JP2017140735A - Conveyance device and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyance device which can enhance visibility of a medium left in a conveyance path at the time of a conveyance failure, and a printer.SOLUTION: A conveyance device includes: a conveyance part 33 which conveys a medium 12 along a conveyance path 17 from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveyance direction Y; a conveyance detection part which detects a conveyance failure of the medium 12 by the conveyance part 33; a plurality of discharge parts which can discharge the medium 12 conveyed by the conveyance part 33; and a selection part which selects the discharge part to which the medium 12 is discharged out of the plurality of discharge parts. When the conveyance detection part detects the conveyance failure of the medium 12 in the conveyance path 17 at the downstream side in the conveyance direction Y with respect to the plurality of discharge parts, the selection part selects, as the discharge part discharging the medium 12, the discharge part different from the discharge part discharging the medium 12 out of the discharge parts located closer to the upstream side in the conveyance direction Y than a conveyance failure spot of the medium 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance device that conveys a medium such as a sheet printed by a printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer, and a printing apparatus that prints on the medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus that prints on a sheet (medium) conveyed along a conveyance path is known (for example, Patent Document 1). This printing apparatus includes a print head (printing unit) that discharges ink (liquid), and a platen belt provided to face the print head. The print head prints on the paper by ejecting ink onto the paper conveyed by the platen belt.

JP 2010-131859 A

  By the way, in the case of such a printing apparatus, when a jam (conveyance failure such as a paper jam) occurs, the platen belt is retracted from the print head and the paper staying in the conveyance path is collected on the platen belt. Therefore, the paper staying in the apparatus cannot be confirmed from outside the apparatus, and there is room for improvement in terms of visibility.

  Such a problem is not limited to a conveyance device that conveys a sheet and a printing device that prints on a sheet, but is generally common to a conveyance device that conveys a medium and a printing apparatus that prints on a medium.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport device and a printing device that can improve the visibility of a medium left on the transport path when the transport is defective.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A transport apparatus that solves the above problems includes a transport unit that transports a medium from an upstream side to a downstream side in the transport direction along a transport path, a transport detection unit that detects a transport failure of the medium by the transport unit, and the transport A plurality of discharge units capable of discharging the medium conveyed by the unit, and a selection unit that selects a discharge unit from which the medium is discharged among the plurality of discharge units, and the conveyance detection unit includes the plurality of discharge units When the conveyance failure of the medium is detected in the conveyance path on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the portion, the selection unit is configured to detect the discharge unit positioned on the upstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the conveyance failure point of the medium. Among them, a discharge unit different from the discharge unit from which the medium is discharged is selected as a discharge unit that discharges the medium.

  According to this configuration, when a conveyance failure of the medium occurs, the medium located upstream in the conveyance direction from the conveyance failure portion is discharged to a discharge unit different from the discharge unit from which the medium is discharged. Therefore, even when the medium is discharged to a discharge unit different from the predetermined discharge unit, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the medium discharged first and the medium discharged due to conveyance failure are mixed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the visibility of the medium left on the transport path when the transport is defective.

  In the transport apparatus, when the medium is discharged to any discharge unit located on the upstream side in the transport direction from the poorly transported part, the selection unit transports the transport from the poorly transported part. It is preferable to select, as the discharge unit that discharges the medium, a discharge unit that is different from the most recently selected discharge unit among the discharge units positioned on the upstream side in the direction.

  According to this configuration, when a conveyance failure of the medium occurs, the medium located upstream in the conveyance direction from the conveyance failure location is closest to the discharge unit located upstream in the conveyance direction from the conveyance failure location. It is discharged to a discharge unit different from the selected discharge unit. That is, when the medium is discharged due to a conveyance failure, the discharge unit is changed, so that the visibility of the medium discharged due to the conveyance failure can be further improved.

It is preferable that the transport device further includes a medium detection unit that detects the medium discharged to the discharge unit.
According to this configuration, the selection unit can easily select the discharge unit that discharges the medium based on the detection result of the medium detection unit.

It is preferable that the printing apparatus that solves the above-described problem includes the transport device having the above-described configuration and a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit.
According to this configuration, the same effects as those of the transport device can be obtained.

  A printing apparatus that solves the above problems includes a conveyance unit that conveys a medium from an upstream side to a downstream side in the conveyance direction along a conveyance path, and a printing unit that prints on a printing surface of the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; A conveyance detection unit that detects a conveyance failure of the medium by the conveyance unit; a plurality of discharge units that can discharge the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; and a discharge that discharges the medium among the plurality of discharge units A selection unit that selects a portion, and when the conveyance detection unit detects a conveyance failure of the medium in the conveyance path on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the plurality of discharge units, the selection unit Among the discharge units positioned upstream in the conveyance direction with respect to the conveyance failure point, a face-up discharge unit from which the medium is discharged with the printing surface up is selected as a discharge unit for discharging the medium.

  According to this configuration, when a conveyance failure of the medium occurs, the medium located upstream in the conveyance direction from the conveyance failure portion is discharged to the face-up discharge unit with the printing surface on the top. Therefore, it is possible to easily visually recognize whether the medium is ejected by the previous printing or the medium ejected due to the conveyance failure. Therefore, it is possible to improve the visibility of the medium left on the transport path when the transport is defective.

  In the printing apparatus, the printing unit performs printing in units of units, and when the conveyance detection unit detects a conveyance failure of the medium, a face-down discharge unit from which the medium is discharged with the printing surface down In the case where the number of the media positioned in the transport path on the upstream side in the transport direction is equal to or greater than the number constituting one part, the selection unit prioritizes the face-down discharge unit over the face-up discharge unit. Thus, it is preferable to select the discharge unit for discharging the medium.

  According to this configuration, since the medium is discharged to the face-down discharge unit with the printing surface facing down, the medium is stacked in the order of printing as viewed from the printing surface side of the medium. Therefore, if the number of media positioned upstream in the transport direction from the face-down discharge unit is greater than or equal to the number constituting one copy, the printed medium is used by discharging the medium to the face-down discharge unit. It can be discharged as possible.

  Preferably, the printing apparatus further includes a cap capable of capping the printing unit, and the cap caps the printing unit when the medium is discharged to the discharge unit.

  If the medium remains in the conveyance path, capping may be hindered by the medium. In this respect, according to this configuration, since the cap is capped after the medium is discharged to the discharge portion, it is possible to reduce the possibility that capping is hindered by the medium.

It is preferable that the printing apparatus further includes a notification unit that notifies the discharge unit selected by the selection unit.
According to this configuration, since the notification unit notifies the discharge unit selected by the selection unit, the medium discharge destination can be easily understood.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a printing apparatus including a transport device. The block diagram of a control part. 10 is a flowchart of a print processing routine. The schematic diagram of the printing apparatus which shows the state which the conveyance defect produced in the medium.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a conveyance device and a printing device will be described with reference to the drawings.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 11 includes an apparatus main body 13 such as a printer that performs printing on a medium 12 such as paper, a post-processing apparatus 14 that performs processing on the printed medium 12, and an apparatus main body 13 and post-processing. An intermediate device 15 provided between the device 14 and the device 14 is provided.

  The printing apparatus 11 has a conveyance path 17 indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 continuing from the apparatus main body 13 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction Y to the post-processing apparatus 14 via the intermediate apparatus 15. Further, the printing apparatus 11 includes a plurality of conveyance roller pairs 18 provided along the conveyance path 17 and at least one conveyance sensor 19 that detects the presence or absence of the medium 12 conveyed along the conveyance path 17.

  The conveyance roller pair 18 is provided so as to be able to support the medium 12 by sandwiching the medium 12 from both the front and back sides. And the conveyance roller pair 18 conveys the medium 12 along the conveyance path | route 17, when one roller (drive roller shown by a double circle in FIG. 1) is rotationally driven.

Next, the apparatus main body 13 will be described.
Outside the apparatus main body 13, a first discharge unit 21 and a second discharge unit 22 such as a discharge tray and a discharge stand for discharging the medium 12 are provided. That is, the first discharge unit 21 and the second discharge unit 22 are stacked in the order in which the medium 12 discharged from the discharge port (not shown) is discharged and placed in a state that is visible to the user. .

  The first discharge unit 21 is a face-down discharge unit from which the medium 12 is discharged with the print surface down, and the second discharge unit 22 is a face-up discharge from which the medium 12 is discharged with the print surface up. Part. The apparatus main body 13 includes a first medium detection unit 21 a and a second medium detection unit 22 a that detect the medium 12 discharged to the first discharge unit 21 and the second discharge unit 22. The first medium detection unit 21a and the second medium detection unit 22a of the present embodiment are lever sensors that detect the presence or absence of the medium 12 by the movement of the lever pressed against the medium 12, and the first discharge unit 21 and The presence / absence of the medium 12 discharged and placed on the second discharge unit 22 is detected.

  Further, the printing device 11 is provided with a notification unit 23 such as a touch panel that can perform various operations of the printing device 11 and notification (for example, display) of the state of the printing device 11. In addition, at least one (four in FIG. 1) cassette 24 that can accommodate the medium 12 in a stacked state is detachably provided at a position at the upstream end in the transport direction Y in the transport path 17.

  On the other hand, in the apparatus main body 13, at least one (the same number as the cassette 24) feeding unit 26 that feeds the media 12 stored in the cassette 24 one by one (one sheet) is provided. The feeding unit 26 includes a pickup roller 27 that feeds the uppermost medium 12 among the media 12 arranged in a stacked state in the cassette 24 and a pair of separation rollers that separates the medium 12 fed by the pickup roller 27 one by one. 28.

  Further, a belt conveyance unit 29 is provided at a position downstream of the feeding unit 26 in the conveyance direction Y. The belt conveyance unit 29 includes an endless conveyance belt 30 and a driving pulley 31 and a driven pulley 32 around which the conveyance belt 30 is stretched. The medium 12 is transported along with the rotation of the transport belt 30 while being electrostatically attracted to the support surface (outer peripheral surface) of the transport belt 30. In other words, in the present embodiment, the transport roller pair 18 and the belt transport unit 29 constitute a transport unit 33 that transports the medium 12 from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction Y along the transport path 17. The belt transport unit 29 rotates about the drive pulley 31 to move between a support position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 for supporting the medium 12 and a retracted position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It is provided as possible.

  In addition, the apparatus main body 13 includes a printing unit 35 provided at a position facing the conveyance belt 30 with the conveyance path 17 interposed therebetween, and a cap 36 capable of capping the printing unit 35. The printing unit 35 performs printing by ejecting a liquid such as ink from the nozzles onto the printing surface of the medium 12 conveyed by the conveyance unit 33. Further, the cap 36 is capped by surrounding the space where the nozzle is opened by contacting the printing unit 35. Note that the printing unit 35 of the present embodiment is a so-called line head that can simultaneously eject liquid over a width direction intersecting (for example, orthogonal to) the conveyance direction Y of the medium 12. The cap 36 can cap the printing unit 35 when the belt conveyance unit 29 is located at the retracted position.

  The transport path 17 includes a first branch path 17a and a second branch path 17b branched by a first branch section 37 located downstream of the belt transport section 29 and the printing section 35 in the transport direction Y. . Further, the transport path 17 has a third branch path 17c branched from the second branch path 17b at a second branch section 38 located downstream of the first branch section 37 in the transport direction Y.

  That is, the first branch path 17 a has an upstream end connected to the first branch portion 37 and a downstream end connected to the first discharge portion 21. Therefore, the medium 12 conveyed through the first branch path 17 a is discharged to the first discharge unit 21. The second branch path 17 b has an upstream end connected to the first branch portion 37 and a downstream end connected to the second discharge portion 22. And the 2nd branch part 38 is provided in the middle of the 2nd branch path 17b.

  The first branch portion 37 is provided with a first flap 39 for switching which of the first branch path 17a and the second branch path 17b the medium 12 transported on the transport path 17 is guided to. In addition, the second branching section 38 is switched to which of the second branching path 17b and the third branching path 17c the medium 12 guided to the second branching path 17b by the first flap 39 is switched to. A second flap 40 is provided. That is, the medium 12 guided to the second branch path 17 b by the second flap 40 is discharged to the second discharge unit 22.

  In addition, the post-processing device 14 is mounted in a state where, for example, a processing unit 42 that performs a stapler process for binding a plurality of media 12 with staples (needles), and the processed media 12 are ejected and stacked. And a third discharge portion 43 such as a discharge tray. That is, the printing apparatus 11 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of discharge units (first discharge unit 21, second discharge unit 22, and third discharge unit 43) that can discharge the medium 12 conveyed by the conveyance unit 33. Yes. The third branch path 17c, whose upstream end is connected to the second branch section 38, is connected to the third discharge section 43 at the downstream end, and the medium 12 conveyed through the third branch path 17c is the third discharge section. 43 is discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 11 includes a control unit 45 that comprehensively controls driving of each mechanism. The control unit 45 controls driving of the transport unit 33 and the printing unit 35 based on the detection results of the transport sensor 19, the first medium detection unit 21a, and the second medium detection unit 22a.

  In addition, the control unit 45 includes a time measuring unit 46 that measures time and a conveyance detection unit 47 that detects a conveyance failure of the medium 12 by the conveyance unit 33. Further, the control unit 45 includes a selection unit 48 that selects a discharge unit from which the medium 12 is discharged among a plurality of discharge units (the first discharge unit 21, the second discharge unit 22, and the third discharge unit 43). Yes.

  Next, a print processing routine performed by the control unit 45 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This print processing routine is executed at the timing when the print job is started by the user.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in step S11, the control unit 45 executes a printing process, and in step S12, the control unit 45 determines whether or not a conveyance failure has occurred. If the conveyance is performed well (step S12: NO), in step S13, the control unit 45 determines whether the printing process is completed. If the printing process has not ended (step S13: NO), the control unit 45 proceeds to step S11, and if the printing process has ended (step S13: YES), the control unit 45 45 ends the print processing routine.

  When a conveyance failure occurs (step S12: YES), the control unit 45 determines whether or not the conveyance defect portion is downstream of the first branching unit 37 in the conveyance direction Y in step S14. In addition, a conveyance defect location is a location where a conveyance failure has occurred, and is an area where the medium 12 that is not conveyed well is located.

  If the conveyance failure location is upstream of the first branch portion 37 (step S14: NO), the control unit 45 stops the feeding by the feeding unit 26 in step S15 and prints in step S16. Printing by the unit 35 is stopped.

  Further, in step S17, the control unit 45 discharges the medium 12 positioned downstream of the conveyance failure portion to a predetermined discharge unit designated by the print job. That is, the control unit 45 controls the transport unit 33 to stop transport on the upstream side of the poorly transported portion and continue transport on the downstream side of the poorly transported portion. In step S18, the control unit 45 determines whether or not the ejection of the medium 12 is completed. If the ejection is not completed (step S18: NO), the process proceeds to step S17. That is, the control unit 45 waits until the discharge of the medium 12 is completed, and when the discharge of the medium 12 is completed (step S18: YES), the notifying unit notifies the conveyance failure portion and the discharge unit that discharged the medium 12 in step S19. 23, and the print processing routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, in step S14, when the defective discharge location is downstream of the first branch portion 37 (step S14: YES), in step S20, the control unit 45 determines that the conveyance failure location is the second branch in the transport direction Y. It is determined whether or not it is downstream from the portion 38. When the conveyance failure location is upstream of the second branching section 38 (step S20: NO), in step S21, the control unit 45 selects the first discharge unit 21 as a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12. To do.

  If the conveyance failure location is downstream of the second branch unit 38 (step S20: YES), in step S22, the control unit 45 causes the medium discharged to the second discharge unit 22 in the previous print job. Whether or not 12 is placed on the second discharge unit 22 is determined. And when there is no medium 12 mounted in the 2nd discharge part 22 (step S22: NO), the control part 45 selects the 2nd discharge part 22 as a discharge part which discharges the medium 12 in step S23. To do.

  On the other hand, when there is the medium 12 placed on the second discharge unit 22 (step S22: YES), in step S24, the control unit 45 causes the medium discharged to the first discharge unit 21 in the previous print job. Whether or not 12 is placed on the first discharge unit 21 is determined. And when there is no medium 12 mounted in the 1st discharge part 21 (step S24: NO), the control part 45 transfers the process to step S21, and discharges the medium 12 by the 1st discharge part 21 Select as the discharge section.

  When there is the medium 12 placed on the first discharge unit 21 (step S24: YES), in step S25, the control unit 45 determines that the discharge unit from which the medium 12 has been discharged most recently is the first discharge unit. Whether it is 21 or not is determined. And when the nearest discharge part is the 2nd discharge part 22 (step S25: NO), the control part 45 transfers the process to step S21, and discharges the medium 12 with the 1st discharge part 21 Select as part.

  And when the nearest discharge part is the 1st discharge part 21 (step S25: YES), the control part 45 is the number of the media 12 located upstream from the 1st branch part 37 (step S26). It is determined whether or not the (remaining number) is smaller than the number of copies (number of sheets). If the remaining number is smaller than the number of one copy (step S26: YES), the control unit 45 moves the process to step S23 and sets the second discharge unit 22 as a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12. select. If the remaining number is equal to or greater than the number of one copy (step S26: NO), the control unit 45 proceeds to step S21 and selects the first discharge unit 21 as a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12. To do.

  In subsequent step S27, the control unit 45 controls the feeding unit 26 to stop feeding after feeding the medium 12 being fed. Further, in step S28, the control unit 45 causes the discharge unit selected in step S21 or step S23 to discharge the medium 12.

  In step S29, the control unit 45 determines whether or not the ejection of the medium 12 is completed. If the ejection is not completed (step S29: NO), the process proceeds to step S28. That is, the control unit 45 waits until the discharge of the medium 12 is completed, and when the discharge of the medium 12 is completed (step S29: YES), the cap 36 is capped with the printing unit 35 in step S30. In step S31, the control unit 45 causes the notification unit 23 to notify the conveyance failure portion and the discharge unit that has discharged the medium 12, and ends the print processing routine.

Next, an operation when the printing apparatus 11 performs printing will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, when printing is executed, the control unit 45 adjusts the positions of the first flap 39 and the second flap 40 so that the medium 12 is discharged to a predetermined discharge unit designated in the print job. To do. That is, for example, when the medium 12 is discharged to the first discharge unit 21, the control unit 45 positions the first flap 39 at a position for guiding the medium 12 to the first branch path 17a. When the medium 12 is discharged to the second discharge unit 22, the control unit 45 positions the first flap 39 and the second flap 40 at a position where the medium 12 is guided to the second branch path 17b. When the medium 12 is discharged to the third discharge portion 43, the control portion 45 positions the first flap 39 at a position where the medium 12 is guided to the second branch path 17b, and the second flap 40 is moved to the second flap 40. The medium 12 is positioned at the position where the medium 12 is guided to the three branch path 17c.

  Then, the control unit 45 drives the feeding unit 26 to feed the medium 12 accommodated in the cassette 24, and drives the transport unit 33 to transport the fed medium 12 along the transport path 17. Let Further, the printing unit 35 ejects liquid onto the medium 12 supported and conveyed by the conveyance belt 30, thereby causing the liquid to adhere to the medium 12 conveyed by the conveyance unit 33 and printing. Then, the printed medium 12 is discharged to a predetermined discharge unit.

  That is, for example, the medium 12 printed and discharged to the third discharge portion 43 is guided to the second branch path 17b by the first flap 39, and further guided to the third branch path 17c by the second flap 40. Then, the medium 12 is transported along the third branch path 17 c, processed by the processing unit 42, and then discharged to the third discharge unit 43.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, in the printing apparatus 11, the medium 12 in the middle of conveyance may be clogged, or the conveyance roller pair 18 may slide, resulting in a conveyance failure (jam) in which the medium 12 cannot be conveyed satisfactorily.

  Such a conveyance failure is detected by the conveyance detection unit 47 based on the detection result of the conveyance sensor 19 and the timing of the time measuring unit 46. Specifically, the conveyance detection unit 47 detects a conveyance failure when the medium 12 does not arrive at the timing when the medium 12 is scheduled to arrive or when the medium 12 does not pass at the timing when the medium 12 is expected to pass.

  When the conveyance detection unit 47 detects a conveyance failure, the selection unit 48 selects a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12 from among the discharge units positioned on the upstream side of the conveyance defect portion in the conveyance direction Y. That is, for example, when the conveyance failure occurs in the medium 12 immediately after passing through the first branch portion 37, and the medium 12 does not pass through the second branch portion 38, the discharge portion is located upstream from the conveyance failure portion. Since there is only one, the selection unit 48 selects the first discharge unit 21 as a discharge unit for discharging the medium 12.

  In addition, when a conveyance failure occurs in the medium 12 that has passed through the second branch portion 38, a plurality of discharge units (first discharge units) on the upstream side of the conveyance direction Y in the conveyance direction Y from the conveyance failure point of the medium 12. 21 and the second discharge part 22) are located. That is, when the conveyance detection unit 47 detects a conveyance failure of the medium 12 in the conveyance path 17 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction Y with respect to the plurality of discharge units, the selection unit 48 selects the first discharge unit 21 and the second discharge unit 22. Among these, the discharge unit on which the medium 12 is not placed is selected as the discharge unit that discharges the medium 12. That is, the selection unit 48 selects a discharge unit that is different from the discharge unit from which the medium 12 is discharged, out of the first discharge unit 21 and the second discharge unit 22 that are located on the upstream side of the conveyance failure portion of the medium 12. 12 is selected as a discharge unit for discharging. When the medium 12 is not placed on both the first discharge unit 21 and the second discharge unit 22, the selection unit 48 includes the first discharge unit 21 and the second discharge unit 22. The second discharge unit 22 that discharges the medium 12 with the printing surface facing upward is selected as the discharge unit that discharges the medium 12.

  Further, when the medium 12 is discharged to any one of the first discharge unit 21 and the second discharge unit 22, the selection unit 48 includes the first discharge unit 21 and the second discharge unit 22. A discharge unit different from the most recently selected discharge unit is selected as the discharge unit for discharging the medium 12. That is, for example, when the first discharge unit 21 has been selected in the previous print job, the selection unit 48 selects the second discharge unit 22 as a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12. When the third discharge unit 43 is selected in the previous print job and the second discharge unit 22 is selected in the previous print job, the selection unit 48 discharges the medium 12 from the first discharge unit 21. Select as the discharge section.

  When the conveyance detection unit 47 detects a conveyance failure of the medium 12, the number of the media 12 positioned in the conveyance path 17 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction Y with respect to the first discharge unit 21 is equal to or greater than the number constituting one unit. In this case, the selection unit 48 selects the first discharge unit 21 as a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12 with priority over the second discharge unit 22.

  Specifically, for example, when the printing unit 35 performs printing of a plurality of copies including three copies as one copy, a conveyance failure occurs in the first medium 12 that has passed through the second branching portion 38. Will be described. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the second medium 12 is positioned upstream of the first branching portion 37 and the fourth medium 12 is being fed.

  That is, in this case, the second to fourth sheets on the upstream side in the transport direction Y with respect to the first branch part 37 to which the first branch path 17a that is the path for transporting the medium 12 to the first discharge unit 21 is connected. The three media 12 are positioned. Therefore, since the number of the media 12 positioned in the transport path 17 on the upstream side in the transport direction Y with respect to the first discharge unit 21 is three or more constituting the one part in the selection unit 48, the first discharge unit 21. Is selected as a discharge unit for discharging the medium 12 in preference to the second discharge unit 22.

  Then, the control unit 45 causes the feeding unit 26 to feed the medium 12 being fed, causes the transporting unit 33 and the printing unit 35 to transport and print the medium 12, and further selects the discharge selected by the selection unit 48. Let the part drain. Then, when the medium 12 is discharged to the selected discharge unit, the cap 36 caps the printing unit 35. Furthermore, the notification unit 23 notifies the discharge unit selected by the selection unit 48 and the conveyance failure location.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When a conveyance failure of the medium 12 occurs, the medium 12 positioned on the upstream side in the conveyance direction Y from the conveyance failure portion is discharged to a discharge unit different from the discharge unit from which the medium 12 is discharged. Therefore, even when the medium 12 is discharged to a discharge unit different from the predetermined discharge unit, the possibility that the previously discharged medium 12 and the medium 12 discharged due to conveyance failure are mixed is reduced. it can. Therefore, the visibility of the medium 12 left on the transport path 17 when the transport is defective can be improved.

  (2) When the conveyance failure of the medium 12 occurs, the medium 12 positioned on the upstream side in the conveyance direction Y from the conveyance failure location is the nearest among the discharge units located on the upstream side in the conveyance direction Y from the conveyance failure location. It is discharged to a discharge unit different from the selected discharge unit. That is, when the medium 12 is discharged due to a conveyance failure, the discharge unit is changed, so that the visibility of the medium 12 discharged due to the conveyance failure can be further improved.

(3) The selection unit 48 can easily select a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12 based on the detection results of the first medium detection unit 21a and the second medium detection unit 22a.
(4) When the conveyance failure of the medium 12 occurs, the medium 12 positioned on the upstream side in the conveyance direction Y with respect to the conveyance defect portion is discharged to the second discharge unit 22 whose printing surface is on the upper side. Therefore, it is possible to easily visually recognize whether the medium 12 is ejected by the previous printing or the medium 12 ejected due to a conveyance failure. Therefore, it is possible to improve the visibility of the medium 12 left on the transport path 17 when the transport is defective.

  (5) Since the medium 12 is discharged to the first discharge unit 21 with the printing surface facing down, the medium 12 is stacked in the order of printing as viewed from the printing surface side of the medium 12. Therefore, when the number of the media 12 positioned on the upstream side in the transport direction Y with respect to the first discharge unit 21 is equal to or more than the number constituting one copy, the medium 12 is discharged to the first discharge unit 21 to perform printing. The discharged medium 12 can be discharged in a usable state.

  (6) If the medium 12 remains in the conveyance path 17, capping may be hindered by the medium 12. In that respect, since the cap 36 is capped after the medium 12 is discharged to the discharge portion, it is possible to reduce a possibility that capping is hindered by the medium 12.

(7) Since the notification unit 23 notifies the discharge unit selected by the selection unit 48, the discharge destination of the medium 12 can be easily understood.
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.

  In the above embodiment, the selection unit 48 may select a plurality of discharge units as the discharge unit that discharges the medium 12. For example, when the leading edge of the second medium 12 shown in FIG. 4 is located between the first branch portion 37 and the second branch portion 38, the second medium 12 is discharged to the second discharge portion 22. The third and subsequent media 12 may be discharged to the first discharge unit 21. Further, for example, the selection unit 48 may select the nearest discharge unit located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction Y of each medium 12 as a discharge unit that discharges each medium 12 when the conveyance is defective. That is, the control unit 45 may cause the medium 12 to be guided to a branch path having a shorter distance from the branch unit to the discharge unit in each branch unit located upstream in the transport direction Y with respect to the defective transport point.

  In the above embodiment, the upstream ends of a plurality of branch paths may be connected to one branch portion. For example, the upstream end of the first branch path 17a to the third branch path 17c is connected to the first branch portion 37, and the medium 12 is connected to any one of the first branch path 17a to the third branch path 17c by the first flap 39. You may guide to the route. Further, the medium 12 may be directly discharged from the branching portion to the discharging portion without providing the branching path.

  In the above embodiment, the apparatus main body 13 may print on both sides of the medium 12. That is, the apparatus main body 13 may include a double-sided printing mechanism for returning the medium 12 printed on the surface to the upstream side in the transport direction Y from the printing unit 35. When the conveyance failure of the medium 12 occurs, the medium 12 remaining in the duplex printing mechanism may be discharged to the discharge unit selected by the selection unit 48. The medium 12 that has been printed on the first printing surface (for example, the front surface) and then printed on the second printing surface (for example, the back surface) is transferred to the first discharge unit 21 so that the second printing surface faces downward. It is discharged to the second discharge section 22 so that the second printing surface faces up.

  In the above-described embodiment, the processing unit 42 performs punch processing for making a hole in the medium 12, shift processing for shifting the medium 12 by discharging it in units, cutting processing for cutting the medium 12, signature processing for folding the medium 12, medium 12 Arbitrary processing such as bookbinding processing or collation processing may be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the notification unit 23 may not be provided. Moreover, you may provide the speaker which alert | reports with an audio | voice, a sound, etc., and the light emission part alert | reported by light emission or blinking as an alerting | reporting part.

  In the above embodiment, the cap 36 may be capped before the medium 12 is discharged to the discharge unit. For example, the printing unit 35 may be capped at the timing when the last medium 12 to be ejected passes the printing unit 35. Alternatively, the printing unit 35 may be retracted from the belt conveyance unit 29 and capped without moving the belt conveyance unit 29 to the retracted position.

In the above embodiment, the printing unit 35 may perform printing in units of pages.
In the above embodiment, the selection unit 48, regardless of the number of media 12 (remaining number) located upstream of the first discharge unit 21 in the transport direction Y when a transport failure occurs in the medium 12 A discharge unit that discharges the medium 12 may be selected. That is, the selection unit 48 may select the second discharge unit 22 as a discharge unit for discharging the medium 12 even if the remaining number is equal to or greater than the number constituting one part.

  In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus 11 may be a transport apparatus that does not include the printing unit 35. Further, for example, a plurality of discharge units may be provided in the intermediate device 15 or the post-processing device 14 to serve as a transport device. Further, the transport device and the printing device 11 may be configured not to include any one of the intermediate device 15 and the post-processing device 14. A supply device that is provided upstream of the apparatus main body 13 in the conveyance direction Y and supplies the medium 12 to the apparatus main body 13 may be used as the conveyance apparatus. Furthermore, the printing apparatus 11 may include a supply apparatus, an apparatus main body 13, an intermediate apparatus 15, and a post-processing apparatus 14.

  In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus 11 may be configured not to include at least one of the first medium detection unit 21a and the second medium detection unit 22a. That is, for example, the selection unit 48 may select a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12 regardless of the presence or absence of the medium 12 remaining in the state of being placed on the discharge unit. The first medium detection unit 21a and the second medium detection unit 22a may be arbitrary sensors such as a photoelectric sensor that detects the presence or absence of the medium 12 by reflection of light such as infrared rays. Note that the printing apparatus 11 may include a medium detection unit that detects the medium 12 discharged to the third discharge unit 43.

In the above embodiment, the selection unit 48 may select a discharge unit that discharges the medium 12 regardless of the discharge unit selected in the previous print job.
In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus 11 may include four or more discharge units.

  The liquid can be arbitrarily selected as long as it can be printed on the medium 12 by adhering to the medium 12. The liquid may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, and is a liquid with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals. A liquid material such as (metal melt) is included. Further, not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a substance in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent is included. A typical example of the liquid is ink. The ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks.

  The medium 12 may be paper, resin, metal, cloth, ceramic, rubber, natural material (such as wood or stone), or a composite thereof. The thickness of the medium may be a plate, sheet, film, foil, or the like. Furthermore, the shape of the medium may be an arbitrary shape such as a rectangle or a circle. That is, for example, a composite film of paper and resin (resin-impregnated paper, resin-coated paper, etc.), a composite film of resin and metal (laminate film), woven fabric, non-woven fabric, disk, circuit board, and the like may be used.

  The printing apparatus 11 is an apparatus that prints images such as characters, pictures, and photographs by attaching a liquid such as ink to a medium, and may be a serial printer, a lateral printer, a line printer, a page printer, or the like. Further, an offset printing apparatus, a textile printing apparatus, or the like may be used. Further, the printing apparatus only needs to have at least a printing function for printing on a medium, and may be a multifunction machine having functions other than the printing function.

  Y ... transport direction, 11 ... printing device, 12 ... medium, 13 ... device main body, 14 ... post-processing device, 15 ... intermediate device, 17 ... transport route, 17a ... first branch route, 17b ... second branch route, 17c ... third branch path, 18 ... conveying roller pair, 19 ... conveying sensor, 21 ... first discharging unit, 21a ... first medium detecting unit, 22 ... second discharging unit, 22a ... second medium detecting unit, 23 ... notification , 24 ... cassette, 26 ... feeding unit, 27 ... pickup roller, 28 ... pair of separation rollers, 29 ... belt conveying unit, 30 ... conveying belt, 31 ... driving pulley, 32 ... driven pulley, 33 ... conveying unit, 35 ... Printing section, 36 ... Cap, 37 ... First branch section, 38 ... Second branch section, 39 ... First flap, 40 ... Second flap, 42 ... Processing section, 43 ... Third discharge section, 45 ... Control section 46 ... Time measuring unit, 47 ... Conveyance detection , 48 ... selection unit.

Claims (8)

A transport unit that transports the medium from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction along the transport path;
A transport detection unit for detecting a transport failure of the medium by the transport unit;
A plurality of discharge units capable of discharging the medium transported by the transport unit;
A selection unit that selects a discharge unit from which the medium is discharged among the plurality of discharge units;
When the conveyance detection unit detects a conveyance failure of the medium in the conveyance path on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the plurality of discharge units, the selection unit is more in the conveyance direction than the conveyance failure point of the medium. A transport apparatus, wherein a discharge unit different from a discharge unit from which the medium is discharged is selected as a discharge unit for discharging the medium among the discharge units positioned on the upstream side.   When the medium is discharged to any discharge unit located upstream in the transport direction from the poorly transported location, the selection unit is located upstream from the poor transport location in the transport direction. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge unit that is different from the most recently selected discharge unit is selected as a discharge unit that discharges the medium among the discharge units that are positioned.   The transport apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a medium detection unit that detects the medium discharged to the discharge unit. The conveying apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
And a printing unit that prints on the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. A transport unit that transports the medium from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction along the transport path;
A printing unit for printing on the printing surface of the medium conveyed by the conveying unit;
A transport detection unit for detecting a transport failure of the medium by the transport unit;
A plurality of discharge units capable of discharging the medium transported by the transport unit;
A selection unit that selects a discharge unit from which the medium is discharged among the plurality of discharge units;
When the conveyance detection unit detects a conveyance failure of the medium in the conveyance path on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the plurality of discharge units, the selection unit is more in the conveyance direction than the conveyance failure point of the medium. A printing apparatus, wherein a face-up discharge unit that discharges the medium with the print surface facing upward is selected as a discharge unit that discharges the medium, among the discharge units positioned on the upstream side. The printing unit performs printing in units of copies,
When the conveyance detection unit detects a conveyance failure of the medium, the number of the media positioned in the conveyance path on the upstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the face-down discharge unit from which the medium is discharged with the printing surface down However, when the number is more than the number constituting one part, the selection unit selects the face-down discharge unit as a discharge unit that discharges the medium in preference to the face-up discharge unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 5. A cap capable of capping the printing unit;
The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cap caps the printing unit when the medium is discharged to the discharge unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the discharge unit selected by the selection unit.