JP3861660B2 - Continuous paper printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a continuous paper printer, and more particularly to a printer that performs printing according to a print job on a continuous paper of a long length extending in one direction with a predetermined width. The “printer” includes a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As this type of printer, as shown in FIG. 7, a printer having a photosensitive drum 713 and a transfer unit 707 for printing on a sheet by an electrophotographic process is known in the center of a main body 701. In this example, a tractor unit 715, a suction unit 716, an intermediate roller 731, and a paper discharge unit 717 are provided as conveying means for conveying the continuous paper 101.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 6, the process waits until a job request is received (S301). When a print job is received, processing corresponding to the received print job is started (S302). That is, the continuous paper 101 fed from the outside P0 of the main body 701 is sent to the transfer position P1 between the photosensitive drum 713 and the transfer unit 707 by the tractor unit 715, and the toner image is transferred to the continuous paper 101 at the transfer position P1. Is transferred (S303). When the printing process is completed (S304), the continuous paper (portion) onto which the toner image is transferred at the transfer position P1 is sucked and conveyed by the suction unit 716, and the transferred toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 709. (S305) (At this time, the rear end position of the toner image is the position P3 shown in FIG. 7). Thereafter, conventionally, as preparation for a second print job following the print job (referred to as the first print job), a portion 101b following the last page 101a by the first print job, that is, fixing is performed. The continuous paper 101 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the discharge direction by the conveying means 715, 716, 731 and 717 until the trailing edge of the printed image returns immediately before the transfer position P1 (S306). Thereafter (S307), the process returns to the original job request waiting state (S301). In addition, control of the conveyance means 715,716,731,717 is performed by the controller 740 (refer FIG. 7).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a user who handles certificates for printing serial numbers such as insurance / banks or a user who handles product tags that print serial numbers such as retail / factory, when the print job is completed, the last page 101a of the print job is displayed. There is a strong desire to confirm that serial numbers are printed properly (without missing numbers).
[0005]
However, in the conventional continuous paper printer described above, when the first print job is finished, the trailing edge of the last page 101a of the first print job on the continuous paper 101 is inside the main body 701 (near the transfer position P1). For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult for the operator to see the last page of the first print job from the outside of the main body 701.
[0006]
Here, when the operator manually gives an instruction to the controller 740 through an operation panel (not shown) provided in the printer main body 701, the final page 101a of the print job can be viewed from the outside of the main body 701 by the operator P2. The continuous paper 101 can be transported up to. However, one by one the operator manually gives an instruction to each print job, but fail to very Urusawa rather, the convenience of the user.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a continuous paper printer that can see the last page of a print job from the outside of the main body without an operator's manual operation, and thus can improve user convenience. is there.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a continuous paper printer according to claim 1 includes a printing unit that prints on continuous paper at a printing position provided inside the main body according to a received print job, and the printing position. The continuous paper is supplied to the main body, and the continuous paper after the printing by the printing means is discharged to the outside of the main body through a conveyance path provided inside the main body, and the print job on the continuous paper After printing the last page , an optional device is provided on the control means for controlling the conveying means so that the final page is conveyed to a position where it can be seen from the outside of the main body and is on standby, and the conveying path for discharging the continuous paper. detecting means for detecting whether dolphins not, a waiting position setting means for setting by varying the position for waiting the continuous paper in accordance with a detection result by the detecting means, further comprising a And butterflies.
[0009]
In the continuous paper printer according to the first aspect, the conveying means supplies the continuous paper to a printing position provided inside the main body. The printing unit prints on the continuous paper at the printing position according to the received print job. The conveying means discharges the continuous paper printed by the printing means to the outside of the main body through a conveying path provided inside the main body. Here, the control unit controls the transport unit to transport and wait for the final page to a position where it can be seen from the outside of the main body after printing the final page by the print job on the continuous paper. Therefore, the operator can view the last page of the print job on the continuous paper from the outside of the main body without performing a manual operation for reverse conveyance. Therefore, convenience for the user is improved.
In this continuous paper printer, the detection means detects whether an optional device is provided in the transport path for discharging the continuous paper, and the standby position setting means detects the continuous position according to the detection result by the detection means. Set the position to wait for the paper. Therefore, regardless of whether an optional device is installed in the transport path for discharging the continuous paper, the standby position is automatically set to an appropriate position on the transport path, that is, a position that can be easily seen from the outside of the main body. it can. Therefore, user convenience is further improved.
[0010]
The continuous paper printer according to claim 2 is the continuous paper printer according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit receives a second print job following the first print job, the control unit includes the continuous paper printer. Control is performed to convey the continuous paper in the direction opposite to the discharge direction by the conveying means until the portion following the last page by the first print job returns to the printing position.
[0011]
In the continuous paper printer according to claim 2, when the control unit receives the second print job following the first print job, a portion of the continuous paper that follows the last page of the first print job is included. Control is performed to convey the continuous paper in the direction opposite to the discharge direction by the conveying means until the printing position is returned. Therefore, when the second print job following the first print job is received, the second print job is not provided with a blank following the last page of the first print job in the continuous paper. Printing can be performed. Therefore, user convenience is further improved.
[0012]
The continuous paper printer according to claim 3 is a continuous paper printer according to claim 1, wherein a portion following the last page by the print job on the continuous paper is returned to the print position and waited, and the last page. Is provided with switching means for switching between a mode for transporting the camera to a position where it can be seen from the outside of the main body and waiting.
[0013]
In the continuous paper printer according to claim 3, the switching unit returns the standby portion by returning the portion following the last page by the print job on the continuous paper to the print position, and the position where the last page can be seen from the outside of the main body. Switch to the mode of transporting to standby. Therefore, control according to the user's preference is possible, and the convenience for the user is further improved.
[0014]
A continuous paper printer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the continuous paper printer according to the first aspect , further comprising storage means for storing a set waiting time, wherein the control means sends the last page to the outside of the main body. In a mode in which the paper is transported to a position where it can be seen and waited, the last page by the print job on the continuous paper is waited only for the waiting time, and then the portion of the continuous paper that follows the last page is placed at the print position Control is performed to return and wait.
[0015]
In the continuous paper printer according to the fourth aspect , the set waiting time is stored by the storage means. In the mode in which the control unit conveys and waits for the last page to a position where it can be seen from the outside of the main body, the control unit waits for the last page by the print job on the continuous paper for the waiting time, and then the continuous paper. Of these, control is performed to return the portion following the last page to the print position and wait. Therefore, the operator can view the last page of the print job on the continuous paper during the waiting time from the outside of the main body. In addition, after the waiting time has elapsed, the control unit performs control to return the portion following the last page of the continuous paper to the printing position and wait, so that the second following the (first) print job. When the print job is received, printing by the second print job can be immediately performed on the portion of the continuous paper following the last page by the first print job. Therefore, user convenience is further improved.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The continuous paper printer of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a continuous paper printer according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. 1A is a front view of the printer body, FIG. 1B is a view of FIG. 1A viewed from the right side, and FIG. 1C is that of FIG. 1B. Each is shown from above. FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional structure of the printer main body corresponding to FIG.
[0018]
This printer is roughly divided into a main body 201 that receives an image signal from a controller, which will be described later, and performs printing on a sheet by a known electrophotographic process, and a controller 202 that performs overall control of a print job and transmits the image signal to the main body 201. It consists of.
[0019]
The main body 201 is provided with a photosensitive drum 213 at substantially the center inside the casing, and a print head 205 for exposing the photosensitive drum 213 with laser light corresponding to an image signal above the photosensitive drum 213. . Around the photosensitive drum 213, a charging unit 204 for charging the photosensitive drum 213, a developing unit 206 for attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 213, and a photosensitive member A transfer unit 207 for transferring a toner image formed on the drum 213 to a sheet; a cleaning / eraser unit 208 for removing toner and an electronic latent image remaining on the photosensitive drum 213 after transfer to the sheet; Is provided.
[0020]
In addition, a transport unit 203 is provided to transport the paper 101 directly under the photosensitive drum 213. The transport unit 203 includes a paper feed brake unit 214 that feeds paper while braking the printer body, a tractor unit 215 that feeds the fed paper to a transfer position (printing position) immediately below the photosensitive drum 213, and a toner. A suction unit 216 that sucks and conveys the sheet with the image transferred thereon, a fixing unit 209 for fixing the toner image transferred onto the sheet, an intermediate roller 231, and a sheet in accordance with an instruction from the controller 202. A burster unit 211 for cutting and a paper discharge unit 217 that has a pair of rollers and conveys the paper downward are provided. Further, a stacker unit 300 for stacking sheets is detachably provided as an optional device below the paper discharge unit 217. The stacker unit 300 includes a swing guide unit 212, a stacker table 210 serving as a stacking table on which the continuous paper 101 is to be stacked, a plate-shaped regulating member 218 with which the leading edge or crease of the continuous paper 101 contacts, and continuous paper And a paddle unit 219 for holding the end of 101. The swing guide unit 212 is in a certain angular range around the fulcrum shaft 212C based on a control signal from the controller 240 (see FIG. 4) in synchronization with the continuous paper 101 being conveyed downward by the paper discharge unit 217. It can be swung by. As a result, the continuous paper 101 is stacked on the stacker table 210 in a knot-fold manner. The stacker table 210 is moved downward along the columnar guide member 230 as the continuous paper 101 is stacked.
[0021]
When printing is performed by an electrophotographic process, the surface of the photosensitive drum 213 is first cleaned and discharged by the cleaning / erasure unit 208 and then uniformly charged by the charging unit 204. The surface of the photosensitive drum is irradiated with laser light from the print head 205 to form an electrostatic latent image. Subsequently, the developing unit 206 attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. Next, the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 207 onto the sheet sent to the transfer position of the photosensitive drum 213 by the tractor unit 215. Subsequently, a sheet is conveyed from the photosensitive drum 213 to the fixing unit 209 by the suction unit 216, and the toner image transferred onto the sheet is fixed by the fixing unit 209. After the fixing process, the fixed sheet is finally sent to the lower stacker unit 300 by the paper discharge unit 217 and stacked on the stacker table 210 in a twisted manner.
[0022]
FIG. 3 shows a flow of control processing for executing a print job by this printer. This control process is executed by the cooperation of the controller 202 shown in FIG. 2 and the controller 240 shown in FIG.
[0023]
i) As shown in FIG. 3, the process waits until a job request is received (S401). When a print job is received, the following control process corresponding to the received print job is started (S402). That is, it is first determined whether the printer mode is set to “normal mode” or “visible mode” (S403).
[0024]
It is to be noted that an operator gives an instruction in advance according to his / her preference through an operation panel (not shown) provided on the upper portion of the main body 201 as a switching means or through the controller 202 shown in FIG. Is set to either “normal mode” or “visible mode”.
[0025]
If the printer mode is set to “normal mode” in step S403, processing similar to the conventional processing (see FIG. 6) is performed (S411). That is, the continuous paper 101 is fed from the outside P0 of the main body 201 and the continuous paper 101 is conveyed by the conveying means 215, 216, 231 and 217, and the printing process at the transfer position P1 is performed until the print job is completed. Then, a fixing process is performed by the fixing unit 709 (at this time, the rear end position of the toner image is a position P3 shown in FIG. 7). Then, as preparation for the second print job following the print job (referred to as the first print job), the portion 101b (see FIG. 6) following the last page 101a by the first print job is the transfer position P1. The continuous paper 101 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the discharge direction by the conveying means 215, 216, 231 and 217 until it returns to just before the time. Thereafter (S410 in FIG. 3), the process returns to the original job request waiting state (S401).
[0026]
ii ) On the other hand, if the printer mode is set to “visible mode” in step S403 in FIG. 3, the received print job is the first print job for the continuous paper 101 (printed from the leading edge of the continuous paper 101). It is determined whether the job is a job to be performed (S404).
[0027]
If the received print job is the first print job for the continuous paper 101 (YES in S404), the continuous paper 101 is fed from the outside P0 of the main body 201, and the conveying means 215, 216, 231, While the continuous paper 101 is conveyed by 217, the printing process at the transfer position P1 (S406, S407) and the fixing process by the fixing unit 709 (S408) are performed until the print job is completed. Then, the conveyance means 215, 216, 231 and 217 are controlled so that the last page 101a of the first print job on the continuous paper 101 is automatically reached to the standby position P2 visible from the outside of the main body 201 as shown in FIG. Transport and stop. Thereafter (S410 in FIG. 3), the process returns to the original job request waiting state (S401).
[0028]
On the other hand, if the received print job is not the first print job for the continuous paper 101 in step S404 (NO in S404), the print job (this is called the second print job) is received. As shown in FIG. 4, the last page 101a by the print job executed immediately before (referred to as the first print job) exists at the standby position P2. Therefore, until the portion 101b (see FIG. 6) following the last page 101a by the first print job returns to the position immediately before the transfer position P1, the conveying means 215, 216, 231 and 217 reverse the discharge direction of the continuous paper 101. In the direction (S405). Subsequently, while the continuous paper 101 is conveyed in the forward direction by the conveying means 215, 216, 231 and 217, the printing process at the transfer position P1 until the second print job is completed, and the fixing process by the fixing unit 709. I do. Then, the transporting means 215, 216, 231 and 217 are controlled so that the last page of the second print job on the continuous paper 101 is automatically reached to the standby position P2 visible from the outside of the main body 201 as shown in FIG. Transport and stop. Thereafter (S410 in FIG. 3), the process returns to the original job request waiting state (S401).
[0029]
In this case, while the printer is in a job request standby state, the operator can display the last page 101a of the print job executed immediately before from the outside of the main body 201 without performing a manual operation for reverse conveyance. Can see. Therefore, convenience for the user is improved.
[0030]
Further, when the second print job following the first print job is received, the continuous paper 101 is continued until the portion 101b (see FIG. 6) following the last page 101a by the first print job returns immediately before the transfer position P1. Is conveyed in the direction opposite to the discharge direction (S405), so that the portion 101b of the continuous paper 101 following the last page 101a of the first print job is not provided with a blank, and the second print job. Printing can be performed. Therefore, user convenience is further improved.
[0031]
In this embodiment, the stacker unit 300 (including the swing guide unit 212) is detachably provided as an optional device at the end of the conveyance path for discharging the continuous paper 101. However, the stacker unit 300 is attached. The transport distance from the printing position P1 inside the main body 201 to the appropriate standby position P2 changes between the performed state and the removed state. In such a case, it is desirable to provide detection means for detecting whether or not the stacker unit 300 is mounted, and to set the standby position P2 variably according to the detection result. In such a case, regardless of whether or not the stacker unit 300 is provided, the standby position P2 can be automatically set to an appropriate position on the transport path, that is, a position that can be easily seen from the outside of the main body 201. . Therefore, user convenience is further improved.
[0032]
FIG. 5 shows another control processing flow for executing a print job by this printer. This control process is executed in cooperation with the controller 202 shown in FIG. 2 and the controller 240 shown in FIG. 4 in the same manner as the control process described above (FIG. 3).
[0033]
This control process is characterized in that the last page 101a of the executed print job is made to wait at a standby position P2 that can be seen from the outside of the main body 201 for a set standby time. Such a waiting time is preset by an operator through an operation panel (not shown) provided on the top of the main body 201 or through the controller 202 shown in FIG. It is assumed that it is stored by a storage means (not shown) such as a dedicated memory.
[0034]
i) As shown in FIG. 5, the process waits until a job request is received (S501). When a print job is received, the following control process corresponding to the received print job is started (S502). That is, first, it is determined whether the mode of the printer is set to “normal mode” or “visible mode” (S503).
[0035]
If the printer mode is set to “normal mode” in step S503, the same processing as the conventional processing (see FIG. 6) is performed (S511). That is, the continuous paper 101 is fed from the outside P0 of the main body 201 and the continuous paper 101 is conveyed by the conveying means 215, 216, 231 and 217, and the printing process at the transfer position P1 is performed until the print job is completed. Then, a fixing process is performed by the fixing unit 709 (at this time, the rear end position of the toner image is a position P3 shown in FIG. 7). Then, as preparation for the second print job following the print job (referred to as the first print job), the portion 101b (see FIG. 6) following the last page 101a by the first print job is the transfer position P1. The continuous paper 101 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the discharge direction by the conveying means 215, 216, 231 and 217 until it returns to just before the time. Thereafter (S510 in FIG. 5), the process returns to the original job request waiting state (S501).
[0036]
ii ) On the other hand, if the printer mode is set to “visible mode” in step S503 in FIG. 5 (NO in S503), the continuous paper 101 is fed from the outside P0 of the main body 201, and the conveying means 215 , 216, 231 and 217, while carrying the continuous paper 101, the printing process at the transfer position P1 (S504, S505) and the fixing process by the fixing unit 709 (S506) until the first print job is completed. Do. Then, the conveying means 215, 216, 231 and 217 are controlled, and the last page 101a of the first print job on the continuous paper 101 is reached to the standby position P2 visible from the outside of the main body 201 as shown in FIG. It is automatically conveyed and stopped (S507).
[0037]
Then, the last page 101a of the first print job is made to wait at the standby position P2 for the set standby time. When the waiting time has elapsed (YES in S508), the conveying means 215, 216, and 231 until the portion 101b (see FIG. 6) following the last page 101a of the first print job returns immediately before the transfer position P1. , 217, the continuous paper 101 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the discharge direction (S509). Thereafter (S510 in FIG. 5), the process returns to the original job request waiting state (S501).
[0038]
In this case, the operator can view the last page 101a of the first print job on the continuous paper 101 from the outside of the main body 201 during the standby time. In addition, after the waiting time has elapsed, the portion 101b following the last page 101a of the first print job is returned to the position immediately before the transfer position P1, and the second print job following the first print job is waited for. When received, printing by the second print job can be immediately performed on the portion 101b of the continuous paper 101 following the last page 101a by the first print job. Therefore, user convenience is further improved.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above, according to the continuous paper printer of the present invention, the final page of the print job can be viewed from the outside of the main body without the operator performing manual operation. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a continuous paper printer to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional structure of the continuous paper printer.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for executing a print job by the continuous paper printer.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a standby state according to the flow of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another control process for executing a print job by the continuous paper printer.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for executing a print job by a conventional continuous paper printer.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a standby state according to the flow of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
P1 Transfer position P2 Standby position 101 Continuous paper 201 Printer body 213 Photosensitive drum

Claims (4)

Printing means for printing on continuous paper at a printing position provided inside the main unit according to a received print job;
Conveying means for supplying the continuous paper to the printing position, and discharging the continuous paper printed by the printing means to the outside of the main body through a conveying path provided inside the main body;
Control means for controlling the conveying means to print the last page by the print job on the continuous paper and then wait for the last page to be conveyed to a position visible from the outside of the main body; and
Detecting means for detecting whether an optional device is provided in the transport path for discharging the continuous paper;
A waiting position setting means for setting by varying the position for waiting the continuous paper in accordance with the detection result by the upper Symbol detection means,
A continuous paper printer. The continuous paper printer according to claim 1.
When the control means receives the second print job following the first print job, the transport means until the portion of the continuous paper following the last page by the first print job returns to the print position. A continuous paper printer that controls to convey the continuous paper in a direction opposite to the discharge direction. The continuous paper printer according to claim 1.
A switching unit that switches between a mode in which a portion following the last page by the print job on the continuous paper is returned to the print position and in a standby mode and a mode in which the last page is transported to a position where it can be seen from the outside of the main body and in a standby mode; A continuous paper printer characterized by that. The continuous paper printer according to claim 1 .
A storage means for storing the set waiting time;
In the mode in which the control unit conveys and waits for the last page to a position where it can be seen from the outside of the main body, the control unit waits for the last page by the print job on the continuous paper for the waiting time, and then the continuous paper. A continuous paper printer which controls to return the portion following the last page to the print position and wait.

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