JP2990408B2 - Plotter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plotter such as a thermal plotter, an ink jet plotter, a pen plotter or a cutting plotter.
The present invention relates to a plotter provided with a multiple roll paper transport mechanism for supplying a plurality of roll paper drawers to a printing unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a plotter, a mechanism for supporting a plurality of roll papers is, as shown in FIG. One roll paper for each 4, 6
10 was set. In this type of plotter, the corresponding roll paper 8 or 10 is selected for each plotting data, and only the selected roll paper 8 or 10 is used for the platen 1.
2 is conveyed to the upper drawing execution area and is drawn by the drawing head 14.

[0003]

As in the conventional plotter described above, one roll paper is set on one roll shaft, and a plurality of roll shafts are set up and down to set a plurality of roll papers. With a configuration in which the roll papers are arranged in parallel with a step, a large space is required for the plotter body, especially for the roll paper transport device, for setting a plurality of roll papers. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a method of mounting a roll of roll paper on a roll shaft supported by a plotter body, and transporting a roll paper drawer to the plotter body. A platen that guides the roll paper in the direction is provided, and a drawing head is provided above the transport path of the roll paper drawer, and the roll paper drawer on the roll shaft is transported onto the drawing execution area of the transport path. The drawing head draws the roll paper on the drawing execution area, and draws the paper.At the time of drawing, the leading end side of the roll paper is inserted between the drive roller of the downstream transport roller and the driven pressure roller. The drawer for the roll paper is transported in a predetermined direction by a downstream transport roller, and after drawing on the roll paper, the boundary between the drawn area and the undrawn area of the drawer for the roll paper is completed. Means for rotatably supporting a plurality of types of roll paper on the same axis of the roll axis, and a plurality of roll paper rolls disposed on the same axis so as to face each other. An upstream transport roller for nipping a facing roll paper drawer between a driving roller and a pressure roller and transporting the facing roll paper drawer onto a drawing execution area of the platen; a drive motor; A power transmission mechanism for connecting an output shaft of a drive motor and each drive roller of the plurality of upstream transport rollers; and a power transmission mechanism provided for each drive roller in the power transmission mechanism, between the corresponding drive roller and the motor. A clutch for connecting and disconnecting the power transmission path, and a sheet sensor for detecting the width of a plurality of roll sheets supported coaxially on the roll shaft. Shift detecting means, and a roll paper corresponding to the plotting range data of the transferred plotting data is selected from among the plurality of roll papers, and the clutch is switched to control the upstream transport roller facing the selected roll paper. A drive roller is connected to the drive motor, and a controller for controlling the drive motor and the drawing head for drawing the transferred drawing data is provided at a selected roll paper drawer.

[0005]

A plurality of roll paper drawers rotatably supported coaxially on the roll shaft are previously clamped by upstream conveying rollers corresponding to the rolls of the roll paper.
Further, the width of each roll paper on the roll axis is detected by the paper size detecting means, and the controller recognizes the paper type of each roll paper. The controller selects the roll paper on the roll axis based on the drawing range data (paper size data) of the transfer drawing data from the host computer, and turns on the clutch corresponding to the selected roll paper. With this clutch on, the driving force of the driving motor becomes
The image is transmitted to the upstream conveying roller corresponding to the selected roll paper, and the drawn-out portion of the selected roll paper is conveyed to the drawing execution area on the platen, and is drawn by the drawing head.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes a thermal plotter which draws a character or a figure on a sheet on a platen 20 by a drawing head 18. In the present invention, the plotter is not particularly limited to a thermal plotter, and an ink jet plotter, a pen plotter, or a cutter plotter can be used.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a rail extending on a plotter body (not shown) in the Y-axis direction. The drawing head 18 is mounted on one side of the rail so as to be movable along the rail 22. A cutter unit 24 is provided on the other side of the rail 22 so as not to collide with the drawing head 18.
Are movably mounted along the rail 22.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a roll shaft fixedly disposed on the plotter main body in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the rail 22. As shown in FIG.
A roll paper 28 (see FIG. 5) for 0 and A1 and a roll paper 30 for A2 and A3 are inserted and arranged. At both ends of each roll paper 28,30, flanges 32,34 and 36,
38 is inserted and these flanges 32, 34 and 36, 3
8 via bearings 40, 42, 44 and 46,
It is rotatably fitted to the roll shaft 26.

In front of the roll papers 28 and 30, driven pressure rollers 48 and 50 are disposed in parallel with the rail 22. The driven pressure rollers 48 and 50 are rotatably mounted on the plotter body and can rotate. It is supported so that it can be displaced vertically. Drive rollers 54, 54 are disposed in contact with the driven pressure rollers 48, 50.
Numerals 4 are fixed to shafts 56 and 58, respectively, as shown in FIG.

One end of each of the shafts 56 and 58 on the coaxial line is rotatably supported on the plotter body via a bearing 60, and the other end of each of the shafts 56 and 58 is a bearing (not shown). ) Is rotatably supported by the plotter body. The pair of rollers 48 and 52 and the pair of rollers 5
Reference numerals 0 and 54 constitute upstream transport rollers R1 and R2. The upstream transport rollers R1 and R2
The length is set to fit the width of 30. Reference numeral 62 denotes a drive motor fixed to the plotter main body, and its output shaft is connected to a shaft 64 rotatably supported by the plotter main body.

As shown in FIG. 3, electromagnetic clutches 66, 6 having stationary parts fixed to the plotter body are mounted on the shaft 64.
8 is mounted, and the rotating part of the clutch 66 and the shaft 56
Are connected by an endless belt 70 and the clutch 68
And the shaft body 58 are connected by an endless belt 72.

When the electromagnetic clutch 66 is energized (turned on), the rotating part of the electromagnetic clutch 66 is connected to the shaft 64 by a magnetic force, and the rotating force of the shaft 64 is 56. When the electromagnetic clutch 66 is off, the rotating portion of the electromagnetic clutch 66 is configured to rotate freely with respect to the shaft 64, and the torque of the shaft 64 is not transmitted to the shaft 56.

The electromagnetic clutch 68 also includes the electromagnetic clutch 6.
6 is configured to perform the same operation. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 74 denotes a paper detection sensor, which is attached to the drawing head 18. R3 is a downstream transport roller including a drive roller 76 and a driven pressure roller 78 in contact with the drive roller 76. The downstream transport roller R3 is disposed on the downstream side of the roll paper transport path with respect to the rail 22. .

The drive roller 76 is connected to the drive motor 62 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown). The data processing internal electronic circuit of the drawing head 18 and the paper detection sensor 74 are connected to a data input / output unit of a controller (not shown) provided in the plotter body. A drawing head transport motor 80 (see FIG. 6) for driving the drawing head 18 along the rail 22 in the Y-axis direction, and the drive motor 62 is connected to a control end of the controller via a transport driver 82. ing.

A cutter unit transport motor 84 for driving the cutter unit 24 along the rail 22.
And a lifting drive device 86 such as a moving coil that drives the cutter held by the cutter unit 24 in the lifting direction.
It is connected to the controller via a driver. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In preparation for plotting the plotter, the operator first puts two types of roll papers 28 and 30 on a roll shaft 26.
, And pull out these drawers from the upstream transport roller R.
1 and R2, and is developed on the platen 20 (step 1). Next, the operator operates the panel switch to shift the plotter to the drawing mode. The controller moves the drawing head 18 from one end of the rail 22 to the other end, and scans the draw-out portions of the roll papers 28 and 30 on the platen 20 in the Y-axis direction by the paper detection sensor 74.
The controller calculates the width size of the roll papers 28 and 30 based on the output of the paper detection sensor 74, and stores it in a storage device as roll paper size or paper type data (step 2). Next, drawing data for one frame, such as characters, graphics, and paper size, is transferred from the CAD host computer connected to the controller of the plotter to the controller (step 3).

Next, the controller checks the paper size to which the data has been transferred (step 4). Next, the controller selects the roll paper 30 that matches the confirmed paper size, for example, if the print range of the transfer drawing data is A3 paper size, and turns on the electromagnetic clutch 68 corresponding to the roll paper 30. (Step 5). Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the controller sets the origin 0 of the plotting data in an area E1 corresponding to the paper size to be plotted on the roll paper 30, and performs necessary axis correction (step 6).

Next, the drive motor 62 is driven to rotate the drive roller 54 in the roll paper transport direction and to rotate the drive roller 76 of the transport roller R3. The rotation of the driving roller 54 causes the driving roller 54 and the driven pressure roller 5 to rotate.
The drawn-out portion of the roll paper 30 sandwiched between 0 is transported on the platen 20 in the roll paper transport direction. On the other hand, in parallel with the transport of the roll paper 30, the drawing head 18 is sent in the Y-axis reciprocating direction along the rail 22 on the drawer of the roll paper 30, and the roll head 30 selected by the drawing head 18 is moved. (Step 7).

The selected roll paper 30 on the platen 20
When the drawing operation is started and the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount in a predetermined direction, it is inserted between the pair of rollers 76 and 78 of the conveying roller R3 and is conveyed by the conveying roller R3 in a predetermined direction. Next, the controller determines whether or not the output of the drawing head 18 has been completed (step 8). If the determination is affirmative, the controller drives the cutter unit 24 along the rails 22 so that the portion of the roll paper 30 on which the drawing has been completed is formed. A predetermined cutting position is cut (step 9). Next, the controller determines whether or not the drawing data has been transferred from the host computer. If the drawing data has not been transferred, the controller ends the drawing operation. If a negative determination is made in step 8, the process returns to step 7, and if a positive determination is made in step 10, the process returns to step 3.

If the roll paper 28 is selected in step 4, the clutch 66 is turned on in step 5, the roll paper 28 is conveyed in a predetermined direction, and drawing is performed on the drawer of the roll paper 28. . In the above-described embodiment, drawing is performed on one type of roll paper selected from a plurality of types of roll paper set. However, a plurality of types of drawing data are simultaneously drawn on a corresponding plurality of types of roll paper. You may do it. This embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the controller 86 for simultaneously outputting a plurality of types of drawing data to a plurality of types of roll paper and simultaneously drawing a plurality of types of roll paper. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 88 denotes a transfer data buffer memory for temporarily storing drawing data transferred from the CAD host computer 90. 92 is a data analysis recognition unit,
Under the control of the PU 94, various analyzes of the drawing data stored in the buffer memory 88 are performed.
Reference numeral 96 denotes a data priority buffer memory,
Under the control of 94, the data analyzed by the data analysis and recognition unit 92 is temporarily stored in accordance with the priority order.

Reference numeral 98 denotes a simultaneous output data processing unit.
Two types of roll paper 2
The two types of drawing data D1 and D2 are simultaneously drawn on the two types of roll papers 28 and 30 so that the two types of drawing data can be simultaneously drawn on the two types of roll papers 28 and 30. Is supplied to the head driver 100 in accordance with the movement in the Y-axis direction and the transport of the roll papers 28 and 30. In the case of a raster plotter such as a thermal or inkjet printer, the data to be handled is raster data. In this case, as shown in FIG. 102 is provided.

The two types of raster drawing data D1 and D2 are
The two types of drawing data D1 and D2 are developed in a virtual bitmap area 102 of a bitmap so that printing can be performed on two types of roll papers 28 and 30 at the same time.
8 in the Y-axis direction and the transport of the roll papers 28 and 30 to transfer the data on the bitmap to the head driver 100.
Is to be supplied to

The CPU 94, the simultaneous output data processing unit 98, the data analysis and recognition unit 92, the transfer data buffer memory 88, and the data priority buffer memory 96 constitute a plotter controller 86. Except for the internal configuration of the controller, the configuration of this embodiment is otherwise the same as that of the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the corresponding relationship is shown. I have made it clear.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the plotter will be described. Steps 1 and 2 in FIG. 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. When the plotter shifts to the drawing mode, two types of drawing data D1 and D2 composed of characters, graphics, and paper sizes are transferred from the host computer 90 to the transfer data buffer memory 88 (step 3). Next, the data analysis / recognition unit 92 checks the transferred two types of drawing data D
1 and D2 are recognized (step 4).

Next, the data analysis / recognition unit 92 converts the two types of drawing data D1 and D2 into the corresponding two types of roll paper 2
It is determined whether or not the type can be simultaneously output to 8, 30 (step 5). If the determination is affirmative, both electromagnetic clutches 66 and 68 are turned on (step 6). Next, the data analysis / recognition unit 92 sets the origins of the drawing data D1 and D2 corresponding to the respective paper sizes to be drawn on the two types of roll papers 28 and 30, and performs necessary axis correction ( Step 7).

Next, the CPU 94 sets the two types of roll paper 2
8, 30 are conveyed in a predetermined direction by driving the drive motor 62. On the other hand, in parallel with the transport of the roll papers 28 and 30, the drawing head transport motor 80 is driven, and the drawing head 18 reciprocates in the Y-axis direction along the rails 22 on the drawer of the roll papers 28 and 30. Move. On the other hand, the simultaneous output data processing unit 98 supplies the two types of drawing data D1 and D2 to the head driver 100, and the drawing data D1 and D2 supplied to the head driver 100.
The image data (actually converted for the plotter) is visualized by the drawing head 18 on two types of roll papers 28 and 30 in parallel. Next, the CPU 94 determines whether or not the output of the two types of drawing data D1 and D2 has been completed, and when determining affirmatively, according to the sheet size of the drawn area,
The cutter unit 24 cuts the drawn-out portions of the roll papers 28 and 30 (step 10).

Next, the CPU 94 determines whether or not there is data transfer to the transfer data buffer memory 88, and if not, ends the drawing operation. If it is determined in step 5 that the transfer drawing data D1 and D2 are not of a type that can be drawn on the roll papers 28 and 30 at the same time, the priorities of the drawing data D1 and D2 are determined, and the lower-ranking drawing data, for example, data D2 is transferred. Data priority buffer memory 9
6 is temporarily stored (step 12).

Next, the roll paper 28 corresponding to the priority data D1 is selected, drawing processing is performed on the roll paper 28, and then the boundary between the plotted area and the unprinted area of the roll paper 28 is cut. (Step 13). Next, the next-order data D2 is called from the buffer memory 96, the roll paper 30 corresponding to the data D2 is selected, the drawing is performed on the roll paper 30, and then the cutting process is performed (step 1).
4), go to step 11;

When the present embodiment is applied to a pen plotter, the drive roller 76 shown in FIG. 1 is controlled to rotate forward and reverse to feed the roll paper in the front-rear direction. It is desirable to form a large number of granular projections on the surface of the drive roller 76 in order to increase the frictional force between them. In this case, the driving roller 5 shown in FIG.
Reference numerals 2 and 54 are used as supply rollers for supplying roll paper onto the platen 20.

When the present invention is carried out, a roll shaft is separately provided with a step in the vertical direction from the roll shaft 26, the roll paper is supported on the roll shaft, and drawing is performed on the roll paper. You may be able to do it. In this case, the roll paper conveying device can adopt the same configuration as the conventional device.

[0032]

According to the present invention, a plurality of types of roll paper are set coaxially on a single roll shaft as described above, and the paper type of these roll papers is detected in advance so that a roll paper suitable for the drawing data can be obtained. Since the roll paper drawer is selected and transported to the drawing area, the entire plotter can be made compact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall external view of a plotter.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a roll shaft.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a power transmission mechanism that connects a transport roller and a drive roller.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory block diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an external view of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Plotter body 4 Roll axis 6 Roll axis 8 Roll paper 10 Roll paper 12 Platen 14 Drawing head 16 Thermal plotter 18 Drawing head 20 Platen 22 Rail 24 Cutter unit 26 Roll axis 28 Roll paper 30 Roll paper 32 Flange 34 Flange 36 Flange 38 Flange 40 Bearing 42 Bearing 44 Bearing 46 Bearing 48 Pressure roller 50 Pressure roller 52 Drive roller 54 Drive roller 56 Shaft 58 Shaft 60 Bearing 62 Drive motor 64 Shaft 66 Power supply clutch 68 Power supply clutch 70 Endless belt 72 Endless belt 74 Paper Detection sensor 76 Drive roller 78 Pressure roller 80 Motor 86 Controller

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A roll shaft for a roll paper is mounted on a roll shaft supported by a plotter main body, and a platen for guiding a roll paper drawer in a paper transport direction is disposed on the plotter main body. An image forming head is disposed above the transport path of the drawer, and the roll paper drawer on the roll axis is transported onto the drawing enforcement area of the transport path, and the roll paper drawer on the drawing enforcement area is transported to the drawer. When drawing is performed by the drawing head, at the time of drawing, the leading end side of the roll paper is inserted between the drive roller and the driven pressure roller of the downstream transport roller, and the drawer of the roll paper is moved in a predetermined direction by the downstream transport roller. The plotter is configured to cut the boundary between the plotted area and the undrawn area of the drawer of the roll paper after the plotting on the roll paper by the cutter. A means for rotatably supporting a plurality of types of roll paper on the same axis of the roll axis; and An upstream conveying roller for nipping between the driving roller and the pressure roller to convey the drawn-out portion of the opposing roll paper onto the drawing area of the platen; a driving motor; an output shaft of the driving motor; A power transmission mechanism that connects each drive roller of the upstream-side transport roller; and a power transmission mechanism that is provided for each drive roller in the power transmission mechanism and that connects and disconnects a power transmission path between the corresponding drive roller and the motor. A paper size detecting means for detecting the width of a plurality of roll papers coaxially supported on the roll axis, and a transfer among the plurality of roll papers. Selecting the roll paper corresponding to the plotting range data of the plotting data obtained, connecting the drive roller of the upstream transport roller facing the selected roll paper by switching the clutch, and connecting the drive roller to the drive motor. A plotter comprising, on a paper drawer, a controller for controlling the drive motor and the drawing head for drawing the transferred drawing data. 2. A plurality of types of drawing data are transferred to the controller, and a plurality of rolls are selected from a plurality of rolls on the roll axis in accordance with the plurality of types of drawing data. And the plurality of types of drawing data are simultaneously drawn on the selected plurality of roll paper drawers by conveying the drawer portion in the predetermined direction by the upstream transfer roller and the downstream transfer roller at the same time. The plotter according to claim 1, wherein