JP2019006018A - Printing device, method for controlling printing of printing device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To detect an end edge of residual quantity of a medium to be printed without processing an existing medium to be printed.SOLUTION: A printing device 1 includes: a photosensor 42 for detecting a color of an object to be conveyed that is conveyed along a conveyance passage; and a control device 5. The control device 5 detects an end edge E of a medium to be printed M based on the color of the medium to be printed M that is detected by the photosensor 42 and a color of an ink ribbon R that is conveyed while overlapping with the medium to be printed M and detected by the photosensor 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present specification relates to a printing apparatus, a printing control method for the printing apparatus, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus (label printer) that creates a printing tape piece (label) on which characters or the like are printed by printing characters and the like on a long print medium (printing tape) and then cutting the same 2. Description of the Related Art A tape cassette that stores a printing medium used for printing is known.
In such a printing apparatus, a function that can detect the end of the printing medium by detecting the identification mark formed on the printing medium before the remaining printing medium in the tape cassette runs out. There is a printing apparatus provided (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-181829 A

  However, although the end of the printing medium can be detected by using the technique of Patent Document 1, in order to use this technique, a process for forming an identification mark on the printing medium has to be performed.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a technique for detecting the end of a printing medium without processing the printing medium.

  In the printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the first member and the first member have different colors included in each region of at least one surface, or different in brightness in each region of at least one surface. A detection device that detects the color or the brightness of the object to be conveyed in a state where a plurality of members having two members are stacked, and at least a part of the object to be conveyed A control device for detecting one boundary between the first member and the second member of the transport object as viewed from the at least one surface side based on a print head for performing printing and a detection result of the detection device And comprising.

  In the printing control method for a printing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus includes a print head that performs printing, and a detection device that detects a color or brightness of an object, and includes at least one of the surfaces. Transport in which a plurality of members having a first member and a second member having different colors in each region or having different brightness in each region of at least one surface are stacked. The first member of the conveyance object is detected from the at least one surface side by the detection device and is viewed from the at least one surface side based on the detection result. And detecting one boundary of the second member.

  A program according to an aspect of the present invention is a program that is executed by a computer of a printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus includes a print head that performs printing and a detection device that detects the color or brightness of an object. The computer includes a plurality of first members and second members in which colors included in each region of at least one surface are different from each other, or brightness in each region of at least one surface is different from each other. The detection device detects the color or brightness of an object to be conveyed in a state where the members are overlapped, from the at least one surface side, and based on the detection result, the color or brightness is viewed from the at least one surface side. In addition, one boundary of the first member and the second member of the conveyance object is detected.

  According to the above aspect, it is possible to detect the end of the long print medium without processing the existing print medium.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system including a printing apparatus 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 1 with an opening / closing lid 3 opened. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a printing medium M used in the printing apparatus 1 when viewed from the medium width direction Y. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tape cassette 30 stored in the printing apparatus 1. 3 is a perspective view of a cassette storage unit 19 of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a front view of a tape end detection substrate 41 of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing hardware configurations of the printing apparatus 1 and the electronic device 100. FIG. It is a flowchart of a tape end judgment process. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a conveyance state of a printing medium M and an ink ribbon R.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system including a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus with the opening / closing lid opened. The printing system shown in FIG. 1 includes a printing apparatus 1 and an electronic device 100 that transmits print data to the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 and the electronic device 100 exchange data by wireless communication or wired communication.

In this embodiment, the direction in which the printing medium M (printing tape) is conveyed is “conveying direction X”, and the width direction of the printing medium M (printing tape) orthogonal to the conveying direction X is “medium width”. “Direction Y”, and the thickness direction of the printing medium M (printing tape) is “thickness direction Z”. These X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are orthogonal to each other.
The printing apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus that includes a thermal head (printing head) that performs printing on a printing medium. For example, the printing apparatus 1 is a label printer that performs printing on a long band-shaped printing medium M using a single-pass method. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the printing medium M used in the printing apparatus 1 as seen from the medium width direction Y. The print medium M is, for example, a long tape member having a base material B having an adhesive layer A, an adhesive layer A (paste surface), and a peelable release paper F covering the adhesive layer A. . The printing medium M may be a long tape member without the release paper F.
In the present embodiment, printing is performed by the thermal head 10 on the surface of the base material B opposite to the adhesive layer A (the surface of the base material B, which is referred to as “printing surface P”). Hereinafter, a thermal transfer type label printer using an ink ribbon will be described as an example, but the printing method is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, the printing medium M and the ink are printed in a state where one surface of the printing medium (second member) M and one surface of the ink ribbon (first member) R are overlapped in the same direction. The length direction of the ribbon R is transported in the transport direction along the transport path. Hereinafter, when the transport target in a state where the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are overlapped is not distinguished, it is also simply referred to as a transport target. The first member and the second member have different colors included in each region of at least one surface, or different brightness in each region of at least one surface.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus housing 2 and an opening / closing lid 3 attached to the apparatus housing 2 so as to be freely opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus housing 2 includes a cassette storage unit 19 that stores the tape cassette 30 therein. Details of the cassette storage unit 19 will be described later.
On the upper surface of the apparatus housing 2, in addition to the power button 25, operation buttons 26 a, 26 b, 26 c (hereinafter referred to as “operation buttons 26”) for performing various operations, a lid opening / closing button 27 for opening the opening / closing lid 3, and the like. Has been placed.
When the power button 25 is pressed while the external power supply D (see FIG. 8) is connected (that is, the AC adapter is connected), a signal is sent to the power supply circuit 40 (see FIG. 8) to supply power to the printing apparatus 1. Is turned on. When the operation button 26 or the lid opening / closing button 27 is pressed, a signal is sent to the control device 5 (see FIG. 8), and processing corresponding to each button is performed.
Although not shown, the apparatus housing 2 is provided with a power cord connection terminal, an external device connection terminal, a storage medium insertion port, and the like. When the printing apparatus 1 is operated by an internal power source such as a battery, the power cord connection terminal may not be provided. When the printing apparatus 1 can be used without being connected to an external device such as a personal computer or various terminal devices, or when the printing apparatus 1 is configured to be connectable to the external device wirelessly, the external device The connection terminal may not be provided.

The open / close lid 3 is disposed so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the upper portion of the cassette housing portion 19. The opening / closing lid 3 is opened when the lid opening / closing button 27 is pressed.
Further, the opening / closing lid 3 has a window 3a in order to make it possible to visually confirm whether or not the tape cassette 30 (see FIG. 4) is housed in the cassette housing portion 19 even when the opening / closing lid 3 is closed. Is formed.
Further, a discharge port 2 a is formed on a side surface of the apparatus housing 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction X of the printing medium M. The printing medium M on which printing by the thermal head 10 is performed in the printing apparatus 1 is discharged out of the apparatus from the discharge port 2a.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tape cassette 30 housed in the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cassette storage unit 19 of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part according to the present embodiment of the printing apparatus 1. The tape cassette 30 shown in FIG. 4 is detachably stored in the cassette storage unit 19 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the tape cassette 30 is stored in the cassette storage unit 19.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the tape cassette 30 includes a cassette case 31 that accommodates a printing medium M and an ink ribbon R in which a thermal head insertion portion 36 and an engagement portion 37 are formed. The cassette case 31 is provided with a tape core 32, an ink ribbon supply core 34, and an ink ribbon winding core 35. The print medium M is wound around a tape core 32 inside the cassette case 31 in a roll shape. In addition, the thermal transfer ink ribbon R is wound around the ink ribbon supply core 34 inside the cassette case 31 in a state where the leading end of the ink ribbon R is wound around the ink ribbon winding core 35.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the cassette housing part 19 of the apparatus housing 2 is provided with a plurality of cassette receiving parts 20 for supporting the tape cassette 30 at a predetermined position.

  The cassette housing portion 19 further includes a plurality of heat generating elements, a thermal head 10 that performs printing on the printing medium M, a platen roller 21 that is a transport mechanism that transports the printing medium M, and a tape core engagement shaft. 22 and an ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23 are provided. Further, a thermistor 13 is embedded in the thermal head 10. The thermistor 13 is a head temperature measuring unit that measures the temperature of the thermal head 10.

The cassette storage unit 19 is further provided with a tape end detection substrate 41 having a configuration for determining whether or not the printing medium M is remaining. FIG. 7 is a front view of the tape end detection substrate 41 of the printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 7A, the tape end detection substrate 41 is provided with an optical sensor 42 and a light source (irradiation device) 43. The optical sensor 42 has a light receiving region 42a that receives light. The tape end detection substrate 41 provided with the optical sensor 42 and the light source 43 is disposed on the upstream side of the thermal head 10 in the transport direction in the transport path C of the print medium M shown in FIG. Therefore, before the printing by the thermal head 10 is started, the optical sensor 42 detects the color or brightness of the conveyance object, so that the end E, which is one of the boundaries of the printing medium M, is detected by the optical sensor 42. The boundary can be detected by determining whether or not the detection position S has been passed, that is, whether or not the remaining amount of the printing medium M has been exhausted. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the optical sensor 42 and the light source 43 are arranged at positions facing the substantially center in the medium width direction Y of the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R in the conveying direction of the conveying path C. Is done. An area facing the light receiving area 42a of the optical sensor 42 in the conveyance object is the detection position S. Here, the cassette storage unit 19 can store a plurality of types of tape cassettes 30 having different widths of the printing medium M. The center of the print medium M in the medium width direction Y is substantially constant regardless of which of the plurality of types of tape cassettes 30 having different widths of the print medium M is stored in the cassette storage unit 19. It is configured. As a result, regardless of which of the plurality of types of tape cassettes 30 having different widths of the printing medium M are stored in the cassette storage unit 19, the printing medium M is positioned substantially opposite the center in the medium width direction Y. The optical sensor 42 and the light source 43 are arranged. For this reason, regardless of the width of the printing medium M, the presence / absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M can be determined satisfactorily.
As shown in FIG. 6, the tape end detection substrate 41 on which the optical sensor 42 and the light source 43 are arranged has the optical sensor 42 and the light source 43 when the printing medium M (the printing medium M has the release paper F). In the case where the release paper F and the printing medium M do not have the peeling paper F, the distance between the tape end detection substrate 41 and the printing medium M is approximately a predetermined distance in the direction facing the base material B). It arrange | positions so that it may become (d1). In the present embodiment, the interval (d1) is set to about 5 mm. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical sensor 42 and the light source 43 are arranged on the tape end detection substrate 41 with a predetermined interval (d2). In the present embodiment, the interval (d2) is set to about 3 mm.

  The light source 43 is formed of, for example, a white LED, and irradiates illumination light to the transport target when the optical sensor 42 detects the color or brightness of the transport target. The light source 43 emits light including a wavelength range that can be detected by the optical sensor 42 in accordance with the sensitivity characteristics of the optical sensor 42. In other words, the light source 43 is not limited to a white LED as long as it can irradiate light including a desired wavelength range, and for example, three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). LED may be comprised, and an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp may be sufficient.

  The optical sensor 42 is a detection device that detects the color or brightness of an object to be transported at a position facing the light receiving region 42a. In the present embodiment, the detection target is the printing medium M or the ink ribbon R, and the optical sensor 42 detects the printing medium M (if the printing medium M has the release paper F, the release paper F, When the printing medium M does not have the release paper F, it is possible to detect the color or brightness of the base material B) and the color or brightness of the ink ribbon R. The optical sensor 42 is a color sensor configured to include, for example, a photodiode having filters for each color of a red value (R), a green value (G), and a blue value (B). In this case, the optical sensor 42 converts the intensity of light detected by each photodiode into, for example, a 16-bit digital value to obtain an RGB value. Therefore, the optical sensor 42 detects color information having RGB values corresponding to the detected light spectrum, and outputs this as a detection signal. Thereby, even if the color of the to-be-printed medium M and the color of the ink ribbon R are similar colors, the optical sensor 42 can detect mutually different RGB values for each color. The optical sensor 42 sends the detected RGB value to the control device 5 as a detection signal. Therefore, even if the color of the printing medium M and the color of the ink ribbon R are similar colors, the control device 5 is based on the change in the RGB value with respect to the color of the conveyance object detected by the optical sensor 42. Thus, it can be determined that the conveyance object at the position facing the light receiving region 42a of the optical sensor 42 has changed from the printing medium M to the ink ribbon R.

  The optical sensor 42 may detect the brightness of the conveyance object. That is, a difference in brightness due to a difference in reflectance of the irradiated surface illuminated by the light source 43 may be detected. In this case, based on the detected brightness, it is determined that the detection target has changed from the printing medium M to the ink ribbon R. The optical sensor 42 is a color sensor, a color-coupled device (CCD) image sensor, a CMOS (Complementary MOS) image sensor, an infrared sensor, or the like, and the ink ribbon R It may be formed by a sensor that can distinguish the color or brightness.

  In the state in which the tape cassette 30 is stored in the cassette storage unit 19, as shown in FIG. 6, the engaging unit 37 provided in the cassette case 31 is supported by the cassette receiving unit 20 provided in the cassette storage unit 19. The thermal head 10 is inserted into a thermal head insertion portion 36 formed in the cassette case 31. Further, the tape core 32 of the tape cassette 30 is engaged with the tape core engaging shaft 22, and the ink ribbon winding core 35 is engaged with the ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23.

  When a printing instruction is input to the printing apparatus 1, the printing medium M is fed out from the tape core 32 by the rotation of the platen roller 21. At this time, the ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23 rotates in synchronization with the platen roller 21, whereby the ink ribbon R is fed out from the ink ribbon supply core 34 together with the printing medium M. As a result, the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are conveyed in an overlapping state. The ink ribbon R is heated by the thermal head 10 when passing between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21, whereby the ink is transferred to the printing medium M and printing is performed.

The used ink ribbon R that has passed between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21 is wound around the ink ribbon winding core 35. On the other hand, the printed medium M that has passed between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21 is cut by the half-cut device 16 and the full-cut device 17 and discharged from the discharge port 2a.
In the present embodiment, the length of the print medium M is shorter than the length of the ink ribbon R. Since the end E of the print medium M is not fixed to the tape core 32, the end E of the print medium M finally passes through the front of the optical sensor 42 and is discharged from the discharge port 2a. On the other hand, since both ends of the ink ribbon R are fixed to the ink ribbon supply core 34 and the ink ribbon take-up core 35, the end of the ink ribbon R is not exposed to the outside of the tape cassette 30, and the optical sensor It does not pass in front of 42.

In the present embodiment, the tape end detection substrate 41 on which the optical sensor 42 is disposed is disposed on the cassette storage unit 19 side. Therefore, the detection of the color or brightness of the transport object by the optical sensor 42 is performed from the print medium M side of the print medium M and the ink ribbon R that are transported in an overlapping state.
Accordingly, when the print medium M remains, the optical sensor 42 detects the print medium M (if the print medium M has the release paper F, the release paper F and the print medium M are peeled off). When the paper F is not provided, the color or brightness of the base material B) is detected. After the printing medium M is transported and the end (boundary) E of the printing medium M passes the position (detection position S) facing the optical sensor 42, the optical sensor 42 detects the color of the ink ribbon R or Detect brightness. The control device 5 recognizes that the detection target by the optical sensor 42 has changed from the printing medium M to the ink ribbon R based on the change in color or brightness detected by the optical sensor 42, and thereby the printing medium M It is possible to determine whether or not the end E of the print medium has passed the detection position S and the remaining amount of the printing medium M has been exhausted.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating hardware configurations of the printing apparatus 1 and the electronic device 100. In addition to the thermal head 10, the thermistor 13, the half-cut device 16, the full-cut device 17, and the platen roller 21, the printing device 1 includes a control device 5, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 6, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 7. , A communication interface (IF) 8, a head drive circuit 9, a conveyance motor drive circuit 11, a stepping motor 12, a cutter motor drive circuit 14, a cutter motor 15, and a power supply circuit 40. Note that at least the control device 5, the ROM 6, and the RAM 7 constitute a computer of the printing device 1.

  The control device 5 includes a processor 5a such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control device 5 controls the operation of each unit of the printing device 1 by expanding and executing the program stored in the ROM 6 on the RAM 7.

  For example, the control device 5 supplies a control signal (strobe signal, latch signal, clock signal) and print data to the head drive circuit 9 and controls the thermal head 10 via the head drive circuit 9. The control device 5 controls the motors (stepping motor 12 and cutter motor 15) via the motor drive circuits (conveyance motor drive circuit 11 and cutter motor drive circuit 14).

  The control device 5 determines whether or not the end E of the printing medium M has passed the detection position S based on the change in the color or brightness of the conveyance object detected by the optical sensor 42, that is, the printing medium M. It is determined whether there is a remaining amount. Specifically, when the optical sensor 42 detects the color of the conveyance object, the control device 5 detects the red value (R), the green value (G), and the blue value included in the RGB values detected by the optical sensor 42. In (B), it is determined whether there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M based on whether at least one value has changed by a predetermined ratio or more. The control device 5 determines whether or not the end E of the print medium M has passed the detection position S based on the color information of the release paper F detected by the optical sensor 42 and the color information of the ink ribbon R. That is, it is determined whether there is a remaining amount. Therefore, it can be determined whether there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M with the release paper F attached. Details of the determination by the control device 5 as to whether or not there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M will be described later.

  The ROM 6 stores a printing program for printing on the printing medium M and various data (for example, fonts) necessary for executing the printing program. The ROM 6 also functions as a storage medium in which a program readable by the control device 5 is stored. The RAM 7 includes a print data storage unit that stores data (hereinafter referred to as print data) indicating a pattern of print contents. Further, the RAM 7 includes a display data storage unit that stores display data. The communication interface 8 exchanges data with an external device (for example, the electronic device 100) by wired communication or wireless communication.

  The head drive circuit 9 drives the thermal head 10 based on the control signal and print data supplied from the control device 5. The thermal head 10 is a print head having a plurality of heating elements 10a arranged in the main scanning direction. During the energization period specified by the strobe signal supplied from the control device 5, the head drive circuit 9 selectively selects a current to one of the plurality of heating elements 10a according to the print data output from the head drive circuit 9. , One of the plurality of heating elements 10a generates heat and heats the ink ribbon R. As a result, the thermal head 10 performs printing on the printing medium M line by line by thermal transfer. That is, the printing apparatus 1 is a thermal line printer.

  The conveyance motor drive circuit 11 drives the stepping motor 12. The stepping motor 12 rotates the platen roller 21. The platen roller 21 is a transport mechanism that is rotated by the power of the stepping motor 12 and transports the print medium M in the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction) of the print medium M.

  The cutter motor drive circuit 14 drives the cutter motor 15. The half-cut device 16 and the full-cut device 17 operate by the power of the cutter motor 15 and half-cut or full-cut the printing medium M. The full cut is an operation of cutting the base material of the printing medium M along the width direction together with the release paper, and the half cut is an operation of cutting only the base material along the width direction. The power supply circuit 40 is a power supply unit that generates an output voltage from a DC voltage (for example, 24 V) from the external power supply D and supplies power to each unit of the printing apparatus 1.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, the electronic device 100 is a portable computer including a display device 101 and an input device 102, such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The display device 101 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (organic EL) display. The input device 102 is, for example, a touch panel.

  In addition to the above configuration, the electronic device 100 includes a display unit driving device 103, a communication interface (IF) 104, a ROM 105, a RAM 106, and a control device 107. The display unit driving device 103 is, for example, a liquid crystal display driver circuit or an organic EL display driver circuit. The control device 107 includes a processor 108. The processor 108 is a calculation unit, and displays an error message sent from the printing apparatus 1 on the display apparatus 101 by executing an application program.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the tape end determination process. The tape end determination process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a conveyance state of the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R. Here, it is assumed that the print medium M has release paper F. For example, at least the surface of the release paper F on the side of the optical sensor 42 has a color such as cream or light blue. The ink ribbon R has, for example, black, red, and white. FIG. 10A shows a state before the end E of the printing medium M passes the detection position S on the transport path C by the optical sensor 42, and the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are moved in the width direction Y. It is a schematic diagram which shows the conveyance state seen from. FIG. 10B shows a state after the end E of the printing medium M has passed the detection position S by the optical sensor 42, and shows a conveyance state when the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are viewed from the width direction Y. It is a schematic diagram shown. In the following, the case where the optical sensor 42 detects the color at the detection position S of the conveyance object will be described. However, even when the optical sensor 42 detects the brightness at the detection position S of the conveyance object, the color information is bright. The same processing can be performed simply by replacing the information.

In the tape end determination process, a process for determining whether there is a remaining amount of the print tape that is the printing medium M is performed. The printing apparatus 1 starts the tape end determination process shown in FIG. 9 based on the print start instruction. In the tape end determination process, the control device 5 first operates the optical sensor 42 before transporting the printing medium M, and acquires the RGB value of the detection signal detected by the optical sensor 42 as an initial value (step S101). .
Before the printing medium M is conveyed, as shown in FIG. 10A, the end E of the printing medium M is detected from the detection position S by the optical sensor 42 in the conveying direction of the conveying path C of the printing medium M. Located upstream. Therefore, before the printing medium M is conveyed, the optical sensor 42 faces the release paper F of the printing medium M, and the red value (R), the green value (G) and the color corresponding to the color of the release paper F The RGB values including the blue value (B) are detected and sent as detection signals to the control device 5. Then, the control device 5 sets the red value (R), green value (G), and blue value (B) included in the RGB value of the detection signal sent from the optical sensor 42 to the initial values R _before and G _before , respectively. , B _before and stored in the RAM 7.

  Then, the control device 5 turns on the thermal head 10 and turns on the stepping motor 12. Accordingly, the platen roller 21 rotates in the transport direction, the transport of the printing medium M is started, and printing on the printing medium M is performed based on the print data. When printing based on the print data is completed, the control device 5 turns off the thermal head 10 and turns off the stepping motor 12. Thereby, the rotation of the platen roller 21 is stopped, the conveyance of the printing medium M is also completed, and the printing on the printing medium M is also completed (step S102).

When the conveyance of the printing medium M is completed, the control device 5 operates the optical sensor 42 after the conveyance of the printing medium M is completed, and acquires the RGB value of the detection signal detected by the optical sensor 42 (step S103).
At this time, similarly to the case of FIG. 10A, when the printing medium M still remains after the printing medium M is conveyed, the terminal E of the printing medium M is the end of the printing medium M. In the transport direction of the transport path C, it is located upstream from the detection position S by the optical sensor 42. In this case, the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are present at the detection position S by the optical sensor 42, and the optical sensor 42 is opposed to the release paper F of the printing medium M. Therefore, the optical sensor 42 detects RGB values including a red value (R), a green value (G), and a blue value (B) corresponding to the color of the release paper F of the printing medium M present at the detection position S. This is sent to the control device 5 as a detection signal. Then, the control device 5 ends the conveyance of the printing medium M with the red value (R), the green value (G), and the blue value (B) included in the RGB value of the detection signal sent from the optical sensor 42, respectively. The subsequent RGB values R _after , G _after , and B _after are acquired.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the remaining amount of the printing medium M runs out after the printing medium M is transported, the end E of the printing medium M is transported of the printing medium M. In the conveyance direction of the path C, the optical sensor 42 is positioned downstream of the detection position S. In this case, there is no printing medium M at the detection position S by the optical sensor 42, and only the ink ribbon R exists, and the optical sensor 42 faces the ink ribbon R. Therefore, the optical sensor 42 detects an RGB value including a red value (R), a green value (G), and a blue value (B) corresponding to the color of the ink ribbon R present at the detection position S, and this is detected as a detection signal. To the control device 5. Then, the control device 5 ends the conveyance of the printing medium M with the red value (R), the green value (G), and the blue value (B) included in the RGB value of the detection signal sent from the optical sensor 42, respectively. The subsequent RGB values R _after , G _after , and B _after are acquired.

Next, the control device 5 detects the initial RGB values (R _before , G _before , B _before ) (first detection result) detected by the optical sensor 42 before the printing medium M is conveyed, and the printing medium M. Based on the comparison with the RGB values (R _after , G _after , B _after ) (second detection result) detected by the optical sensor 42 after the end of conveyance, it is determined whether or not there is a change (step S104).
In this process, the control device 5 determines the initial values R _before , G _before , and B _before RGB values of the print medium M acquired in step S101 and the print medium M acquired in step S103. Of the RGB values R _after , G _after , and B _{after after the transfer} of the above are determined. That is, the rate of change of R _before with respect to R _after, the rate of change of G _before with respect to G _after , and the rate of change of B _before with respect to B _after are determined.
The control device 5 determines whether at least one of the red value (R), the green value (G), and the blue value (B) included in the RGB value has changed by a predetermined ratio (threshold value) or more. Determine whether. Specifically, the control device 5 determines whether at least one of the red value (R), the green value (G), and the blue value (B) included in the RGB value has changed by a predetermined threshold value or more. That is, it is determined whether or not the RGB values have changed by a predetermined threshold or more as a result of comparison. In the present embodiment, the threshold is set to 10%, for example. The threshold value is not limited to this, and can be set to an arbitrary ratio.
That is, the control device 5 determines whether at least one of the following (Expression 1) to (Expression 3) is satisfied.
(| R _after −R _before | / R _before ) ≦ 0.1 (Formula 1)
(| G _after −G _before | / G _before ) ≦ 0.1 (Expression 2)
(| B _after −B _before | / B _before ) ≦ 0.1 (Expression 3)

  If there is no change greater than or equal to the threshold value between the RGB values acquired before and after conveyance of the printing medium M (YES in step S104), the control device 5 determines that the RGB values acquired before and after conveyance of the printing medium M are It is determined that the color information of the release paper F of the printing medium M is indicated. In this case, the control device 5 has not yet passed the end E of the printing medium M on the conveyance path C, the boundary E has not yet passed the detection position S, and the remaining amount of the printing medium M is low. Judge that it still exists. When this process ends, the tape end determination process ends.

  On the other hand, when there is a change greater than or equal to the threshold value between the RGB values acquired before and after the conveyance of the printing medium M (NO in step S104), the control device 5 acquires the RGB acquired after the conveyance of the printing medium M. The value is determined not to indicate the color information of the release paper F of the printing medium M but to indicate the color information of the ink ribbon R. That is, the control device 5 determines that the conveyance object at the detection position S has changed from the release paper F of the printing medium M to the ink ribbon R based on the change of the color information detected by the optical sensor 42. Thus, it is determined that the end E of the printing medium M has passed the detection position S on the transport path C, and the boundary E has passed the detection position S. When the control device 5 determines that the end E of the print medium M has passed the detection position S, the control device 5 determines that the remaining amount of the print medium M has run out.

When the control device 5 determines that the remaining amount of the printing medium M has run out based on the RGB values detected before and after the conveyance of the printing medium M, for example, the remaining amount of the printing medium M is displayed on the display device 101 of the electronic device 100. An error message indicating that the printing medium has been lost is displayed, or a message sound indicating that the remaining amount of the printing medium M has been exhausted is output from a speaker (not illustrated) of the electronic device 100, so that the remaining printing medium M is exhausted. Control which notifies that is performed (step S105). Thereby, it can be clearly communicated to the user that the remaining amount of the printing medium M has been exhausted.
Further, the control device 5 stops the operation of the printing device 1 (step S106). In this process, the control device 5 temporarily stops the supply of power to the thermal head 10 and the stepping motor 12 until it is replaced with another tape cassette 30, thereby temporarily transporting and printing the printing device 1. Stop. Then, when the control device 5 is replaced with another tape cassette 30, the control device 5 cancels the stop of the supply of power to the thermal head 10 and the stepping motor 12. When this process ends, the tape end determination process ends. As a result, when the remaining amount of the printing medium M runs out, it is possible to prevent printing from being performed by the thermal head 10 in advance. Thereby, the components of the printing apparatus 1 such as the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21 can be protected.

  In the printing apparatus 1 configured as described above, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M based on a change in the color or brightness of the conveyance target detected by the optical sensor 42. As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M without adding any processing. In addition, since it is determined whether or not there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M based on the difference in color information between the ink ribbon R and the printing medium M, an external light is used for this determination. And can be made less susceptible to environmental changes such as temperature changes. Further, since it is determined whether or not there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M based on a change in color and brightness, any color or material in the relationship between the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R, Even when a combination of structures is employed, it can be determined whether or not there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M. For example, even if the structure of the printing medium M is a type that does not have the release paper F, the presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M can be determined.

  In addition, when the optical sensor 42 detects the color, the control device 5 includes RGB values including the red value (R), the green value (G), and the blue value (B) detected by the optical sensor 42. Whether or not there is a remaining amount of the printing medium M is determined based on whether at least one of the values has changed by a predetermined ratio or more. Thereby, for example, even if the ink ribbon R and the printing medium M are similar in color, it is possible to determine whether or not the remaining amount of the printing medium M is present.

Further, the optical sensor 42 detects color information of the printing medium M on the irradiation surface irradiated by the light source 43 and color information of the ink ribbon R. Therefore, even in an environment where the surroundings are dark, the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R can be distinguished and detected. Thereby, the determination accuracy of the presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M can be improved.
Further, since the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are formed of different materials, the reflectance is different from each other even if the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R have similar colors. Therefore, the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R can be distinguished and detected by the difference in brightness due to the difference in reflectance. Thereby, the determination accuracy of the presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M can be improved.

Further, the control device 5 includes color information detected by the optical sensor 42 before the printing medium M is conveyed, color information detected by the optical sensor 42 after the printing medium M is conveyed, The presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M is detected based on Therefore, since the detection interval by the optical sensor 42 is relatively short, the influence of environmental changes such as external light and temperature changes on the optical sensor 42 using a semiconductor in determining whether the printing medium M is remaining or not is determined. Therefore, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy of the presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M.
In the prior art, the identification mark processed on the printing medium is detected in order to detect the end of the printing medium. For this reason, it is necessary to continuously detect the identification mark. In this embodiment, the detection by the optical sensor 42 only needs to be performed twice before and after the printing medium M is conveyed. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the power consumption related to the determination of the presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M, and to reduce the processing load of the control device 5.

  The embodiments described above are specific examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The printing apparatus, the printing control method of the printing apparatus, and the program can be variously modified and changed without departing from the scope of the claims.

  In the above-described embodiment, the control device 5 displays an error message on the display device 101 of the electronic device 100, but this is not restrictive. For example, if the printing apparatus 1 is provided with a display device such as a display or a light emitting diode, and the control device 5 determines that the remaining amount of the printing medium M has run out, it indicates that the remaining amount of the printing medium M has run out. Control to display the error message on the display device of the printing apparatus 1 may be performed. Thereby, it can be clearly communicated to the user that the remaining amount of the printing medium M has been exhausted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the presence or absence of the remaining amount of the print medium M based on the color or brightness information of the print medium M detected by the optical sensor 42 and the color or brightness information of the ink ribbon R. However, this is not a limitation. For example, the printing medium M is created with a plurality of colors (for example, three colors) for each length, information on the color or brightness of the printing medium M (release paper F) that varies for each length, and the ink ribbon R The presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M may be determined based on the difference between the color and the brightness information. In this case, the control device 5 performs control to display a message corresponding to the remaining amount.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the optical sensor 42 is disposed on the upstream side of the thermal head 10 in the transport direction of the transport path C of the print medium M has been described. For example, the optical sensor 42 may be disposed on a conveyance path C that is conveyed in a state where the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are overlapped, such as on the downstream side of the thermal head 10.

  In the embodiment described above, the control device 5 detects the color or brightness information detected by the optical sensor 42 before the printing medium M is conveyed and the optical sensor 42 after the printing medium M is conveyed. Although an example in which the presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium is determined based on the change in the color or brightness information, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the optical sensor 42 detects color or brightness information continuously (for example, every second) while the printing medium M is being conveyed, and the control device 5 detects the color or brightness detected continuously. The presence or absence of the remaining amount of the printing medium M may be determined based on the difference in brightness information. When determining that the remaining amount of the printing medium M has run out, the control device 5 stops the conveyance and printing operation of the printing device 1 by stopping the supply of power to the thermal head 10 and the stepping motor 12. Thereby, the printing head 1 can be protected by preventing the thermal head 10 from being emptied in advance, so that the components of the printing apparatus 1 such as the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21 can be protected. Furthermore, the power consumption of the printing apparatus 1 can be reduced by preventing useless operations of the printing apparatus 1.

  In the above-described embodiment, the control device 5 includes the initial RGB value detected by the optical sensor 42 before transporting the printing medium M, the RGB value detected by the optical sensor 42 after transporting the printing medium M, Although an example of determining whether or not there is a change is shown, this is not restrictive. For example, when the tape cassette 30 is replaced, the control device 5 stores the RGB value detected only once as an initial value, and stores the initial value of the RGB value and the optical sensor 42 after the conveyance of the print medium M is completed. It may be determined whether there is a change in the detected RGB value.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the color or brightness of the printing medium by the optical sensor 42 is detected from the printing medium M side is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the length of the printing medium M is formed longer than the length of the ink ribbon R, the color or brightness of the printing medium by the optical sensor 42 may be detected from the ink ribbon R side. .

Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the application of the present application will be added.
[Appendix 1]
A plurality of members having a first member and a second member in which colors included in each region of at least one surface are different from each other or brightness in each region of at least one surface are different from each other are stacked. A detection device that detects the color or the brightness of a conveyance object conveyed in a state from the at least one surface side;
A print head for printing on at least a part of the transport object;
A control device for detecting one boundary of the first member and the second member of the transport object as viewed from the at least one surface side based on a detection result of the detection device;
A printing apparatus comprising:

[Appendix 2]
The control device is based on a comparison between a first detection result detected by the detection device before the transport is performed and a second detection result detected by the detection device after the transport is performed. Detecting the boundary by determining whether the boundary has passed a detection position;
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein

[Appendix 3]
The detection device uses, as the first detection result and the second detection result, a red value (R), a green value (G), and a blue value (B) of the color of the conveyance object at the detection position. Detect RGB values including
The control device detects the boundary based on a comparison of at least one of the red value, the green value, and the blue value in the first detection result and the second detection result. Determine whether it has passed the position,
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein

[Appendix 4]
The transport object is transported in a state where the one surface of the first member and the one surface of the second member are overlapped in the same direction.
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein

[Appendix 5]
The first member is an ink ribbon used for the printing by the print head,
The second member is a printing medium on which the printing is performed by the print head.
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein

[Appendix 6]
The printing medium has a long base material having a printing surface on one side where the printing by the printing head is performed,
The printing medium is shorter than the ink ribbon,
The transport object is transported in a state where the ink ribbon is stacked on the printing surface side of the base material when there is a remaining amount of the print medium, and the remaining amount of the print medium is exhausted. Is transported in a state where the ink ribbon does not overlap the substrate,
The detection device is provided to detect the color or brightness of the conveyance object from the opposite side of the printing surface of the base material,
When the control device determines that the boundary has passed the detection position, the control device determines that the remaining amount of the printing medium is exhausted.
The printing apparatus according to appendix 5, characterized in that:

[Appendix 7]
The printing medium has a release paper that covers the surface of the substrate opposite to the printing surface via an adhesive layer;
The detection device detects the color or brightness of the release paper on the detection device side when there is a remaining amount of the print medium;
The printing apparatus according to appendix 6, wherein:

[Appendix 8]
A display device,
When the control device determines that the remaining amount of the second member has run out, the control device executes control to display on the display device that the remaining amount of the second member has run out.
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 6 or Supplementary Note 7, wherein

[Appendix 9]
A transport device that transports the print medium along a transport path of the transport object;
When the control device determines that the remaining amount of the second member has run out, the control device executes control to stop the conveyance by the conveyance device;
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary Note 6 to Supplementary Note 8, wherein

[Appendix 10]
An irradiation device that illuminates the detection position of the transport object when the detection device detects a color or brightness at the detection position of the transport object;
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 9, wherein:

[Appendix 11]
The detection position is disposed at a position that is the center of the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport object.
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 10, wherein:

[Appendix 12]
The detection device is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the print head in the transport path of the transport object.
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 11, wherein

[Appendix 13]
A printing control method for a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes a print head that performs printing, and a detection device that detects a color or brightness of an object,
A plurality of members having a first member and a second member in which colors included in each region of at least one surface are different from each other or brightness in each region of at least one surface are different from each other are stacked. The color or brightness of the object to be transported in the state is detected from the at least one surface side by the detection device;
Based on the detection result, one boundary of the first member and the second member of the conveyance object as viewed from the at least one surface side is detected.
A printing control method for a printing apparatus.

[Appendix 14]
A program to be executed by a computer of a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes a print head that performs printing, and a detection device that detects a color or brightness of an object,
In the computer,
A plurality of members having a first member and a second member in which colors included in each region of at least one surface are different from each other or brightness in each region of at least one surface are different from each other are stacked. The detection device detects the color or brightness of the object to be conveyed in a state from the at least one surface side,
Based on the detection result, one boundary of the first member and the second member of the conveyance object as viewed from the at least one surface side is detected.
A program characterized by that.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing device, 2 ... Apparatus housing, 2a ... Discharge port, 3 ... Opening / closing lid, 3a ... Window, 5 ... Control device, 5a ... Processor, 6. ..ROM, 7 ... RAM, 8 ... communication interface (IF), 9 ... head drive circuit, 10 ... thermal head, 10a ... heating element, 11 ... conveyance motor drive Circuit, 12 ... Stepping motor, 13 ... Thermistor, 14 ... Cutter motor drive circuit, 15 ... Cutter motor, 16 ... Half-cut device, 17 ... Full-cut device, 19 ...・ Cassette storage section, 20... Cassette receiving section, 21... Platen roller, 22... Tape core engaging shaft, 23.・ Operation buttons, 27 ... Open / close lid 30 ... Tape cassette, 31 ... Cassette case, 32 ... Tape core, 34 ... Ink ribbon supply core, 35 ... Ink ribbon winding core, 36 ... Thermal head insertion part 37 ... engagement part, 40 ... power supply circuit, 41 ... tape end detection substrate, 42 ... light sensor, 43 ... light source, 100 ... electronic device, 101 ... display Device 102... Input device 103 Display unit drive device 104 Communication interface (IF) 105 ROM ROM 106 RAM 107 Control device 108.・ Processor, M ・ ・ ・ Print medium, R ・ ・ ・ Ink ribbon

Claims (14)

A plurality of members having a first member and a second member in which colors included in each region of at least one surface are different from each other or brightness in each region of at least one surface are different from each other are stacked. A detection device that detects the color or the brightness of a conveyance object conveyed in a state from the at least one surface side;
A print head for printing on at least a part of the transport object;
A control device for detecting one boundary of the first member and the second member of the transport object as viewed from the at least one surface side based on a detection result of the detection device;
A printing apparatus comprising: The control device is based on a comparison between a first detection result detected by the detection device before the transport is performed and a second detection result detected by the detection device after the transport is performed. Detecting the boundary by determining whether the boundary has passed a detection position;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The detection device uses, as the first detection result and the second detection result, a red value (R), a green value (G), and a blue value (B) of the color of the conveyance object at the detection position. Detect RGB values including
The control device detects the boundary based on a comparison of at least one of the red value, the green value, and the blue value in the first detection result and the second detection result. Determine whether it has passed the position,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2. The transport object is transported in a state where the one surface of the first member and the one surface of the second member are overlapped in the same direction.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The first member is an ink ribbon used for the printing by the print head,
The second member is a printing medium on which the printing is performed by the print head.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The printing medium has a long base material having a printing surface on one side where the printing by the printing head is performed,
The printing medium is shorter than the ink ribbon,
The transport object is transported in a state where the ink ribbon is stacked on the printing surface side of the base material when there is a remaining amount of the print medium, and the remaining amount of the print medium is exhausted. Is transported in a state where the ink ribbon does not overlap the substrate,
The detection device is provided to detect the color or brightness of the conveyance object from the opposite side of the printing surface of the base material,
When the control device determines that the boundary has passed the detection position, the control device determines that the remaining amount of the printing medium is exhausted.
The printing apparatus according to claim 5. The printing medium has a release paper that covers the surface of the substrate opposite to the printing surface via an adhesive layer;
The detection device detects the color or brightness of the release paper on the detection device side when there is a remaining amount of the print medium;
The printing apparatus according to claim 6. A display device,
When the control device determines that the remaining amount of the second member has run out, the control device executes control to display on the display device that the remaining amount of the second member has run out.
The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer. A transport device that transports the print medium along a transport path of the transport object;
When the control device determines that the remaining amount of the second member has run out, the control device executes control to stop the conveyance by the conveyance device;
The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer. An irradiation device that illuminates the detection position of the transport object when the detection device detects a color or brightness at the detection position of the transport object;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus. The detection position is disposed at a position that is the center of the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport object.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer. The detection device is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the print head in the transport path of the transport object.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus. A printing control method for a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes a print head that performs printing, and a detection device that detects a color or brightness of an object,
A plurality of members having a first member and a second member in which colors included in each region of at least one surface are different from each other or brightness in each region of at least one surface are different from each other are stacked. The color or brightness of the object to be transported in the state is detected from the at least one surface side by the detection device;
Based on the detection result, one boundary of the first member and the second member of the conveyance object as viewed from the at least one surface side is detected.
A printing control method for a printing apparatus. A program to be executed by a computer of a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes a print head that performs printing, and a detection device that detects a color or brightness of an object,
In the computer,
A plurality of members having a first member and a second member in which colors included in each region of at least one surface are different from each other or brightness in each region of at least one surface are different from each other are stacked. The detection device detects the color or brightness of the object to be conveyed in a state from the at least one surface side,
Based on the detection result, one boundary of the first member and the second member of the conveyance object as viewed from the at least one surface side is detected.
A program characterized by that.

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