JP3997821B2 - Printer and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer having a cutter mechanism for cutting continuous paper and a control method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Printers having a cutter mechanism that automatically cuts the leading end of continuous paper discharged after printing have become widespread. In this type of printer, a DC motor having a large driving torque for the size of the outer shape is often used as a power source. Some are equipped with a stepping motor, but because of the heavy load on the cutter, a large stepping motor is installed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional printer described above has a cutter motor in addition to the paper feed motor, and it is necessary to employ a motor having a large torque as the cutter motor. Therefore, it is necessary to mount two motors in one printer, and there is a problem that the size is small and the cost cannot be reduced.
[0004]
The purpose of the present invention is to enable the use of a motor with a smaller driving torque than before by controlling the speed of the cutter motor in accordance with the driving load of the cutter mechanism, and also to share the motor used for both paper feeding and the cutter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure and enabling a control method thereof.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The printer of the present invention for achieving the above object, a paper feed roller for sending a continuous sheet, a print head for printing on the continuous paper, is disposed on the downstream side of the print head, a cutter for cutting the continuous paper comprises a stepping motor as a drive source of the cutter, a counting means for counting the driving amount of the stepping motor, depending on the count value of said counting means, and speed control means for varying the speed of the stepping motor, The speed control unit is configured such that the cutter is at a first speed from a standby position to a position immediately before starting cutting of the continuous paper, and is slower than the first speed to a position immediately after finishing cutting of the continuous paper. The stepping motor is configured to drive at a second speed .
[0006]
According to this, until the cutter blade contacts the continuous paper for a load applied to the motor is small, speed as compared to the second speed causes faster but move the cutter at a low output torque first speed, it is possible to drive the cutter at a second speed after the cutter blade comes into contact with the continuous paper. That is, it is possible to perform a reliable cutting operation with a motor having a minimum capability and improve the throughput of the cutting operation.
[0007]
Further, the speed control means is configured so that the cutter moves at a third speed that is faster than the second speed and lower than the first speed from a position immediately after the continuous paper cutting is finished to the standby position . The stepping motor may be driven. According to this, after cutting the continuous paper speed compared to the second speed towards the standby position fast but it is possible to move the cutter at a low output torque third speed, further cutting operations It is also possible to improve the throughput.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of the printer showing a state in which the lid is closed, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer in a state where the lid is open, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the printer. As shown in these drawings, the printer 10 is covered with a housing 11 and includes a storage unit 12 for storing a roll of continuous paper P therein. An opening 13 is formed above the storage unit 12, and the continuous paper P is exchanged through the opening 13. The opening 13 is opened and closed by a lid body 14 that is rotatable up and down with the rear end side as a fulcrum. A slit-shaped paper discharge port 15 is formed between the front end portion of the lid 14 and the front end edge of the opening portion 13, and one end side of the continuous paper P held rotatably in the storage portion 12 is the paper. It is pulled out from the paper discharge outlet 15 through the path 16. On the paper path 16, a thermal print head 17, a platen roller (paper feed roller) 18 that conveys the continuous paper P at a position facing the print head 17, and a cutter that cuts the continuous paper P downstream thereof. A mechanism 19a (cutter unit 19) is arranged. When the printer 10 receives a print command, the print head 17 prints the continuous paper P while feeding the continuous paper P by the platen roller 18. When the printed continuous paper P is discharged from the paper discharge port 15, the cutter mechanism 19a is operated, and the printed portion of the continuous paper P is provided to the user as cut paper.
[0009]
4 is an overall perspective view of the printer unit, FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the printer unit (cutter-related members are omitted) in a state where the lid is closed, and FIG. 6 is a printer unit (in which the lid is closed). FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer unit (the cutter-related member is omitted) in a state where the lid is open, and FIG. 8 is the printer unit of FIG. 7 (the cutter-related member is omitted). It is the perspective view which looked at from another angle. As shown in these drawings, the printing / cutter mechanism portion of the printer 10 is unitized as a printer unit 20. The printer unit 20 includes a print head unit 21 provided on the printer main body side (housing 11 side), a platen unit (paper feeding unit) 22 provided on the lid body 14 side, and an upper side (downstream side) of the print head unit 21. And a fixed blade 19b provided along the upper side of the platen unit 22. Thereby, in the state where the lid 14 is opened, the platen roller 18 and the fixed blade 19b are retracted, and the paper path 16 is opened. That is, when replacing the continuous paper P, the lid 14 is opened and the continuous paper P is stored in the storage unit 12, and then one end side of the continuous paper P is pulled out of the housing 11, and in this state the lid By closing 14, the continuous paper P is set along the paper path 16.
[0010]
The platen unit 22 includes a platen frame 23 that is fixed to the lower surface of the front end of the lid body 14, a platen shaft 24 that is rotatably supported by the platen frame 23, and a lock that rotates back and forth about the platen shaft 24. A member 25 and a lock member biasing spring 26 that biases the lock member 25 rearward are configured. As shown in FIG. 9, the platen frame 23 is formed in a square shape when viewed from the front, and has platen support holes 23 b having long holes in the side plate portions 23 a on both the left and right sides. The platen shaft 24 is integrally provided with the platen roller 18 at an intermediate portion, and a platen gear 27 is integrally provided at a left end portion. The left and right ends of the platen shaft 24 pass through the platen support hole 23 b and are supported by the platen frame 23 via bearing members 28. The bearing member 28 is wider than usual, and its inner end extends to the platen roller 18 side.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 10, the lock member 25 is formed in a square shape when viewed from the front, and includes lock levers 25 a on both left and right sides thereof. The lock lever 25a is integrally formed with an engagement hook 25b, a stopper piece 25c, a spring locking piece 25d, a lock release piece 25e, and a rotation support hole 25f. The rotation support hole 25f is formed in the bearing member 28. The lock member 25 is supported so as to be pivotable back and forth about the platen shaft 24 by being externally fitted so as to be pivotable. The lock member biasing spring 26 is interposed in a tensioned state between a spring locking piece 23c formed at the rear end of the platen frame 23 and a spring locking piece 25d of the lock lever 25a. The lock lever 25a urged rearward by the lock member urging spring 26 is restricted from being further rotated backward by the stopper piece 25c coming into contact with the stopper piece 23d on the platen frame 23 side. At this time, the engagement hook 25 b is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lid body 14 and is prevented from protruding from the tip of the lid body 14.
[0012]
The print head unit 21 includes a print head frame 29 fixed to the printer main body side, a print head support member 30 provided on the print head frame 29 so as to be rotatable forward and backward, and the print head support member 30 on the platen roller 18 side. And a drive system 32 that drives the platen roller 18 and the cutter mechanism 19a. The print head frame 29 is formed in a square shape when viewed from the front, and at the rear end thereof is a stepped shape that guides the continuous paper P drawn from the storage unit 12 between the print head 17 and the platen roller 18. A paper guide 29a is formed. The print head frame 29 has fitting grooves 29c in the left and right side plate portions 29b. When the lid body 14 is closed, the left and right bearing members 28 are fitted into the fitting grooves 29c from above.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the print head support member 30 is formed in a square shape in plan view, and the print head 17 is integrally bonded to a head support surface 30 a facing the platen roller 18. The The thermal print head 17 has a flat plate shape having a predetermined thickness, and a print line (heating element) 17a is formed on the upper end of the front face in the left-right direction. This type of print head 17 is required to press the continuous paper P against the print line 17a in order to ensure the print quality. In order to meet this requirement, the print head support member 30 is provided on the print head frame 29 via the head rotation shaft 33 so as to be able to rotate back and forth, and the print head 17 is moved by the urging force of the head urging spring 31. 18 to be pressed against. The print head support member 30 includes arm portions 30b extending rearward on both the left and right sides. The left and right arm portions 30b are formed with fitting grooves 30c into which the left and right bearing members 28 are fitted from above when the lid body 14 is closed, and come into contact with the bearing members 28 to form the print head support member 30 ( A protruding contact portion 30d for temporarily retracting the print head 17) from the platen roller 18 is integrally formed. Further, in the left and right arm portions 30b, a rotation support hole 30e is formed at a position near the lower portion of the fitting groove 30c. The head rotation shaft 33 penetrating through the rotation support hole 30e is offset rearward from the print surface of the print head 17 (close to the rotation fulcrum of the lid body 14), and both ends thereof are the lock levers. This is also used as a lock shaft with which the engagement hook 25b of 25a is engaged. The head biasing spring 31 is interposed between the pair of left and right spring support pieces 29 d erected on the print head frame 29 and the print head support member 30 in a compressed state. The print head support member 30 urged rearward by the head urging spring 31 has a stopper piece 30f projecting from both left and right ends of the print head support member 30. Backward rotation is restricted.
[0014]
13 is an exploded perspective view of the printer unit, FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the drive system, FIG. 15 is a bottom view showing the drive system, and FIG. 16 is a side view of the gear train showing the paper feed drive state. 17 is a side view of the gear train showing the cutter driving state. As shown in these drawings, the drive system 32 includes a step motor 34 (hereinafter referred to as a motor) and a cutter drive mechanism 35 provided in the back space S of the print head 17 in the print head frame 29, and the power of the motor 34. Is configured to include a gear train (drive switching mechanism) 36 that selectively transmits to the platen gear 27 and the cutter drive mechanism 35. The gear train 36 includes a paper feed transmission gear 37 that meshes with the platen gear 27 when the lid 14 is closed, a cutter transmission gear 39 provided on the input shaft 38 of the cutter drive mechanism 35, and a motor shaft of the motor 34. The sun gear 40 provided in 34a and a pair of planetary gears 41 and 42 that are always meshed with the sun gear 40 are provided. The pair of planetary gears 41 and 42 are rotatably provided at both ends of the planetary lever 43 that rotates about the motor shaft 34 a, and is allowed to revolve along the outer periphery of the sun gear 40. As shown in FIG. 16, when the sun gear 40 rotates in the A direction (first direction), the paper feeding planetary gear 41 revolves in the A direction and meshes with the paper feeding transmission gear 37. In this state, the power of the motor 34 is transmitted to the platen gear 27 via the sun gear 40, the paper feeding planetary gear 41 and the paper feeding transmission gear 37, and the paper feeding by the platen roller 18 is performed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17, when the sun gear 40 rotates in the B direction (second direction), the planetary gear 42 for cutter revolves in the B direction and meshes with the transmission gear 39 for cutter. In this state, the power of the motor 34 is transmitted to the cutter drive mechanism 35 via the sun gear 40, the cutter planetary gear 42, and the cutter transmission gear 39, and the cutter mechanism 19 a is operated by the cutter drive mechanism 35.
[0015]
The cutter drive mechanism 35 includes an input shaft 38 disposed in parallel with the platen roller 18 and the motor shaft 34 a, a worm 45 provided integrally with the input shaft 38, and a worm wheel 46 that meshes with the worm 45. And is arranged in the back space S of the print head 17 as described above. The input shaft 38 is rotatably supported between a front end portion of the left side plate portion 29 b in the print head frame 29 and a cut-and-raised piece 29 f erected at the front end intermediate portion of the print head frame 29. The worm wheel 46 is rotatably supported by the print head frame 29 via a wheel shaft 47 that faces in the vertical direction. A connecting pin 48 projects from the upper surface eccentric position of the worm wheel 46, and the cutter driving mechanism 35 is connected to the cutter mechanism 19a via the connecting pin 48. As shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, a position detection cam 49 is integrally provided on the lower surface side of the worm wheel 46, and a position detection switch (cutting operation) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cam 49. The detection lever 51 of the completion detection means 50 is contacted in the biased state. The cam 49 is formed with a recess 49a for detecting the end position (start position) of the cutting operation in the cutter mechanism 19a. When the recess 49a reaches the position of the detection lever 51 during the cutter operation, as will be described later. The accompanying lever displacement is detected by the position detection switch 50 (OFF → ON), and the drive of the motor 34 is stopped.
[0016]
The cutter unit 19 includes a thin cutter frame 52 and a movable blade 53 that is provided on the cutter frame 52 so as to be pivotable forward and backward, and is arranged on the print head unit 21 in a superposed manner. The cutter frame 52 is formed with a circular opening 52a along the movement locus of the connecting pin 48, and the connecting pin 48 projects into the cutter unit 19 through the opening 52a. The movable blade 53 has a long hole-like connecting hole 53a, and the connecting pin 48 is engaged with the connecting hole 53a. That is, when the worm wheel 46 makes one rotation, the movable blade 53 is configured to reciprocate once in a predetermined rotation range following the movement of the connecting pin 48. The continuous paper P is cut by sliding contact with 19b like scissors.
[0017]
FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing input / output of the control unit. As shown in this figure, the printer 10 includes a control unit 54 including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. In addition to the print head 17, motor 34, and position detection switch 50 described above, the control unit 54 is connected to a display unit 55 for displaying a status message such as an error message. The print head 17, the motor 34, and the display unit 55 are controlled according to the command. That is, the control unit 54 includes a function (speed control means) for controlling the moving speed of the movable blade 53 of the present invention. Hereinafter, a procedure for controlling the speed of the cutter, which is a main part of the present invention, will be described.
[0018]
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing cutter control. The cutter control shown in this figure is executed in response to a continuous paper cutting command from the host computer. In the cutter control, first, 0 is set in the variable n as the step number storage means (S2301), and the initial speed AA is set in the variable SP as the motor speed set value storage means (S2302). Next, while driving the motor 34 step by step in the B direction (S2303), the variable n is incremented (counted up) (S2304) and the variable n is monitored (S2305).
[0019]
If the variable n reaches the first set step number α, the motor speed variable SP is changed to the second set speed BB (S2306). Here, the set step number α is the number of steps corresponding to the amount of movement of the movable blade 53 from the standby position to the position immediately before starting the continuous sheet cutting. (Equivalent to the amount of rotation of the connecting pin 48 shown in FIG. 18 by θ1 from the standby position)
After changing the speed of the motor 34 to the second set speed BB, the variable n is further monitored (S2307). If the variable n reaches the third set step number β, the motor speed variable SP is changed to the third set speed CC (may be the same as the initial value) (S2308). The number of steps corresponds to the amount of movement of the movable blade 53 from the standby position to the position immediately after the continuous sheet cutting is finished (corresponding to the amount of rotation of the connecting pin 48 shown in FIG. 18 by θ2 from the standby position). )
After changing the speed of the motor 34 to the third set speed CC, the variable n is further monitored (S2309). If the variable n reaches the end step number γ, the motor is stopped (S2310). Here, the end step number γ is the required number of steps of the motor 34 required for one cutting operation, and is the number of steps corresponding to the amount of one rotation of the connecting pin 48 in FIG. The relationship between the set speeds is as follows: second set speed BB <first set speed AA, second set speed BB < third set speed CC ≦ first set speed AA. That is, it is possible to drive the motor 34 in the B direction, change from the α point at which the driving load of the movable blade 53 is increased to the speed at which the torque is increased, and return to the original speed from the β point at which the load is reduced to be driven. Become.
[0020]
Next, another example of cutter control will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating another example of cutter control. The cutter control shown in this figure is executed in response to a continuous paper cutting command from the host computer. In the cutter control, first, the variable n is set to 0 and the motor speed variable SP is derived from the conversion table (S2407), and the drive speed TB (n) that matches the variable n is derived (in this case TB (0)).
[0021]
Next, while driving the motor 34 step by step in the B direction (S2402), the variable n is incremented (counted up) (S2403) and the motor speed variable SP is converted into the motor speed variable SP from the conversion table (S2407). TB (n) is derived and entered (S2404), and the variable n is monitored (S2405). If the variable n is the number of end steps γ (cutter stop position), the motor is stopped (S2406). That is, it becomes possible to drive the motor 34 in the B direction based on the conversion table (S2407) in which the drive speed is set according to the load fluctuation in advance.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to use a small step motor, which could not be used conventionally, as a power source for driving the cutter by realizing motor drive speed control in accordance with load fluctuations in the cutter mechanism, By using planetary gears that are selectively transmitted to the paper feed roller and cutter mechanism, the paper feed motor and cutter motor are shared, eliminating the need for a dedicated cutter motor, reducing the number of parts, and simplifying the structure. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer showing a state in which a lid is closed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer showing a state in which a lid is opened.
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the printer.
FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of a printer unit.
FIG. 5 is a partial side view of a printer unit (cutter-related members are omitted) in a state where a lid is closed.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a printer unit (a cutter-related member is omitted) in a state where a lid is closed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a printer unit (cutter-related members are omitted) in a state where a lid is open.
8 is a perspective view of the printer unit of FIG. 7 (cutter-related members are omitted) viewed from another angle.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a platen frame.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lock member.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a print head support member.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a print head support member provided with a print head.
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the printer unit.
FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a drive system.
FIG. 15 is a bottom view showing a drive system.
FIG. 16 is a side view of a gear train showing a paper feed driving state.
FIG. 17 is a side view of a gear train showing a cutter driving state.
FIG. 18 is a plan view of a worm wheel and a position detection switch showing a cutting operation start position (end position).
FIG. 19 is a plan view of the worm wheel and the position detection switch immediately after the start of the cutting operation.
FIG. 20 is a plan view of a worm wheel and a position detection switch showing a cutting operation.
FIG. 21 is a plan view of the worm wheel and the position detection switch immediately before the end of the cutting operation.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating input / output of a control unit.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing cutter control.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing another example of cutter control.
[Explanation of symbols]
P Continuous paper 10 Printer 11 Housing 12 Storage unit 14 Lid 15 Paper discharge port 16 Paper path 17 Print head 18 Platen roller 19 Cutter unit 19a Cutter mechanism 19b Fixed blade 20 Printer unit 21 Print head unit 22 Platen unit 24 Platen shaft 27 Platen gear 29 Print head frame 32 Drive system 34 Motor 34a Motor shaft 35 Cutter drive mechanism 36 Gear train 37 Paper feed gear 39 Cutter gear 40 Sun gear 41 Paper feed planet gear 42 Cutter planet gear 43 Planetary lever 44 Handle 45 Worm 46 Worm wheel 48 Connecting pin 49 Cam 50 Position detection switch 52 Cutter frame 53 Movable blade 54 Control unit

Claims (4)

A paper feed roller for feeding continuous paper ,
A print head for printing on the continuous paper ;
A cutter disposed on the downstream side of the print head and cutting the continuous paper;
A method of controlling a printer including a stepping motor as a drive source of the cutter,
The cutter moves at a first speed from a standby position to a position immediately before starting cutting of the continuous paper, and at a second speed slower than the first speed to a position immediately after finishing cutting of the continuous paper. The printer control method is characterized in that the stepping motor is driven while counting its drive amount . The driving amount of the stepping motor is adjusted so that the cutter moves at a third speed that is faster than the second speed and lower than the first speed from a position immediately after the end of cutting the continuous paper to the standby position. The printer control method according to claim 1, wherein the printer is driven while counting . A paper feed roller for feeding continuous paper ,
A print head for printing on the continuous paper ;
A cutter disposed on the downstream side of the print head and cutting the continuous paper;
A stepping motor as a drive source of the cutter,
Counting means for counting the driving amount of the stepping motor;
A speed control means for changing the speed of the stepping motor according to the count value of the counting means ,
The speed control unit is configured such that the cutter is at a first speed from a standby position to a position immediately before starting cutting of the continuous paper, and is slower than the first speed to a position immediately after finishing cutting of the continuous paper. A printer , wherein the stepping motor is driven to move at a second speed . The speed control means is configured so that the stepping is performed so that the cutter moves at a third speed that is faster than the second speed and lower than the first speed from a position immediately after the continuous paper is cut to the standby position. The printer according to claim 3 , wherein the motor is driven.

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