JP2015000788A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further stabilize the state of transporting a print medium.SOLUTION: A printer 10 rotary-drives a supply roller 41 until a print medium P is nipped with a first driven roller 45 disposed in a transport path of the print medium and with a second driven roller 46 disposed downstream of the first driven roller 45 in the transport path. For example, as the rotary-driving of the supply roller 41 is stopped when the print medium is nipped only with the first driven roller 45, the print medium is actually transported only by the first driven roller 45. In a transport part 40, the supply roller 41 is rotary-driven until the second driven roller 46 nips the medium, and therefore the print medium is transported by obtaining transporting force from at least two roller sets of the supply roller 41 and first driven roller 45, and the first driven roller 45 and second driven roller 46.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a printing apparatus, a first separation unit and a second separation unit (separation roller) are provided, and one separation unit is provided for feeding plain paper that is easy to separate and easily jam. As the special paper that is difficult to separate, two paper separation units have been proposed that have both separation performance and high-speed paper feeding performance (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-197182 A

  By the way, in the printing apparatus, after separating the printing paper from the paper feed cassette, the printing paper is conveyed from the conveyance path to the printing path for printing. At this time, the printing paper may be conveyed with a load (resistance) of the supply roller or the separation roller. In the above-described printing apparatus, printing paper is conveyed by the nip between the feeding roller and the assist roller. At this time, the pickup roller and the separation roller are idled so as to reduce the conveyance load as much as possible. However, there is a case where it is desired to transport the print medium in a state as stable as possible, and an improvement has been desired.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus capable of transporting a printing medium in a more stable state.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the main object described above.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes:
A supply roller for supplying the print medium from a storage unit for storing the print medium;
A first roller disposed in a print medium conveyance path for conveying the print medium;
A second roller disposed downstream of the first roller in the transport path and transporting the print medium;
A controller that rotates the supply roller until the print medium is nipped by the first roller and the second roller;
It is equipped with.

  The printing apparatus rotates the supply roller until the print medium is nipped by the first roller disposed in the transport path of the print medium and the second roller disposed on the downstream side of the first roller in the transport path. Let For example, when the rotation of the supply roller is finished when the print medium is nipped only by the first roller, the print medium is conveyed only by the first roller thereafter. Here, since the supply roller is rotated until the second roller nips, the printing medium is conveyed by at least two of the supply roller and the first roller, or the first roller and the second roller. Therefore, the print medium can be transported in a more stable state. At this time, the first roller may be a first roller pair. The second roller may be a second roller pair. The control unit may idle the supply roller after nipping the print medium between the first roller and the second roller. The supply roller may be combined with a separation roller and a retard roller to supply the print medium. In this case, if the supply roller is stopped when the print medium to be supplied is on the retard roller, the load of the retard roller may be applied to the conveyance of the print medium. Therefore, it is highly significant to apply the present invention.

  In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the storage unit can store print media of different sizes, and the control unit has a length in the transport direction of the print medium stored in the storage unit equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Sometimes, the supply roller is rotated until the print medium is nipped by the first roller and the second roller, and when the length of the print medium stored in the storage portion is less than a predetermined value, the first roller is rotated. The supply roller may be rotated until the printing medium is nipped by one roller. In this way, it is possible to transport the print medium in an appropriately stable state according to the length of the print medium in the transport direction. At this time, the “predetermined value” may be determined based on a length of a conveyance path between the supply roller and the second roller.

  In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit rotates the supply roller, the first roller, and the second roller to execute supply and conveyance of the print medium, and the first roller. It is good also as what switches and performs the 2nd conveyance mode which rotates the said 2nd roller and performs conveyance of the said printing medium. In this way, the print medium can be transported in a more stable state by utilizing the switching between the first transport mode and the second transport mode. At this time, the printing apparatus rotates the supply roller, the first roller, and the second roller, or rotates the first roller and the second roller according to the rotation direction of the drive motor. The control unit is configured to execute the first transport mode by rotation of the drive motor in a predetermined direction, and to execute the second transport mode by reverse rotation of the drive motor in the predetermined direction. Also good. Note that “rotate the roller” includes, for example, the case where the roller is driven and rotated directly, and the case where the roller is driven and rotated along with the driving rotation of the pair of rollers.

  In the printing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the storage unit may be an additional storage unit including the supply roller, and the control unit may rotate the supply roller of the additional storage unit. If it carries out like this, the printing medium from the additional accommodating part can be conveyed in the more stable state. At this time, the first roller may be disposed in the expanded accommodating portion, and the second roller may be disposed on the main body side. In this way, it is possible to transport the print medium from the expanded storage unit to the transport path on the main body side in a more stable state.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the storage unit includes a first storage unit including the supply roller and the first roller, and a second storage unit including the second roller, and the control unit includes: The supply roller, the first roller, and the second roller of the first storage unit may be rotated. If it carries out like this, a printing medium can be conveyed in the more stable state between the 1st accommodating part and the 2nd accommodating part.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a printer 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a printer unit 30. The flowchart which shows an example of a conveyance processing routine. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for conveying a short print medium P from a main body paper feed cassette 56. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for conveying a long print medium P from a main body paper feed cassette 56. Explanatory drawing which conveys the short print medium P from the 2nd expansion cassette 70. FIG. Explanatory drawing which conveys the long print medium P from the 2nd expansion cassette 70. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for conveying a short print medium P from a first extension cassette 60. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for conveying a long print medium P from a first extension cassette 60.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printer 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the printer unit 30. The printer 10 of this embodiment includes a controller 21 that controls the entire printer 10, a scanner unit 25 that reads a read original, a printer unit 30 that discharges ink as a colorant onto a print medium, and a main body that houses the print medium. And a paper feed cassette 56. The printer 10 includes a scanner unit 25 and a printer unit 30, and is configured as a multifunction printer having a printer function, a scanner function, and a copy function. In addition, the printer 10 includes a first extension cassette 60 and a second extension cassette 70 that can accommodate another print medium at the bottom of the main body. Here, the second extension cassette 70 is attached to the lower stage of the main body of the printer 10, and the first extension cassette 60 is attached to the lower stage of the second extension cassette 70. The main body paper feed cassette 56, the first extension cassette 60, and the second extension cassette 70 contain print media P1 to P3 having different sizes and types, respectively. For convenience of explanation, the print media accommodated in the main body paper feed cassette 56, the first extension cassette 60, and the second extension cassette 70 are referred to as print media P1 to P3, respectively, and are conveyed through the conveyance path 50. The print medium is referred to as print medium P.

  The controller 21 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 22, and includes a flash memory 23 that can store various processing programs and can rewrite data, and a RAM 24 that temporarily stores data and stores data. I have. The controller 21 controls the printer unit 30 so as to execute the printing process and also controls the scanner unit 25 so as to execute the image reading process. The controller 21 is electrically connected to the scanner unit 25, the printer unit 30, and the like through a bus 29.

  The scanner unit 25 is configured as a well-known image scanner including a reading sensor that reads a conveyed read original as image data or reads a read original placed on an original table as image data. The reading sensor is a sensor that separates the reflected light after emitting light toward the document into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors to obtain scan data.

  The printer unit 30 is configured as an ink-jet color printer mechanism that includes a printing unit 31 that performs printing by discharging ink onto a printing medium and a transport unit 40 that transports the printing medium. The printing unit 31 includes a carriage 32 movably disposed on the carriage shaft, a print head 33 that applies pressure to the ink and ejects ink droplets from the nozzles 34, and a carriage belt along the carriage shaft in the main scanning direction. And a carriage motor (not shown) that moves the ink 32 and an ink cartridge (not shown) that stores ink of each color and supplies the stored ink to the print head 33. The print head 33 is provided at the lower part of the carriage 32. Each color is applied from a nozzle 34 provided on the lower surface of the print head 33 by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element to deform the piezoelectric element and pressurize the ink. The ink is discharged. In the print head 33, nozzles 34 are formed as nozzle rows 35 (see FIG. 2) arranged in the print medium conveyance direction at predetermined intervals. The mechanism for applying pressure to the ink may be based on the generation of bubbles due to the heat of the heater. The ink cartridge individually accommodates ink of each color such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit 40 includes a plurality of roller pairs and is disposed below the main body of the printer 10 from the main body paper feed cassette 56 that stores the print medium to the discharge tray 58 via the transport path 50. It is comprised as a mechanism which conveys. Above the main body paper feed cassette 56, as a print medium supply mechanism, a supply roller 41 that picks up the print medium from the main body paper feed cassette 56, a separation roller 42 that separates the overlapping print media, a separation roller 42 and a roller And a retard roller 43 forming a pair. In the conveyance path 50, a relatively large cylindrical roller that is driven by the first drive motor 51, an intermediate roller 44, first to third driven rollers 45 to 47 disposed on the cylindrical surface of the intermediate roller 44, Is arranged so as to be rotatable. Each driven roller is arranged in the order of the first driven roller 45, the second driven roller 46, and the third driven roller 47 in order from the main body paper feed cassette 56 side (upstream side of the conveyance path 50). In the transport unit 40, a roller pair is formed by the intermediate roller 44 and the first driven roller 45, a roller pair is formed by the intermediate roller 44 and the second driven roller 46, and the intermediate roller 44 and the third driven roller 47 are A roller pair is formed. Moreover, the 1st-3rd driven rollers 45-47 rotate with the rotational drive of the intermediate | middle roller 44. As shown in FIG.

  A print path 38 is formed downstream of the transport path 50, and the print head 33 is disposed above the print path 38. A printing roller 48 that conveys the printing medium is disposed upstream of the printing path 38 (conveying path 50 side), and a discharge roller 49 is disposed downstream of the printing path 38 (discharge tray 58 side). Ink is ejected from the print head 33 onto the print medium conveyed by the print roller 48 and the discharge roller 49, and printing processing is performed. In the transport unit 40, the first drive motor 51 rotationally drives the supply roller 41, the separation roller 42, and the intermediate roller 44, and the second drive motor 52 rotationally drives the printing roller 48 and the paper discharge roller 49. The first drive motor 51 includes a gear mechanism 53 (see FIG. 1) in which a one-way clutch and a plurality of gears are combined. The gear mechanism 53 is configured to rotate the supply roller 41, the separation roller 42, and the intermediate roller 44 only in a predetermined transport direction. The gear mechanism 53 rotates the supply roller 41, the separation roller 42, and the intermediate roller 44 when the rotation direction of the first drive motor 51 is normal rotation, and the rotation direction of the first drive motor 51 is reverse rotation. In some cases, only the intermediate roller 44 is rotationally driven, and the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 are configured to be switched so as to idle. As described above, the transport unit 40 changes only the rotation direction of the first drive motor 51 to perform only the first transport mode for supplying and transporting the print medium via the gear mechanism 53 and the transport of the print medium. The second transfer mode to be executed can be switched. In the transport path 50, a supply sensor 54 that detects the print medium P is disposed between the separation roller 42 and the first driven roller 45. The supply sensor 54 is disposed at a position where the print medium P conveyed from the second extension cassette 70 can also be detected. A print path sensor 55 that detects the print medium P is disposed between the third driven roller 47 and the print roller 48.

  The main body paper feed cassette 56 is a storage unit that can store a plurality of types of print media. A guide 57 is movably disposed in the main body paper feed cassette 56. When the print medium P is accommodated, the user moves the guide 57 according to the rear end of the print medium P. In the main body paper feed cassette 56, the length of the print medium P <b> 1 accommodated in the main body paper feed cassette 56 can be detected from the position of the guide 57. The first extension cassette 60 is a storage unit that stores the print medium P <b> 2 in addition to the main body paper feed cassette 56. The first extension cassette 60 includes a first extension motor (not shown), a supply roller 61, a separation roller 62, and a retard roller 63 disposed on the top thereof. The supply roller 61 and the separation roller 62 are provided by the first extension motor. Driven by rotation. The first extension motor is electrically connected to the controller 21 and is driven based on a drive signal from the controller 21. In the first extension cassette 60, a guide 67 is movably disposed in the same manner as the main body paper feed cassette 56. The second extension cassette 70 is a storage unit that stores the print medium P <b> 3 in addition to the main body paper feed cassette 56. The second extension cassette 70 is provided with a second extension motor (not shown), a supply roller 71, a separation roller 72, and a retard roller 73 disposed on the upper part thereof. The supply roller 71 and the separation roller 72 are provided by the second extension motor. Driven by rotation. The second extension motor is electrically connected to the controller 21 and is driven based on a drive signal from the controller 21. In the second extension cassette 70, a guide 77 is movably disposed in the same manner as the main body paper feed cassette 56.

  Next, the operation of the printer 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, particularly the operation of transporting the print medium P in the printing process will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a conveyance processing routine executed by the CPU 22 of the controller 21. This routine is stored in the flash memory 23, and is executed after the user operates the operation panel and instructs execution of the printing process. Here, first, a case where the print medium P1 accommodated in the main body paper feed cassette 56 is designated as a print target will be mainly described. In this case, the first driven roller 45 corresponds to the first roller of the present invention, and the second driven roller 46 corresponds to the second roller of the present invention. When this routine is started, the CPU 22 acquires the length in the transport direction of the print medium on which printing is to be performed (step S100). For example, the length of the print medium may be obtained by detecting the position of the guide 57 disposed in the main body paper feed cassette 56 with a sensor, or may be obtained from information on the paper size set for printing. Good. Next, it is determined whether or not the acquired length in the transport direction of the print medium is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S110). The predetermined value is determined based on, for example, the length of the conveyance path between the supply roller 41 (or the separation roller 42) and the second driven roller 46. For example, it is assumed that the length L is set by adding a predetermined margin including a transport error to the length of the transport path between the supply roller 41 and the second driven roller 46.

  In step S110, when the length of the acquired print medium in the transport direction is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it is determined that the second driven roller 46 does not reach the rear end of the print medium P to be transported when nipped by the supply roller 41. Then, a process of conveying the print medium P to the first driven roller 45 in the first conveyance mode in which the supply roller 41 and the intermediate roller 44 are driven is executed. That is, the first drive motor 51 is rotated forward to perform the supply conveyance process in the first conveyance mode (step S120), and whether or not the leading edge of the print medium P has moved to the first nip is determined by, for example, rotation of the supply roller 41 The determination is made based on the number or the like (step S130). Here, the first nip is a nip formed by a pair of rollers of the intermediate roller 44 and the first driven roller 45. When the leading edge of the print medium P has not moved to the first nip, the first transport mode in step S120 is continued, and when the print medium P has moved to the first nip, the first drive motor 51 is rotated in the reverse direction to perform transport processing in the second transport mode. Is executed (step S160), and this routine is terminated. In the second transport mode, only the intermediate roller 44 is rotated, and the intermediate roller 44, the first driven roller 45, the intermediate roller 44, the second driven roller 46, the intermediate roller 44, and the third driven roller 47 are The printing medium P is conveyed to the printing path 38 by each roller pair.

  On the other hand, when the length of the acquired print medium in the transport direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined value in step S110, the first driven roller 45 and the second follower roller 45 with the rear end of the print medium P to be transported nipped by the supply roller 41. It is determined that the nip can be performed on the driven roller 46, and a process of conveying the print medium P to the second driven roller 46 in the first conveyance mode in which the supply roller 41 and the intermediate roller 44 are driven is executed. That is, the first drive motor 51 is rotated forward to perform the supply conveyance process in the first conveyance mode (step S140), and whether or not the leading edge of the print medium P has moved to the second nip is determined by, for example, rotation of the supply roller 41 The determination is made based on the number or the like (step S150). Here, the second nip is a nip formed by a pair of rollers of the intermediate roller 44 and the second driven roller 46. When the leading edge of the print medium P has not moved to the second nip, the first transport mode in step S140 is continued, and when it has moved to the second nip, the first drive motor 51 is rotated in the reverse direction to transport in the second transport mode. Processing is executed (step S160), and this routine is terminated.

  Thereafter, when the print path sensor 55 detects the leading edge of the print medium P, the print medium P is transported to a predetermined cue position by the rotation of the print roller 48 and the intermediate roller 44, and ink is ejected from the print head 33 to perform printing. Execute the process. When there is a next page to be printed, this conveyance processing routine is repeatedly executed.

  Here, processing for supplying and transporting the print medium P from the main body paper feed cassette 56 will be described. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams for conveying a short print medium P from the main body paper feed cassette 56. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram for the first conveyance mode, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram for the second conveyance mode. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams for conveying a long print medium P from the main body paper feed cassette 56. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram for the first conveyance mode, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram for the second conveyance mode. When a print medium whose length in the transport direction is shorter than a predetermined value is supplied from the main body paper feed cassette 56, the first drive motor until the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the first driven roller 45 that is the first nip. As shown in FIG. 4A, the supply roller 41, the separation roller 42, and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven through the gear mechanism 53. When the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the first driven roller 45 that is the first nip, the first drive motor 51 is rotated in the reverse direction, and as shown in FIG. 44 is driven to rotate. On the other hand, when a print medium having a length in the transport direction longer than a predetermined value is supplied from the main body paper feed cassette 56, the first medium until the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the second driven roller 46 that is the second nip. The drive motor 51 is rotated forward, and the supply roller 41, the separation roller 42, and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven via the gear mechanism 53 as shown in FIG. When the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the second driven roller 46 which is the second nip, the first drive motor 51 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the intermediate roller is interposed via the gear mechanism 53 as shown in FIG. 44 is driven to rotate. In this way, since the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 are not idled even after the print medium P reaches the first driven roller 45 that is the first nip, the print medium P is not affected by the idling load. Can be transported more stably. Also, when the idling load of the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 affects the print medium P, the print medium P is nipped and conveyed by the two roller pairs of the first driven roller 45 and the second driven roller 46. Therefore, it can be conveyed more stably.

  Next, processing for supplying and transporting the print medium P from the second extension cassette 70 according to the transport processing routine of FIG. 3 will be described. In this case, in the first transport mode, the supply roller 71, the separation roller 72, the second additional roller 75, and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven, and in the second transport mode, the second additional roller 75 and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven. . The second extension roller 75 corresponds to the first roller of the present invention, and the first driven roller 45 corresponds to the second roller of the present invention. Since the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 are not rotated, the first drive motor 51 is always driven in the reverse rotation. 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams for conveying a short print medium P from the second extension cassette 70. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram for the first conveyance mode, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram for the second conveyance mode. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for transporting a long print medium P from the second extension cassette 70. FIG. 7 (a) is an explanatory diagram of the first transport mode, and FIG. 7 (b) is an explanatory diagram of the second transport mode. When a print medium whose length in the transport direction is shorter than a predetermined value is supplied from the second extension cassette 70, the second extension motor is used until the leading end of the print medium P reaches the second extension roller 75 that is the first nip. The first drive motor 51 is driven, and the supply roller 71, the separation roller 72, the second extension roller 75, and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven as shown in FIG. When the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the second extension roller 75 that is the first nip, the second extension roller 75 and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when a print medium whose length in the transport direction is longer than a predetermined value is supplied from the second extension cassette 70, the second medium until the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the first driven roller 45 that is the second nip. The extension motor and the first drive motor 51 are driven, and the supply roller 71, the separation roller 72, the second extension roller 75, and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven as shown in FIG. When the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the first driven roller 45 that is the second nip, the second additional roller 75 and the intermediate roller 44 are driven to rotate as shown in FIG. 7B. In this way, since the supply roller 71 and the separation roller 72 are not idled even after the print medium P reaches the second additional roller 75 that is the first nip, the print medium P is not affected by the idling load. Can be transported more stably. Also, when the idling load of the supply roller 71 and the separation roller 72 affects the print medium P, the print medium P is nipped and conveyed by the two roller pairs of the second extension roller 75 and the first driven roller 45. Therefore, it can be conveyed more stably.

  Next, processing for supplying and transporting the print medium P from the first extension cassette 60 according to the transport processing routine of FIG. 3 will be described. In this case, in the first transport mode, the supply roller 61, the separation roller 62, the first additional roller 65, the second additional roller 75, and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven. In the second transport mode, the first additional roller 65, 2 The extension roller 75 and the intermediate roller 44 are driven to rotate. The first additional roller 65 corresponds to the first roller of the present invention, and the second additional roller 75 corresponds to the second roller of the present invention. Since the supply roller 41 and the separation roller 42 are not rotated, the first drive motor 51 is always driven in the reverse rotation. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for transporting a short print medium P from the first extension cassette 60. FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram of the first transport mode, and FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram of the second transport mode. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for conveying a long print medium P from the first extension cassette 60. FIG. 9 (a) is an explanatory diagram of the first conveyance mode, and FIG. 9 (b) is an explanatory diagram of the second conveyance mode. When a print medium whose length in the transport direction is shorter than a predetermined value is supplied from the first extension cassette 60, the first extension motor is used until the leading end of the print medium P reaches the first extension roller 65 that is the first nip. The second extension motor and the first drive motor 51 are driven to rotate the supply roller 61, the separation roller 62, the first extension roller 65, the second extension roller 75, and the intermediate roller 44 as shown in FIG. To drive. When the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the first extension roller 65, which is the first nip, the first extension roller 65, the second extension roller 75, and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven as shown in FIG. 8B. To do. On the other hand, when a print medium whose length in the transport direction is longer than a predetermined value is supplied from the first additional cassette 60, the first medium until the leading end of the print medium P reaches the second additional roller 75 that is the second nip. The extension motor, the second extension motor, and the first drive motor 51 are driven, and as shown in FIG. 9A, a supply roller 61, a separation roller 62, a first extension roller 65, a second extension roller 75, and an intermediate roller 44 are provided. Is driven to rotate. When the leading edge of the print medium P reaches the second extension roller 75 that is the second nip, as shown in FIG. 9B, the first extension roller 65, the second extension roller 75, and the intermediate roller 44 are rotationally driven. To do. In this way, since the supply roller 61 and the separation roller 62 are not idled even after the print medium P reaches the first additional roller 65 that is the first nip, the print medium P is not affected by the idling load. Can be transported more stably. Further, when the idling load of the supply roller 61 and the separation roller 62 affects the print medium P, the print medium P is nipped and conveyed by the two roller pairs of the first extension roller 65 and the second extension roller 75. Therefore, it can be conveyed more stably.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The controller 21 of the present embodiment corresponds to the control unit of the present invention, the main body paper feed cassette 56, the first extension cassette 60, and the second extension cassette 70 correspond to the storage unit, and the first extension cassette 60 corresponds to the first storage unit. The second extension cassette 70 corresponds to the second storage section.

  According to the printer 10 of this embodiment described in detail above, the first roller (the first driven roller 45, the second extension roller 75, or the first extension roller 65) disposed in the conveyance path 50 of the print medium P; A supply roller (until the print medium P is nipped with a second roller (second driven roller 46, first driven roller 45, or second extension roller 75) disposed on the downstream side of the first roller in the conveyance path 50. The supply roller 41, the supply roller 71, or the supply roller 61) is driven to rotate. For example, when the rotation of the supply roller is finished when the print medium is nipped only by the first roller, the print medium is conveyed only by the first roller thereafter. Here, since the supply roller is rotationally driven until the second roller nips, the print medium is conveyed by obtaining a conveyance force by at least two roller pairs of the supply roller and the first roller or the first roller and the second roller. Is done. Therefore, the print medium can be transported in a more stable state. In addition, since the supply roller 41 supplies the print medium P in combination with the separation roller 42 and the retard roller 43, the load of the retard roller may be applied to the conveyance of the print medium, meaning that the present invention is applied. Is expensive.

  Further, when the length in the transport direction of the print medium is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the supply roller is rotated to the second nip, and when the length in the transport direction of the print medium is less than the predetermined value, the supply roller is moved to the first nip. Since it is driven to rotate, the print medium can be transported in an appropriately stable state according to the length of the print medium in the transport direction. Further, since the gear mechanism 53 switches between the first transport mode and the second transport mode according to the rotation direction of the first drive motor 51, the switching between the first transport mode and the second transport mode is used. Thus, the print medium can be transported in a more stable state. Furthermore, since the same processing as that of the main body sheet feeding cassette 56 is performed for the added first extension cassette 60 or the second extension cassette 70, the print medium from the added storage section is conveyed in a more stable state. can do. In addition, a first extension cassette 60 having a supply roller 61 and a first extension roller 65 as a first roller, and a second extension cassette 70 having a second extension roller 75 as a second roller are provided. Since the supply roller 61, the first extension roller 65, and the second extension roller 75 of the one extension cassette 60 are rotationally driven, the printing medium is more stable between the first extension cassette 60 and the second extension cassette 70. Can be transported.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the print medium is transported in the first transport mode to the second nip or transported to the first nip in the first transport mode depending on whether the length of the print medium in the transport direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, if only a print medium of a predetermined value or more is to be accommodated in the accommodating portion such as the main body sheet feeding cassette 56, this determination is omitted. It is good also as what conveys in a 1st conveyance mode to a 2nd nip. Even in this case, since the print medium is conveyed with the conveyance force obtained by the two roller pairs, it can be conveyed in a more stable state.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first conveyance mode and the second conveyance mode are switched. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the supply roller may be rotationally driven to the second nip. In the above-described embodiment, the gear mechanism 53 is used to switch which of the supply roller 41, the separation roller 42, and the intermediate roller 44 is rotationally driven by the normal rotation and reverse rotation of the first drive motor 51. The gear mechanism 53 may be omitted, and the rotational drive of these rollers may be switched by other methods. Also, other configurations can be adopted for the configurations of the first drive motor 51, the second drive motor 52, and the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first extension cassette 60 and the second extension cassette 70 are provided, but these may be omitted. Further, the number of expansion cassettes such as the third expansion cassette and the fourth expansion cassette may be further increased. Even in this case, the same processing as the processing of the first extension cassette 60 and the second extension cassette 70 may be performed. Even in this case, the print medium can be conveyed in a more stable state.

10 Printer, 21 Controller, 22 CPU, 23 Flash memory, 24 RAM, 25 Scanner unit, 30 Printer unit, 31 Printing unit, 32 Carriage, 33 Print head, 34 Nozzle, 35 nozzle row, 38 Printing path, 40 Conveying unit, 41 Supply Roller, 42 Separation Roller, 43 Retard Roller, 44 Intermediate Roller, 45 First Follower Roller, 46 Second Follower Roller, 47 Third Follower Roller, 48 Print Roller, 49 Paper Discharge Roller, 50 Transport Path, 51 First Drive motor, 52 Second drive motor, 53 Gear mechanism, 54 Supply sensor, 55 Print path sensor, 56 Main body cassette, 57 Guide, 58 Paper discharge tray, 60 First extension cassette, 61 Supply roller, 62 Separation roller, 63 Retardro La, 65 first expansion roller, 67 guide, 70 second extension cassette, 71 supply roller, 72 the separation roller 73 retard roller 75 second extension roller, 77 guide, P, P1 to P3 print medium.

Claims (6)

A supply roller for supplying the print medium from a storage unit for storing the print medium;
A first roller disposed in a print medium conveyance path for conveying the print medium;
A second roller disposed downstream of the first roller in the transport path and transporting the print medium;
A controller that rotates the supply roller until the print medium is nipped by the first roller and the second roller;
Printing device with The storage unit can store print media of different sizes,
The control unit rotates the supply roller until the print medium is nipped between the first roller and the second roller when the length of the print medium stored in the storage unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. 2. The printing according to claim 1, wherein when the length of the print medium stored in the storage unit is less than a predetermined value, the supply roller is rotated until the print medium is nipped by the first roller. apparatus.   The control unit rotates the supply roller, the first roller, and the second roller to execute supply and conveyance of the print medium, and rotates the first roller and the second roller. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is switched between a second conveyance mode for conveying the print medium. The accommodating portion is an additional accommodating portion provided with the supply roller,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit rotates a supply roller of the additional storage unit. The first roller is disposed in the expanded accommodating portion,
The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second roller is disposed on the main body side. The storage unit includes a first storage unit including the supply roller and the first roller, and a second storage unit including the second roller.
The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit rotates the supply roller, the first roller, and the second roller of the first storage unit.

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