JP2011194614A - End detecting device in printer and end detecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an end detecting device in a printer which simplifies detection of a terminal end (paper end) of a printing paper such as a printing paper and can simplify the constitution of a detecting plate 27 for end detection, and to provide an end detecting method.SOLUTION: The detecting plate 27 is attached to a printing paper feeding shaft of the printing paper 17, and detection of the posture is taken note of following drawing-out of the printing paper 17 to a paper printing part. The end detecting device in the printer has the detecting plate 27 set integrally operably with the printing paper feeding shaft at a shaft end of the printing paper feeding shaft on which the printing paper 17 is carried in a roll shape, a spring which urges the detecting plate 27 in a constant direction around the printing paper feeding shaft, a sensor which detects the posture of the detecting plate 27, and a control part 14 which enables detection of the presence or absence of the terminal end of the printing paper 17 by detecting the posture of the detecting plate 27 by the sensor 29 while a power supply of the printer is ON.

Description

  The present invention relates to an end detection device and an end detection method in a printer, and in particular, a printer that prints on a print sheet using a ribbon such as a thermal transfer ribbon, and prints on a roll-like print sheet regardless of the presence or absence of the ribbon. The present invention relates to an end detection device and an end detection method in a printer.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a structure for detecting the presence or absence of a printing ribbon or its final end (ribbon end) in a printer, there is, for example, a ribbon end detection device provided on a printing ribbon supply shaft.
FIG. 6 is a main part schematic perspective view showing a conventional end detection device 1 as an example. The end detection device 1 is a disc-shaped object provided at one end of a ribbon supply shaft 3 of a ribbon, for example, a thermal transfer ribbon 2. A detection plate 4 and a transmission sensor 5 are provided.

The plate 4 to be detected can be rotated integrally with the ribbon supply shaft 3 and is alternately detected at regular intervals around the circumference of the ribbon supply shaft 3 so as to protrude in the axial direction of the ribbon supply shaft 3. The concave portion 6 and the convex portion 7 are formed, and the concave portion 6 and the convex portion 7 can be detected by the transmission sensor 5.
The control unit (not shown) recognizes on / off of detection signals of the concave portion 6 and the convex portion 7 by the transmission type sensor 5, detects the rotation of the detected plate 4, that is, the ribbon supply shaft 3, and operates the ribbon supply shaft 3. Is stopped, the final end (ribbon end) of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 can be detected.
That is, when the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is used up and its ribbon end is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the ribbon supply shaft 3, the ribbon supply shaft 3 is driven even if the ribbon take-up shaft (not shown) side of the detected plate 4 is driven. The (detected plate 4) does not rotate, and the state of the detected plate 4 is not changed, that is, the on / off detection signal of the transmission sensor 5 is not changed, and the ribbon end can be detected.

However, in such a ribbon end detection apparatus 1, in order to determine the presence / absence of the final end of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 from the on / off change or change speed of the detection signal from the transmission type sensor 5, ribbon end detection in the control unit is performed. There is a problem that the judgment process becomes complicated.
Furthermore, since the detected plate 4 has a complicated shape in which a plurality of concave portions 6 and convex portions 7 are alternately formed on the outer peripheral edge thereof, there is a problem that the processing cost is increased in the sheet metal processing, and the detected plate is made from a resin material. There is also a problem that the mold cost is increased when forming 4.
In short, the conventional end detection apparatus 1 has a problem that both software and hardware are expensive.

JP-A-6-278299

  The present invention has been considered in view of the above problems, and it is possible to simplify the detection of the final end (ribbon end, paper end) of a roll such as a ribbon such as a thermal transfer ribbon or a roll-shaped printing paper. It is an object to provide an end detection device and an end detection method in a simple printer.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an end detection device and an end detection method in a printer that can execute end detection processing with simple software.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an end detection device and an end detection method in a printer in which the configuration of a detection plate for end detection is simplified.

  The present invention also provides an end detection device and an end detection method in a printer that can detect the end with a simple configuration that detects the posture of a detection plate attached to a ribbon supply shaft such as a thermal transfer ribbon or a printing paper supply shaft. This is the issue.

  That is, the present invention attaches a detection plate to a ribbon supply shaft of a ribbon or a supply shaft of a roll object such as a roll-shaped printing paper sheet, and detects this detection as the ribbon or printing paper is fed out to a paper printing unit. The first invention focuses on detecting the respective postures by positioning the plate in the first posture and the second posture, and the first invention is loaded with printing paper and the printing paper is printed in the paper printing unit. An end detection device in a printer for printing on a printing paper, wherein the end of the printing paper supply shaft loaded with the printing paper in a roll shape is provided so as to be integrated with the printing paper supply shaft. A detection plate, a spring that urges the detection plate in a fixed direction around the print paper supply shaft, a sensor that detects the posture of the detection plate, and the printer is turned on. In an end detecting device in a printer characterized by having a control unit which can detect the presence or absence of the final end of the printing paper by detecting the posture of the plate to be detected by the sensor.

  A second invention is an end detection method in a printer for loading printing paper and printing on the printing paper using the printing paper in a paper printing unit, and loading the printing paper in a roll shape. A detection plate is provided at the shaft end of the printing paper supply shaft so as to be able to operate integrally with the printing paper supply shaft, and the detection plate is urged by a spring in a certain direction around the printing paper supply shaft. The controller detects the posture of the detected plate with a sensor, and detects the posture of the detected plate with the sensor while the printer is turned on. An end detection method in a printer, characterized in that presence / absence can be detected.

  The control unit determines that the printing paper is “present” on the printing paper supply shaft when the detected plate is in the first posture, and the printing paper is printed on the printing plate when the detected plate is in the second posture. It can be determined that the paper supply axis is “none”.

  The control unit can determine that the final end of the printing paper is not on the printing paper supply shaft when the detection signal of the detection plate by the sensor is on.

  The detection plate may have a detection protrusion that can be detected by the sensor.

  The paper printing unit includes a platen roller for pulling out the printing paper from the printing paper supply shaft, and when the platen roller pulls out the printing paper and the final end thereof leaves the printing paper supply shaft, The detection plate can be returned to the original posture by the spring.

  The biasing force of the spring can be set smaller than the drawing force of the printing paper by the platen roller.

  In the end detection device and the end detection method for a printer according to the present invention, a detected plate is attached to the printing paper supply shaft of the printing paper, and the detected plate is moved to the first posture and the first position as the printing paper is fed. Since the position of each of the detected plates is detected by detecting each of the postures and determining whether or not there is a paper end, the operation state or the rotation operation of the detected plate by the transmission type sensor is performed as in the conventional end detection device. By detecting a simple change in the posture of the detection plate without detection, detection of the final end (paper end) of the printing paper can be simplified in both hardware and software.

  In particular, according to the end detection device in the printer of the first invention, the detected plate provided on the printing paper supply shaft of the printing paper, the spring for urging the detected plate in a certain direction, and the posture of the detected plate Since the detection sensor and the control unit that can detect the presence or absence of the final edge of the printing paper by detecting the posture of the detection plate with the sensor while the printer power is on, the detection plate is provided. The presence or absence of printing paper can be detected simply by detecting the orientation of the paper, and the software for detecting the end of the paper can be simplified, and the overall shape and configuration of the detected plate can be simplified to reduce the overall cost. can do.

  In particular, according to the end detection method in the printer of the second invention, the detection plate is provided so as to be able to operate integrally with the printing paper supply shaft of the printing paper, and the detection plate is biased in a certain direction by a spring. The detected position of the detected plate is detected by the sensor, and the detected position of the detected plate is detected by the sensor while the printer is turned on, so that the control unit can detect the presence or absence of the final end of the ribbon. Therefore, the control unit only needs to detect the posture of the detection plate for detecting the end of the paper, and a simplified detection method can be obtained.

1 is a schematic side view of a thermal transfer printer 10 equipped with an end detection device 15 of the present invention. 2 is a schematic side view of the thermal transfer printer 10 in a state where the opening / closing lid 13 (and the opening / closing bracket 16) is opened. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the plate to be detected 27 and the ribbon supply shaft 3 in the end detection device 15. FIG. 4 is a side view of the end detection device 15. FIG. 4 (1) shows the detected plate 27 in the first posture (the posture in which the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is determined to be “present” on the ribbon supply shaft 3). FIG. 4B shows the time when the detected plate 27 is in the second posture (the posture in which the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is judged to be “none” in the ribbon supply shaft 3). FIG. 6 is a timing chart of end detection in the control unit 14. It is a principal part schematic perspective view of the conventional end detection apparatus 1. FIG. It is a schematic side view of the thermal transfer printer 10 equipped with the end detection device 35 of the present invention. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a detection plate 27 and a printing paper supply shaft 36 in the end detection device 35. FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view of the end detection device 35, and FIG. 9A shows the detected plate 27 in the first posture (the posture in which the printing paper 17 is determined to be “present” on the printing paper supply shaft 36). ), And FIG. 9B shows the time when the detected plate 27 is in the second posture (the posture in which the printing paper 17 is determined to be “none” on the printing paper supply shaft 36). FIG. 6 is a timing chart of end detection in the control unit 14.

  The present invention simplifies the configuration and functions by detecting the end of a ribbon or print paper (ribbon end, paper end) by detecting the orientation of the detection plate with the printer power on. An end detection device and an end detection method for a printer that can contribute to cost reduction are realized.

Next, an end detection device and an end detection method in a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the same parts as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a printer, for example, a thermal transfer printer 10. The thermal transfer printer 10 is connected to a printer main body 11 at an opening / closing shaft 12 on one end side of the printer main body 11 and opens / closes with respect to the printer main body 11. 13, a control unit 14, and the end detection device 15.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the thermal transfer printer 10 with the opening / closing lid 13 (and the opening / closing bracket 16) opened.
The printer main body 11 has a paper supply unit 18 for the printing paper 17 on the opening / closing axis 12 side, and a paper printing unit 19 between the opening / closing axis 12 and the opening / closing lid 13 on the downstream side in the sheet transfer direction.
A transfer path 21 extends from the sheet supply unit 18 and the sheet printing unit 19 to the sheet discharge port 20 on the downstream side of the opening / closing shaft 12 in the sheet transfer direction.

  The paper supply unit 18 holds the printing paper 17 in a roll shape, and allows the printing paper 17 to be fed out in a belt shape to a transfer path 21 toward the paper printing unit 19.

  An open / close bracket 16 is provided between the open / close lid 13 and the printer main body 11 so as to be openable and closable around the open / close shaft 12, as with the open / close lid 13.

  In particular, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 1, as a belt-like print paper 17 (for example, a continuous label) for printing predetermined information in the paper printing unit 19, a plurality of label pieces 23 are provided on a belt-like mount 22. The thing of the structure temporarily attached to can be employ | adopted.

The paper printing unit 19 includes a thermal head 24 provided on the opening / closing bracket 16 side and a platen roller 25 provided on the printer body 11 side, and the ribbon supply shaft 3 and ribbon winding of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 provided on the opening / closing bracket 16 side. And a shaft 26. The ribbon take-up shaft 26 takes up the thermal transfer ribbon 2 from the ribbon supply shaft 3 through the paper printing unit 19 in a roll shape.
As the opening / closing lid 13 and the opening / closing bracket 16 are opened and closed, the thermal head 24 and the platen roller 25 can be separated from each other.
In the thermal transfer printer 10, the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is loaded on the ribbon supply shaft 3, the printing paper 17 is loaded on the paper supply unit 18, and printing is performed on the printing paper 17 using the thermal transfer ribbon 2 in the paper printing unit 19.
Depending on the configuration of the paper printing unit 19 or the opening / closing lid 13, a part of the paper printing unit 19 (the thermal head 24, the ribbon supply shaft 3 of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the above-described thermal head 24) may be provided on the opening / closing lid 13 without providing the opening / closing bracket 16. A ribbon take-up shaft 26 or the like may be provided.

  The control unit 14 controls the entire thermal transfer printer 10 and detects the ribbon end of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 by the end detection device 15.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end detection device 15 includes a disk-shaped detection plate 27, a tension spring 28 (spring), a sensor 29, and a control unit 14.
3 is an exploded perspective view of the detected plate 27 and the ribbon supply shaft 3 in the end detection device 15, FIG. 4 is a side view of the end detection device 15, and FIG. FIG. 4 (2) shows the second posture (the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is the ribbon supply shaft). FIG. 4 (2) shows the posture of the first posture (the posture in which the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is judged to be “present” on the ribbon supply shaft 3). 3 shows an attitude determined as “none”.

The detected plate 27 is integrated with the ribbon supply shaft 3 by combining the key 30 and the key groove 31 at the shaft end of the ribbon supply shaft 3 in which the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is loaded in a roll shape (see FIG. 3). This is operably provided.
A detection protrusion 27A is formed on a part of the circumference of the detection plate 27 so that the sensor 29 can detect it.
The ribbon supply shaft 3 includes, for example, a torque limiter that limits the torque of the ribbon supply shaft 3 to maintain the tension of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 at a predetermined level, or the tension on the thermal transfer ribbon 2 upstream from the paper printing unit 19. A tension adjusting mechanism 32 having an arbitrary configuration using a back tension member or the like that operates can be incorporated, and the tension of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 accompanying the feeding of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 from the ribbon supply shaft 3 can be adjusted within a certain range.

The tension spring 28 urges the detected plate 27 in a certain direction around the ribbon supply shaft 3. In the illustrated example, the detected plate 27 is always moved around the ribbon supply shaft 3 in FIG. It can be biased clockwise. Therefore, when the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is taken up by the ribbon take-up shaft 26 and the final end portion thereof leaves the ribbon supply shaft 3, the detected plate 27 is returned to the original position or the original posture by the tension spring 28.
However, the urging force of the tension spring 28 is set to be smaller than the winding force of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 by the ribbon winding shaft 26.
Further, the tension spring 28 can be used so as to adjust the tension of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 on the transfer path 21 together with the tension adjusting mechanism 32.

The sensor 29 detects the posture of the detection plate 27, specifically, detects the detection protrusion 27 </ b> A of the detection plate 27 and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 14.
As the type or function of the sensor 29, for example, any type such as a transmission type, a reflection type, a limit switch or other contact type can be adopted.

The control unit 14 detects the posture of the detected plate 27 with the sensor 29 in a state where the power supply 33 (power switch, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) of the thermal transfer printer 10 is on, so that the final end ( The presence or absence of a ribbon end can be detected.
That is, the control unit 14 determines that the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is “present” on the ribbon supply shaft 3 when the detected plate 27 is in the first posture (see FIG. 4A) (that is, the ribbon end is still on the ribbon supply shaft 3). When the detected plate 27 is in the second posture (see FIG. 4B), the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is “none” on the ribbon supply shaft 3 (that is, the ribbon end is still on the ribbon supply shaft 3). Judgment)
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 (2), the control unit 14 detects the detection signal of the detection plate 27 by the sensor 29 when the detection protrusion 27 </ b> A of the detection plate 27 is located at the site of the sensor 29. Is turned on, it is determined that the final end of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is not on the ribbon supply shaft 3.

In the thermal transfer printer 10 and the end detection device 15 configured as described above, the thermal transfer ribbon 2 loaded in a roll shape on the ribbon supply shaft 3 is fed out from the ribbon supply shaft 3 in a strip shape as the printing paper 17 is printed in the paper printing unit 19. At the same time, it is wound around the ribbon winding shaft 26.
Thus, a detection plate 27 is provided at the shaft end of the ribbon supply shaft 3 in which the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is loaded in a roll shape so as to be able to operate integrally with the ribbon supply shaft 3. 27 is urged by a tension spring 28 in a certain direction around the ribbon supply shaft 3 (clockwise in FIG. 4), and the posture of the detected plate 27 is detected by a sensor 29, and the power supply 33 of the thermal transfer printer 10 is detected. By detecting the posture of the plate 27 to be detected by the sensor 29 in the ON state, the control unit 14 can detect the presence or absence of the final end of the thermal transfer ribbon 2.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of ribbon end detection in the control unit 14. When the power source 33 is on and the detection signal from the sensor 29 is off, the detected plate 27 is in the first posture. The thermal transfer ribbon 2 is on the ribbon supply shaft 3 and the ribbon end is not detected, and it is determined that the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is “present”.
On the other hand, when the detection signal from the sensor 29 is on, the detected plate 27 is in the second posture, and the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is not on the ribbon supply shaft 3 and its ribbon end is detected, that is, the thermal transfer ribbon 2. Is judged as “none”.
The state of “None” of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 can be recognized by an arbitrary display device or warning device (not shown), and the user can be prompted to replace the thermal transfer ribbon 2.

  Thus, the control unit 14 only determines the attitude of the detected plate 27 (whether it is in the first attitude or the second attitude) when the power supply 33 of the thermal transfer printer 10 is on. Therefore, the software processing is simplified as compared with the conventional processing, and the configuration of the detection plate 27 is only required to form the detection protrusion 27A that can be detected by the sensor 29. It can be simplified by itself, and both can contribute to the cost reduction of the configuration for detecting the ribbon end.

  Next, an end detection device and an end detection method in the printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a printer, for example, a thermal transfer printer 10. The thermal transfer printer 10 is connected to a printer main body 11 at an opening / closing shaft 12 on one end side of the printer main body 11 and opens and closes with respect to the printer main body 11. 13, the control unit 14, and the end detection device 35.

The printer main body 11 has a paper supply unit 18 for the printing paper 17 on the opening / closing axis 12 side, and a paper printing unit 19 between the opening / closing axis 12 and the opening / closing lid 13 on the downstream side in the sheet transfer direction.
A transfer path 21 extends from the sheet supply unit 18 and the sheet printing unit 19 to the sheet discharge port 20 on the downstream side of the opening / closing shaft 12 in the sheet transfer direction.

  The paper supply unit 18 includes a printing paper supply shaft 36 that holds the printing paper 17 in a roll shape, and a supply shaft guide 37 that rotatably holds the printing paper supply shaft 36, and is provided in a transfer path 21 toward the paper printing unit 19. It can be fed out in a strip shape.

  An open / close bracket 16 is provided between the open / close lid 13 and the printer main body 11 so as to be openable and closable around the open / close shaft 12, as with the open / close lid 13.

  As the belt-like printing paper 17 (for example, a continuous label) for printing predetermined information in the paper printing unit 19, a configuration in which a plurality of label pieces 23 are temporarily attached on a belt-like mount 22 is adopted. Can do.

The paper printing unit 19 includes a thermal head 24 provided on the opening / closing bracket 16 side and a platen roller 25 provided on the printer body 11 side, and the ribbon supply shaft 3 and ribbon winding of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 provided on the opening / closing bracket 16 side. And a shaft 26. The ribbon take-up shaft 26 takes up the thermal transfer ribbon 2 from the ribbon supply shaft 3 through the paper printing unit 19 in a roll shape.
As the opening / closing lid 13 and the opening / closing bracket 16 are opened and closed, the thermal head 24 and the platen roller 25 can be separated from each other.
In the thermal transfer printer 10, the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is loaded on the ribbon supply shaft 3, the printing paper 17 is loaded on the paper supply unit 18, and printing is performed on the printing paper 17 using the thermal transfer ribbon 2 in the paper printing unit 19.
Depending on the configuration of the paper printing unit 19 or the opening / closing lid 13, a part of the paper printing unit 19 (the thermal head 24, the ribbon supply shaft 3 of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the above-described thermal head 24) may be provided on the opening / closing lid 13 without providing the opening / closing bracket 16. A ribbon take-up shaft 26 or the like may be provided. Further, it may be a thermal printing section that does not include a thermal transfer ribbon.

  The control unit 14 controls the entire thermal transfer printer 10 and detects the paper end of the printing paper 17 by the end detection device 35.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the end detection device 35 includes a disc-shaped detection plate 27, a tension spring 28 (spring), a sensor 29, and a control unit 14.
8 is an exploded perspective view of the detected plate 27 and the printing paper supply shaft 36 in the end detection device 35, FIG. 9 is a side view of the end detection device 35, and FIG. FIG. 9B shows the first posture (the posture in which the printing paper 17 is determined to be “present” on the printing paper supply shaft 36). FIG. 9B shows the detected plate 27 in the second posture (the printing paper 17 is printed). The posture when the paper supply shaft 36 is determined to be “none” is shown.

The plate 27 to be detected is connected to the shaft end portion of the printing paper supply shaft 36 loaded with the printing paper 17 in a roll shape by a combination of a key 30 and a key groove 31 (see FIG. 8). This is provided so as to be integrally operable.
A detection protrusion 27A is formed on a part of the circumference of the detection plate 27 so that the sensor 29 can detect it.
The printing paper supply shaft 36 includes, for example, a torque limiter that limits the torque of the printing paper supply shaft 36 and maintains the tension of the printing paper 17 at a predetermined level, or the printing paper 17 upstream of the paper printing unit 19. It is possible to incorporate a tension adjusting mechanism 32 having an arbitrary configuration by a back tension member that acts on the tension of the printing paper, and to adjust the tension of the printing paper 17 as the printing paper 17 is fed from the printing paper supply shaft 36 within a certain range. It is said.

The tension spring 28 urges the detection plate 27 in a fixed direction around the print paper supply shaft 36. In the illustrated example, the detection plate 27 is arranged around the print paper supply shaft 36 in FIG. Can be constantly biased counterclockwise. Therefore, when the printing paper 17 is pulled out by the platen roller 25 and its final end portion leaves the printing paper supply shaft 36, the detected plate 27 is returned to the original position or the original posture by the tension spring 28.
However, the urging force of the tension spring 28 is set smaller than the pulling (conveying) force of the printing paper 17 by the platen roller 25.
Further, the tension spring 28 can be used so as to adjust the tension of the printing paper 17 on the transfer path 21 together with the tension adjusting mechanism 32.

The sensor 29 detects the posture of the detection plate 27, specifically, detects the detection protrusion 27 </ b> A of the detection plate 27 and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 14.
As the type or function of the sensor 29, for example, any type such as a transmission type, a reflection type, a limit switch or other contact type can be adopted.

The control unit 14 detects the attitude of the detected plate 27 with the sensor 29 in a state where the power supply 33 (power switch, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) of the thermal transfer printer 10 is on. The presence / absence of paper end) can be detected.
That is, when the detected plate 27 is in the first posture (see FIG. 9A), the control unit 14 “exists” the print paper 17 on the print paper supply shaft 36 (that is, the paper end is still on the print paper supply shaft). When the detected plate 27 is in the second posture (see FIG. 9B), the printing paper 17 is “none” on the printing paper supply shaft 36 (that is, the paper end is supplied with the printing paper). (It is not on the shaft 36).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 (2), the control unit 14 detects the detection signal of the detection plate 27 by the sensor 29 when the detection protrusion 27 </ b> A of the detection plate 27 is located at the site of the sensor 29. When is turned on, it is determined that the final end of the printing paper 17 is not on the printing paper supply shaft 36.

In the thermal transfer printer 10 and the end detection device 35 configured as described above, the printing paper 17 loaded in a roll shape on the printing paper supply shaft 36 is strip-shaped from the printing paper supply shaft 36 along with the printing of the printing paper 17 in the paper printing unit 19. It is drawn out.
Thus, a detection plate 27 is provided at the shaft end of the printing paper supply shaft 36 in which the printing paper 17 is loaded in a roll shape so as to be able to operate integrally with the printing paper supply shaft 36. The detection plate 27 is biased in a certain direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 9) around the printing paper supply shaft 36 by a tension spring 28, and detects the posture of the detection plate 27 by a sensor 29, and is a thermal transfer printer. The control unit 14 can detect the presence or absence of the final edge of the printing paper 17 by detecting the posture of the detected plate 27 with the sensor 29 in a state where the power supply 33 of 10 is on.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of end detection in the control unit 14. When the power supply 33 is on and the detection signal from the sensor 29 is off, the detected plate 27 is in the first posture. The printing paper 17 is on the printing paper supply shaft 36, the paper end is not detected, and it is determined that the printing paper 17 is “present”.
On the other hand, when the detection signal from the sensor 29 is on, the detected plate 27 is in the second posture, and the printing paper 17 is not on the printing paper supply shaft 36 and its paper end is detected. 17 is determined to be “none”.
The state of “None” of the printing paper 17 can be recognized by an arbitrary display device or warning device (not shown), and the user can be prompted to replace the printing paper 17.

  Thus, the control unit 14 only determines the attitude of the detected plate 27 (whether it is in the first attitude or the second attitude) when the power supply 33 of the thermal transfer printer 10 is on. Therefore, the software processing is simplified as compared with the conventional processing, and the configuration of the detection plate 27 is only required to form the detection protrusion 27A that can be detected by the sensor 29. The configuration itself is simplified, and both can contribute to the cost reduction of the configuration for detecting the paper end.

1 Conventional end detection device (FIG. 6)
2 Thermal transfer ribbon (ribbon)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Ribbon supply shaft 4 Detected plate 5 Transmission sensor 6 Concave part of detected plate 4 7 Convex part 10 of detected plate 4 Thermal transfer printer (printer, FIG. 1, FIG. 2)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Printer main body 12 Opening-closing axis | shaft 13 Opening-closing lid | cover 14 Control part 15 End detection apparatus of the thermal transfer printer 10 (Example, FIG. 4)
16 Opening / closing bracket 17 Printing paper (continuous label)
18 Paper supply unit 19 Paper printing unit 20 Paper discharge port
21 Transfer path 22 Mount 23 Label piece 24 Thermal head 25 Platen roller 26 Ribbon take-up shaft 27 Detected plate 27A Detected protrusion 28 of detected plate 27 Tension spring (spring)
29 Sensor 30 Key 31 Keyway 32 Tension adjustment mechanism 33 using a torque limiter, a back tension member, etc. Power supply of the thermal transfer printer 10 (power switch, FIGS. 1 and 2)
35 End detection device of thermal transfer printer 10 (Example, FIG. 9)
36 Printing paper supply shaft 37 Supply shaft guide

Claims (7)

An end detection device in a printer for loading printing paper and printing on the printing paper in a paper printing section,
A detected plate provided on the shaft end of the printing paper supply shaft loaded with the printing paper in a roll shape so as to be able to operate integrally with the printing paper supply shaft;
A spring for biasing the detected plate in a fixed direction around the printing paper supply shaft;
A sensor for detecting the posture of the detected plate;
A control unit capable of detecting the presence or absence of the final edge of the printing paper by detecting the posture of the detection plate with the sensor in a state where the power of the printer is on;
An end detection device for a printer, comprising: The control unit determines that the printing paper is “present” on the printing paper supply shaft when the detected plate is in the first posture;
2. The end detection device for a printer according to claim 1, wherein when the detected plate is in the second posture, it is determined that the printing paper is “absent” on the printing paper supply shaft. The controller is
3. The end of a printer according to claim 1, wherein when the detection signal of the detected plate by the sensor is on, it is determined that the final end portion of the printing paper is not on the printing paper supply shaft. Detection device. The detected plate is
The end detection device for a printer according to claim 1, further comprising a detection protrusion that can be detected by the sensor. The paper printing unit includes a platen roller that pulls out the printing paper from the printing paper supply shaft,
The platen roller pulls out the printing paper, and when the final end of the printing paper leaves the printing paper supply shaft, the detected plate is returned to the original posture by the spring. 5. An end detection device in the printer according to any one of 4 above. The biasing force of the spring is
6. The end detection device for a printer according to claim 5, wherein the end force is set smaller than a drawing force of the printing paper by the platen roller. An end detection method in a printer for loading printing paper and printing on the printing paper in a paper printing section,
In the shaft end portion of the printing paper supply shaft loaded with the printing paper in a roll shape, a detection plate is provided so as to be able to operate integrally with the printing paper supply shaft,
The detected plate is biased by a spring in a certain direction around the printing paper supply shaft,
Detecting the posture of the plate to be detected by a sensor;
End detection in the printer, wherein the control unit can detect the presence or absence of the final edge of the printing paper by detecting the posture of the detected plate with the sensor while the printer is turned on. Method.

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