JP3436382B2 - Roll paper supply 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 sheet feeding device of an image processing apparatus such as a printer for recording image information on a sheet,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a roll paper supply device capable of constructing a system capable of supplying continuous paper (roll paper) to an electrophotographic printer or the like for recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer is used as an output device such as a computer terminal or a facsimile, and various printers are known for its recording system and paper supply mode. For example, as a recording method, there is a method using a heating head or an electrophotographic method in which a photoconductor is exposed by using a laser or an LED head. Further, as the recording paper, cut paper cut into a predetermined size is used, or continuous paper such as roll paper or folding paper is used. Note that the recording paper also includes a label paper in which a label is attached on a mount.

As such a printer, in recent years, a printer adopting the above-mentioned electrophotographic system has been widely used as office equipment because of its excellent image quality and the like.
FIG. 22 shows an example of the entire configuration, and FIG. 23 shows an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sheet feeding section. Printer P shown here
R is a paper feed cassette 1 that is detachably attached to the printer body and stacks and stores paper P (cut paper), a paper feed roller 2 that sequentially feeds paper from the paper feed cassette 1, and the fed paper is turned upside down. While, the reversing guide unit 3 for guiding the conveyance, the standby roller 4 for temporarily conveying the conveyed sheet and then reconveying it at a predetermined timing, the standby sensor 5 for detecting the sheet conveyed to the standby roller 4, and the standby roller 4 are provided. An image forming unit 6 (a photoconductor drum 6a, a charger 6b, an optical writing head 6c, a developing device 6d, a transfer device 6e, which forms a toner image based on image information from a host computer or the like on a sheet conveyed through (Cleaner 6f, etc.), fixing device 7 for fixing the toner image on the sheet, switching member 8 for switching the transport direction of the fixed sheet, and the sheet has been transported through this switching member 8. And a discharge tray 9, 10 or the like for accommodating the paper. In addition, as shown in FIG.
As shown in detail in FIG. 3, there is provided a manual feed inlet 11 for feeding paper by manual feed operation, and a substantially linear paper feed path is formed from there to the standby roller 4. In the vicinity of the manual feed inlet 11 on the road, a manual feed detection sensor 12 for detecting the introduction of the manual feed paper,
A slip roller 13 that conveys the sheet that has been manually fed is provided.

In such a printer, a cut sheet is generally used as a sheet, and since image information is exchanged page by page, it is called a page printer, but it is a general document. For example, it is easy to handle and does not cause any inconvenience when cut paper is used for paperwork. However, on the other hand, there are many cases where the use of so-called continuous paper is desired.
Examples include, for example, bar code printing on a large amount of label paper in FA and physical distribution related sites, printing for hanging advertisement using long paper, and the like. For printing on such continuous paper, a printing device by thermal transfer using a heat generating head has been conventionally used. The one used is proposed and put into practical use as a dedicated electrophotographic label printer or the like.

The overall structure of such a conventionally proposed continuous paper printer is schematically shown in FIG. This printer includes a supply reel (roll paper) 21 formed by winding a continuous paper P, a plurality of carrying rollers 22, 23, 24 for carrying the paper P, and a toner image on the carried paper based on image information. Image forming section 25 (photosensitive drum 25a, optical writing head 25b, transfer device 25c;
A charging device, a developing device, and a cleaner are not shown), a fixing roller 26 that fixes a toner image on a sheet, sheet detection sensors 27 and 28 that detect the conveyance of the sheet, and the like. The take-up reel 30 and the like are additionally configured. Furthermore, a guillotine type cutter 31 and a rotary type cutter 3 for cutting a sheet into a predetermined length are provided in the sheet conveying path.
2 is provided, and in many cases, it is generally provided on the downstream side of the fixing roller 26 like the cutter 32.

In such a conventional continuous paper printer, in the case of using a label paper formed by sticking labels at regular intervals on the backing paper as the paper P, the supply reel 2 is used.
After a desired toner image (label character or the like) is formed on the label of the paper (label paper) P supplied from No. 1 by the image forming unit 25 and the toner image is fixed on the label by the fixing roller 26. It is cut by the cutter 32 or wound by the take-up reel 30.

[0007]

The conventional continuous paper printer as described above has its own problems for adopting the electrophotographic system, and various measures have been taken to solve the problems. There is.

That is, in such an apparatus, printing is completed only after the image is formed by the fixing section (fixing roller 26 in FIG. 24) after image formation, but when the printing operation is stopped, an unfixed image is not printed. Since it is necessary to advance the paper until the final portion passes through the fixing portion, the paper portion that follows is wasted in the next printing. Therefore, it is proposed to provide a mechanism that reversely feeds paper to prevent the generation of useless paper.

In addition, in FIG.
If the printing is temporarily interrupted or the image information is temporarily delayed while being wound around the sheets 1 and 30, there is a problem that the paper portion nipped by the fixing roller 26 is burnt. Therefore, in order to eliminate such inconvenience, various proposals have been made such as providing a mechanism for separating the fixing roller 26 from the paper, or controlling the paper transport speed to be appropriately reduced.

However, in any case, in such a conventional continuous paper printer, although the conventional technique is adopted as the electrophotographic system for the image forming section, other transport systems are designed exclusively for it. Therefore, the structure is complicated and large, and it is expensive.

Further, the guillotine type or rotary type cutters 31 and 32 as shown in FIG. 24 are configured to instantly cut the paper, and are large in size, and shocks such as vibrations are generated at the time of cutting. If such an impact occurs during printing, image distortion will occur, and special control is also required to prevent this.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention supplies roll paper to a paper processing apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer and supplies the paper to the paper processing apparatus so that the image quality as a whole is good and high speed. An object of the present invention is to provide a roll paper supply device capable of easily configuring a processable electrophotographic continuous paper printer system or the like. Another object of the present invention is a roll paper incorporating a control method without providing a special additional mechanism for solving various problems in the printer for exclusive use of continuous paper as previously proposed. It is to provide a supply device.

[0013]

A first aspect of the present invention is a roll paper supply device for supplying a wound roll paper to an external paper processing device, and a loading means for loading the roll paper and the loaded roll paper. A feed roller for feeding out, a cutter means provided downstream of the feed roller for cutting a sheet into a predetermined length, and a final feed roller for delivering the roll sheet to a sheet receiving section of the sheet processing apparatus, A slack detecting unit that detects a slack state of a sheet between the cutter unit and the final feeding roller, and a delivery sheet that is disposed downstream of the final feeding roller and that detects the presence or absence of the sheet delivered to the sheet processing apparatus. Detecting means, paper length designating means for designating the length of the roll paper to be cut, and changing the standby position of the leading edge of the roll paper according to the paper length designated by the paper length designating means. It characterized by having a a disconnected mode changing means. A second aspect of the present invention is, in a roll paper supply device that supplies a wound roll paper to an external paper processing device, a loading unit that loads the roll paper, a feed roller that feeds the loaded roll paper, and the feed roller. A cutting means provided downstream of the cutting means for cutting the paper into a predetermined length, a final feeding roller for carrying out the roll paper to a paper receiving portion of the paper processing device, the cutter means and the final feeding roller. Between the slack detecting means for detecting the slack state of the paper, the sending paper detecting means arranged downstream of the final feeding roller for detecting the presence or absence of the paper sent to the paper processing device, and the cutting of the roll paper. A paper length designating means for designating a power length, and a cutting mode changing means for changing the amount of slack of the roll paper being conveyed according to the paper length designated by the paper length designating means, Characterized in that it has.

A third aspect of the present invention is a roll paper supply device for supplying the wound roll paper to an external paper processing device,
Loading means for loading the roll paper, feed roller for feeding the loaded roll paper, cutter means provided downstream of the feed roller for cutting the paper to a predetermined length, and at the time of loading the roll paper A feeding control means for activating the feed roller to feed the roll paper tip to a predetermined position downstream of the cutter means, and a cutting means for activating the cutter means to cut the paper when the roll paper tip reaches the predetermined position A control unit and a sheet detection unit disposed on the downstream side of the cutter unit in the sheet conveyance direction, the sheet detection unit detecting the presence or absence of a piece of sheet after being cut by the cutting control unit. Is characterized by.

A fourth aspect of the invention is a roll paper supply device for supplying the wound roll paper to an external paper processing device,
Loading means for loading the roll paper, feed roller for feeding the loaded roll paper, paper end notice means for detecting that the remaining amount of the roll paper is below a predetermined amount, and detection of the roll paper being exhausted If the paper out detection means detects the paper out during the detection operation of the paper end detection means and the paper end detection means, it is determined that there is no paper, and the paper end detection means does not detect the paper end. If the detection unit detects that there is no paper, it is determined that it is an abnormal conveyance of the paper, and an identification unit.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, a loading means for loading the roll paper, a feed roller for feeding the loaded roll paper, a cutter means for cutting the paper to a predetermined length, and a supply of the roll paper. In order to supply the rolled roll paper to an external paper processing device, the roll paper has a loading unit opening mechanism for opening the loading unit for the roll paper and an opening detection unit for detecting opening / closing of the loading unit opening mechanism. In the roll paper supply device, when the opening detection means detects the opening of the loading part opening mechanism during the feeding operation of the roll paper whose leading end is carried into the paper processing device, the cutter means is operated to cut the paper. It is characterized by doing.

[0017]

In the first and second aspects of the present invention, the sheet is simply connected to the sheet receiving section of the external sheet processing apparatus (for example, the manual feed inlet 11 in the general-purpose electrophotographic printer PR shown in FIG. 22). It becomes possible to supply the roll paper from the receiving unit. In addition, since the roll paper is cut to a specified length by detecting the slack state, a small moving blade type cutter can be used as the cutter means, and the paper can be cut to the specified length without impact. It becomes possible to promptly supply to the processing device side. Therefore, without changing the configuration of the external sheet processing apparatus as much as possible, it is possible to easily construct an electrophotographic continuous paper printer system or the like simply by connecting the roll sheet supply apparatus of the present invention. In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, the sheet length designating unit and the cutting mode changing unit are further provided, and the standby position of the leading end of the sheet is controlled according to the designated length. In addition, a smooth cutting process is possible. Also,
The second aspect of the invention also further includes a sheet length designating unit and a cutting mode changing unit, and changes the amount of slack of the sheet according to the designated length, so that reliable cutting processing can be performed for any designated length. Become.

In the third aspect of the invention, since the leading end portion of the roll paper is controlled to be automatically cut when the roll paper is loaded, the problems of misalignment and dirt on the leading end of the paper are solved. In addition, since the presence or absence of the cut piece of the sheet is detected by the sheet detecting means, the problem that the sheet supply is started without forgetting to remove the piece is solved.

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the roll paper detecting means includes means for giving advance notice that the roll paper is exhausted and means for detecting the exhaustion of the roll paper.
Based on the detection results of both of these means, it is possible to determine not only the absence of paper but also the abnormality in the conveyance of the paper.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, as a safety measure when the loading section for the roll paper is opened, the sheet is cut by the cutter means when the loading section is opened during the sheet conveying operation. ing. As a result, the sheet can be conveyed as it is on the external sheet processing apparatus side, and the waste of stopping the driving on the sheet processing apparatus side can be omitted.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view of a continuous paper printer system in which a roll paper feeder PF according to an embodiment of the present invention is combined with a general-purpose electrophotographic printer PR (the same as that shown in FIG. 22). 2 is an external perspective view thereof. In the printer PR, the same members as those shown in FIG. 22 are designated by the same reference numerals.

3 is a front view of the roll paper supply device PF of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the paper transport unit of the roll paper supply device PF.
(A) and (b) are a right side view of the roll paper supply device PF and a rear view of its drive gear part, respectively, FIG. 6 is a left side view of the paper transport unit of the roll paper supply device PF, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a stocker section of the apparatus PF (the front side of the figure is the left side surface side of the stocker section).

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the roll paper feeder PF has a casing-shaped main body M _{1 on} which the printer PR is fixedly mounted, and an insertion / removal in the direction of arrow A in the main body M ₁ . A stocker unit M _{2 which} is free and accommodates the rolled roll paper P inside, and the roll paper P is delivered from this stocker unit M ₂ and conveyed to a paper receiving unit (manual insertion port 11) of the printer PR. It is composed of a sheet conveying section M ₃ .

The stocker section M ₂ and the sheet conveying section M ₃ are integrally formed, and as shown in FIG. 6, a slide rail 4 provided between the main body section M ₁ and the stocker section M ₂ is provided.
The stocker unit M ₂ and the sheet transporting unit M ₃ are integrally movable with respect to the main body unit M _{1 in the} directions indicated by the arrows A and 42. A state in which the stocker portion M ₂ is pulled out from the inside of the main body portion M ₁ is shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5A, a pull-out operation lever 44 that is operated when pulling out the stocker section M ₂ from the main body section M ₁ is provided at the lower end of the sheet transport section M ₃ . There is. The pull-out operation lever 44 is rotatably supported with respect to the sheet transporting section M _{3 with a} shaft 44 a as a fulcrum, and an engaging section 44 b provided at one end thereof is engaged with a latch pin 45 fixed to the main body section M _1. The engaging portion 44b is always urged by the tension spring 46 in a direction in which the engaging portion 44b can be engaged with the latch pin 45. When the stocker portion M ₂ is in the regular storage position in the main body portion M ₁ , the engagement portion 44b is the latch pin 45.
Although it is locked in the storage position by engaging with, the pull-out operation lever 44 is pulled and the spring 4 is pulled.
The engaging portion 4 is rotated by rotating in a direction against the biasing force of the engaging portion 6.
4b and the latch pin 45 are disengaged from each other, and the lock is released. In this state, the stocker portion M ₂ and the sheet conveying portion M ₃ can be pulled out as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.

The stocker section M ₂ is a roll paper P that is wound.
Is provided for loading. First, as shown in FIG. 7, a pair of substantially cylindrical pressing pipes 48a and 48b are fitted on both ends of the hollow portion of the roll paper P, and a pair of disc-shaped members integrated with the pressing pipes 48a and 48b are formed. The side end guides 49a and 49b regulate the side end face of the roll paper P, and one reel body can be configured as a whole. Further, a stock shaft 50 is penetrated from the center of the holding pipe 48a to the center of the other holding pipe 48b, and the reel bodies are integrally fixed to the stock shaft 50 by knobs 51a and 51b provided near both ends of the stock shaft 50. It is possible. Then, one end of the stock shaft 50 can be engaged with a stock bearing 52 provided on the inner surface of the stocker portion M ₂ , and a stock bearing 53 is attached to the other end of the stock shaft 50. The stocker portion M ₂ can be supported on a stock receiving plate 54 provided on the other inner side surface of the stocker portion M ₂ . Therefore, in order to load the roll paper P into the stocker unit M ₂ , the stocker unit M ₂ is moved to the main body unit M _2.
In pulled out from within _1, first side guide 49
Presser pipes 48a and 48b integrated with a and 49b
Is fitted to both ends of the roll paper P, the stock shaft 50 is penetrated through the center of the roll paper P, one end of the stock shaft 50 is fitted into the stock bearing 52, and the stock bearing 5 at the other end is fitted.
3 is placed on the stock receiving plate 54, and then the holding pipe 4
8a, 48b to the position of the stock shaft 50 knob 48
a, 48b, and finally the stocker part M ₂ to the main body part M
If it is installed inside ₁ , loading is completed. In this state, when the sheet is fed into the sheet conveying section M ₃ by the control described later, the entire sheet from the stock shaft 50 to the roll sheet P rotates in the direction of arrow B in response to this.

The paper transport unit M ₃ feeds the roll paper P in the stocker unit M ₂ to feed the roll paper P into the manual feed inlet 11 of the printer PR.
It is equipped with various configurations for cutting the paper to a specified length while conveying and guiding it to. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of guide plates 61a for conveying guiding the leading end of the sheet fed from the roll paper P in the stocker M ₂ manual feed inlet 11 of the printer PR (FIG. 1) ~61h sheet transport path is formed by, this is the upstream portion of the sheet conveying path is disposed the feed roller 62 for feeding the sheet from the inside stocker M _2, finally the manual feed introducing paper to the downstream portion A feed roller (final feed roller) 63 that carries out to the mouth 11 is provided. These feed rollers 62, 6
3 is a roller pair composed of driving rollers 62a and 63a and driven rollers 62b and 63b. As shown in FIG. 5, one driving roller 62a is driven and controlled by the driving force of a feed motor 64 such as a two-phase stepping motor being transmitted through idle gears 65, 66, 67 and an intermittent clutch 68. The other driving roller 63a is driven and controlled by the driving force of the same feed motor 64 being transmitted via the idle gear 69 and the intermittent clutch 70. Further, the supporting members 71 and 72 including the guide plates that respectively support the driven rolls 62b and 63b have hinge shafts 71a and 7a, respectively, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
It is possible to rotate (open) around 2a as a fulcrum, so that it is possible to deal with jam processing and the like. The feed roller 6
3, a space (slack space) 78 through which the slackened paper P ′ can pass with a margin is provided between the cutter 3 and a cutter 80, which will be described later. The guide plate 61f is arranged so as to guide and convey such a sheet P '. The slack of the sheet will be described in detail later.

Further, the feed roll in the above-mentioned paper transport path is
Cut the paper to the length specified in advance on the downstream side of the la 62.
A cutter (cutter means) 80 for cutting is provided.
This cutter 80 has a substrate 81, as shown in detail in FIG.
Paper width direction (arrow C₁, C₂Direction) guide along
A plate 82 is provided, and arrows are provided along the guide plate 82.
C ₁, C₂It has a cutter base 83 that can slide in any direction.
The cutter bases 83 are provided on both ends of the substrate 81, respectively.
The cable 86 that is wound around the reels 84 and 85 (note that
A spring 86a is interposed in the middle of the cable 86,
(Providing moderate tension to the cable 86)
Of the small cutter motor 87 connected to the reel 84.
Arrow C according to drive₁, C₂It is reciprocated in the direction. That
A disk-shaped moving blade 88 is rotatably attached to the cutter base 83.
Supported by arrow C on substrate 81₁, C₂Distribute along the direction
It engages with the fixed blade 89 provided,
88 is forward (arrow C₁Fixed blade 8 when moving)
It is provided so as to be slightly inclined in the direction that bites into 9, and when moving forward
Cut the paper while rotating, and return (arrow C₂Moving in the direction
It is difficult to cut the paper when moving. this
Such a moving blade type cutter 80 is a single unit.
It is configured as a knit and the paper transport unit M₃Side flakes
It is fixed to the holes 73 and 74 with screws or the like.

In addition to the roll paper transport path described above, the paper transport section M ₃ also has a cut paper transport path. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a manual insertion port 75 for manually inserting a cut sheet is provided on the right side surface of the sheet transport unit M ₃ , and a guide plate for guiding the sheet introduced from the manual insertion port 75. 61j,
By providing 61k, a manual feed conveyance path is formed, and this conveyance path merges with the conveyance path for roll paper immediately before the feed roller 63. A shutter 77 operated by a shutter solenoid 76 is provided in the vicinity of the manual feed inlet 75 to control the opening and closing of the manual feed inlet 75.

Next, the stocker section M ₂ and the sheet conveying section M ₃
Is provided with various detecting means necessary for sheet feeding control and the like, and such detecting means will be described below. First, a remaining amount lever 90 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided as a means for detecting the remaining amount of the roll paper P stored in the stocker section M ₂ and the absence of paper. The remaining amount lever 90 is rotatably supported with a shaft 91 as a fulcrum, and a wheel 92 rotatably provided at the tip thereof is constantly urged by a tension spring 93 so as to come into contact with the outermost periphery of the roll paper P. ing. A light blocking plate 94 is provided at the other end of the remaining amount lever 90, and the light blocking plate 94 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (a), there is a positional relationship in which the near-end sensor 95 composed of an interrupter type photo sensor is engaged,
It is possible to detect that the remaining amount of the roll paper P is near a predetermined amount or less (a near end of the paper, that is, a remaining amount that is almost exhausted). That is, as the roll paper P is fed out, the remaining amount lever 90 that rotates following the outermost periphery of the roll paper P is displaced and reaches the predetermined position corresponding to the near end. The engagement is detected to detect the near end, whereby the end of the sheet can be notified.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an encoder 96 which is coaxial with the wheel 92 and rotates following the wheel 92 is provided, and the rotation of the encoder 96 can be detected by a paper end sensor 97 composed of an interrupter type photo sensor. It is like this. Then, when the paper end sensor 97 stops outputting the pulse signal while the near end sensor 95 detects the near end, it can be determined that the paper has run out.

Various sensors for detecting the presence / absence of a sheet are also provided in the sheet conveying path, that is, as shown in FIG. 4, a sheet cutting position is provided downstream of the feed roller 62 and upstream of the cutter 80. A cut position sensor 101 including an interrupter type photo sensor for controlling the
Downstream of the feed roller 63, a home position sensor 102, which is an interrupter-type photo sensor for detecting the presence / absence of a sheet sent to the printer PR and controlling the print start position of the sheet, is arranged. Further, at a position where the manual paper feed path and the slack space 78 are vertically sandwiched, a slack state of the sheet between the cutter 80 and the feed roller 63 (a slack state like a sheet P ′ shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4). ) Is provided with a slack sensor 103 composed of an interrupter type photo sensor, and the slack sensor 103 is also used as a sensor for detecting the insertion of the manual feed sheet from the manual feed inlet 75. It should be noted that the home position sensor 102 has substantially the same position (not shown in the drawing, but in FIG.
A jam detection sensor (shown as a jam detection sensor 98 in FIG. 11) made up of an interrupter type photo sensor is provided at a position on the back side overlapping with 02), and jam detection is performed when label paper is used as paper. Is possible. This jam detection will be described later. The sensors 101, 102, and 10 described here are
Needless to say, 3 and the jam detection sensor can be configured by using a reflection type photo sensor.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cutter 80 has a limit switch or the like that engages with the side wall of the cutter base 83 when the cutter base 83 supporting the movable blade 88 reaches the end position (start point position, end point position). Cutter end sensor 10
4 and 105 are provided so that the cutter table 83 can be detected at each end position. In addition, the stocker unit M _2, as shown in FIG. 7, the unit open sensor 106 that engages a portion of the main body portion M ₁ when the stocker M ₂ is in the retracted position of the normal in the main body portion M ₁ It is arranged so that it can be detected whether or not the stocker portion M ₂ is pulled out from the main body portion M ₁ and opened.

Next, a control system for executing various controls in the printer system (FIGS. 1 and 2) in which the roll paper supply device PF of the present embodiment described above and the general-purpose printer PR are combined. The configuration and detailed control operation thereof will be described below.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the entire control system of the printer system. In the figure, the printer P
A control system for R (however, a control system for the printer alone is not shown), a control system for the roll paper supply device PF, and print information, paper feed information, and the like are sent to the printer PR and the roll paper supply device PF. A host computer HT is shown.

The control system of the printer PR includes the standby sensor 5 and the manual feed detection sensor 12 shown in FIG. 1 (however, these sensors function only when the printer is used alone), the sensors 5, 12 and the like. A microcomputer (μCPU) 111 that processes the detection signal and various information sent from the roll paper supply device PF and the host computer HT to control the operation of the entire printer, and the standby roller 4 and the image forming unit 6 according to commands from the microcomputer 111. Etc., a main motor 112, an interface (I / F) 113 between the microcomputer 111 and the roll paper feeder PF, a microcomputer 111
Between the host computer and the host computer HT (I
/ F) 114 and the like.

The control system of the roll paper feeder PF is shown in FIG.
Various sensors shown in FIG. 8 (home position sensor 1
02, cut position sensor 101, paper end sensor 9
7, jam detection sensor 98, slack sensor 103, near end sensor 95, unit open sensor 106, cutter end sensors 104, 105), operation section 115 for instructing various operations, detection signals of the various sensors and operation section 115 (ΜCPU) 116 for controlling the operation of the entire roll paper supply device by processing various signals sent from the printer PR and the host computer HT, and this microcomputer 116.
4, various driving members (feed motor 64, cutter motor 87, shutter solenoid 76, clutches 68, 70) that operate in accordance with the command of FIG. A display unit 117 including a display lamp, an interface (I / I) between the microcomputer 116 and the printer PR.
F) 118, an interface (I / F) 119 between the microcomputer 116 and the host computer HT.
And so on. The operation unit 115 includes various operation buttons (paper set button 115a,
Reverse button 115b, the paper feed button 115c, made from a sheet cut button 115 d), are arranged on the surface facing the printer PR of the sheet transport unit M _3, stocker M ₂
Can be operated in the state of being pulled out from the inside of the main body M ₁ .
As shown in FIG. 9, the display unit 117 has various display lamps (ready lamp 117a, paper passage lamp 117).
b 117c, a paper out lamp 117d, and a paper check lamp 117e), which are arranged on the front side of the paper transport unit M ₃ and are always visible.

Next, the main control operation by the above control system will be described in detail below with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. Before that, in order to describe the control operation more specifically, here, the dimensional relationship between each roller and the sensor in the paper transport path is set as shown in FIG. 18, for example. That is, the distance A from the feed roller 62 to the cut position sensor 101 = 30 mm, the distance B from the cut position sensor 101 to the cutter 80 = 30 mm, the distance C from the cutter 80 to the feed roller 63 = 120 mm, and the home position from the feed roller 63. The distance D to the sensor 102 is 30 mm, and the distance E from the home position sensor 102 to the standby roller 4 in the printer PR is 120 mm. However, these numerical values are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The roll paper supply device PF of this embodiment is a general-purpose printer PR as shown in FIG.
One printer system is provided by being combined with the above. However, when the printer system is configured in this way, the standby roller 4, the standby sensor 5, the manual feed detection sensor 12 and the slip roller 13 in the printer PR are as shown in FIG. The printer PR is controlled to be different from the operation when it is used as a single printer. That is, the standby roller 4 does not perform the operations of the normal standby roller such as rotation, temporary stop, and rotation, but merely operates as a conveyance roller, and the sensors 5 and 12 do not function. The slip roller 13 is a roller that comes into contact with the printer PR for the first time when the paper is carried in, but this roller is configured to slip and lose the carrying force when a large load is applied to the paper. Since it does not have a substantial conveyance force, the standby roller 4 arranged downstream thereof has the printer PR.
It becomes the first roller having a substantial transport capacity. Therefore, the respective distances from the home position sensor 102 to the manual feed detection sensor 12, the slip roller 13, and the standby sensor 5 have no meaning in the sheet conveyance, and therefore the dimensions are not particularly set here.

In the printer system thus dimensioned, first, the process for setting the roll paper in the roll paper supply device PF will be described with reference to FIG. First, the unit open sensor (UOS) 106 (Fig. 7)
Is turned off, that is, whether the stocker part M ₂ is pulled out from the main body part M ₁ as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3 (step a ₁ ), and is turned off. Only in this case, it is possible to manually set the roll paper on the stocker unit M ₂ (step a ₂ ). The roll paper is a roll of regular paper with a specified width (when used as a normal printer).
Needless to say, it is also possible to employ a roll of label paper that supports a label that is attached to a mount with a peelable adhesive. In the case of label paper, a space having a predetermined width is provided at the boundary between labels. In order to load such a roll paper into the stocker part M ₂ , the stock shaft 50 (FIG. 7) is taken out from the stocker part M ₂ which is in a state of being pulled out from the main body part M ₁ , and the core of the roll paper P is taken out. Through the roll, and the roll paper P together with the stock shaft 50
Is loaded into the stocker part M ₂ . For a more detailed loading method, it mentioned in describing the structure of the stocker portion M ₂ above, see it. Subsequently, the loaded roll paper is manually rotated as it is (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3).
When the paper is rotated to the left,
Guided by (FIG. 3), the paper is fed out, reaches the nip portion of the feed roller 62, and the front end of the paper is slightly caught in this nip portion, whereby the manual loading of the paper is completed.

Then, the paper set button 1 shown in FIG.
Wait 15a is turned by the hand of the operator (step a _3), no sheet when it is turned on the lamp 117
d by flashing (Figure 9), indicating that with respect to the operator is in paper set operation (Step a _4).
Then, the feed motor 64 and the clutch 68 shown in FIG.
Is operated to rotatably drive the feed roller 62, and the paper is sufficiently long to reach the cut position sensor 101 (for example, 10
Pulling only 0 mm) (Step a _5), the cut position sensor when (CPS) 101 (FIG. 4) to see whether the ON (step a _6), when not turned on, there should be a paper cut Since the position sensor 101 has not been reached, it is determined that there is no paper, the paper feed operation is stopped, and the paper-out lamp 117d is switched from blinking to continuous lighting to notify the operator of paper-out (step a).
₇ ).

When the cut position sensor 101 is turned on in step a ₆ , the clutch 70 (FIG. 5) is actuated together with the clutch 68 to feed rollers 62, 63.
Are simultaneously driven to rotate and the paper is further fed to the home position sensor 1 from the time when the cut position sensor 101 is turned on.
It is conveyed by a length (for example, 200 mm) reaching 02 (FIG. 4) (step a ₈ ). Then, at that time, it is checked whether or not the home position sensor (HPS) 102 is turned on (step a ₉ ).
Since it has been stopped during this period, the paper feed operation is stopped assuming that the paper conveyance abnormality has occurred, and the paper check lamp 117e (FIG. 9) is turned on to inform the operator of the paper conveyance abnormality ( Step a ₁₀ ).

[0041] If in step a ₉ home position sensor 102 is turned on, i.e., the leading edge of the sheet when passing through the home position sensor 102, the paper leading edge is transported its turned-on only for example about 50mm from the time the paper further roll The feed rollers 62, 63 are set in a state in which they slightly protrude from the paper supply device PF to the printer PR side.
The rotation drive of is stopped (step a ₁₁ ). In this state, the movable blade 88 (FIGS. 4 and 8) of the cutter 80 is moved forward to cut the sheet, and then the movable blade 88 is moved back to the starting point position (step a ₁₂ ). Here, the fact that the movable blade 88 has reached each end position (start point position, end point position) of the reciprocating motion is that the cutter end sensors 104 and 105 shown in FIG.
Respectively, and the stop control of the movable blade 88 is performed based on the detection signal. Further, during the cutting operation by the cutter 80, at least the clutch 68 (FIG. 5) of the feed roller 62 is in a connected state and in a connected state with the drive source. As a result, even if the paper is pulled by the cutter 80, the feed roller 62 does not rotate, so that the paper can be cut at an accurate set position. When the paper is cut by the cutter 80, the cut pieces of the cut paper still remain in the apparatus. Therefore, the ready lamp 117a and the paper check lamp 117 shown in FIG.
It warns the removal of the scrap to the operator by flashing a e, therewith, indicating that the sheet setting operation is completed by turning off the sheet without lamp 117d that was in blink (Step a _13).

The presence or absence of the paper edge after the cutting is detected by the jam detection sensor 98 (FIG. 11) provided at substantially the same position as the home position sensor 102, and the jam detection sensor 98 is turned off (that is, the paper edge). There wait until removed) (step a _14), get rid of the flashing paper check lamp 117e after off (step a _15). Instead of the jam detection sensor 98, the home position sensor 102 may detect a sheet edge. After that, unit open sensor (UOS) 1
06 is turned on, that is, whether the stocker part M ₂ is pushed into a fixed position in the main body part M ₁ (step a ₁₆ ), and until the pusher is pushed, a “stocker Please set it "or the like to instruct the operator to attach the stocker part M ₂ (step a ₁₇ ). Then, when the unit open sensor 106 is turned on, the process proceeds to the flowchart of FIG. 13 and there is a no-paper signal as status information output to the printer PR and the host computer HT via the interfaces 118 and 119 (FIG. 11). The state is switched to, and a signal (ready signal) indicating a ready state capable of receiving information from the outside is output (step b ₁ ).

Although the paper setting process is completed as described above, if the stocker part M ₂ is not pulled out (the unit open sensor 106 is in an on state)
If the device power is turned on (return on),
It is assumed that the paper setting process has already been completed, and control is performed to immediately output the ready signal. However,
A control method for always executing the paper setting process when the power is turned on can be configured to be selectable, and for example, either control mode can be set by a dip switch or the like.

Next, referring to FIG. 13, when the above paper setting process is completed, the host computer HT (FIG. 11)
Alternatively, it is recognized whether the standard scale mode or the negative scale mode is set by a dip switch (not shown) or the like (step b ₂ ). Here, the standard length mode is a paper feed designation mode in which the length of paper to be cut is designated in advance, and it continues without change, while the negative length mode is unique in that the length of paper to be cut is unique. This is a mode in which the cut length of the next sheet is specified by the host computer HT without being specified.

When the negative scale mode is set in step b ₂ , the feed roller 62 is driven in the reverse direction so that the leading edge of the paper is retracted to a predetermined standby position (a position 2 mm out of the feed roller 62). by (backfeed) is, on standby there (step b _3), turns on the ready lamp 117a shown in FIG. 9 (step b _5). The standby position is a position that can be commonly dealt with regardless of the size of the paper length next specified. Here, as shown in FIG. 10A, only the front end (t = 2 mm) of the paper P that does not affect the image formation of the paper is fed by the feed roller. This is because it is sandwiched by 62. By doing this, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the label part will be pinched even if the paper has glue such as label paper (in the case of label paper, it is cut according to the space between the labels , The tip will be the part without the label), and by holding the paper for a long time with rollers, it is possible to prevent the nip mark of the roller from remaining on the label and the habit of sticking to the corner of the guide plate. can do. When label paper is used, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), only the mount between label LB and label LB (t '= 3 to 10 mm) is fed by the feed roller 6
The position that can be clamped by 2 may be the standby position.

On the other hand, when the standard length mode is set in the above step b ₂ , the leading edge of the paper is advanced to the predetermined preset position corresponding to the designated paper length and is made to stand by there (step b ₄ ). turns on the ready lamp 117a (step b _5). The process of advancing the leading edge of the sheet to the preset position is performed in detail as shown in FIG. 14, and differs depending on the designated sheet length.

First, one of the three processing modes is selected depending on how long the designated paper length is with respect to the lengths L ₁ , L ₂ and L ₃ shown in FIG. Select (step c ₁ ). Here, L ₁ (= 160 mm) is the distance (E + D = 150) from the feed roller 63 to the standby roller 4.
mm) plus a length α (= 10 mm) for allowing a sufficient margin for the leading edge of the paper to be conveyed by being held by the standby roller 4, and is the minimum length that can be fed in this printer system. It is the paper length. L ₂ (= 190 mm) is the length d (= 50 mm) of the slack when the slack sensor 103 is actuated by the slack of the sheet, the distance C (= 120 mm) from the cutter 80 to the feed roller 63, and the feed roller. 63 is a length added with a length β (= 20 mm) for a sufficient margin for nipping and conveying the leading edge of the sheet, and the feed roller 63 has a slack in a state where the leading edge of the sheet is nipped. This is the maximum paper length that can be cut. The slack will be described later in detail. L ₃ (= 330mm) is
The length d of the slack (= 50 mm), the distance from the cutter 80 to the standby roller 4 (C + D + E = 270 mm), and the length for a sufficient margin for the leading edge of the sheet to be conveyed by being clamped by the standby roller 4. The length is a minimum sheet length that can be cut while making slack while printing (while being conveyed by the standby roller 4). Then, in step c ₁ above, L ₁ <designated paper length ≦ L ₂
Or L ₂ <designated paper length ≤ L ₃ or L ₃
<Recognize whether the paper length is specified.

L₁<Specified paper length ≤ L₂If so, send
The leading edge of the paper was clamped by the roller 63 (RB).
It can be cut with a dullness and can stand by in the cut state
By considering that the
₂~ C₇The process of is executed. That is, first, feed low
The paper is conveyed by rotating the rollers 62 and 63 to drive it.
The leading edge of the paper is the preset position P_A(Is the feed roller 63
When, for example, the position 2 mm out of) is reached,
Disengage the clutch 70 (Fig. 5) of the feed roller 63 (RB)
Release to stop the advance of the leading edge of the paper (step c₂,
c₃). However, the upstream feed roller 62 is rotated as it is.
Since it keeps rolling, it is between the feed roller 63 and the cutter 80.
Paper slack occurs. Therefore, from the leading edge of the paper,
Until the paper length to the paper cutting position of the printer 80 becomes the specified length
Continue feeding the paper by the feed roller 62 (step
c_Four), Carrying by the feed roller 62 when the specified length is reached
Stop feeding, move the cutter 80 forward at that position, and
Disconnect (step c_Five). However, immediately after cutting the paper
There is slack according to the specified length, and this state remains
When the cutter 80 is moved back, the slacked paper and the cutter 80
At this point, the cutter is still
The 80's return will not be performed. During this disconnection operation,
As described above, at least the clutch 68 of the feed roller 62
By connecting (Fig. 5) to the drive source,
Prevent the feed roller 62 from rotating during paper cutting,
It enables to cut the paper at the correct position. this thing
Similarly applies to disconnection processing in other steps.
Get Note that the paper conveyed by the feed rollers 62 or 63
The length can be detected by measuring the transportation time.
Yes, the feed motor 64 (Fig. 5) is pulsed during this transport time.
Of the clock pulses given to this by making it a motor
It can be known by counting the number. Then send
The reverse roller 62 (RA) is driven in the reverse direction, and
The newly formed roll paper leading edge is in the standby position.
Retreat to the position (2 mm from the feed roller 62)
(Step c₆), And output a ready signal (step c
₇). Paper cut to the specified length is fed from the printer PR.
The preset position P until the paper start signal is sent _A
Waiting at

If L ₂ <designated sheet length ≤ L ₃ in step c ₁ , the sheet is too long to be cut with the slack in the state where the leading edge of the sheet is held by the feed roller 63 as described above. By considering being long,
It executes the processing of the following steps c ₈ to c _11. That is, first, similarly to steps c ₂ and c ₃ , the feed rollers 62 and 63 are driven and rotated to convey the sheet, and when the leading edge of the sheet reaches the preset position P _A , the feed roller on the downstream side is fed. 63 to disconnect the clutch 70 (RB) to stop the advance of the paper leading edge (step c _8, c _9). However, the upstream feed roller 62 continues to rotate,
Further only overfed 50mm paper making slack (step c _10), then outputs a ready signal (step c _11). Therefore, the sheet waits at the preset position P _{A while} leaving a slack of 50 mm for cutting the sheet until a sheet feed start signal is sent from the printer PR.

If L ₃ <designated paper length in step c ₁ , the following steps c ₁₂ , c are taken into consideration by considering that the paper must be cut after the conveyance by the standby roller 4 is started. Perform ₁₃ processes.
That is, first, the feed roller 62 is driven and rotated to convey the sheet, and the sheet is stopped when the leading edge of the sheet reaches a predetermined preset position P _B (position which is, for example, 50 mm out of the sheet cutting position of the cutter 80) (step c ₁₂ ). , And then outputs a ready signal (step c ₁₃ ). Therefore, the paper stands by at the preset position P _B without cutting or slacking the paper until the paper feed start signal is sent from the printer PR. As described above, in the standard length mode, the sheet waits at the preset positions P _A and P _B according to the designated length, but in the negative scale mode, the sheet waits at the standby position common to all sheet lengths. There is.
Then, next, it is recognized whether the standard length mode or the negative scale mode is set as in step b ₂ (step b ₆ ), and the paper length from the host computer HT is determined only when the negative scale mode is set. The process of making the paper stand by at the preset position according to the designation of step (step b
₇ ~b _10). That is, first, the paper length designation information is received from the host computer HT (step b ₇ ), and subsequently, a busy signal for rejecting acceptance of other information from the outside is output (step b ₈ ). Then, the paper is conveyed to the preset positions P _A and P _B according to each designated paper length by the same process as the above-mentioned step b ₄ (that is, steps c _{1 to} c _{13 in} FIG. 14) and made to stand by at this position. (step b _9). Then it outputs a ready signal (step b _10).

In this way, in both the standard length / negative scale mode, immediately before the paper feed start signal from the printer PR is input, the leading edge of the sheet is set to the preset position corresponding to each designated sheet length. Will be done. In such a standby state, the printer PR waits for a paper feed start signal (start signal) to be sent (step b ₁₁ ),
If sent, it outputs a busy signal (step b
_12), followed by performing the paper feed processing in accordance with the specified sheet length (Step b _13). This paper feeding process is performed in detail as shown in FIG. 15, and if L ₁ <designated paper length ≦ L ₂ , then L ₂
<Specified paper length ≦ L ₃ and L ₃ <Specified paper length are different.

First, L₁<Specified paper length ≤ L₂If the paper
Is preset to a preset position P after being cut to a specified length._AWaiting for
In the locked state (step c₂~ C_FiveSee this)
If step d₁~ D₃The process of is executed. Sanawa
First, after receiving the paper feed start signal,
For 1 second) and then turn on the clutch 68 (CLA).
Turn on the clutch 70 (CLB) and send the
The feed roller 63 on the downstream side by driving the
Rotate and start paper conveyance (step d ₁).
In this way, the paper feeding operation is started after waiting for a predetermined time.
Is the preset position P_AFrom the inside to the printer PR
Since the separation is short, the image forming unit 6 on the printer PR side (FIG. 1)
Preparation time (specifically, the surface of the photosensitive drum 6a is imaged
Gave time to clean before forming)
This is because it is necessary to perform a waiting operation for the purpose. in this way
And start the paper feeding operation, the trailing edge of the paper
Wait until the sensor (HPS) 102 passes (step
P d₂), After passing, step c above_FiveWas moved in
Return the cutter 80 that was still there and return it to the original start position.
(Step d₃). Cut the paper according to the specified length
Since the procedure is performed with slack (step
c_Four, C_FiveAfter the cutting, the paper is sufficient as described above.
Until the slack is removed.
By waiting for a while and then returning, the product is cut to the specified length.
Avoid the trouble of getting stuck paper into the cutter 80
You can kick. In this case, the home position sensor
Instead of detecting the trailing edge passage at 102, for example,
Time is increased by the time it takes for the paper length to be fed.
Use a timer, etc., and after the time is up, the cutter 80
The control may be performed so as to perform the return movement of. The feed roller
For the paper that was conveyed in 63, the trailing edge of the paper is fed
The leading edge of the paper inside the printer PR before passing through the printer 63.
Since it reaches the machine roller 4, the feed roller 63 and
Paper conveyance by the standby roller 4 rotating at a constant speed is started.
Then, the printer PR performs printing.

When L ₂ <designated paper length ≦ L ₃ , the paper has a slack in advance and is in a standby state at the preset position P _A (see steps c _{8 to} c ₁₀ ). performs the processing of d ₄ to d _11. That is,
First, similarly to step d ₁ , waiting for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) after receiving the paper feed start signal, then turning on both the clutches 68 and 70 (CLA, CLB) and driving the feed motor 64. Feed rollers 62, 6
Both 3 are rotationally driven to start the sheet conveyance (step d ₄ ). In this case, the sheet is conveyed while maintaining the slack created in step c ₁₀ . And
The conveyance is continued as it is until the sheet length reaches the designated length at the sheet cutting position of the cutter 80 (step d ₅ ), and when the designated length is reached, the clutch 70 (C
Only LB) is cut off and the drive of the feed motor 64 is stopped to stop the sheet conveyance (step d ₆ ). At this time, the leading edge of the paper has not yet reached the standby roller 4 on the printer PR side, and the clutch 68 of the upstream feed roller 62 remains engaged. In this state, the cutter 80 is moved forward by cutting the sheet to a specified length (step d _7).
After that, as in step c ₆ , the feed roller 62 is driven in the reverse direction so that the leading edge of the roll paper newly formed by the cutting is in the standby position (2 mm from the feed roller 62).
It is retracted to the position where it just came out (step d ₈ ). Subsequently, the feed roller 63 by driving the feed motor 64 as well as connecting the clutch 70 and rotated to start the conveyance of the sheet that has been cut to the specified length (step d _9), step d _2, d ₃ similarly to the trailing edge of the sheet is backward the cutter 80 after passing through the home position sensor (HPS) 102 back to the original start position (step d _10, d _11). The sheet conveyed by the feed roller 63 is also started to be conveyed by the standby roller 4 that rotates at the same speed as the feed roller 63, and printing is performed by the printer PR.

L₃<If the specified paper length, cut the paper
Preset position P with no slack_BMade to wait
Is in a closed state (step c₁₂), In this case
P d ₁₂~ D_{twenty five}The process of is executed. That is, first, paper feeding
Immediately after receiving the start signal, engage the clutches 68 and 70 together.
Turn on and drive the feed motor 64 to feed
Starts sheet conveyance by rotating both rollers 62 and 63.
Yes (step d₁₂). In this case, in the above two cases
Waiting time from receiving the paper feed start signal
Yes. This is the preset position P_BIs the preset position P_A
Since the distance to the inside of the printer PR is longer than
Because there is enough room on the PR side for preparation
is there. Then, the leading edge of the paper is the home position sensor 10
2 from the time when it passes, the motor step of the feed motor 64
Start counting the clock (clock pulse) (step d₁₃,
d₁₄), The leading edge of the paper passes through the standby roller 4 in the printer PR.
Disengage the clutch 70 at the timing of passing and send low
La 63 is in a free state (step d₁₅, D₁₆). This
After that, the paper is pulled by the standby roller 4 and sent.
The roller 63 is driven to rotate as the paper is conveyed.
Become.

Where L₃<If the specified paper length,
When cutting to the specified length, the leading edge of the paper passes the standby roller 4.
The paper is ejected from the printer PR at this point.
The paper cannot be stopped until it is ejected.
For cutting, make sure that the excess paper is conveyed and slackened in advance.
Control to start from. That is, the paper out
In the cutting process, the moving blade 88 of the cutter 80 completely traverses the paper.
Paper is transported during the time it takes to cut the paper
Than the position of the cutter 80 by the length
The extra feed is made to slacken first, and the feed roller 62
The control is performed so that the cutting is performed in the state where the is stopped.
Therefore, first of all, the conveyance speed of the feed roller 62 should be controlled.
Process to feed while maintaining the slack of the paper
Is executed (step d₁₇). This process is detailed in
It is performed as shown in 16. That is, first, feed
Roller 62 is decelerating (after step e_FiveIs decelerating at
Is set) (step e
₁), If the slack sensor 103 is not
Check if slack is detected (step
e₂), If the slack is not detected, the feed roller
The conveyance speed of 62 is 5% of the conveyance speed of the standby roller 4
Speed up (step e₃). Transport of the feed roller 62
To change the speed, change the pulse cycle applied to the feed motor 64.
Just change it. Due to the above acceleration, the slack in the paper gradually
Is formed. Step e above₂Sagging in
When the roller 103 is turned on, the speed of the feed roller 62 is increased.
If a certain amount of slack is formed on the paper,
Conveyance speed of the feed roller 62 so that slack does not occur
Is reduced by 5% with respect to the conveyance speed of the standby roller 4.
(Step e_Four), Set the deceleration flag (step
E_Five) Together with the deceleration timer (step
E₆). This deceleration gradually reduces the amount of slack in the paper.
I will go a little. When the deceleration timer times out
During this period, the amount of slack will decrease by half from the above specified amount.
It is set to about time. Step e above₁smell
If it is determined that the feed roller 62 is decelerating,
Advance the deceleration timer (step e)₇),
When the time is up, the deceleration timer and deceleration flag are both set.
Reset (step e₈, E₉). Then this time
Step e ₃And the feed roller 62 is accelerated.
Be done. In this way, the transport speed of the feed roller 62 is ± 5
By repeating the process of increasing or decreasing the
It is possible to feed the paper while maintaining the normal state.

The sheet feeding while maintaining such a slack state is stopped when the position 50 mm before the position to be cut as the designated length of the sheet reaches the cutting position of the cutter 80 (step d ₁₈ ). Then, from that point of time, the conveyance speed of the feed roller 62 is increased to make a predetermined amount of slack (step d ₁₉ ), and the drive of the feed roller 62 is stopped when the paper length reaches the designated length (step d ₁₉ ). ₂₀ ,
d ₂₁ ), and in that state, the cutter 80 is moved forward to cut the paper (step d ₂₂ ). At this time, although the sheet conveyance by the standby roller 4 is continued, the slack is formed on the sheet on the downstream side of the cutter 80, and the cutter 80 is moved forward before the slack is eliminated, so that the sheet is moved. The cutting is performed smoothly as in the case where the sheet conveyance is completely stopped. Thereafter, as in step d _8, the feed roller 62 by reversely driven to retract the roll paper tip made newly by the cutting to the standby position (step d _23). Then, back to the cutter 80 moved backward after Similarly sheet trailing end and said step d _10, d ₁₁ passes through the home position sensor 102 to the original starting position (step d _24, d _25). The sheet conveyed to the printer PR side is directly printed by the printer PR.

[0057] Once the way one of the sheet feeding operation to the printer PR (step b ₁₃₎ is completed by farther, 13
Recognizes whether standard length mode or negative continuous mode (Step b _14), step c ₁ to c ₁₃ in the case of fixed-length mode shown in step b ₄ a similar process (i.e. 14
The processing), and conveyed to the preset position according to pre-specified sheet length of the roll paper tip is in the standby position (step b _15), after outputting the ready signal (step b _16), from the printer PR It is controlled so as to stand by at the preset position until the next paper feed start signal comes.
On the other hand, in the case of negative scale mode, and outputs a ready signal (step b _16), waiting for the specified sheet length from the host computer HT (step b _7), and transported to the preset position corresponding to the specified length, the following paper feeding start signal is controlled so as to wait until at that position (step b _8, b
₉ , b ₁₀ ).

As can be seen from the above processing, in both the standard length mode and the negative scale mode, immediately before the paper feed start signal is input from the printer PR, the leading edge of the paper is already preset according to each designated paper length. The sheet is set to the position, and is fed into the printer PR in the sheet feed mode corresponding to each designated sheet length by the input of the sheet feed start signal. Therefore, in order to make the above process easier to understand, a series of operations from the preset operation to the paper feeding operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21 for each paper feeding mode corresponding to the designated paper length.
Will be briefly described below.

When L ₁ <designated paper length ≦ L ₂ , it is a paper feed mode in which the paper is cut in advance and stands by.
It is called (Cut Before Feed) mode. In the CBF mode, as shown in FIG. 19, first, the paper is fed from the standby position to the preset position P _A (phase 1), and the leading end of the paper is left at that position to have the specified length at the cutting position of the cutter 80. Make slack (Phase 2),
In this state, the cutter 80 cuts the sheet (phase 3). The downstream side paper cut to the designated length is kept in the standby state, and the upstream side roll paper front end is retracted to the standby position (phase 4). When a paper feed start signal from the printer PR arrives, the printer PR of the above specified length of paper
The carry-in operation to the side is started (phase 5).

When L ₂ <designated paper length ≦ L ₃ , it is a paper feed mode in which the paper is fed halfway to form a slack and waits, which is hereinafter referred to as a KBC (Keep Back Cutting) mode. In the case of the KBC mode, as shown in FIG. 20, first, the paper is fed from the standby position to the preset position P _A (Phase 1), the front end of the paper is left at that position, and a predetermined amount of slack is made to wait ( Phase 2). When a paper feed start signal is received from the printer PR, the paper is conveyed toward the printer PR while maintaining the slack (phase 3), and when the cutter 80 reaches the specified length at the cutting position, the paper is conveyed. To stop and cut the paper (phase 4). After that, the downstream side sheet cut into the designated length is conveyed toward the printer PR side, and the leading end of the upstream side roll sheet is retracted to the standby position (phase 5).

When L ₃ <designated paper length, it is a paper feed mode in which the conveyance speed is increased before the cutting position of the cutter 80 during printing and cutting is performed in a slack state.
eedAnd Cut) mode. In the case of this FAC mode, as shown in FIG. 21, first, the paper is sent from the standby position to the preset position P _B and stands by at this position (phase 1). When the paper feed start signal is sent from the printer PR, the paper is carried into the printer PR and pulled by the standby roller 4 (phase 2). By controlling the conveyance speed of the feed roller 62 to increase or decrease, the paper is conveyed while maintaining a slight slack (phase 3), and the feed roller 6 is placed before the cutting position of the cutter 80.
The conveyance speed of 2 is increased to make a slack of a predetermined amount on the paper, and the paper is cut when the specified length is reached (phase 4). The downstream side sheet cut to the designated length is directly conveyed into the printer PR, and the upstream side roll sheet front end is retracted to the standby position (phase 5).

In this way, the paper feed control according to the designated paper length is performed. In addition to this paper feed control, the following various controls are implemented in order to realize an appropriate roll paper feed. Has been incorporated.

First, the stocker section M₂To pull out
Alternate safety measures are in place. During printing operation,
The leading edge of the roll paper is conveyed by the drive roll inside the printer PR.
Is in the state (especially in the above FAC mode),
During such printing, the stocker section M₂Is drawn carelessly
Then, the roll paper remains
This is inconvenient because it is dragged to the PR side.
Therefore, the stocker section M ₂That the unit was pulled out
Detected by the open switch 106 (Figs. 5 and 7)
The interrupt process enables the safety at opening as shown in Fig.17.
Execute all countermeasures. That is, whether the paper is being conveyed
Check (Step f₁), During paper transport operation
Drive the cutter 80 to cut the paper only when
Along with this, the paper transport operation on the roll paper supply device PF side is stopped.
Yes (Step f₂). Therefore, the roll paper supply device PF
However, the operation on the printer PR side is stopped.
It will be continued as it is, and it will be the downstream side that was cut above.
The paper is carried into the printer PR and printing is performed as usual.
Be done.

If the cutting of the paper by the cutter 80 fails, the paper that is connected without being cut is directly connected to the printer P.
Since there is a risk that the paper may be carried into the R and cause troubles such as paper jams, measures are taken in such cases.
That is, it is determined whether or not the cutter end sensor 105 (FIG. 8) is activated within a predetermined time after the forward movement of the cutter 80 is started.
The printer PR is controlled to output a conveyance stop command. As a method of detecting such a disconnection failure, a circuit that detects that an overcurrent more than normal flows to the cutter motor 87 (FIG. 8) may be used, or it may be detected in combination with the above method. Good. It is also possible to use the cutter end sensor 105 for normality detection and use overcurrent detection of the cutter motor 87 for abnormality detection. At the end of cutting, the paper end sensor 97 (FIGS. 3 and 6) is used to check whether or not the roll paper is rotated, and if the paper end sensor 97 outputs a pulse, it is determined that the paper has not been cut. You can also

Further, as described in detail above, the remaining paper amount detection using the near end sensor 95 (FIGS. 3 and 5) and the paper end detection using the paper end sensor 97 are also performed. In this case, if the paper end sensor 97 stops outputting the pulse signal while the near-end sensor 95 is detecting the near-end (the state where the remaining amount of paper is below a predetermined amount), the paper runs out. Although the near end sensor 95 has not detected the near end yet, the paper end sensor 97
If the pulse signal is no longer output from, it can be determined that the paper is abnormally conveyed such as a jam. As another jam detection method, for example, when the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed does not reach the home position sensor 102 within a predetermined time (this predetermined time varies depending on each paper feed mode) after passing the cut position sensor 101. There is a method of determining a jam, or a method of determining a jam when there is no periodic change because it is normal that the slack sensor 103 is periodically turned on / off in the case of the sheet feeding operation in the FAC mode. is there. Further, when label paper is used as the roll paper, the jam detection sensor 98 (FIG. 11) arranged at substantially the same position as the home position sensor 102.
It is possible to detect jams. That is, the amount of transmitted light of the jam detection sensor 98 changes periodically during the sheet conveyance (the label thickness is changed periodically because the label sheet is a label which is repeatedly affixed to the backing sheet at regular intervals).
It is possible to discriminate whether or not the paper is advancing by discriminating that the paper is advancing, and if the feed roller 63 is rotating, the jam detection sensor 9
If the amount of transmitted light of 8 does not change for a predetermined time or more, it can be determined that a jam has occurred. The jam detection sensor 98
When using a reflection type photo sensor as, if you set the reflected light amount of the backing paper and the label that make up the label paper are different, it is possible to detect the progress state of the paper,
It becomes possible to perform jam detection.

Next, a paper feeding process in the case of manually inserting cut paper instead of roll paper from the manual insertion inlet 75 (FIG. 4) will be described. Cut paper is the host computer HT
It can be used only when there is an instruction to operate in cut paper mode. The manual feed inlet 75 is provided with the shutter 77 that shields the manual feed inlet 75 as described above so that a cut sheet is not mistakenly inserted in the roll paper mode to cause a trouble, and the shutter 77 is operated. Therefore, a shutter solenoid 76 is provided.
This shutter solenoid 76 is a host computer H
The shutter 77 is driven to open only when the cut sheet mode is instructed from T.

The manual sheet feeding operation is performed as follows. First, a cut sheet is inserted into the manual feed introduction port 75, and the leading end of the sheet is brought into contact with the nip portion of the feed roller 63. Then, the slack sensor 103, which also serves as a manual feed detection sensor, detects the cut sheet, connects the clutch 70, operates the feed motor 64, and rotationally drives the feed roller 63.
Start paper transport. When the home position sensor 102 detects the leading edge of the paper, the driving of the feed roller 63 is stopped to wait the paper, and then the paper is re-transported to the printer PR side after waiting for a paper feed start signal from the printer PR.
In this manual feed, when the home position sensor 102 does not detect the leading edge of the paper even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the slack sensor 103 detected the paper (or after the feeding roller 63 starts the paper conveyance). Moreover, it is possible to determine that there is a paper conveyance abnormality such as a jam.

Therefore, the roll paper feeder PF of this embodiment
According to the first effect, it is possible to easily construct a printer system for continuous paper capable of high image quality and high-speed processing simply by incorporating the electrophotographic printer PR into a general purpose. Moreover, since the general-purpose printer PR can be used almost as it is and only a part of the design change needs to be made, the overall design and manufacturing costs can be reduced, and the system can be provided at a low cost.

Secondly, since the printer function of the general-purpose printer PR can be maintained as it is, not only printing on continuous paper using the roll paper supply device PF but also cutting paper using the paper feed cassette 1 (FIG. 1) is performed. Can also be printed. And
Since it has multiple printing modes, it can meet various needs such as real-time printing at the site of use.

Thirdly, various problems (problems such as wasteful paper portion generation, paper sticking at the fixing portion, etc.) that have occurred in the conventionally proposed printer for continuous paper may occur. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a special additional mechanism for solving such a problem.

Fourthly, by adopting an original control system such as giving a slack to the paper when the paper is cut, it becomes possible to use the cutter 80 of the moving blade system which is small in size and inexpensive. Guillotine and rotary cutters 3
Compared with Nos. 1 and 32 (FIG. 24), the entire structure can be made smaller, and the impact at the time of cutting can be suppressed as much as possible to maintain good image quality.

In the above embodiment, the roll paper feeding device P
Although the printer PR is used as an external sheet processing apparatus that receives sheet supply by F, the present invention can supply continuous paper to not only the printer but also various sheet processing apparatuses such as a copying machine and a facsimile.

Further, the structure of the portion for loading the roll paper,
The structure of the paper transport system for feeding the roll paper from there and transporting it to the external paper processing device is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and various other structures can be adopted.

[0074]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a continuous paper processing system can be constructed simply by connecting to a paper receiving portion of an external paper processing device. . Moreover, since a general-purpose sheet processing apparatus can be used almost as it is, the overall design and manufacturing costs can be reduced, and the system can be provided at low cost. Further, since the paper processing function of the general-purpose paper processing device can be maintained as it is, not only the roll paper feeding but also the paper feeding function originally provided in the paper processing device can be used. Moreover, according to the first aspect of the invention, the standby position of the leading edge of the sheet is controlled according to the designated length, so that a quick and smooth cutting process can be performed for any designated length. . Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the amount of slack of the sheet is changed according to the designated length, the reliable cutting process can be performed for any designated length.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sheet is cut in a slackened state in advance, so that the sheet conveyance cannot be stopped when the external sheet processing apparatus is performing a predetermined sheet processing operation. Even if there is, the sheet can be temporarily stopped at the position of the cutter means while the slack is formed, and the sheet can be cut during that time. The present invention can be said to be particularly effective when the cutter means having a structure that cannot be cut instantaneously is used.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the moving blade type cutter is used as the cutter means, the cutter means is much smaller and has less vibration than the conventional rotary type or guillotine type cutter. You can Moreover, after the blade is moved forward to cut the paper, the blade is controlled to return to the original position after waiting for the downstream paper to advance by a predetermined amount, so that the slack of the paper is reduced. The blade portion is moved back after being fed, so that the blade portion and the sheet are prevented from intersecting after the sheet is cut, and smooth sheet feeding is possible.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the substantially leading end portion of the sheet is pinched by the feed roller when the upstream side sheet is waiting after the sheet is cut, even if the pinched tip portion is used. Even if a mark remains on the sheet, since that portion is outside the normal image forming area, it does not have any influence on the image forming and the like in the sheet processing apparatus thereafter.

[0078]

[0079]

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the leading end portion of the roll paper is controlled so as to be automatically cut when the roll paper is loaded, it is possible to remove the leading end portion to which dirt or the like tends to adhere. It is possible to obtain the leading edge of the paper that is accurately and straightly cut. Moreover, since the detection of the cut pieces of the cut paper is performed by the paper detection means, it is possible to prevent a trouble such as starting the paper supply without forgetting to remove the cut pieces. Further, as the above-mentioned paper detecting means, it is possible to use a paper detecting sensor used for other purposes such as a paper detecting sensor used during normal paper conveyance, and it is unnecessary to provide an extra dedicated detecting means. Can be omitted.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is of course possible to detect the paper-out condition by providing means for giving advance notice that the roll paper is exhausted and means for detecting the exhaustion of the roll paper. Also, since it is possible to detect a paper conveyance abnormality, it is possible to eliminate the waste of specially providing a paper conveyance abnormality detection unit.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the sheet is cut by the cutter means when the roll sheet loading section is opened during the sheet conveying operation. Can be continuously carried, and waste of stopping the drive on the side of the sheet processing apparatus can be omitted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a continuous paper printer system configured by combining a roll paper supply device PF of an embodiment of the present invention with a general-purpose electrophotographic printer PR.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printer system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of the roll paper supply device PF as viewed from the front.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a paper transport unit M ₃ of a roll paper supply device PF as viewed from the front.

5A is a right side view of the roll paper supply device PF, FIG.
(B) is a rear view of the drive gear part.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the paper transport unit M ₃ of the roll paper feeder PF.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a stocker unit M ₂ of the roll paper supply device PF.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cutter 80.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation unit 115 and a display unit 117 of the roll paper supply device PF.

[Fig. 10] Feed roller 6 when paper is in a standby position
2A and 2B are diagrams showing a positional relationship with FIG. 2, in which FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an entire control system of the printer system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a paper setting process by the control system.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a standby process and a paper feeding process that follow the paper setting process.

[Figure 14] Paper up to a preset position according to the specified paper length
Transport processing (step b in FIG. 13) _Four, B₉, B₁₅Processing)
2 is a flowchart showing in detail.

[Fig. 15] According to the specified paper length by inputting the paper feed start signal
Paper feeding process (step b in FIG. 13) ₁₃Processing)
It is a flowchart.

16 is a flowchart showing in detail the (process of step d ₁₇ of FIG. 15) the sheet feed process while maintaining the slack state.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a safety countermeasure process when the stocker unit M ₂ is pulled out during sheet conveyance.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a dimensional relationship (an example) between each roller and a sensor in a sheet conveyance path.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a paper feed mode (CBF mode) when L ₁ <designated paper length ≦ L ₂ ;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a paper feed mode (KBC mode) when L ₂ <designated paper length ≦ L ₃ ;

[FIG. 21] Paper feed mode (FAC when L ₃ <designated paper length
It is a figure for explaining a mode.

FIG. 22 is an overall configuration diagram of a general-purpose electrophotographic printer PR.

23 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a paper feed unit of the printer PR shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional continuous paper printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Standby roller 6 Image forming unit 11 Manual feed inlet 13 Slip rollers 41, 42 Slide rail 44 Pull-out operation lever 50 Stock shaft 54 Stock receiving plates 61a, 61b, ..., 61j Guide plates 62, 63 Feed roller 64 Feed motor 68 , 70 Clutch 75 Manual insertion port 76 Shutter solenoid 77 Shutter 80 Cutter 87 Cutter motor 88 Cutter motor 88 Moving blade 89 Fixed blade 90 Remaining lever 92 Wheel 95 Near end sensor 96 Encoder 97 Paper end sensor 98 Jam detection sensor 101 Cut position sensor 102 Home position sensor 103 slack sensor 104 and 105 cutter end sensor 106 units open sensor 115 operating section 116 the microcomputer 117 display unit PR printer PF roll paper supply device M ₁ main body portion M ₂ Stocker unit M ₃ paper transport unit

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-3-272970 (JP, A) JP-A-4-118262 (JP, A) JP-A-3-266668 (JP, A) JP-A-3-266669 (JP , A) Actual Kaihei 3-119853 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 43/08 B26D 1/18 B26D 5/20 B41J 11/70

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A roll paper supply device for supplying a wound roll paper to an external paper processing device, a loading means for loading the roll paper, a feed roller for feeding the loaded roll paper, and a feed roller of the feed roller. A cutter unit that is provided downstream and that cuts a sheet into a predetermined length, a final feed roller that carries out the roll sheet to a sheet receiving unit of the sheet processing apparatus, and a cutter unit and the final feed roller. Slack detection means for detecting the slack state of the paper between the sheets, delivery paper detection means arranged downstream of the final feed roller for detecting the presence or absence of the paper delivered to the paper processing device, and cutting of the roll paper Paper length specification means to specify the length
According to the paper length designated by the paper length designating means.
And a cutting mode changing means for changing the standby position of the leading edge of the roll paper. 2. An external sheet processing device for winding rolled roll paper.
In the roll paper supply device for supplying to the roll paper, a loading means for loading the roll paper, a feed roller for feeding the loaded roll paper, and a feed roller provided downstream of the feed roller and having a predetermined length.
Cutter means for cutting the paper and carrying the roll paper to the paper receiving section of the paper processing device
Between the cutting means and the final feeding roller, and the final feeding roller to be ejected
A slack detecting means for detecting a slack state of the paper, and a sheet processing device disposed downstream of the final feeding roller.
Paper detection hand that detects the presence or absence of paper sent to the storage
Paper length specification means that specifies the step and the length to cut the roll paper
According to the paper length designated by the paper length designating means.
Cutting mode changing means to change the amount of slack in the paper
And a roll paper supply device. 3. A cutter control means for activating the cutter means, wherein the cutter control means operates the cutter means while the slack detection means detects a slack state of the roll paper. The roll paper supply device according to claim 1 or 2 . 4. The cutter means comprises drive means for reciprocating a blade portion in the width direction of the sheet, and the cutter control means controls the drive means to move the blade portion forward and then the cutter means. 4. The roll paper supply device according to claim 3 , wherein the roll paper supply device is caused to return after waiting until the downstream paper has advanced by a predetermined amount. 5. The feed which reverses the feed roller after the cutting process of the cutter means and retracts the leading edge of the paper upstream of the cutter means to a position where the feed roller holds the substantially leading edge of the cut paper. The roll paper supply device according to claim 3, further comprising a reverse rotation control means for the rollers. 6. A roll paper supply device for supplying a wound roll paper to an external paper processing device, a loading means for loading the roll paper, a feed roller for feeding the loaded roll paper, and a feed roller of the feed roller. Cutter means provided downstream and cutting the paper into a predetermined length; and, when the roll paper is loaded, the feed roller is operated to feed the leading end of the roll paper to a predetermined position downstream from the cutter means. A control means, a cutting control means for activating the cutter means to cut the paper when the leading edge of the roll paper reaches the predetermined position, and a paper detection means arranged downstream of the cutter means in the paper conveyance direction. Then, the paper sheet detection device detects the presence or absence of a paper edge after being cut by the cutting control device. 7. A roll paper supply device for supplying a wound roll paper to an external paper processing device, a loading means for loading the roll paper, a feed roller for feeding the loaded roll paper, and a remaining roll paper. The paper end notification means for detecting that the amount is less than a predetermined amount, the paper end detection means for detecting that the roll paper has run out, and the paper end detection means for detecting the paper end during the detection operation of the paper end notification means. When the absence of paper is detected, it is determined that there is no paper, and when the absence of paper detection means detects the absence of paper when the paper end notifying means is not operating, the identification means determines that there is a paper conveyance abnormality. A roll paper supply device having. 8. A loading means for loading roll paper, a feeding roller for feeding the loaded roll paper, a cutter means for cutting the paper into a predetermined length, and the roll for replenishing the roll paper. A roll paper supply that has a loading unit opening mechanism that opens the paper loading unit and an opening detection unit that detects opening and closing of the loading unit opening mechanism, and that supplies the rolled roll paper to an external sheet processing apparatus. In the apparatus, when the opening detection unit detects the opening of the loading unit opening mechanism during the feeding operation of the roll paper whose leading end is carried into the paper processing apparatus, the cutter unit is operated to cut the paper. Roll paper feeder.