JP3510790B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of printer is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 147207/1993. According to this publication, a tray for holding new paper, a paper feed portion for feeding the new paper, and a head portion for ejecting ink liquid onto the new paper are provided. When the user presses the print switch, normal printing is performed.

[0003]

However, recently, for the purpose of protecting resources or reducing the amount of dust, there have been many opportunities to print the other side of recycled paper, which has already been printed on one side. However, in the above-mentioned printer, the print densities of the first surface and the second surface are the same. Therefore, since the printing on the first side can be seen through the other side required by the user, there is the first drawback that the printing on the other side is difficult to see. Further, since printing is performed on both sides in this manner, there is a second drawback in which it is difficult to know which side is newly printed.

In order to solve this drawback, it is conceivable that the head portion prints invalid display on one side, but in that case, since the single head performs double-sided printing, the reused paper is turned over. Requires a large-scale inversion mechanism for
There is a third drawback that the cost becomes high and the device becomes large. Therefore, according to the present invention, in consideration of such a conventional defect, when the other surface of the reused paper having one surface printed thereon is printed, the printing on the other surface is clearly legible, and either surface is newly printed. We will provide a printer that can be clearly miniaturized and can be miniaturized.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention according to claim 1 provides a paper feed unit for feeding a new paper or a reusable paper having one side printed, and printing each paper. And a control unit for inputting a print mode,
When the print mode is the normal mode, the control unit causes the first print unit to print the new paper at the normal density. When the print mode is the reuse mode, the control unit causes the first print unit to perform the reuse paper. The other surface is printed with high density.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a second printing unit is provided,
When the print mode is the reuse mode, the control unit causes the second printing unit to perform invalid display printing on the one side of the reused paper.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the second printing portion is provided on one surface side of the conveyance path of the reused paper, and the first printing portion is provided on the other surface side.
A printing unit is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the second printing section is constructed by an ink jet system.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the schematic structural diagram of FIG. In FIG. 1, the casing 1 is made of, for example, metal or plastic and is formed in a substantially box shape. The paper feed tray 2 is made of, for example, plastic, is formed in a substantially box shape having an open upper side, and is arranged in the vicinity of a hole 3 formed in a side surface of the casing 1. A new sheet or a reusable sheet with one side printed (neither is shown) is stored in the sheet feed tray 2.

The guide plate 4 is arranged such that one end thereof is located near the hole 3 and the other end thereof is located obliquely downward. Information board 5
Has one end located near the guide plate 4 and the other end arranged to extend substantially horizontally. The sheet feeding unit 6 is, for example, a driving roller (not shown) and a sheet feeding motor (not shown) connected thereto.
The drive roller is arranged on the guide plate 4.
Then, the above-mentioned new paper or reused paper is the paper feed tray 2
The leading edge of the sheet is sandwiched between the drive roller and the guide plate 4. In this way, the paper feed unit 6 feeds new paper or recycled paper.

The guide plates 8 and 9 are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides and above the guide plate 5. The paper feeding unit 10 is arranged at an appropriate position on the guide plate 8, and is composed of, for example, a paper feeding roller (illustrated) and a paper feeding motor (not illustrated) connected thereto. The roller 11 is arranged below the paper feeding unit 10.

The first printing unit 12 is composed of, for example, an ink jet type head, a nozzle unit 13 is provided below the first printing unit 12, and a plurality of nozzles (not shown) are formed in the nozzle unit 13. The first printing unit 12 is arranged on a first carriage (not shown), and the first printing unit 12 is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction. As described above, the first printing unit 12 appropriately ejects the ink liquid to print the new paper or the reuse paper.

The second printing section 14 is also composed of, for example, an ink jet type head, and a nozzle section 15 is provided above it. The second printing unit 14 is arranged on a second carriage (not shown) and is movable in the main scanning direction. In this way, the second printing unit 14 appropriately ejects the ink liquid, and the one surface side (the side already printed) of the reused paper,
For example, an invalid display such as an "X" mark or "invalid" is printed.

Further, a conveyance path for the reused paper (guide plates 4 and 5)
The second printing unit 14 is provided on one side of the first printing unit 12 and the other side is provided with the first printing unit 12. That is,
The ejection direction of the nozzle portion 15 of the second printing unit 14 is directed to one side of the transportation path, and the ejection direction of the nozzle portion 13 of the first printing unit 12 is directed to the other side of the transportation path. The second
The printing unit 14 is not limited to the inkjet method, and a discriminator or the like may be mechanically pressed against one surface of the reused paper.

The paper discharge section 16 is arranged at an appropriate position on the guide plate 9,
For example, it comprises a paper discharge roller (not shown) and a paper discharge motor (not shown) connected thereto. The roller 17 is the paper output unit 16.
It is located below. The paper discharge tray 18 is arranged on the side surface of the casing 1. The printer 19 is configured by the above components.

Next, the electrical configuration of the printer 19 will be described with reference to the electrical block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, the control unit 20 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer. The paper feed motor 6a that forms the paper feed unit 6 is connected to the output terminal of the control unit 20, and the paper feed motor 10a that forms the paper feed unit 10 is connected to the output terminal of the control unit 20. First printing unit 1
2 and the second printing unit 14 are each connected to the output terminal of the control unit 20.

The host computer 21 (for example, a personal computer) has a print mode switch 22, a print switch 23, etc., and is electrically connected to the printer 19. For example, the print mode (“normal mode” and “reuse mode”) is displayed on the screen of a display (not shown) provided in the host computer 21, and the user operates the mouse or the like to select the mode and click. By doing so, the print mode switch 22 outputs a signal indicating each print mode. That is, the print mode is input to the control unit 20. A "print switch" is displayed on the screen, and when the user clicks on the screen, a signal indicating that the print switch 23 is turned on is output. In addition, the host computer 21, together with these signals,
Print data and invalid display data are output.

Next, the operation of the printer 19 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation. In these figures, the operation is started by inserting the power plug of the printer 19 into a power outlet.

First, the control unit 20 controls the print switch 2
It is determined whether or not 3 is on (step S1). If the user is pressing the print switch 23, step S1 is affirmed. If the print switch 23 has not been pressed, S1 is denied and the standby state is entered.

In this way, the control unit 20 affirms S1,
Next, it is determined whether or not it is in the reuse mode (S2). If the user clicks "normal mode" on the screen of the host computer 21, S2 is denied. Also, by this time, the user has stored new paper in the paper feed tray 2.

Next, the control unit 20 causes the paper feeding unit 6 to feed paper (S3). That is, the control unit 20 energizes the paper feeding motor 6a to drive the paper feeding unit 6. As a result, the leading edge of the new paper in the paper feed tray 2 passes under the paper feed unit 6 and is sandwiched between the paper feed unit 10 and the roller 11.

Then, the control section 20 causes the first printing section 12 to print the new paper at the normal density (S4). That is, the control unit 20 energizes the paper feeding motor 10a for a predetermined time, and in the paper feeding unit 10, the new paper is fed and stopped so that the vicinity of the leading edge of the new paper is located below the nozzle unit 13.

Next, the control unit 20 moves the first printing unit 12 from the left end to the right end in the scanning direction, and appropriately ejects the ink liquid at a resolution of 360 dpi, for example, to print the first line of the first page. To do. In this way, when the printing of the first line is completed, the new paper is advanced by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction by driving the paper feeding unit 10.

Then, the control unit 20 moves from the right end to the left end in the scanning direction of the second line and prints the second line (bidirectional printing). In this way, the printing from the first line to the nth line is performed, and the printing of the first page is completed. Further, in the nozzle unit 13, a plurality of nozzles may be formed in the sub-scanning direction to print a plurality of rows at the same time.

The normal density printing is performed by thinning out print data, for example. That is, the control unit 20 has a built-in table, and the table has a digital signal of "0" for the dot in row A and column B and a "1" for the dot in row C and column D.
It stores fixed data consisting of digital signals of.
In this way, of the total number of dots in all rows and columns, for example, 88
The "0" and "1" are arranged regularly so that the% dots store "1".

Then, the control unit 20 takes the AND of each dot of the print data to be input and the fixed data (density pattern), and determines whether or not to print the dot of the Eth row and the Fth column. In this way, by performing the thinning printing, the normal density printing is performed at the density of 88% of the total density printing according to only the print data. Note that the above-mentioned 88% density is an example, and fixed data having an arbitrary density can be used as needed,
Can be stored in the table.

Next, it is assumed that the user stores the reused paper, one side of which has been printed, in the paper feed tray 2 so that one side faces down, and "Reuse" is displayed on the screen provided in the host computer 21. It is assumed that the "mode" is clicked and the print switch 23 is clicked.

At this time, the control unit 20 affirms S1 and determines that the print mode is the reuse mode (S2). Then, the control unit 20 causes the paper feeding unit 6 to feed the reused paper (S5). As a result, the leading edge of the reused paper in the paper feed tray 2 passes under the paper feed unit 6 and is sandwiched between the paper feed unit 10 and the roller 11.

Then, the control section 20 causes the first printing section 12 to perform high density printing on the other surface of the reused paper (S6). That is, the control unit 20 energizes the paper feeding motor 10a for a predetermined time, and the paper feeding unit 10 feeds and stops the reusable paper so that the vicinity of the leading end of the reusable paper is located below the nozzle unit 13. .

Next, the control unit 20 moves the first printing unit 12 from the left end to the right end in the scanning direction, causes the ink liquid to be appropriately ejected at a resolution of 360 dpi, for example. Print the first line of the page. In this way
When the printing of the first line is completed, the paper feeding unit 10 is driven to
The recycled paper advances in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount. Then, the control unit 20 moves from the right end to the left end in the scanning direction of the second line to print the second line on the other side of the reused paper (bidirectional printing).

In this way, the printing from the first line to the nth line is performed, and the printing of the first page on the other side of the reused paper is completed. In the high density printing, thinning printing is not performed, but full density printing according to only print data is performed. As a result, a high density of 114% of normal density printing can be obtained, the printing on the first surface side is not seen through, and the printing on the other surface side (new printing side) can be clearly read.

Desirably, when the control unit 20 determines that the reusable mode is set (S2), the second printing unit 14 causes the reusable paper to be displayed in the invalid state on the first side. That is, during high-density printing (S6), the control unit 20 controls the second printing unit 14
Is moved from the left end to the right end in the scanning direction, for example 360d
At a resolution of pi, ink liquid is appropriately ejected from the nozzle portion 15 according to the invalid display data output from the host computer 21, and the first line, first line, first page is printed on one surface of the reused paper.

In the same manner, the control unit 20 controls the reused paper 1
On the front side, the second printing unit 14 is used to perform printing from the first line of the first page to the m-th line of the first page, and printing of the first page on the first side (back side). To do. In this manner, invalid display printing (for example, printing of "X" mark or "invalid") according to the invalid display data can be performed on one surface (back surface) of the reused paper.

The normal density printing, the high density printing and the invalid display printing can process a plurality of pages by repeating the same operation as described above.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention of claim 1, when the print mode is the normal mode, the control unit causes the first printing unit to print the new paper at the normal density, and the print mode is the reuse mode. If so, the control unit causes the first printing unit to perform high-density printing on the other surface of the reused paper. In this way, by printing high density on the other side of the reused paper that the user needs,
There is no visible print on the one side that has already been printed,
You can clearly read the newly printed printing on the other side.
In addition, since the reused paper with one side printed is used, it is possible to protect resources and reduce the amount of dust.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the print mode is the reuse mode, the control section causes the second printing section to perform the invalid display printing on the first side of the reuse sheet. As a result, when both sides of the reused paper are printed, it can be clearly seen that the side opposite to the invalidity printed side is newly printed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a second printing unit is provided on one surface side of the conveyance path of the reused paper to perform invalid display printing,
A first printing unit is provided on the other surface side for high density printing. Since the other surface of the reusable paper is printed with high density and one surface is invalidly printed while passing through the flat conveyance path as described above, a mechanism for reversing the reusable paper as in the past is not required. As a result, the cost is reduced and the device is downsized.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the second printing unit is constructed by the ink jet system, the invalid display mode can be easily changed by changing the invalid display data input to the control unit. Further, the component (for example, the paper feeding unit) that moves the reused paper for printing in the first printing unit is the second
The same item can be used when printing in the printing section, and the cost is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 paper feeder 12 First Printing Department 14 Second Printing Department 20 Control unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/01 B41J 3/54

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper feed unit for feeding new paper or recycled paper having one side printed, a first printing unit for printing each paper, and a control unit for inputting a print mode, When the print mode is the normal mode, the control unit causes the first printing unit to print the new paper at the normal density, and when the print mode is the reuse mode, the control unit determines the first print mode. A printer characterized in that one printing unit prints the other surface of the reused paper with high density. 2. A second printing unit is provided, and when the printing mode is a reuse mode, the control unit causes the second printing unit to print invalid display on one side of the reused paper. The printer of claim 1, wherein the printer is a printer. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the second printing section is provided on one surface side of the conveyance path of the reused paper, and the first printing section is provided on the other surface side. 4. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the second printing unit is configured by an inkjet method.