleaned, as will be described later. This is a determination index as to whether or not the cleaning has been performed properly.

  Between the first zebra pattern 84 and the second zebra pattern 85, an adhesive layer forming region 86 in which the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 is formed is provided. The length M of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer forming region 86 along the paper conveyance direction is set to the outer peripheral length of the platen roller 9 or longer. Thereby, the entire peripheral surface of the platen roller 9 is covered with the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 formed in the adhesive layer forming region 86, and the entire peripheral surface of the platen roller 9 is cleaned via the single cleaning sheet 80. be able to.

  Next, a cleaning process for cleaning the platen roller 9 using the cleaning sheet 80 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

  In order to clean the platen roller 9, first, the cleaning key 71 is pressed. Based on this, the cleaning process in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is started, and conveyance of the cleaning sheet 80 is started via the pickup roller 11 in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1. The conveyance of the cleaning sheet 80 is performed until the front end portion (white color) is detected by the photosensor 70 (S2). After the leading edge of the cleaning sheet 80 is detected, the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed until a linear pattern 84A (black) at the leading edge of the first zebra pattern 84 is detected in S3. This state is shown in state A in FIG. In state A, the linear pattern 84A at the tip of the first zebra pattern 84 of the cleaning sheet 80 picked up and conveyed from the paper cassette 5 by the pickup roller 11 is detected by the photosensor 70.

  In S4, the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed by the length La (see state F) of the first zebra pattern 84. During this conveyance, the first zebra pattern 84 is changed based on the detection signal detected via the photosensor 70. The number of linear patterns 84A to be configured is measured. Further, when the leading edge of the cleaning sheet 80 reaches the print position of the thermal head 8 while the cleaning sheet 80 is being conveyed, the thermal sensitivity of the cleaning sheet 80 is measured in parallel with the measurement of the number of the linear patterns 84A. On the coloring layer 83, for example, the phrase “start cleaning” (see FIG. 12) is printed in the front print area 87 (see FIG. 10). This state is shown in state B and state C in FIG. In the state B, the printing of the phrase “cleaning start” is started in the front print area 87, and the detection of the linear pattern 84A of the first zebra pattern 84 is almost finished. In the state C, the front print area The printing of the phrase “start cleaning” in 87 is completed, and the detection of the linear pattern 84A of the first zebra pattern 84 is completed.

  Thereafter, in S5, the tip of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer forming region 86 (downstream in the conveyance direction of the cleaning sheet 80 adjacent to the first zebra pattern 84) is a heating start position by the thermal head 8 (after the front printing region 87). The cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed until it reaches the end position. This state is shown in state D in FIG.

Further, in S6, the heat generation pattern of the thermal head 8 is set according to the number of the linear patterns 84 measured in S4.
Here, the heat generation pattern will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows three heat generation patterns as an example, but each heat generation pattern is stored in the ROM 42 as a heat generation pattern table.
The heat generation pattern A is a pattern that is driven to generate heat by the thermal head 8 with respect to the adhesive forming region 86 when the degree of contamination attached to the surface of the platen roller 9 is small. The heat generation pattern B is a pattern that is driven to generate heat by the thermal head 8 with respect to the adhesive forming region 86 when the degree of contamination attached to the surface of the platen roller 9 is medium. The heat generation pattern C is a pattern that is driven to generate heat by the thermal head 8 with respect to the adhesive forming region 86 when the degree of contamination attached to the surface of the platen roller 9 is large.

Next, a method of selecting one heat generation pattern from the three heat generation patterns stored in the ROM 42 based on the number of linear patterns 84A of the first zebra pattern 84 detected in S4 will be described.
The first zebra pattern 84 has 12 linear patterns 84A as described above. When ten or more of the twelve linear patterns 84A are detected via the photosensor 70, almost no slip occurs between the platen roller 9 and the cleaning sheet 80 when the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed. Therefore, there is almost no dirt adhered to the surface of the platen roller 9. Accordingly, when the number of the linear patterns 84A detected through the photosensor 70 is 10 or more, it is not necessary to clean the platen roller 9, and no heat generation pattern is selected.

  When the number of linear patterns 84A detected through the photosensor 70 is 8 or more and less than 10, a slight slip occurs between the platen roller 9 and the cleaning sheet 80 when the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed. Therefore, slight dirt is adhered to the surface of the platen roller 9. In such a case, a small adhesive force is sufficient as the adhesive force expressed in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 by generating heat in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 of the cleaning sheet 80. Based on this, when the number of detected linear patterns 84A is 8 or more and less than 10, the heat generation pattern A having the smallest heat generation load among the heat generation patterns stored in the ROM 42 is selected. The

  When the number of linear patterns 84A detected via the photosensor 70 is 6 or more and less than 8, a moderate slip that cannot be ignored between the platen roller 9 and the cleaning sheet 80 when the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed. Therefore, a considerable amount of dirt adheres to the surface of the platen roller 9. In such a case, a relatively large adhesive force is required as the adhesive force developed in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 by generating heat in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 of the cleaning sheet 80. Based on this, when the number of detected linear patterns 84A is 6 or more and less than 8, the heating pattern B having an intermediate heating load is selected from the heating patterns stored in the ROM 42. Is done.

  When the number of the linear patterns 84A detected via the photosensor 70 is less than 6, slips are extremely frequently generated between the platen roller 9 and the cleaning sheet 80 when the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed. Therefore, the surface of the platen roller 9 is stubbornly soiled to the extent that it interferes with the conveyance of the cleaning sheet 30. In such a case, an extremely large adhesive force is required as the adhesive force expressed in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 by generating heat in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 of the cleaning sheet 80. Based on this, when the number of detected linear patterns 84A is less than 6, the heat generation pattern C having the largest heat generation load among the heat generation patterns stored in the ROM 42 is selected.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 9, the description of the cleaning process will be continued. After the heat generation pattern of the thermal head 8 is selected and set in S6 as described above, in S7, the thermal head 8 is changed based on the selected heat generation pattern. The heating element is driven to generate heat, and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 is thermally activated corresponding to the adhesive layer forming region 86 of the cleaning sheet 80, while the length M of the adhesive layer forming region 86 (Lb in FIG. 10). Only the equivalent). Thereby, the dirt adhering to the surface of the platen roller 9 is cleaned by the adhesive force developed in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82. This state is shown as state E in FIG.
In the heat-sensitive coloring layer 83 on the back side of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 as described above, a pattern corresponding to the heat generation pattern is printed via the thermal head 8 in a region corresponding to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer forming region 86. The

  Thereafter, in S8, the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed until the linear pattern 85A (black color) positioned at the head of the second zebra pattern 85 is detected through the photosensor 70, and then in S9, the second zebra pattern 85A (black) is detected. While the cleaning sheet 80 is being conveyed by the length of the pattern 85 (corresponding to La in FIG. 10), the number of linear patterns 85A of the second zebra pattern 85 detected via the photosensor 70 is measured. The

  Here, the second zebra pattern 85 serves as a determination index as to whether or not the cleaning in S7 has been properly performed. Specifically, the linear pattern in the second zebra pattern 85 that is detected and measured via the photosensor 70 is used. Based on the number of 85A, it is determined whether or not the cleaning is appropriate. For example, if the number of measurement of the linear pattern 85A is 10 or more, it is determined that the cleaning of the platen roller 9 is properly performed, while the number of measurement of the linear pattern 85A is less than 10. Determines that the platen roller 9 is not properly cleaned. This state is shown in a state F of FIG. 10, and in the state F, the detection measurement of the linear pattern 85 </ b> A of the second zebra pattern 85 is finished.

  In S10, after the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed to a position where the rear print area 88 faces the thermal head 8, the cleaning sheet 80 is changed according to the number of linear patterns 85A of the second zebra pattern 85 detected in S9. For example, while the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed by the length of the rear print area 88 (corresponding to Ld in FIG. 10) on the thermosensitive coloring layer 83, for example, the phrase “cleaning completed” (see FIG. 12) is printed on the rear side. It is printed in area 88 (see FIG. 10).

  Thereafter, when the cleaning sheet 80 is conveyed until it is discharged from the discharge port 34 in S11, the conveyance is stopped (S12).

  Next, contents (cleaning information) printed on the thermosensitive coloring layer 83 in the cleaning sheet 80 used for cleaning the platen roller 9 as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, for example, when the heat generation pattern A is selected and set as the heat generation pattern of the thermal head 8 based on the number of linear patterns 84 of the first zebra pattern 84 detected through the photosensor 70, the left side of FIG. As shown in the figure, the phrase “cleaning start” is printed in the front print area 87, the heat generation pattern A is printed as it is in the area corresponding to the adhesive layer forming area 86, and the rear print area 88 is printed. The phrase “Cleaning completed” is printed.
When the heat generation pattern B is selected and set as the heat generation pattern of the thermal head 8, as shown in the center of FIG. 12, the phrase “start cleaning” is printed in the front print area 87 and the adhesive layer formation area 86. The heat generation pattern B is printed as it is in the area corresponding to, and the phrase “cleaning completed” is printed in the rear print area 88.
Further, when the heat generation pattern C is selected and set as the heat generation pattern of the thermal head 8, as shown on the right side of FIG. 12, the phrase “start cleaning” is printed in the front print area 87, and the adhesive layer formation area 86. The heat generation pattern C is printed as it is in the area corresponding to, and the phrase “cleaning completed” is printed in the rear print area 88.
Thus, since the cleaning start / end information and the heat generation pattern information are printed on the thermal coloring layer 83 side of the cleaning sheet 30, the cleaning state of the platen roller 9 can be easily confirmed by visually checking these information. It becomes possible. In particular, since the heat generation pattern information of the thermal head 8 used at the time of cleaning is printed, it is possible to easily check the degree of contamination of the platen roller 9 by visually checking the heat generation pattern information. Further, since the cleaning end information is printed, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the cleaning of the platen roller 9 is completed by visually checking the end information.

In S9, when the number of the linear patterns 85A of the second zebra pattern 85 detected and measured through the photosensor 70 is less than 10, the platen roller 9 is properly cleaned. Judged not to exist. In such a case, the contents printed on the thermosensitive coloring layer 83 will be described with reference to FIG.
Here, it is assumed that the heat generation pattern A is selected and set in S6, and the number of linear patterns 85A in the second zebra pattern 85 detected and measured in S9 is eight.

  First, the phrase “start cleaning” is printed in the front print area 87 of the cleaning sheet 80 (S4), the thermal head 8 is driven to generate heat based on the heat generation pattern A (S7), and the platen roller 9 of the cleaning sheet 80 is cleaned. Is done. After that, the number of the linear patterns 85A in the second zebra pattern 85 detected and measured by the photosensor 70 is eight and less than ten, so that the platen roller 9 is not properly cleaned. .

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, the phrase “insufficient cleaning” is printed in the rear print area 88 of the cleaning sheet 80. The operator who visually recognizes this presses the cleaning key 71 continuously in order to perform cleaning again. Based on this, cleaning is performed again using the second cleaning sheet 80.

  At this time, first, the phrase “restart cleaning” is printed in the front print area 87 of the second cleaning sheet 80, and then the heat generation pattern of the thermal head 8 is a heat generation having a larger heat generation load than the heat generation pattern A. After the pattern B is selected and set, the platen roller 9 is cleaned in the same manner as described above. When ten or more linear patterns 85A of the second zebra pattern 85 are detected and measured via the photosensor 70, it is determined that the cleaning has been properly performed, and “cleaning” is performed in the rear print area 88. The phrase “End” is printed.

  In the cleaning using the second cleaning sheet 80, if the number of the linear patterns 85A of the second zebra pattern 85 detected and measured by the photosensor 70 is less than 10, the cleaning is performed in the same manner as described above. By continuously pressing the key 71, the platen roller 9 may be continuously cleaned.

As described above, in the portable small printer 1 according to this embodiment, the straight line in the first zebra pattern 84 detected through the photosensor 70 while the cleaning sheet 80 is being conveyed through the platen roller 9. After selecting one of the heat generation patterns A to C based on the number of the pattern 84 </ b> A, the cleaning sheet 80 is arranged so that the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 contacts the platen roller 9 between the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9. And the heat generating element of the thermal head 8 generates heat from the other surface side of the base sheet 81 based on the selected heat generation pattern to develop the adhesive force in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82, and on the surface of the platen roller 9. The photosensor 70 is arranged in the first zebra pattern 84 because it is configured to clean the attached dirt. It is only necessary to detect the number of linear patterns 84A, therefore, it becomes possible to accurately detect the contamination of the conveying member by using a reflection type photosensor 70 of the versatile general.
Further, based on the number of detected linear patterns 84A of the first zebra pattern 84, the heat generation pattern of the thermal head 8 is selected according to the degree of contamination of the platen roller 9, and the thermal head is started from the other side of the base sheet 81. Since the dirt adhering to the surface of the platen roller 9 is cleaned by generating heat from the eight heating elements and causing the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 to develop an adhesive force, the degree of dirt detected on the surface of the platen roller 9 is detected. Accordingly, it becomes possible to efficiently clean the dirt.

  Further, the second zebra pattern 85 is detected via the photosensor 70 after the dirt on the surface of the platen roller 9 is cleaned through the adhesive force of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 expressed by the thermal head 8. When the number of the linear patterns 85A of the second zebra pattern 85 is detected to be less than 10, it is determined that the surface of the platen roller 9 has not been cleaned, and the second zebra detected via the photosensor 70 is used. When the number of the linear patterns 85A of the pattern 85 is 10 or more, it is determined that the cleaning of the surface of the platen roller 9 has been completed. Therefore, after cleaning the dirt on the platen roller 9, the second zebra by the photosensor 70 is used. Whether or not the cleaning of the platen roller 9 is completed based on the detection state of the pattern 85 It is possible to determine.

  Further, since the cleaning information of the platen roller 9 is printed on the thermosensitive coloring layer 83 formed on the other surface side of the base sheet 81 via the thermal head 8, after the cleaning of the platen roller 9 is finished, the cleaning sheet By visually confirming the cleaning information printed on the other side of 80, the cleaning state of the platen roller 9 can be easily confirmed.

  Here, since the cleaning information includes the selected heat generation pattern information, the degree of contamination of the platen roller 9 can be easily confirmed by visually checking the heat generation pattern information.

  In addition, since the cleaning information includes incomplete cleaning information or completion information, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the cleaning of the platen roller 9 has been completed by visually recognizing such information.

  Further, if it is determined that the cleaning of the platen roller 9 is incomplete based on the fact that less than 10 linear patterns 85A of the second zebra pattern 85 are detected via the photosensor 70, the first selection is made. The surface of the platen roller 9 is cleaned again by generating heat from the heat generating element of the thermal head 8 based on the heat generation pattern having a larger heat generation load than the heat generation pattern, thereby causing the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 to exhibit adhesive force. During the cleaning process, the adhesive force developed in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 is further increased, so that dirt remaining on the surface of the platen roller 9 can be reliably cleaned.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, various improvement and deformation | transformation are possible within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the platen roller 9 is cleaned using the cut independent cleaning sheet 80, but the present invention is a cleaning sheet continuously wound in a roll shape. This can also be applied when using.

In a printing apparatus using a roll-shaped cleaning sheet, as shown in FIG. 8, a thermosensitive coloring layer 83 is formed on one surface (thermal head 8 side) of the cleaning sheet, and the first zebra pattern 84 and the second zebra pattern are formed. A cleaning sheet in which the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 is formed on the other surface (the platen roller 9 side) corresponding to the adhesive forming area 86 as one unit, and this unit is continuously provided at regular intervals. Is used.
When the cleaning processing program shown in FIG. 9 is applied to the printing apparatus using such a cleaning sheet, it is not necessary to detect the end of the paper because the roll-like cleaning sheet is continuous. Therefore, the flowchart of FIG. The process of S2 in can be omitted. On the other hand, since the roll-shaped cleaning sheets are continuous, it is necessary to cut each time the platen roller 9 is cleaned. Therefore, a cutter is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port in the printing apparatus. After S10 in the flowchart of FIG. 5, every time the platen roller 9 is cleaned once, a process for cutting the portion used for cleaning through the cutter is required.
Further, in the present embodiment, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 is formed in the heat-sensitive adhesive layer forming region 86 of the cleaning sheet 80, but may be formed on the entire surface of the cleaning sheet 80 on the same surface. Further, the first zebra pattern 84 and the second zebra pattern 85 may be provided not only on the one surface side on which the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 82 is formed, but also on the other surface side opposite thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable small printer 4 Paper 5 Paper cassette 7 Printing mechanism part 8 Thermal head 9 Platen roller 11 Pickup roller 41 CPU
42 ROM
70 Photosensor 71 Cleaning Key 80 Cleaning Sheet 81 Base Sheet 82 Heat-Sensitive Adhesive Layer 83 Heat-Sensitive Coloring Layer 84 First Zebra Pattern 84A Linear Pattern 85 Second Zebra Pattern 85A Linear Pattern 86 Thermosensitive Adhesive Layer Forming Area 87 Print area 88 Rear print area

Claims (8)

A thermal head comprising: a conveying member; and a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements that are arranged opposite to the conveying member and selectively contactable with and separated from the conveying member, and a print medium is interposed between the thermal head and the conveying member. In a printing apparatus that performs printing on a print medium via a conveyance member and conveys the print medium via a conveyance member,
A heat-sensitive adhesive that has a first zebra pattern in which linear patterns are continuously formed at regular intervals, and that does not develop adhesive force in a non-heated state on one surface of a base sheet, but develops adhesive force in a heated state A heat-sensitive adhesive sheet on which an agent layer is formed;
Detecting means for detecting the first zebra pattern;
Storage means for storing the number of linear patterns in the first zebra pattern in association with a plurality of heat generation patterns by the heat generating elements of the thermal head;
Based on the number of linear patterns in the first zebra pattern detected via the detection means while the thermosensitive adhesive sheet is conveyed by a certain conveyance amount via the conveyance member, the number corresponds to the number of patterns. Selecting means for selecting a heat generation pattern from the storage means;
While the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is conveyed through the conveying member, the heating pattern is selected via the selection unit based on the number of linear patterns in the first zebra pattern detected via the detection unit. After
A thermosensitive adhesive sheet is interposed between the thermal head and the conveying member so that the thermosensitive adhesive layer is in contact with the conveying member, and based on the heat generation pattern selected via the selection means, A printing apparatus comprising: a heat generating element of a thermal head that generates heat from the other side to cause the heat-sensitive adhesive layer to exhibit adhesive force, and cleans dirt adhering to the surface of a conveying member. In the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, a second zebra pattern is formed on the upstream side of the first zebra pattern along the conveying direction,
The second zebra pattern is detected by the detection means after the dirt on the surface of the conveying member is cleaned through the adhesive force of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer expressed by the thermal head,
When fewer than a predetermined number of linear patterns in the second zebra pattern are detected through the detection means, it is determined that the cleaning of the surface of the conveying member is incomplete, and in the second zebra pattern through the detection means The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the predetermined number or more of linear patterns are detected, it is determined that the cleaning of the surface of the conveying member is completed. A thermosensitive coloring layer is formed on the other side of the base sheet,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thermal head prints cleaning information of the conveying member via the thermosensitive coloring layer.   The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning information includes heat generation pattern information selected through the selection unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning information includes incomplete cleaning information or completion information.   When it is determined that the cleaning of the surface of the conveying member is incomplete based on the fact that fewer than a predetermined number of linear patterns in the second zebra pattern are detected through the detecting means, the selection means selects The heating member surface is heated again based on a heat generation pattern having a heat generation load larger than that of the heat generation pattern to cause the heat-sensitive adhesive layer to exhibit an adhesive force, and the surface of the conveying member is cleaned again. The printing apparatus according to 2.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is cut into a rectangular shape.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is continuously wound in a roll shape.

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