JP2016175272A - Printer, printing method and printing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique of suppressing the degradation in the printing quality due to the change in a speed in the conveyance direction of a printing medium.SOLUTION: A label printer 1 comprises: a sheet feeding roller pair 20 which conveys a tape 10 in the conveyance direction; an ink jet head 30 which is arranged in a movable manner in the conveyance direction to perform printing on the tape 10; and a controller 50. The controller 50 controls the sheet feeding roller pair 20 and the ink jet head 30 so that the relative speed along the conveyance direction of the tape 10 with respect to the ink jet head 30 is maintained at the constant level by controlling the sheet feeding roller pair 20 so that the speed in the conveyance direction of the tape 10 takes a plurality of first values and controlling the ink jet head 30 so that the speed in the conveyance direction of the ink jet head 30 takes a plurality of second values corresponding to the plurality of first values during a printing operation by the ink jet head 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a printing program, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a printing program having a function of cutting a print medium during a printing period.

  2. Description of the Related Art Label printers that print characters and graphics on a tape are known that have a full cut function for cutting the entire tape. Such a label printer is described in Patent Document 1, for example. In recent years, in addition to the full-cut function, a label printer having a half-cut function for cutting only the seal has been commercialized in order to easily peel off the tape seal from the mount.

JP 2003-327225 A

  In the conventional label printer, when the position to be cut on the tape reaches the position of the cutter, the tape carrying process and the printing process are temporarily interrupted and the tape or the seal is cut by the cutter, and then the carrying process and the printing process. To resume. For this reason, the printing process may be interrupted due to cutting during printing (for example, while printing a specific character). In such a case, an event may occur in which the print quality deteriorates due to overlapping or separation of the print areas before and after the interruption.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing a decrease in print quality caused by a change in speed in the conveyance direction of a print medium.

  One aspect of the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a print medium in a transport direction, a print unit that is movably disposed in the transport direction for printing on the print medium, and the printing during the printing operation by the print unit. The transport means is controlled so that the speed of the medium in the transport direction takes a first plurality of values, and the speed of the printing means in the transport direction corresponds to the first plurality of values. By controlling the printing unit to take a plurality of values, the transport unit and the printing unit are controlled so that the relative speed of the print medium along the transport direction with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. And a control unit.

  In the printing apparatus described above, 0 may be included in one of the first plurality of values. A cutting means for cutting a predetermined layer of the print medium may be further provided, and when the predetermined layer is cut by the cutting means, the speed of the print medium in the transport direction may be zero. Good. The control means may reduce the speed of the print medium in the transport direction as it approaches the time of cutting, and may control the transport means so that the speed of the print medium in the transport direction is zero at the time of cutting. Good. The control unit may move the printing unit to the position of the printing unit at the start of printing after the printing operation by the printing unit is completed. The control unit may control the printing unit such that the printing unit reciprocates within a movable range of the printing unit during the printing operation.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a printing method by a printing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a print medium in the conveyance direction; and a printing unit that is movably arranged in the conveyance direction for printing on the print medium. Then, during the printing operation by the printing means, the conveying means is controlled so that the speed of the printing medium in the conveying direction takes a first plurality of values, and the speed of the printing means in the conveying direction is By controlling the printing unit to take the second plurality of values corresponding to the first plurality of values, the relative speed along the transport direction of the printing medium with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. Thus, a printing method for controlling the conveying means and the printing means is provided.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer of a printing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a print medium in a conveyance direction; and a printing unit that is movably arranged in the conveyance direction for printing on the print medium. During the printing operation by the printing unit, the conveyance unit is controlled such that the velocity of the print medium in the conveyance direction takes a first plurality of values, and the velocity of the printing unit in the conveyance direction is the first value. By controlling the printing unit to take a second plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of values, the relative speed along the transport direction of the printing medium with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. A program is provided for causing a function as a control unit for controlling the transport unit and the printing unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which suppresses the fall of the printing quality resulting from the change of the speed of the conveyance direction of a printing medium can be provided.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a label printer 1 according to an embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the label printer 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed in the label printer 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining processing performed in the label printer 1. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a transport speed of the tape 10 and a moving speed of the inkjet head 30 in the label printer 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the relationship between the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 in the label printer 1. 6 is a diagram showing still another example of the relationship between the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 in the label printer 1. FIG.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a label printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the label printer 1. The label printer 1 is a printing apparatus that creates a label by printing characters and figures on a tape 10 (print medium), and includes a pair of paper feed rollers 20, an inkjet head 30, a cutter 40, and a controller 50.

  The tape 10 is a roll paper and has a multilayer structure in which a seal 11 having an adhesive 11a is attached to a mount 12 which is a release paper. Characters, figures and the like are printed on the surface of the seal 11.

  The pair of paper feed rollers 20 is a pair of pinch rollers driven by a motor (not shown) controlled by the controller 50, and is a transport unit that transports the tape 10 in the transport direction. The pair of paper feed rollers 20 is configured to rotate in a certain direction, and the tape 10 is discharged from the inside of the casing of the label printer 1 to the positive direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The tape 10 is conveyed in the direction of

  The inkjet head 30 is a printing unit that prints characters, graphics, and the like on the tape 10 conveyed by the pair of paper feed rollers 20. The inkjet head 30 is controlled by the controller 50 and performs printing processing by ejecting ink supplied from an ink cartridge (not shown) onto the tape 10. For example, the ink cartridge may be directly attached to the inkjet head 30, or the inkjet head 30 and the ink cartridge may be integrated.

  The ink jet head 30 is disposed in the label printer 1 so as to be movable in the tape transport direction. The inkjet head 30 is driven so as to move in the transport direction by a motor (not shown) controlled by the controller 50 (not a motor that drives the paper feed roller pair 20). The inkjet head 30 can move in both positive and negative directions in the transport direction, but a range in which the ink jet head 30 can move along the transport direction (hereinafter referred to as a movable range) is determined in advance. The controller 50 moves the inkjet head 30 within this movable range.

  The cutter 40 is controlled by the controller 50 to cut a layer (here, the seal 11) of the tape 10 conveyed by the pair of paper feed rollers 20 and predetermined by the control data. It is. Moreover, the cutter 40 is comprised so that the tape 10 whole can be cut | disconnected as needed. Hereinafter, the operation of cutting a predetermined layer of the tape 10 is referred to as a half cut, and the operation of cutting the entire tape 10 is referred to as a full cut. Half-cut is an operation of making a cut to facilitate peeling off the seal 11.

  The controller 50 is a control unit that controls the pair of paper feed rollers 20, the inkjet head 30, and the cutter 40. The controller 50 is an electrical unit including a CPU and a memory, for example, and may control the paper feed roller pair 20, the inkjet head 30, and the cutter 40 by the CPU executing a predetermined program expanded in the memory. . As will be described in detail later, the controller 50 keeps the relative speed of the tape 10 with respect to the inkjet head 30 (hereinafter simply referred to as relative speed) constant during the printing operation by the inkjet head 30 including when the seal 11 is cut. In this way, the pair of paper feed rollers 20 and the inkjet head 30 are controlled. This is because the printing roller pair 20 is controlled so that the speed in the conveyance direction of the tape 10 takes a plurality of values (first plurality of values) during the printing operation by the inkjet head 30, and the conveyance of the inkjet head 30 is performed. This is done by controlling the inkjet head 30 so that the direction speed takes a plurality of values (second plurality of values) corresponding to the first plurality of values.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in the label printer 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the processing shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 in the label printer 1. In FIG. 5, a line L <b> 10 indicates the transport speed of the tape 10, and a line L <b> 30 indicates the moving speed of the inkjet head 30. The tape printing process by the label printer 1 will be specifically described below with reference to FIGS.

  First, the label printer 1 starts transporting the tape 10 at time t0 (step S1). Here, when the controller 50 outputs a signal to the motor, the paper feed roller pair 20 is driven and the conveyance of the tape 10 is started. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the tip of the tape 10 moves toward the lower side of the inkjet head 30. At this time (time t0), the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 are V1 and 0, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5, and the relative speed is V1.

  After the start of conveyance, the label printer 1 determines whether or not the printing start position A of the tape 10 has reached below the inkjet head 30 (step S2). The print start position A is a position on the tape 10 and is a position that is the head of the printed area 15 shown in FIG. Whether or not the print start position A has reached the lower side of the inkjet head 30 may be determined by, for example, the number of pulses given to the motor that drives the pair of paper feed rollers 20 by the controller 50.

  When the print start position A reaches below the inkjet head 30 at time t1, the label printer 1 starts printing (step S3). Here, in accordance with a signal from the controller 50, the ink jet head 30 ejects ink onto the tape 10 as shown in FIG. At this time (time t1), the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 are V1 and 0, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5, and the relative speed is V1.

  After starting printing, the label printer 1 determines whether or not the half-cut position B of the tape 10 has reached the position of the cutter 40 (step S4). The half-cut position B is a position on the tape 10 and may be, for example, a position on the printed area 15 shown in FIG. It may be a position between. Whether or not the half-cut position B has reached the position of the cutter 40 may be determined by, for example, the number of pulses given to the motor that drives the paper feed roller pair 20 by the controller 50.

  When the half-cut position B reaches below the cutter 40 at time t2, the label printer 1 interrupts the conveyance of the tape 10 and starts moving the inkjet head 30 (step S5). Here, as shown in FIG. 4C, the controller 50 causes the paper feed roller to maintain the relative speed by stopping the driving of the paper feed roller pair 20 and simultaneously starting the movement of the ink jet head 30. The pair 20 and the inkjet head 30 are controlled. Thereafter, the label printer 1 half-cuts the tape 10 at time t3 (step S6). Here, as shown in FIG. 4D, the cutter 40 cuts the layer of the seal 11 of the tape 10 under the control of the controller 50. During this time (from time t2 to time t3), the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 are 0 and −V1, respectively, and the relative speed is V1, as shown in FIG.

  When the half cut of the tape 10 is completed, the label printer 1 resumes the conveyance of the tape 10 and stops the movement of the inkjet head 30 at time t4 (step S7). Here, as shown in FIG. 4E, the controller 50 causes the paper feed roller to maintain the relative speed by stopping the movement of the inkjet head 30 at the same time as the drive of the paper feed roller pair 20 is resumed. The pair 20 and the inkjet head 30 are controlled.

  After transport is resumed, the label printer 1 determines whether the print end position C of the tape 10 has reached the lower side of the inkjet head 30 (step S8). The print end position C is a position on the tape 10 and is a position that is the tail of the printed area 15 shown in FIG. Whether or not the print end position C has reached the lower side of the inkjet head 30 may be determined by, for example, the number of pulses given to the motor that drives the pair of paper feed rollers 20 by the controller 50.

  When the printing end position C reaches below the inkjet head 30 at time t5, the label printer 1 ends printing (step S9). Here, the controller 50 stops the ejection of ink from the inkjet head 30 as shown in FIG.

  When printing is completed, the label printer 1 moves the inkjet head 30 to a predetermined position simultaneously with or after the printing (step S10). Here, for example, the controller 50 moves the inkjet head 30 from the current position to a predetermined position as shown in FIG. 4G from time t5 to time t6. During this time (from time t5 to time t6), the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 are V1 and V1, respectively, and the relative speed is 0, as shown in FIG. The predetermined position is, for example, the position of the inkjet head 30 at the start of printing (time t1). That is, the distance D2 that the inkjet head 30 has moved in the positive direction from time t5 to time t6 is the same as the distance D1 that the inkjet head 30 has moved in the negative direction from time t2 to time t4. . Note that the next printing process may not be started until the inkjet head 30 is completely returned to the position of the inkjet head 30 at the start of printing.

  Thereafter, the label printer 1 determines whether or not the full cut position D of the tape 10 has reached the position of the cutter 40 (step S11). Note that the full cut position D is a position on the tape 10 and may be, for example, a position further rearward than the printed area 15 shown in FIG. May be. Whether or not the full cut position D has reached the position of the cutter 40 may be determined by, for example, the number of pulses given to the motor that drives the pair of paper feed rollers 20 by the controller 50.

  When the full cut position D reaches the position of the cutter 40 at time t7, the label printer 1 stops transporting the tape 10 (step S12). Thereafter, the label printer 1 fully cuts the tape 10 at time t8 (step S13). Here, as shown in FIG. 4H, the cutter 40 cuts the entire tape 10 under the control of the controller 50. At this time (time t8), the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 are 0 and 0, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5, and the relative speed is 0.

  In the label printer 1, since the inkjet head 30 can move in the transport direction and the movement is controlled by the controller 50, the relative speed between the tape 10 and the inkjet head 30 is constant during the printing operation including half-cut. Can be maintained. Therefore, the printing process can be continued without being interrupted even during the period when the conveyance of the tape 10 is interrupted due to the half cut. As a result, the print areas do not overlap or separate from each other, so a printed product caused by a change in the speed in the conveyance direction of the print medium, which occurs between the printing operation and the cutting process, etc. A decrease in position can be suppressed.

  Further, in the label printer 1, since the relative speed during the printing operation is always kept constant, there is no need to create special print data for the label printer 1, and the printing process is controlled in the same way as in the past. Is possible.

  Further, in the label printer 1, the inkjet head 30 is moved to a predetermined position after the printing operation is completed. For this reason, even if it is a case where printing operation is performed repeatedly, generation | occurrence | production of the situation where a relative speed cannot be kept constant by restriction | limiting of a movable range can be suppressed.

  Further, as a method for preventing the printing process of the tape 10 from being interrupted, a method such as transporting the tape 10 in the reverse direction is conceivable. However, such a method requires a long time for label production. In the label printer 1, it is possible to shorten the label production time as compared with the case of transporting the tape 10 in the reverse direction.

  As long as the relative speed is maintained constant during the printing operation, the control of the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the relationship between the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 in the label printer 1. The example shown in FIG. 6 is different from the example shown in FIG. 5 in that the motor that controls the pair of paper feed rollers 20 and the motor that controls the inkjet head 30 are trapezoidally driven. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the transport speed of the tape 10 is gradually reduced from time t2a to time t2b, and then half-cut processing is performed at time t3. That is, the controller 50 controls the pair of paper feed rollers 20 so that the transport speed of the tape 10 decreases as the time of half cut (time t3) approaches, and the transport of the tape 10 is interrupted at the time of half cut.

  By executing the speed control as shown in FIG. 6, the label printer 1 can suppress the step-out caused by the sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing still another example of the relationship between the transport speed of the tape 10 and the moving speed of the inkjet head 30 in the label printer 1. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the motor for controlling the paper feed roller pair 20 and the motor for controlling the inkjet head 30 are driven in a trapezoidal manner, and the inkjet head 30 is the same distance in the positive and negative directions during the printing operation. This is different from the example shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the inkjet head 30 is moved in the positive direction by the distance D1 from the time t1 to the time t2c during the printing operation, and then the inkjet head 30 is moved in the negative direction from the time t2c to the time t4b during the printing operation. An example of moving the distance D2 (= D1) is shown. That is, the controller 50 controls the inkjet head 30 so that the inkjet head 30 reciprocates within the movable range during the printing operation.

  By executing the speed control as shown in FIG. 7, the label printer 1 can return the inkjet head 30 to a predetermined position during the printing operation. For this reason, for example, even when the printing operation is continued for a long time due to the half-cut process being performed a plurality of times during the printing operation, a situation occurs in which the relative speed cannot be maintained constant due to the limitation of the movable range. This can be suppressed. Further, since the inkjet head 30 can be returned to the position of the inkjet head 30 at the start of printing during the printing operation, the next printing process can be started immediately after the printing is completed. For this reason, in particular, when printing is continuously performed a plurality of times, the entire printing time can be shortened.

  The above-described embodiment is a specific example for facilitating understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The printing apparatus, the printing method, and the program can be variously modified and changed without departing from the concept of the present invention defined by the claims.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the label printer is exemplified as the printing apparatus, but the printing apparatus is not necessarily limited to the label printer. In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the pair of paper feed rollers 20, the inkjet head 30, and the cutter 40 are arranged in order from the paper feed side is shown. However, the order of arrangement is particularly limited to this order. is not. Moreover, although the example which the cutter 40 performs both a half cut and a full cut was shown, the cutter 40 performs only one operation | movement and the other operation | movement may be performed by the structure different from the cutter 40. .

Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the application of the present application will be added.
[Appendix 1]
Conveying means for conveying the print medium in the conveying direction;
Printing means arranged to be movable in the transport direction for printing on the print medium;
During the printing operation by the printing unit, the conveyance unit is controlled such that the velocity of the print medium in the conveyance direction takes a first plurality of values, and the velocity of the printing unit in the conveyance direction is the first value. By controlling the printing unit to take a second plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of values, the relative speed along the transport direction of the printing medium with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. A printing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit; and a control unit that controls the printing unit.
[Appendix 2]
One of the first plurality of values includes zero;
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein
[Appendix 3]
Cutting means for cutting a predetermined layer of the print medium,
When the predetermined layer is cut by the cutting means, the speed of the print medium in the transport direction is 0.
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein
[Appendix 4]
In the printing apparatus according to attachment 3,
The control means reduces the speed of the print medium in the transport direction as it approaches the cutting, and controls the transport means so that the speed of the print medium in the transport direction is zero at the time of cutting. Characteristic printing device.
[Appendix 5]
In the printing apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4,
The printing apparatus is characterized in that the control means moves the printing means to the position of the printing means at the start of printing after the printing operation by the printing means is completed.
[Appendix 6]
In the printing apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5,
The printing apparatus, wherein the control unit controls the printing unit such that the printing unit reciprocates within a movable range of the printing unit during the printing operation.
[Appendix 7]
A printing method by a printing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a printing medium in a conveying direction; and a printing unit that is movably arranged in the conveying direction to print on the printing medium,
During the printing operation by the printing unit, the conveyance unit is controlled such that the velocity of the print medium in the conveyance direction takes a first plurality of values, and the velocity of the printing unit in the conveyance direction is the first value. By controlling the printing unit to take a second plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of values, the relative speed along the transport direction of the printing medium with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. A printing method comprising controlling the conveying means and the printing means.
[Appendix 8]
A computer of a printing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a printing medium in a conveying direction; and a printing unit that is movably arranged in the conveying direction to print on the printing medium.
During the printing operation by the printing unit, the conveyance unit is controlled such that the velocity of the print medium in the conveyance direction takes a first plurality of values, and the velocity of the printing unit in the conveyance direction is the first value. By controlling the printing unit to take a second plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of values, the relative speed along the transport direction of the printing medium with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. A program for functioning as control means for controlling the conveying means and the printing means.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Label printer, 10 ... Tape, 11 ... Seal, 11a ... Adhesive, 12 ... Mount, 15 ... Printed area | region, 20 ... Feed roller pair, 30 ... Inkjet head, 40 ... Cutter, 50 ... Controller

Claims (8)

Conveying means for conveying the print medium in the conveying direction;
Printing means arranged to be movable in the transport direction for printing on the print medium;
During the printing operation by the printing unit, the conveyance unit is controlled such that the velocity of the print medium in the conveyance direction takes a first plurality of values, and the velocity of the printing unit in the conveyance direction is the first value. By controlling the printing unit to take a second plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of values, the relative speed along the transport direction of the printing medium with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. A printing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit; and a control unit that controls the printing unit. One of the first plurality of values includes zero;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. Cutting means for cutting a predetermined layer of the print medium,
When the predetermined layer is cut by the cutting means, the speed of the print medium in the transport direction is 0.
The printing apparatus according to claim 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.
The control means reduces the speed of the print medium in the transport direction as it approaches the cutting, and controls the transport means so that the speed of the print medium in the transport direction is zero at the time of cutting. Characteristic printing device. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The printing apparatus is characterized in that the control means moves the printing means to the position of the printing means at the start of printing after the printing operation by the printing means is completed. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The printing apparatus, wherein the control unit controls the printing unit such that the printing unit reciprocates within a movable range of the printing unit during the printing operation. A printing method by a printing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a printing medium in a conveying direction; and a printing unit that is movably arranged in the conveying direction to print on the printing medium,
During the printing operation by the printing unit, the conveyance unit is controlled such that the velocity of the print medium in the conveyance direction takes a first plurality of values, and the velocity of the printing unit in the conveyance direction is the first value. By controlling the printing unit to take a second plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of values, the relative speed along the transport direction of the printing medium with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. A printing method comprising controlling the conveying means and the printing means. A computer of a printing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a printing medium in a conveying direction; and a printing unit that is movably arranged in the conveying direction to print on the printing medium.
During the printing operation by the printing unit, the conveyance unit is controlled such that the velocity of the print medium in the conveyance direction takes a first plurality of values, and the velocity of the printing unit in the conveyance direction is the first value. By controlling the printing unit to take a second plurality of values corresponding to the plurality of values, the relative speed along the transport direction of the printing medium with respect to the printing unit is maintained constant. A program for functioning as control means for controlling the conveying means and the printing means.