JP2786376B2 - Printer - 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 for printing while reciprocating a print head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 designates a platen to form a printing surface, and also has a sheet feeding function of feeding a sheet P in a predetermined direction by being rotated by a sheet feeding motor 50M. 45 is a carrier, a reduction gear driven by a carrier motor 40M,
It is reciprocated by a reciprocating mechanism including a sprocket, a timing belt 41 and the like. That is, the print head 30H mounted on the carrier 45 can reciprocate in the width direction of the paper P. A ribbon cassette 35 supplies an ink ribbon 36.

A gap adjusting device 2 includes an adjusting lever 2L and an eccentric cam 2C, and displaces a platen shaft 1S biased by a spring 2S in a vertical direction in FIG. Adjust the gap. The adjusted gap G can be known by the position sensor 62 of the adjustment lever 31.

In such a printer, the electric capacity of the carrier motor 40M, the paper feed motor 50M, the print head 30H, and the like is reduced from the viewpoint of power saving while reducing the friction of each mechanism while assuming that the respective functions can be exhibited. The minimum is decided. Also, from the viewpoint of speeding up printing, the carrier 45 (print head 30H) approaches the home position detector 61 outside the effective printing range and waits before starting printing, or the motors 40M, 50M, etc. The rotation speed of is increased. Furthermore, to improve printing accuracy,
Each mechanism is elaborately finished without backlash or backlash.

[0005] Thus, when the power is turned on, the mechanical processing is performed. For example, the above-described carrier 45 is moved closer to the home position detector 61. Thereafter, when a print command is received from a higher-level device, the carrier motor 40M and the print head 30 based on the print data.
H, printing is performed by quantitatively controlling the driving of the paper feed motor 50M and the like in a predetermined order.

[0006]

The reciprocating mechanism and the like are constructed using many sliding parts, fitting parts, bearings and the like, and most of them are filled with lubricating oil. Further, low temperature facilitating parts such as the timing belt 41 are also widely used.

[0007] Therefore, when the downtime is long, and particularly when the device is used in a low temperature environment, the load on each mechanism increases, and the predetermined mechanical processing may not be performed properly. Further, even if the mechanical initial processing can be performed, subsequent printing may not be performed at a predetermined speed and a predetermined accuracy. This disadvantage also occurs in the print head 30H, the paper feed mechanism, and the like. In particular, the structure is complicated and inertia often occurs in an oversized reciprocating mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of accurately performing mechanical processing and printing smoothly at a predetermined speed and accuracy.

[0009]

A printer according to the present invention includes a carrier motor for reciprocating a carrier and a reciprocating mechanism, and performs printing while moving a print head mounted on the carrier in a paper width direction. An ambient temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature, wherein at least the carrier is different from normal mechanical processing data and the generated torque of the carrier motor is larger than the torque at the time of normal printing operation and the effective printing range is at least one reciprocation. A slow machine operation data storage unit that stores slow machine operation data including data necessary for moving, and a temperature which is detected by comparing a preset temperature at power-on with a temperature detected by the ambient temperature detecting unit. A determining means for determining that slow operation is necessary when the temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature, and a condition that the slow operation is determined to be necessary. A slow machine operation execution control means for operating slow machine based on the slow machine operation data storage means to slow machine operating data stored, characterized in that the provided.

[0010]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, when the power is turned on, the determining means operates, and when the temperature detected by the ambient temperature detecting means is equal to or lower than the preset temperature, it is determined that the gentle operation is required. Then, the slow running operation execution control means performs the slow running operation based on the slow running operation data stored in the slow running operation data storage means. Therefore, since the carrier motor is rotationally driven with the generated torque larger than the torque during the normal printing operation, the reciprocating mechanism is forcibly operated, and the carrier is thereby moved one or more times in the effective printing range. Therefore, the lubricating oil filled in the timing belt and various parts is softened, so that the lubricating oil can operate smoothly even if the required torque is small. Therefore, even when the torque is returned to the normal torque thereafter, the mechanical processing and the printing operation can be performed smoothly.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This printer (10) has the basic structure shown in FIG. 1, and has an ambient temperature detecting means (31, 32), a slow machine operation data storage means 13T, a discriminating means (11, 12), and a slow machine operation execution control means ( 11, 12) and the ambient temperature (T
When i) is low, at least the carrier motor 40M is set to the maximum torque, and the carrier 45 is configured to automatically perform the gentle machine operation for forcibly moving the print effective range one or more times.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the basic configuration of the printer 10 is a CPU 11 and an R which stores a printing program and the like.
The control unit includes an OM 12, a RAM 13, an interface (INT) 14 for receiving print data from a host device, and an input / output port 15, an operation panel 20, and a printing system.

The printing system includes a print head 30H (print head drive circuit 30) mounted on the carrier 45 and a carrier motor 4 for driving a reciprocating mechanism of the carrier 45.
0M (carrier drive circuit 40), paper feed motor 50M
(Paper feed drive circuit 50), home position detector 6
1, including various sensors 60 including a position sensor 62 for the adjustment lever (2L), and has the same structure as that shown in FIG.

The ambient temperature detecting means is provided in the printer 10.
A means for detecting the surrounding ambient temperature (Ti) may be installed in any of the main body case, the carrier 45, and a reciprocating mechanism thereof, and may be of any type. In this embodiment, it is attached to the print head 30H. Thermistor 31 shown in FIG.
And the temperature detector 32. If the temperature of the print head 30H is high, the printing operation has been performed up to immediately before, and if the temperature is low, it can be accurately grasped that the print head 30H has been stopped for a considerably long time, and the temperature sensitivity is expanded.

Next, the slow engine operation data storage means 13T
In the case of this embodiment, it is formed with a partial storage area of the RAM 13 of FIG. 1 and stores mild machine operation data different from normal mechanical processing data (stored in the RAM 13 or the ROM 12).

As the slow machine operation data, at least the generated torque (applied current) of the carrier motor 40M is larger than the torque (current) during the normal printing operation (in this embodiment, the maximum torque is set) and the carrier 45 is printed. Data for making the effective range one round trip or more is essential. The data values can be changed by operating the keys on the operation panel 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the reciprocating mechanism of the carrier 45 including the sprocket, the timing belt 41, and the like has the most complicated structure, has a large inertia, uses a low-temperature curable material, and has a lot of lubricating oil filling points.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the print head 30H does not perform a printing operation, but includes data for passing a current that can be relaxed, and data for maximizing the set current of the paper feed motor 50M and the like. I have.

Subsequently, the discriminating means includes a preset temperature (set temperature Ts) when the power is turned on and an ambient temperature detecting means (3).
1, and 32) to compare with the temperature detected at (1, 32) to determine that slow operation is necessary when Ti ≦ Ts.
It is executed at 10.

Here, the set temperature Ts is set and input from the operation panel 20 of FIG. 1 and stored in the work area of the RAM 13. The value of the set temperature Ts is, for example, when the carrier motor 40M is driven by the generated torque (applied current) during the normal printing operation, the timing belt 41 of the reciprocating mechanism is used.
Or a temperature at which smooth operation cannot be performed because the lubricating oil filled in each part is hardened (for example, 5 ° C).
° C). However, the value can be changed.

Further, the slow running operation execution control means determines that the slow running operation is required by the determining means (11, 12) (S
In YES at T10, the CPU 11 and the ROM 12 forcibly execute a gentle operation different from the normal mechanical processing (ST12) based on the gentle operation data stored in the gentle operation data storage unit 13T. Consists of S
This is executed at T11. The gradual operation is performed by increasing the level of a control signal applied to the print head drive circuit 30, the carrier drive circuit 40, and the paper feed drive circuit 50.

When Ti> Ts (N in ST10)
In O), a normal mechanical process (ST12) is performed, and a print process is performed based on a print command and print data received from the host device via the interface 14 (ST13, 14).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the power is turned on, the ambient temperature detecting means (31, 32) detects the ambient temperature (the temperature of the print head 30H) Ti. Then, the determining means (11, 12) compares the temperature Ts set and stored in advance with the detected temperature Ti to automatically determine whether or not the slow machine operation is necessary (ST10 in FIG. 2).

If it is determined that the slow operation is necessary when Ti ≦ Ts (YES in ST10), the slow operation execution control means (1)
1, 12), based on the gentle operation data stored in the gentle operation data storage means 13T, execute a mild operation different from the normal mechanical processing (ST11).

That is, the carrier motor 40M is set to the maximum torque and moves the carrier 45 through the reciprocating movement mechanism (41 or the like) one or more times in the effective printing range. Therefore, the timing belt 41, each lubricating oil and the like are softened. Similarly, the paper feed motor 50M is also driven with the maximum current, and the print head 30H is also slowed down with a current that does not cause a printing operation.

Therefore, when the mild operation is completed,
For example, even if the generated torque of the carrier motor 40M is returned to a small torque during the normal printing operation, the operation can be performed smoothly. Thus, the CPU 11 thereafter performs a normal mechanical process (ST12), and waits for a print command to start a printing operation (ST13, ST14).

Thus, according to this embodiment, the ambient temperature detecting means (31, 32) and the mild machine operation data storing means 13
T, determination means (11, 12) and slow machine operation execution control means (11, 12) are provided. When the ambient temperature Ti is lower than the set temperature Ts when the power is turned on, the carrier motor 40M is set to the maximum torque and the carrier 45 Is configured to perform a gentle machine operation different from the normal mechanical processing such as forcibly moving the print effective range one or more round trips, so that the timing belt 41 and the lubricating oil can be softened, and the subsequent mechanical processing and Normal printing operation can be performed smoothly at a predetermined speed and accuracy.

The ambient temperature detecting means includes a print head 3
Since the thermistor 31 for monitoring the temperature of 0H is also used as the thermistor 31 and the temperature detector 32, there is no load on the equipment, the temperature sensitivity is improved, and accurate temperature detection can be performed.

Further, the print head 3 is included in the slow machine operation data.
Since there is also data that slows down with a current that does not cause a printing operation at 0H, clear printing can be performed from the beginning.

Further, since the set temperature Ts and the mild machine operation data can be changed by operating the keys on the operation panel 20, the printer 10 is widely applicable and can be operated optimally for the printer 10.

[0030]

According to the present invention, an ambient temperature detecting means, a slow machine operation data storage means, a discriminating means and a slow machine operation execution control means are provided. The motor is designed to perform a slower operation different from the normal mechanical processing such as a torque larger than the torque in the normal printing operation, and forcibly moving the carrier one or more times in the effective printing range. Even if the temperature is low, the low temperature curable timing belt and each lubricating oil can be softened. Therefore, even with a small torque during the normal printing operation, the subsequent mechanical processing and the normal printing operation can be smoothly performed at a predetermined speed and accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a printing system unit of the present invention and a conventional example.

[Description of Signs] 1 Platen 2 Gap adjusting device 10 Printer 11 CPU (discriminating means, slow machine operation execution control means) 12 ROM (discriminating means, slow machine operation execution control means) 13 RAM 13T Slow machine operation data storage means 30 printing Head drive circuit 30H Print head 31 Thermistor (ambient temperature detecting means) 32 Temperature detector (ambient temperature detecting means) 40 Carrier drive circuit 40M Carrier motor 41 Timing belt (reciprocating mechanism) 45 Carrier 50 Paper feed drive circuit 50M Paper feed motor Ts setting Temperature Ti detection temperature

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Katsuya Endo 570 Ohito, Oni-cho, Tagata-gun, Shizuoka Pref. Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. Ohi Plant (56) References JP-A-3-75180 (JP, A) JP-A-2 -60777 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/377 B41J 19/18 B41J 29/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An ambient temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature in a printer having a carrier motor for reciprocating a carrier and a reciprocating mechanism for printing while moving a print head mounted on the carrier in a paper width direction; A modest machine that is different from normal mechanical processing data and contains at least the data necessary for moving the carrier by at least one reciprocating movement of the generated torque of the carrier motor during the normal printing operation and the printing effective range by at least one reciprocation. A slow-running operation data storage means storing operating data; and comparing a preset temperature at power-on with a temperature detected by the ambient temperature detecting means. Determining means for determining that the operation is necessary; and storing in the slow-movement operation data storage means on condition that it is determined that the slow-movement operation is necessary. Printer, wherein the slow machine operation execution control means for operating slow machine based on the machine operation data, that was provided.