JP3313131B2 - Printing 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 printing apparatus and, more particularly, to adjustment of a head gap of a printing section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a printing apparatus detects a medium by a medium detecting sensor disposed at a medium detecting position so that a printing unit can perform printing under optimum conditions, and a head gap adjusting mechanism determines a head gap amount of a printing means. I am adjusting.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a conventional printing section. Guide plates 2 forming the medium transport path 1
Printing means 6 is provided between 3 and 4,5. The printing means 6 includes a printing head 7 and a platen 8 arranged with the medium transport path 1 interposed therebetween. A head gap adjusting mechanism 9 includes a rack 11 fixed to a platen 8 with screws 10, an intermediate gear 1.
2, 13, a drive gear 14, and a stepping motor 15 for head gap adjustment. An optical sensor is provided as a medium detection sensor 16 on the side of the guide plates 2 and 3 across the medium transport path 1. When the control unit 18 receives a medium detection signal from the medium detection sensor 16, the control unit 18 processes the medium, further conveys the medium 17 by a predetermined distance, stops the medium 17, and stops the head gap adjusting mechanism 9 according to the type of medium specified in advance.
Is driven to provide an optimal head gap for the printing means 6.

Next, the operation of the conventional example will be described . Control unit 18
Is transported in the direction of arrow A by transport means (not shown)
Before the sheet reaches the printing means 6, the platen 8
The dimension B is lower than the guide plates 3 and 5 serving as surfaces . This is to prevent a jam in the printing means 6 . The medium 17 is conveyed, and the medium detection sensor 16
7 detects, further tip portion of the conveyed past the platen 8 medium 17 reaches the guide plate 5, the control unit
Reference numeral 18 indicates that the medium has been
17 is stopped.

Next, the controller 18 controls the stepping motor 15
To move the platen 8 in the direction of arrow C, ie, the print head 7.
To make contact with the print head 7 via the medium 17. After the contact, the platen 8 is returned by a fixed amount to provide the printing unit 6 with an optimum head gap.

[0006]

In a conventional printing apparatus, a platen is lowered from a guide plate to receive a medium when the medium is sucked, and then the platen is moved to a print head in order to prevent a jam in a printing section. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a long time to adjust the head gap and hinders the medium processing efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus in which the head gap adjusting time is shortened and the medium processing efficiency is improved.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a headgear in which the leading end of a medium passes through a platen.
Stop the media when the cap set position is reached, and
The platen is set to print head
Platen, separate the platen from the print head,
In a printing device that adjusts the head gap amount according to the body
Medium type setting means for setting medium type information, and printing
Medium detection sensor provided on the transport path upstream of the head
When the pre-head gap storing means for storing a pre-head gap amount in accordance with the type of medium, the medium detection sensor
Based on the medium detection signal, it recognizes the medium conveyance amount of up to a predetermined pre-head gap set position, the medium tip pre
Reads the pre-head gap amount from the pre-head gap storing means based on the type information and the pre-head gap setting signal of the pre-head gap setting positioning means and the medium for outputting the pre-head gap setting signal when reaching the head gap setting position , in which a pre-head gap setting means closer to the platen to the medium near by the head gap adjusting mechanism.

[0009]

When the medium detecting sensor having the printing capacity configured as described above detects the medium, the pre-head gap setting and positioning means recognizes the medium transport amount to the pre-head gap setting position based on the medium detecting signal, and the tip of the outputs of the pre-head gap setting signal when reached the pre-head gap setting position. The pre-head gap setting means reads the pre-head gap amount corresponding to the medium type from the pre-head gap storage means based on the medium type information and the pre-head gap setting signal, drives the head gap adjusting mechanism, and drives the platen to the medium. Move closer to the vicinity.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the printing means is set to the pre-head gap amount before the optimum head gap adjustment is started, the head gap adjustment time can be shortened and the medium processing efficiency can be improved.

[0011]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. The pre-head gap setting and positioning means 20 includes a pre-gap position detected value storage means 21, a counter 22, and a comparing means 23.
Consists of When the medium detection signal is input from the medium detection sensor 16, the counter 22 inputs a drive pulse from the drive pulse generation unit 25 and counts. The comparing means 23 compares the contents of the pre-gap position detected value storing means 21 and the counter 22, and outputs a pre-head gap setting signal when they match. The pre-head gap setting means 26 includes the pre-head gap setting positioning means 20, the medium type setting means 2,
7, a pre-head gap setting signal and a medium type setting signal are input, and the pre-head gap amount corresponding to the type of medium is read out from the pre-head gap storage means 28 based on the input signals, and a driving signal is output to the head gap adjusting mechanism 9. I do.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is realized by a microcomputer. The central processing unit 30 (hereinafter referred to as CPU 30) is connected to a memory 31 and an input / output port 32. The input / output port 32 is connected to a transport stepping motor 33, a head gap adjusting stepping motor 15, a medium detection sensor 16, a medium type setting switch 34, and a medium insertion detection sensor 35. The medium type setting switch 34 is provided on an operation unit (not shown). The medium insertion detection sensor 35 is provided in a medium insertion section (not shown). The CPU 30 becomes the counter 22, the comparing means 23, the driving pulse generating means 25, and the pre-head gap setting means 26 according to the control program stored in the control program area 31a of the memory 31. The pre-gap position detection data area 31b and the pre-gap amount data area 31c of the memory 31 store a pre-head gap position detection pulse amount and a pre-head gap amount, respectively. The pre-head gap position detection pulse amount is a pulse number corresponding to the medium conveyance amount from the medium detection position to the center position of the platen 8.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are state diagrams after the pre-head gap is set. FIG. 3A shows the case of a passbook, and FIG. In each case, the platen 8 is brought close to the vicinity of the medium.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a pre-head gap setting operation of the embodiment, and shows a flow in which the CPU 30 operates according to a control program.

Next, the pre-head gap setting operation will be described with reference to FIG. In Step S ₁ CPU 30 is to sense whether the medium type setting switch 34 in accordance with the type of the medium is pressed, when depressed advances to step S _2. In Step S ₂ CPU 30 is to sense whether the inserted medium 17 by the medium insertion detection sensor 35,
When detecting the insertion process proceeds to Step S _3. In Step S ₃ CPU 30 drives the head gap adjusting stepping motor 15, lower platen 8 shown in FIG. This is to prevent the medium 17 from jamming in the printing section as described in the related art. CP at the step S ₄
U30 drives the transfer stepping motor 33, and FIG.
The medium 17 is transported in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. Step S ₅ in CPU30 is to sense the leading edge of the medium 17 in the medium sensor 16, the process proceeds to step S ₆ when detecting. In Step S ₆ CPU 30 starts counting the number of pulses which drives the conveyor stepping motor 33. Then, it is compared with the pre-head gap position detection data read from the memory 31. When the number of the counted pulses and the pre-gap position detection data matches, the process proceeds to step S _7. In Step S ₇ CPU 30 reads the pre-gap amount according to the type information of the medium 17 input from the memory 31 from the medium type setting switch 34, the platen as shown in FIG. 5 by driving the head gap adjusting stepping motor 15 8 is moved in the direction of arrow C. As a result, the platen 8 responds to the print head 7 in accordance with the type of medium, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A for a passbook, and as shown in FIG. It can be raised to such a position. The following steps correspond to the prior art.

[0017]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

The optimal head gap adjusting mechanism is driven by reading the pre-head gap amount corresponding to the type of the medium from the pre-head gap storage means based on the medium type information and the pre-head gap setting signal, and driving the head gap adjusting mechanism. Since the printing means is set to the pre-head gap amount before head gap adjustment is started, the head gap adjustment time is shortened, and the medium processing efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram after a pre-head gap is set.

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

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a printing section of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 printing means 9 head gap adjustment mechanism 16 medium detection sensor 20 prehead gap setting and positioning means 26 prehead gap setting means 28 prehead gap storage means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] (1)The head of the medium passes through the platen and
Stop the media when the gap setting position is reached, and
Print the platen via the medium by the gap adjustment mechanism.
Platen, and then remove the platen from the print head.
MediumPrinter that adjusts the head gap amount according to
AndMedium type setting means for setting medium type information; The media detection section provided in the transport path on the upstream side of the print head
And  According to the type of mediumhandPre-gap storage
Head gap storage means,Said Media detection sensorSa ofBased on the media detection signal, Predetermined
WasUp to the pre-head gap setting positionMediumRecognize transport distance
I, The tip of the media reaches the pre-head gap setting position
ComePre-head gear that outputs a pre-head gap setting signal
Cap setting positioning means;Said Medium type information andSaidPre-head gap setting signal
From the pre-head gap storage means based on the
Read the gap value,SaidHead gap adjustment mechanism
ByMove the platen close to the mediumPrehead
A printing device comprising a gap setting means.
Place.