JP3883821B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer that prints characters / barcodes by physical distribution, apparel, meter reading, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal printer that feeds a cut sheet using a reflection sensor (or a transmission sensor) is known.
[0003]
When cut sheet paper is used as the first method, while feeding manually inserted sheet paper, the output level of these sensors is monitored by a reflection sensor (or transmission sensor), and When the edge is removed from the sensor, the auto-feed is completed in which the sheet paper is fed back by one sheet and stopped at the position where the leading position of the sheet paper comes around the heating element of the thermal head. Then, the thermal head is energized to perform printing.
[0004]
On the other hand, when cut sheet paper is not used, cut sheet paper and cut sheet paper are fed while always detecting the gap or black mark between the cut sheet paper and the black mark with a sensor. When a gap between the two is detected, the single sheet is fed back by one sheet, and the auto feed is completed. Then, the thermal head is energized to perform printing.
[0005]
As a second method, a permeation sensor is provided on the outside of the thermal head, that is, at the exit of the cut sheet paper, the cut sheet paper inserted by manual feeding is fed, and the cut sheet conveyed by this feed processing is When this is detected by the transmission sensor when it comes out from the outlet, it cuts back the single-sheet paper that is too far from the outlet and stops at the position where the top of the single-sheet paper comes around the heating element of the thermal head. To complete auto-feed. Then, the thermal head is energized to perform printing.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the first and second methods described above have the following problems. That is, in the first method, after inserting the cut sheet manually, the end of the cut sheet is detected by feeding the cut sheet, so after feeding about one sheet of cut sheet, The backsheet is fed back to the regular position. In this way, about one sheet of sheet paper is fed after manual insertion of the sheet sheet, and further back-feeded, so that the sheet sheet is fed back and forth before the printing of the sheet sheet is started. Therefore, there is a problem that the life of the transport system such as a platen is also affected. Furthermore, there is a problem that the throughput until printing is greatly affected.
[0007]
Furthermore, in the second method, there is little wasted feed as in the first method, but it is necessary to attach a dedicated transmission sensor to the cut sheet paper outlet. Since this transmission sensor needs to be attached to the outside rather than the inside of the printer, it is susceptible to the influence of external light and the like, so that the accuracy of the transmission sensor deteriorates.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer that minimizes wasteful feeding of cut sheets and that does not require a special transmission sensor to be attached to the outside.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The thermal printer according to claim 1 is a transport path for transporting a cut sheet, a thermal head provided in the transport path, and a platen that faces the thermal head and transports the cut sheet along the transport path. And mark detecting means for detecting a mark provided on the upstream side of the thermal head on the conveyance path and detecting a mark provided in the middle of the cut sheet and the cut sheet, and whether the cut sheet is inserted. A detection means for detecting whether or not the mark detection means detects the leading edge or the like, and when the insertion of the cut sheet is detected by the detection means, the platen starts to convey the cut sheet a conveyance start means, in response to said by that the cut sheet paper during the mark detection mark detecting means, and and a backward feed means for only backfeed specified amount of the single-cut sheet And wherein the door.
[0010]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a mark in the middle of a cut sheet is detected by the mark detecting means, the cut sheet is back-feeded by a specified amount. Here, the distance fed from the leading edge of the cut sheet to the mark position provided in the middle of the cut sheet is defined as the prescribed amount. That is, the amount that has been postponed until the mark provided in the middle of the cut sheet is detected is back-fed so that printing can be performed from the top of the cut sheet. At this time, since the mark is provided in the middle of the cut sheet, it is possible to reduce the amount of back feed for the portion that has been forwarded until the mark provided in the middle of the cut sheet is detected.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 is a transport path for transporting the cut sheet, a print head provided in the transport path, a platen that faces the print head and transports the cut sheet along the transport path, A first light reflection that is disposed upstream of the print head on the conveyance path and in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the cut sheet, and detects a mark provided at the leading end of the cut sheet or the like. A sensor and a second light reflection sensor for detecting a mark provided in the middle of the cut sheet, and detecting whether or not the cut sheet is inserted according to the mark detection by the first light reflection sensor In response to mark detection by the second light reflection sensor, detection means for detecting, insertion of the cut sheet paper detected by the detection means, conveyance start means for starting conveyance of the cut sheet paper by the platen Stipulates the cut sheet Characterized by comprising a back feed means for only backfeed.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a system configuration diagram of a thermal printer will be described with reference to FIG.
[0013]
In FIG. 2, 11 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The system bus 11a from the CPU 11 has a flash ROM 12, a static RAM (random access memory) 13, a feed button 14, a power switch 15, a power supply unit 16, and a transparency provided in the vicinity of a cut sheet insertion slot 31 to be described later. A sensor 17, a first reflection sensor 18 for detecting the leading end of a normal label, a second reflection sensor 19 for auto feed, a head control unit 20, a motor control unit 21, and a communication I / F (interface) 22 are connected. ing. Here, the first reflection sensor 18 and the second reflection sensor 19 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the cut sheet 43 as shown in FIG. The positional relationship between the first reflection sensor 18 and the second reflection sensor 19 will be described later with reference to FIG. As described above, since the first reflection sensor 18 and the second reflection sensor are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the cut sheet 43, the first and second reflection sensors are attached to one mounting member. 18 and 19 can be attached. Therefore, assembly is easy.
[0014]
Further, a thermal head 23 is connected to the head controller 20, and a pulse motor 24 is connected to the motor controller 21. This is a motor for controlling the rotation of the platen 42 and other transport rollers in FIG. 1 by the rotation of the pulse motor 24. By controlling the number of pulses sent to the pulse motor 24, the cut sheet 43 is fed. The amount is determined.
[0015]
Next, a perspective view of the thermal printer will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, 31 is a cut sheet insertion slot. The cut sheet inserted from the cut sheet insertion port 31 is transported through the thermal printer 21, printed by a thermal head (not shown) in the thermal printer 21, and then discharged from the cut sheet discharge port 32. Is done. Reference numeral 33 denotes a connector connected to the communication I / F 22 described above.
[0016]
Next, the path from the cut sheet insertion slot 31 to the cut sheet discharge slot 32 of the thermal printer will be described with reference to FIG.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1A, a conveyance path 41 is provided between the cut sheet insertion port 31 and the cut sheet discharge port 32. A thermal head 23 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 41, and a platen 42 is provided at a position facing the thermal head 23. The rotation of the platen 42 is controlled by the pulse motor 24 shown in FIG. Here, 43 is a cut sheet.
[0018]
Reference numeral 44 denotes a mounting position of the first reflection sensor 18 and the second reflection sensor 19. That is, the first reflection sensor 18 and the second reflection sensor 19 are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the cut sheet 43.
[0019]
FIG. 1B is a view of the cut sheet 43 as viewed from above, and the hatched lines indicate black marks printed on the back side of the cut sheet 43. That is, 51 indicates an inter-label mark printed in black over the width a of the cut sheet 43 at the border of one page of the cut sheet 43, and 52 indicates the width of the cut sheet 43 from one end of the cut sheet 43. An auto feeder mark printed black in the direction by b and printed in the middle of the cut sheet 43 is shown. Here, a> b, and the position of the first reflective sensor 18 in the width direction of the cut sheet 43 is set so as not to cross the auto feeder mark 52 when the cut sheet 43 is conveyed. The position of the second reflection sensor 19 is set to cross the inter-label mark 51 and the auto feeder mark 52.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. First, when the power switch 15 is turned on, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is started. First, it is determined whether or not the cut sheet 43 is present (step S1). This determination is performed by detecting the inter-label mark 51 by the first reflection sensor 18. If it is determined “NO” in step S1, the first reflection sensor 18 determines whether the cut sheet 43 is inserted (step S2). While the determination at step S2 is “NO”, the determination at step S2 is repeated.
[0021]
Next, when it is detected in step S2 that the cut sheet 43 has been inserted, the platen 42 starts rotating, and the conveyance of the cut sheet 43 is started (step S3).
[0022]
Then, it is determined whether the cut sheet 43 is conveyed and the auto feed mark 52 is detected by the second reflection sensor 19 (step S4). If “NO” is determined in the determination in step S4, the process in step S4 is repeated again.
[0023]
If “YES” is determined in the determination in step S4, it is determined whether the first reflection sensor 18 also detects a mark (step S5).
[0024]
If “NO” is determined in the determination in step S5, it is determined that no mark is detected. That is, it is determined that the auto feeder mark 52 has been detected. That is, it is determined that the cut sheet 43 has been transported to the position in FIG. In this case, first, the process of feeding the platen 42 forward is stopped (step S6).
[0025]
Next, the platen 42 is rotated in the reverse direction so as to back-feed the cut sheet 43 by a specified amount (step S7). In this way, by feeding back the cut sheet 43 by a specified amount, the top of the cut sheet 43 is returned to the position of the thermal head 23 as shown in FIG. In other words, the specified amount means that the auto-feeder mark 52 is the first as shown in FIG. 1 (D) from the position where the leading edge of the cut sheet 43 reaches below the platen 42 as shown in FIG. 1 (C). The distance A from the leading position of the cut sheet 43 when the cut sheet 43 is fed to the position of the attachment position 44 of the reflection sensor 18 and the second reflection sensor 19 is shown.
[0026]
By the way, when it determines with "YES" by determination of step S5, it returns to the process of step S4 mentioned above.
[0027]
Next, it is determined whether there is a print request (step S8). If “YES” is determined in the determination in step S8, label issuance (printing) is performed (step S9).
[0028]
As described above, when the auto-feeder mark 52 positioned between the cut sheet 43 is detected, back feed is performed. Therefore, after the inter-label mark 51 is detected, back feed is performed more wastefully. Can be reduced. As a result, the throughput until printing can be improved. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to attach a special transmission sensor to the printer unit, it is possible to prevent deterioration in accuracy when the transmission sensor is attached to the outside.
[0029]
In the above embodiment, the determination at steps S1 and S2 is performed by the first reflection sensor 18, but the second reflection sensor 19 may perform the determination.
[0030]
Furthermore, although the above embodiment has been described using cut sheet paper, the same applies to the case of using fanfold paper.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer that minimizes wasteful feeding of paper and does not require a special transmission sensor to be attached to the outside.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a state change diagram for explaining the operation of a thermal printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the thermal printer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thermal printer according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 ... CPU,
12 ... Flash ROM,
13 ... SRAM,
14 ... Feed button,
15 ... Power switch,
16 ... power supply,
17: Transmission sensor,
18 ... first reflection sensor,
19 ... second reflection sensor,
20: Head control unit,
21 ... Motor controller,
22 ... Communication I / F,
23 ... thermal head,
24: Pulse motor.

Claims (2)

A transport path for transporting cut sheets ,
A thermal head provided in the conveyance path;
A platen that opposes the thermal head and conveys the cut sheet along the conveyance path;
A mark detection unit that is disposed on the upstream side of the thermal head on the conveyance path, and that detects a mark provided in the middle of the cut sheet and the leading edge of the cut sheet;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the cut sheet has been inserted in accordance with mark detection of the leading edge or the like by the mark detecting means;
Transport start means for starting transport of the cut sheet paper by the platen when insertion of the cut sheet paper is detected by the detection means;
And back-feed means in response to the single slip paper the middle of the mark detection that due to the mark detection means, the only back feed specified amount the single slip paper,
A thermal printer characterized by comprising: A transport path for transporting cut sheets ,
A print head provided in the transport path;
A platen that opposes the print head and conveys the cut sheet along the conveyance path;
A first light reflection that is disposed upstream of the print head on the conveyance path and in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the cut sheet, and detects a mark provided at the leading end of the cut sheet or the like. A second light reflection sensor for detecting a sensor and a mark provided in the middle of the cut sheet ;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the cut sheet has been inserted in response to the mark detection by the first light reflection sensor;
Transport start means for starting transport of the cut sheet paper by the platen when insertion of the cut sheet paper is detected by the detection means;
Backfeed means for backfeeding the cut sheet by a predetermined amount in response to mark detection by the second light reflection sensor ;
A printer comprising:

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