JP2735031B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a printer device that performs printing using roll paper.

2. Description of the Related Art In a printer of a portable terminal, a method of printing output data or the like using a roll paper is usually adopted for miniaturization.

In such a printer apparatus using roll paper, the presence / absence of print paper and paper marks such as a print start position mark and a paper end mark band printed on the print paper in advance are determined. It is necessary to make sure that it can be detected.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer apparatus using roll paper, one sensor is provided on one side of a frame of a printing platen as means for detecting the presence / absence of printing paper, a print start position mark and a paper end mark band. And three comparators each capable of setting a different threshold value by a register (variable resistor). The presence / absence of printing paper and a print start position mark are determined based on the result of identifying the sensor output by the three comparators. And the end-of-paper mark band is detected.

That is, three levels of thresholds are set by three variable resistors. Then, the three comparators compare the detection value of the sensor with the threshold value of each comparator.

When all the outputs of the three comparators are at low level, that is, when the sensor output level is the lowest, the ground color (black) of the platen is detected. If the output of only the comparator having the lowest threshold is high, it is determined that the print start position mark (black) has been detected, and the outputs of both comparators having the lowest and second thresholds are high. In the case of, it is determined that a paper end mark band (a color whose reflectance is lower than white and higher than black: for example, red or pink) is detected,
When all the outputs of the three comparators are at the high level, it is determined that the state of the printing paper “present” is detected.

When the end-of-paper mark band is detected, when at least one printing operation is completed,
Since there is no more printing paper, the operation shifts to the alarm operation when the printing in operation is completed.

[0008]

In the conventional printer device, there is no risk of erroneous detection because the reflectance of white of the printing paper is significantly different from the black of the printing start position mark. Because the difference in reflectance between the black platen black and the black print start position mark is small, depending on the print color of the print start position mark, the print start position mark may be misidentified as printing paper `` No ''. In some cases, an alarm operation was performed. Conversely, the black color of the platen may be erroneously recognized as a print start position mark, and printing may be performed on the platen.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-247177, a print head is positioned at a print start line position in accordance with a detection signal of a sensor for detecting the leading edge of a print sheet, and printing on the print sheet is started. It is disclosed that printing is started in response to a detection signal of a detection unit that detects a line position mark. However, in this conventional technique, the paper end mark band is not described at all.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-127060, a tractor driving device feeds a printing sheet having a perforated hole, detects a mark attached to the sheet, and starts printing to detect continuous printing. It is disclosed that the printing start position of each page in the case of paper is regulated. However, even in this prior art, there is no mention of the paper end mark band.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is possible to detect the presence or absence of a sheet without causing erroneous detection of a sheet mark. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer device in which a start position mark is not erroneously recognized as black of a platen and an alarm does not malfunction.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the following means are provided to achieve the above object.

As a first means, there is provided a platen for transporting roll paper, a printer frame for storing the platen, and a printing mechanism for printing out predetermined data on the paper, and one end of the paper of the printer frame. The first reflection sensor is provided at a position corresponding to, and the second reflection sensor is provided at a position corresponding to the other end. Further, a first reflective sensor is provided at one end of the paper transport path, and a second reflective sensor is provided at the other end of the paper transport path. In addition, the level of the detection signal of one of the reflection sensors is equal to the first or second reflection sensor.
A first sheet detection unit that detects “present” of the sheet when the threshold value is exceeded, and a print start position on the sheet when the level of the detection signal of the other reflection sensor exceeds the second threshold value A second sheet detection unit for detecting a mark,
A configuration is adopted in which a third sheet detection unit that detects a sheet end mark band on the sheet when the value exceeds a third threshold larger than the second threshold is provided.

As a second means, the printing start position mark is made of black and the paper end mark band is made of red.

As a third means, a configuration is adopted in which the first threshold is set in accordance with the reflectance of the platen.

[0016]

In the first means, the first reflection type sensor 4 is provided at a position corresponding to one end of the sheet 7 of the printer frame 2, and the second reflection sensor is provided at a position corresponding to the other end. Is provided, and one of the sensors
“Presence” of the paper 7 on the platen 1 is detected, and the other sensor detects the print start position mark 8 and the paper end mark band 9 on the paper 7 using different thresholds. .

As described above, the detection of the presence / absence of the sheet 7 and the detection of the print start position mark 8 are separately performed by different sensors, so that the ground color of the platen 1 and the black of the print start position mark 8 are different. There is no fear of false detection.

According to the second means, in the above case, the printing start position mark 8 is black and the paper end mark band 9 is red, so that the same sensor can be used for reliable identification.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a mechanical structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) shows a platen and a printer frame of a printer for a portable terminal according to the present invention, and FIG. ) Indicates a paper mark on the printing paper.

The paper transport platen 1 is accommodated in a printer frame 2 and is driven to rotate in a fixed direction by a motor 3 as a power source via a gear. A first reflective sensor 4 for detecting the presence / absence of printing paper 7 and a printing start position mark 8 are provided at the printer frame 2 at positions corresponding to both ends of the paper transport path, respectively.
And a second reflection sensor 5 for detecting the paper end mark band 9.

The printing paper 7 is provided with a print start position mark (black) 8 and a paper end mark band (red) 9. The paper end mark band 9 is provided from the end of the paper over a section longer than the paper length where at least one printing can be performed.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a mark detection circuit section according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3B shows a mark detection circuit corresponding to the second sensor, and FIG. 3B shows a mark detection circuit corresponding to the second sensor.

In FIG. 2A, the first sensor 4 is
A light emitting diode 11 serving as a light source, and a photodiode 12 for detecting light reflected from the platen 1 and the printing paper 7
The presence / absence of the printing paper 7 is detected, and a detection signal 13 is generated. The second sensor 5 includes a light emitting diode 15 serving as a light source and a photodiode 16 for detecting reflected light from the printing paper 7. The printing start position mark 8 and the paper end mark band 9 on the printing paper 7 are provided. And a detection signal 17 is generated.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a paper mark detection control circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an analog / digital (A / D) converter 21 converts a detection signal 13 into a digital signal, and analog / digital (A / D) converters 22 and 23 convert the detection signal 17 into a digital signal, respectively. . The variable resistor 24 generates a threshold in the detection signal 13 for identifying the state of the printing paper “present”. The variable resistor 25 detects the detection signal 17
, A threshold value for identifying a state in which the print start position mark 8 is detected is generated. The variable resistor 26 generates a threshold value in the detection signal 17 for identifying a state in which the sheet end mark band 9 is detected.

Comparator 2 as first sheet detection unit
7 is a control signal 3 indicating printing paper “present” according to the sampling clock when the output of the A / D converter 21 exceeds a first threshold value determined by the output of the variable resistor 24.
Generates 0. This first threshold value corresponds to the printer frame 2
Is set by the reflectance of When the output of the A / D converter 22 exceeds a second threshold value determined by the output of the variable resistor 25, the comparator 28 serving as a second sheet detection unit detects a print start position mark in accordance with the sampling clock. Is generated. The comparator 29 as a third sheet detection unit determines that the output of the A / D converter 23 is the third value determined by the output of the variable resistor 26.
When the threshold value is exceeded, a control signal 32 indicating the detection of the end-of-sheet mark band is generated according to the sampling clock.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation in one embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the printer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The variable resistance 24 is controlled by the comparator 27.
And the detection signal 1 from the sensor 4
Compare with 3. Control signal 30 from comparator 27
Is a low level indicating the threshold value or less, it is determined that there is no printing paper 7 on the platen 1, and the processing is repeated.
The presence / absence of the printing paper 7 is continuously detected.

When the control signal 30 becomes a high level indicating "presence" of the printing paper, the operation of detecting the print start mark 8 and the operation of detecting the paper end mark band 9 by the sensor 5 are performed in parallel. Do. Then, the printing paper 7 is continuously transported on the platen 1 until the printing start position mark 8 is detected.

The variable resistor 25 is controlled by the comparator 28.
Is compared with the detection signal 17. When the control signal 31 from the comparator 28 becomes a high level indicating the detection of the print start position mark 8, the printing operation is started from that position.

When one printing operation is completed, it is determined whether or not all printing processes have been completed. If data to be printed next remains, the printing paper 7 is conveyed and printing is started. When the position mark 8 is detected, the printing operation is started again.

Such an operation is repeatedly performed. During this time, the operation of detecting the paper end mark band 9 is simultaneously continued by the sensor 5. The comparator 29 compares the threshold value set by the variable resistor 26 with the detection signal 17. When the control signal 32 from the comparator 29 becomes a high level indicating that the threshold value has been exceeded, the paper end mark band 9 is detected from that position.

When the paper end mark band 9 is detected,
After a series of printing processes being completed, a process of generating an alarm requesting replenishment of paper is performed. Since the printing operation is continuously performed until the end of the printing process after the detection of the paper end mark band 9 as described above, the paper end mark band 9 is detected.
Needs to be at least long enough to perform one or more printing operations before the end of the printing paper 7.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a printer apparatus for printing using roll paper,
A sensor for detecting the presence / absence of printing paper and a sensor for detecting a printing start position mark and a paper end mark band are provided to separately detect presence / absence of printing paper and a printing start position mark. Therefore, unlike the related art, there is no possibility of erroneously detecting the black platen indicating the printing paper “absent” and the black indicating the print start position mark. A malfunction that is printed on the image can be prevented.

As described above, according to the present invention, the reliability of detecting a paper mark in a printer device is improved.
It is possible to provide an unprecedented excellent printer device in which the reliability of the printer device itself can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are diagrams schematically illustrating a mechanical structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A illustrates a platen and a printer frame of a printer device according to the present invention, and FIG. Is shown.

2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a mark detection circuit unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A illustrates a mark detection circuit corresponding to a first sensor, and FIG. 3 shows a corresponding mark detection circuit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a paper mark detection control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Platen 2 Printer frame 4 Reflection sensor 5 Reflection sensor 7 Paper 8 Printing start position mark 9 Paper end mark band

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer apparatus comprising: a platen for transporting roll paper; a printer frame for accommodating the platen and a transport path for the paper; and a printing mechanism for printing and outputting predetermined data on the paper. A first reflective sensor provided at one end of the paper transport path, and a second reflective sensor provided at the other end of the paper transport path; the first or second reflective sensor The level of the detection signal of one reflection sensor exceeds the first threshold, and the first sheet detection unit that detects “present” of the sheet and the level of the detection signal of the other reflection sensor are different. A second sheet detection unit that detects a print start position mark on the sheet when the second threshold is exceeded, and a sheet end mark on the sheet when the third threshold that is larger than the second threshold is exceeded. Printer apparatus characterized by the features and the third sheet detection unit for detecting a strip. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print start position mark is made of black, and the paper end mark band is made of red. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold is set in accordance with the reflectance of the platen.