JP2022127765A - printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printer which can prevent the occurrence of printing deviation at least in the printing of important printing contents.SOLUTION: A printer comprises: a conveyance unit which conveys a medium; a conveyance control unit which controls the conveyance unit; a print head which performs printing on the medium; and a determination unit which determines whether or not printing contents printed on the medium include important printing contents. When the determination unit determines that the printing contents include the important printing contents, the conveyance control unit controls the conveyance unit such that slack at least at a degree not causing fluctuations in tension of the medium during the printing of the important printing contents to the medium is generated on the medium on the medium conveyance path upstream side with respect to the print head before the printing start of the printing contents to the medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints on media.

Conventionally, airline printers (printing devices for airlines) installed at airport counters and the like, and printing devices described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 are known as printing devices that print on long media. It is

For example, an airline printer pulls out and transports a roll-shaped long medium (thermal label paper) used as a baggage tag, and prints information such as the passenger name, flight number, and destination by the thermal method. Print. After printing, the medium is cut and the medium on which the information is printed is discharged.

In such an airline printer, in order to eliminate the waste of media as much as possible, the media is transported not only in the forward direction (ejection direction, downstream direction of the media transport path), but also in the reverse direction (opposite direction of the ejection direction, media transporting direction). (upstream direction). For example, after ejecting the printed medium, the medium is transported in the reverse direction to the print position in preparation for the next print. Conveying the medium in the reverse direction is also referred to as “return conveyance”.

JP 2016-87932 A JP 2017-75041 A JP-A-8-133540

In an airline printer, slack occurs in the medium due to the return transport. If printing is started in such a state, the slack is eliminated during printing, but there is a risk that the tension of the medium will greatly fluctuate at that time, and that fluctuation will cause printing misalignment. If such a print misalignment occurs when printing important print content such as a bar code, there is a risk of causing problems such as poor reading of the bar code later.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of preventing print misalignment at least when printing important print contents.

One aspect of the device is a printing device, which includes a transport unit that transports a medium, a transport control unit that controls the transport unit, a print head that prints on the medium, and print content to be printed on the medium. a determination unit that determines whether or not the print content includes important print content, and when the determination unit determines that the print content includes the important print content, the transport control unit controls the print content to the medium. Before starting printing of the print content, at least the medium on the upstream side of the medium transport path from the print head is slackened to such an extent that tension of the medium does not change during printing of the important print content on the medium. The conveying unit is controlled so as to

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of print misalignment at least when printing important print contents.

1 is a side view illustrating an internal structure of a printing device according to one embodiment; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing device according to one embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of control processing of the printing apparatus according to one embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) exemplifying the state of a medium during control processing; FIG. 2 is a diagram (part 2) exemplifying the state of a medium during control processing; FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 3) exemplifying the state of the medium during control processing; FIG. 4 is a diagram (part 4) exemplifying the state of the medium during control processing; FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a slack eliminating line of a medium; It is a figure explaining the modification of the printing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating the internal structure of a printing apparatus according to one embodiment.
The printing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is, for example, an airline printer.

The printing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a roll shaft portion 11, a platen roller 12, a print head 13, a cutter unit 14, and a pair of discharge rollers 15a and 15b.
The roll shaft portion 11 rotatably supports the elongated medium M wound in a roll. The medium M is, for example, thermal label paper on which information such as a passenger name, flight number, and destination is printed and used as a baggage tag.

The platen roller 12 is arranged to face the print head 13, and conveys the medium M by rotating under the control of a control section 22 (conveyance control section 222), which will be described later. In addition, the platen roller 12 is an example of a transport section or a first transport section.

The print head 13 performs printing (printing) on the medium M sandwiched between the platen roller 12 and the platen roller 12 under the control of the control unit 22 to be described later. The print head 13 thermally prints on the medium M, which is, for example, thermal label paper.

The cutter unit 14 cuts the medium M under the control of the controller 22, which will be described later.
A pair of discharge rollers 15a and 15b are arranged to face each other. The discharge roller 15a is a driving roller, and the discharge roller 15b is a driven roller. The pair of discharge rollers 15a and 15b conveys the medium M by rotating the discharge rollers 15a under the control of the control section 22 (conveyance control section 222) described later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplifying the control configuration of the printing apparatus according to one embodiment.
The printing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a transport driving section 21, a control section 22, a storage section 23, and an interface section 24 in addition to the print head 13 and the cutter unit 14 described above.

The transport drive unit 21 drives the platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a. The transport drive unit 21 is, for example, a motor. The platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a are driven by the transport drive unit 21 to rotate so as to transport the medium M at the same timing and in the same direction and speed. Therefore, driving the platen roller 12 by the transport drive unit 21 simultaneously drives the discharge roller 15a, and driving the discharge roller 15a by the transport drive unit 21 simultaneously drives the platen roller 12. It is also about driving.

The control unit 22 controls the overall operation of the printer 1 . For example, the controller 22 controls the print head 13 and cutter unit 14 . Also, the control unit 22 includes a determination unit 221 and a transport control unit 222 . The determination unit 221 analyzes the print content printed on the medium M and determines whether or not the print content includes important print content. Here, the important printed contents are, for example, bar codes, logos, and the like. The transport control unit 222 controls the platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a by controlling the transport drive unit 21 . For example, when the determination unit 221 determines that the print content includes the important print content, the transport control unit 222 is at least printing the important print content on the medium M before starting to print the print content on the medium M. The platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a are controlled so that the medium M on the upstream side of the medium transport path from the print head 13 is slackened to the extent that the tension of the medium M does not fluctuate. Note that the upstream side of the medium transport path refers to the transport direction opposite to the transport direction in which the medium M is ejected, and the downstream side of the medium transport path refers to the transport direction in which the medium M is ejected. The control unit 22 includes a processor such as a CPU and memory (RAM and ROM), for example, and controls the overall operation of the printer 1 by causing the processor to execute a program stored in the memory.

The storage unit 23 stores print data, programs executed by the processor of the control unit 22, and the like. The storage unit 23 is, for example, a storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD, or an SSD.
The interface unit 24 transmits and receives signals, data, and information to and from external devices. For example, the interface unit 24 receives print data together with a print command from an external computer, or receives a program stored in the storage unit 23 or the memory of the control unit 22 and executed by the processor of the control unit 22. .

Next, control processing of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 8. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of control processing of the printing apparatus according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram (part 1) exemplifying the state of the medium during control processing. FIG. 5 is a diagram (part 2) exemplifying the state of the medium during control processing. FIG. 6 is a diagram (part 3) illustrating the state of the medium during control processing. FIG. 7 is a diagram (part 4) illustrating the state of the medium during control processing. FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying the slack elimination line of the medium.

In the control process illustrated in FIG. 3, when the printer 1 is in the standby state, the control unit 22 first determines whether or not there is a print command (step (hereinafter simply referred to as "S") 11). Here, the printing apparatus 1 being in a standby state means that the printing apparatus 1 is in the state illustrated in FIG. in position. Further, the presence of a print command means, for example, that a print command is received from an external computer via the interface unit 24, or that a print command is input in response to an operation of an operation unit (not shown) of the printer 1. point to If the determination result of S11 is NO, this determination is repeated.

On the other hand, if the determination result in S11 is YES, the control unit 22 (determination unit 221) analyzes the print content of the print data to be printed (S12), and based on the analysis result, determines whether the print content is important. It is determined whether or not the print content is included (S13). The print data to be printed is, for example, received from an external computer via the interface unit 24 together with the print command, or stored in the storage unit 23 . In addition, the analysis in S12 and the determination in S13 are known that, for example, when barcodes and logos are assumed as important printing contents, the printing density of barcodes and logos is higher than that of ordinary characters. Therefore, it can be done as follows. The control unit 22 (determination unit 221) divides the print image represented by the print data into a plurality of blocks and calculates the print density of each block. Then, it is determined whether or not the print content includes important print content by determining whether or not there is a block whose print density is equal to or higher than the threshold. In this case, if there is a block whose print density is equal to or higher than the threshold, it is determined that the print content includes important print content (that is, the decision result in S13 is YES). It is determined that the content does not include important print content (that is, the determination result of S13 is NO).

If the determination result in S13 is YES, the control unit 22 (conveyance control unit 222) changes the tension of the medium M at least during printing of the important print content on the medium M before printing of the print content on the medium M is started. The platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a are controlled so that the medium M on the upstream side of the medium transport path from the print head 13 is slackened to such an extent that the slack does not occur (S14 to S16).

Specifically, in S14, the control unit 22 calculates the position of the important print content in the print content. Here, the position of the important print content in the print content is, for example, the position of the block whose print density is equal to or higher than the threshold value in the print image represented by the print data.

In S15, the control unit 22 (conveyance control unit 222) conveys the medium M to the downstream side of the medium conveyance path by a specific conveyance amount S determined based on the calculated position of the important print content, as illustrated in FIG. The platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a are controlled so as to do so. Here, the specific transport amount S is the distance L from the leading edge position of the medium M to the print position by the print head 13, which is at least the number of blocks whose print density is equal to or higher than the threshold after printing of the print image represented by the print data is started. This is the transport amount for making it longer than the distance on the medium M until all printing is completed. Note that the distance on the medium M from the start of printing of the print image represented by the print data to the end of printing of all blocks whose print density is equal to or higher than the threshold is the distance from the tip of the print area where the print content is printed. It corresponds to the distance on the medium M to the trailing edge of the important print area where the important print content is printed.

In S16, the control unit 22 (conveyance control unit 222) conveys the medium M to the upstream side of the medium conveyance path until the leading edge of the medium M reaches the printing position of the print head 13, as illustrated in FIG. It controls the platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a. As a result, the medium M upstream of the print head 13 in the medium transport path can be slackened to such an extent that the tension of the medium M does not fluctuate at least while the important print content is being printed on the medium M.

After S14 to S16, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 22 moves the medium M through the medium transport path while printing the print content (print image represented by the print data) in the print area of the medium M. A printing operation is performed to control the print head 13, the platen roller 12, and the discharge roller 15a so as to convey the sheet downstream (S17). In this case, since the printing of the important print content in the important print area has already been completed at the timing when the slack of the medium M is eliminated (the timing when the tension of the medium M changes), the printing of the important print content is completed. No print misalignment occurs.

When the printing operation is completed, the control unit 22 conveys the medium M to the downstream side of the medium conveyance path until the trailing edge of the print area on which the print content is printed on the medium M reaches the cutting position by the cutter unit 14. After controlling the platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a, a cutting operation is performed by controlling the cutter unit 14 to cut the medium M (S18). Note that the print area may include a margin portion.

When the cutting operation is completed, the control unit 22 (conveyance control unit 222) continues to rotate the medium M until the cut position of the medium M reaches the position sandwiched between the pair of discharge rollers 15a and 15b, as illustrated in FIG. is conveyed to the downstream side of the medium conveyance path, and the medium Ma on which the print content is printed is discharged (S19).

When the ejection operation ends, the printer 1 enters the standby state illustrated in FIG. 1, and the process returns to S11.
On the other hand, if the determination result of S13 is NO, the process proceeds to S16, the above-described S16 to S19 are executed, and the process returns to S11.

In the conventional control process, S12 to S15 in the control process illustrated in FIG. 3 are not performed, and when the determination result of S11 is YES, the process proceeds to S16. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 8, according to the conventional control processing, there is a possibility that the slack elimination line of the medium M is included in the important print area where the important print content is printed. According to the control processing (control processing according to the embodiment), there is no such possibility, so that there is no print misalignment when printing the important print content.
As described above, according to the printing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of print misalignment at least when printing important print contents.

The printing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment can be modified as follows.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the printing apparatus according to one embodiment;
In this modification, as shown in FIG. 9, the printing apparatus 1 further includes a pair of transport rollers 16a and 16b arranged upstream of the print head 13 in the medium transport path. The pair of transport rollers 16a and 16b is an example of a second transport section. A pair of transport rollers 16a and 16b are arranged to face each other. The transport roller 16a is a driving roller, and the transport roller 16b is a driven roller. Along with this, the printing apparatus 1 further includes a transport drive section (for example, a motor) that drives the transport roller 16a, and the transport control section 222 also controls the transport drive section that drives the transport roller 16a. That is, the transport control unit 222 also controls the transport roller 16a by controlling the transport driving unit that drives the transport roller 16a. The pair of transport rollers 16 a and 16 b transports the medium M by rotating the transport roller 16 a under the control of the transport controller 222 .

Moreover, in this modification, part of the control processing illustrated in FIG. 3 is also modified. Specifically, in S15, as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 22 (conveyance control unit 222) conveys the medium M by the specific conveyance amount S determined based on the position of the important print content calculated in S14. The conveying roller 16a is controlled so as to convey to the downstream side of the path. However, the platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 15a at this time are controlled to stop. Further, the specific transport amount S at this time is, for example, the distance on the medium M from the start of printing of the print image represented by the print data to the end of printing of all the blocks whose print density is equal to or higher than the threshold value (print content (corresponding to the distance on the medium M from the leading edge of the printing area where is printed to the trailing edge of the important printing area where the important printing content is printed), the printing position by the print head 13 and the medium by the pair of discharge rollers 15a and 15b The transport amount corresponds to a distance greater than the distance obtained by subtracting the distance from the sandwiching position. Further, in S16, the conveying roller 16a is further controlled to stop. Through S15 and S16 as described above, the medium M on the upstream side of the medium transport path from the print head 13 is slackened to such an extent that at least the tension of the medium M does not fluctuate during printing of the important print content on the medium M. can be done. Further, in S17 to S19, for example, until the slack of the medium M is eliminated, the conveying roller 16a is controlled to stop, and after the slack of the medium M is eliminated, the platen roller 12 and the discharge roller 12 are controlled to stop. The transport roller 16a is controlled in accordance with the transport of the medium M by the roller 15a. Such a modified example can also prevent the occurrence of print misalignment at least when printing important print contents.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 printing device 11 roll shaft unit 12 platen roller 13 print head 14 cutter unit 15a, 15b discharge rollers 16a, 16b transport roller 21 transport driving unit 22 control unit 23 storage unit 24 interface unit 221 determination unit 222 transport control unit M, Ma medium

Claims (6)

a transport unit that transports the medium;
a transport control unit that controls the transport unit;
a print head for printing on the medium;
a determination unit that determines whether the print content printed on the medium includes important print content;
with
When the determination unit determines that the print content includes the important print content, the transport control unit at least prints the important print content on the medium before starting printing of the print content on the medium. controlling the transport unit to cause the medium on the upstream side of the media transport path from the print head to slack to such an extent that the tension of the medium does not fluctuate during printing;
A printing device characterized by: The transport unit is arranged to face the print head,
The transport control unit controls the transport unit such that after transporting the medium downstream of the medium transport path by a specific transport amount, the medium is transported upstream of the medium transport path to a printing position by the print head. causes the slack to occur in the medium on the upstream side of the medium transport path from the print head,
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The transport unit has a first transport unit arranged to face the print head, and a second transport unit arranged upstream of the print head in the medium transport path,
The transport control unit controls the second transport unit to transport the medium to the downstream side of the medium transport path by a specific transport amount, and then transports the medium to the upstream side of the medium transport path to a printing position by the print head. causing the slack to occur in the medium on the upstream side of the medium transport path from the print head by controlling the first transport unit to transport the medium to
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: wherein the specific transport amount is determined based on the position of the important print content in the print content;
4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The determination unit divides the print image represented by the print data, which is the print content, into a plurality of blocks, calculates the print density of each block, and determines whether or not there is a block whose print density is equal to or greater than a threshold. determining whether the printed content includes the important printed content;
4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: the specific transport amount is determined based on the position of the block in the print image, the print density of which is equal to or greater than a threshold;
6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

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