JP4221869B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to a printer for printing on roll paper.ToRelated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Normally, a printer that prints on roll paper cuts a printed portion when printing for one job is completed.
[0003]
By the way, when printing a certain job on roll paper, in order to confirm the color after printing of this job, a part of this job is set as one job, or a reduced version of this job is set as one job. For example, test printing may be performed with an A4 size much smaller than roll paper. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, when the roll paper is cut every time one job is printed, the blank portion 3 is greatly increased in the cut paper 2, and many portions of the paper are wasted. Become.
[0004]
Therefore, in order to reduce the waste of paper, the user performs the following contrivance so that a plurality of trial jobs are arranged in the width direction of the roll paper 1 as shown in FIG. Yes.
[0005]
In the first method, after creating a plurality of trial jobs, the user uses the layout layout function on the host side to print a plurality of trial jobs side by side in the width direction of the roll paper. In this way, a layout is set for each job, and a plurality of test jobs are printed on the printer at a time.
[0006]
In the second method, after printing a test job, the user manually winds the roll paper so that a new test job can be printed next to the test job on the roll paper. In this method, the print start position of the new test job is specified separately, and the printer prints the new test job.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the first conventional method has a problem that the user has to bother to set a layout for each of a plurality of test jobs, which is very troublesome. Furthermore, since printing is possible only after creating all of the multiple test jobs, for example, after performing a test job, looking at the print result, a new test that changes only the color of this test job When a typical job is desired to be printed, it cannot be printed side by side with the previous test job, resulting in a waste of paper.
[0008]
Further, the second conventional method has a problem that the user has to bother to rewind the roll paper and to separately designate the print start position of a new test job, which is very troublesome.
[0009]
  The present invention has been made paying attention to the conventional problems as described above, and is a printer that can check the color and the like for each job without user's trouble and suppressing paper waste.TThe purpose is to provide.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  A first printer for achieving the object is
BRoll paper width storage means for storing the roll paper width, job paper size storage means for storing the paper size for each job including the paper size of the printed job, and paper feed for feeding and rewinding the roll paper -Rewinding means, width direction development receiving means for accepting a width direction development instruction to print the jobs side by side in the width direction of the roll paper, and the width direction development acceptance means for the width direction development for the specific job When the instruction is received, based on the width of the roll paper stored in the roll paper width storage means, the paper size of the already printed job stored in the job paper size storage means, and the paper size of the specific job Then, it is determined whether the specific job can be printed at the adjacent position in the width direction of the already printed job on the roll paper, and the specific job is printed. If it is determined that it, and the job sheet position allocation means for allocating adjacent position of the width direction of the printed job 該既 on paper the roll as the paper position for printing the specific job,After the specific job is printed on the roll paper, a feed amount calculating means for obtaining a feed amount of the roll paper for exposing the paper height of the specific job from the exterior of the printer;Printing mechanism control means for controlling a printing mechanism including the paper feeding / rewinding means so that the specific job is printed at the paper position assigned by the job paper position assignment means,
  When determining that the specific job cannot be printed at the adjacent position in the width direction of the already printed job on the roll paper, the job paper position assigning unit is configured to print the already printed job with respect to the longitudinal direction of the roll paper. The position that is separated from the head position of the job sheet by a distance equal to or greater than the height of the highest job sheet height among the one or more jobs printed in the width direction is the start position of the sheet of the specific job. Assigned as,
  The paper feeding / rewinding means is configured to rotate and rotate the roller in contact with one surface of the roll paper, a mounting shaft to which the roll paper is attached, and a feed direction for feeding the roll paper. A roller driving mechanism for driving and rotating the roller in a rewinding direction for rewinding the roll paper, and driving and rotating the mounting shaft in a rewinding direction for rewinding the roll paper, and the roll paper by the driving rotation of the roller. And an attachment shaft drive mechanism that rotates the roll paper following the feed direction, and the attachment shaft drive mechanism has a rewind speed in the rewind direction of the attachment shaft. The mounting shaft is driven to rotate so as to be slower than the rewinding speed in the rewinding direction,
  The printing mechanism control means controls the printing mechanism so that the specific job is printed from the leading position of the paper of the specific job.Then, after the specific job is printed on the roll paper, the roll paper corresponding to the rotation amount of the roller is moved so that the roll paper is fed by the feed amount obtained by the feed amount calculation unit. Controlling the paper feeding / rewinding means based on the amount;
  It is characterized by this.
[0012]
  To achieve the purposeSecondThe printer
  SaidFirstIn the printer
  The printing mechanism has a cutter for cutting the roll paper, and a cutter driving means for operating the cutter,
  The feed amount calculating unit determines that the specific job cannot be printed at an adjacent position in the width direction of the already printed job on the roll paper by the job sheet position allocating unit, and the sheet of the specific job When the head position is assigned, the roll paper feed amount or rewind amount is obtained so that the paper start position of the specific job reaches the cutter position, and the printing mechanism control means is configured to calculate the feed amount. The roll paper is operated by operating the cutter driving means after controlling the paper feeding / rewinding means so that the roll paper is fed or rewound by the feed amount or the rewind amount determined by the means. And then printing the specific job from the top position of the paper of the specific job obtained by the job paper position allocating means.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, various embodiments of a printer system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
First, a printer system as a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer system of this embodiment includes a printer host 10 and an inkjet printer 30 that performs printing based on a print command output from the printer host 10.
[0026]
The printer host 10 includes a host main body 11, a display device 12, and a keyboard 13. The host body 11 includes a CPU 20 that executes various programs, a ROM 21 that stores various data and various programs, a RAM 22 that temporarily stores various data and various programs, and a display controller 23 that controls the display device 12. A keyboard controller 24 for controlling the keyboard 13, a floppy disk drive 25, a hard disk drive 26, a CD-ROM drive 27, a printer interface 28, and a network interface 29.
[0027]
The ink jet printer 30 includes a monitor 37, a printing mechanism 40, and a print controller 31 that controls them. The print controller 31 includes a CPU 32 that executes various programs, a ROM 33 that stores various data and various programs, a RAM 34 that temporarily stores various data and various programs, and a monitor controller 35 that controls a monitor 37. And an interface 36.
[0028]
The print mechanism 40 includes a print head 41 that ejects ink of various colors, a head drive / carriage mechanism 42 that drives and moves the print head 42, and a paper feed / rewind mechanism 43 that feeds and rewinds the roll paper 1. And a cutter 48 for cutting the roll paper 1 and a cutter driving mechanism 48 a for driving the cutter 48. Each mechanism 42, 43, 48 a is driven according to a control signal from the controller 31. The paper feed / rewind mechanism 43 includes a feed roller 44 that contacts one surface of the roll paper 1, and a pinch roller 44 a that contacts the other surface of the roll paper 1 and sandwiches the roll paper with the feed rotor 44. , An attachment shaft 45 to which the roll paper 1 is attached, an attachment shaft rotation mechanism 46 that rotates the attachment shaft 45, and a drive mechanism 47 that drives the feed roller 44 and the attachment shaft rotation mechanism 46. The drive mechanism 487 and the feed roller 44 are rotated forward (rotation in the paper feed direction) and reverse (rotation in the rewind direction), and the attachment shaft 45 is reversely rotated (rotation in the rewind direction) via the attachment shaft rotation mechanism 46. Let The attachment shaft rotation mechanism 46 has a one-way mechanism, and transmits only the reverse driving force from the drive mechanism 47 to the attachment shaft 45. The feed roller 44 rotates forward for paper feeding, and roll paper When it is going to pull out the attachment shaft 45, the mounting shaft 45 is configured to be driven to rotate in the forward rotation direction. That is, the feed roller 44 is driven to rotate in both the forward rotation and the reverse rotation, and the mounting shaft 45 is driven to rotate only during the reverse rotation, and is driven to rotate during the normal rotation. Since the roll paper feed amount and the rewind amount are measured by the rotation amount of the feed roller 44, the rewind speed at the time of reverse rotation of the mounting shaft 45 so that the roll paper 1 does not slip with respect to the feed roller 44. Is set to be slower than the rewinding speed at the time of reverse rotation of the feed roller 44.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 2, the printer host 10 includes an operating system 50, an application 51 that creates image data 52, and a printer driver 60 that controls the printer 30 in terms of software. The printer driver 60 includes a user interface 61 for the user to set printing conditions and the like, a command creation unit 66 that creates printing commands and the like according to the printing conditions based on the image data 52 created by the application 51, and command creation. A transmission / reception unit 67 that transmits the command created by the unit 66 to the printer 30. After printing a job on the roll paper, the user interface 61 determines whether or not to execute printing of a specific job at a position adjacent to the job in the roll paper width direction, that is, next to this job. A width direction development designation selection part (width direction development setting means) 62 to be selected by the user, a job paper size selection part (job paper size setting means) 63 to allow the user to select the paper size of the job, and the size of the roll paper 1 A roll paper size selection unit (roll paper size setting unit) 64 to be selected by the user and an automatic cut selection unit 65 to allow the user to select whether or not to automatically operate the cutter 48 of the printer 30 are provided. . Each selection unit of the user interface 61 displays a print condition setting screen as shown in FIG. 6 on the display device 12, and allows the user to select various print conditions.
[0030]
Each software component of the printer host 10 reproduces the CD-ROM 17 (FIG. 1) storing these programs with the CD-ROM drive 27 and installs this program in the hard disk drive 26. Function.
[0031]
The print controller 31 of the inkjet printer 30 includes, as firmware, a transmission / reception unit (width direction development receiving unit) 71 that receives a command from the printer host 10, and a roll paper size storage unit (roll paper) that stores the size of the roll paper 1. Size storage means) 72, a roll paper size storage flag 73 for determining whether or not the roll paper size storage unit 72 has already stored the roll paper size, and a job paper that stores the paper size of the already printed job. A size storage unit (job paper size storage means) 74, a job paper size storage flag 75 for determining whether the job paper size storage unit 74 has already stored the job paper size, and the job paper position as roll paper. Job paper position assigning unit (job paper position assigning means) 76 to be assigned to 1 and roll paper feed And a paper feed / return amount calculation unit (feed amount calculation means) 77 for obtaining the rewind amount, an integrated management unit 78 for managing these in an integrated manner and interpreting the command contents from the printer host 10, and the printing mechanism 40. And a printing mechanism control section (printing mechanism control means) 79 that outputs a control signal. The monitor 37 of the ink jet printer 30 is provided with a paper cut button 37a for operating the cutter 48 and a width direction development designation button 37b, in addition to a print stop button, a print start button, etc., not shown. Yes.
[0032]
Next, the operation of the printer system in this embodiment will be described. The operation of the printer will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0033]
In order to check the color or the like when a user prints a job, a job for only a specific part of the job (hereinafter referred to as job 1) is created by an application, and the width direction development designation selection unit 62 designates the width direction development designation. Assume that the user has instructed printing of this experimental job 1 after the execution. The user selects a roll paper size set in the printer 30 from a plurality of roll paper sizes by the roll paper size selection unit 64 at the time of instructing the printing of the experimental job 1, and the job paper size selection unit 63 performs the test. When a desired paper size for a typical job 1 is selected and the roll paper 1 is to be automatically cut, the automatic cut selection unit 65 selects automatic cut. The width direction development designation can also be performed by the user pressing a width direction development designation button 37 b provided on the monitor 37 of the printer 30. In this case, the integrated management unit 78 of the printer 30 receives the width direction development designation. The command creation unit 66 of the printer host 10 creates a print command that can be interpreted by the printer 30 based on the image data related to the experimental job 1, and transmits the print command to the printer 30 via the transmission / reception unit 67. . The command transmitted to the printer 30 includes the contents selected by the selection units 62 to 65.
[0034]
When the transmission / reception unit 71 of the printer 30 receives a command from the host 10, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the integrated management unit 78 interprets this command and determines whether there is a width direction expansion instruction in this command. (Step 1). If there is no width direction expansion instruction, the process proceeds to step 21 (FIG. 5). If there is a width direction expansion instruction, the integrated management unit 78 determines whether or not the roll paper size storage flag 73 is on (step 2). If the roll paper size storage flag 73 is off, the roll paper width is stored in the roll paper size storage unit 72, then the roll paper size storage flag 73 is turned on (step 3), and the roll paper size storage flag 73 is on. For example, it is determined whether the roll paper width stored in the roll paper size storage unit 72 matches the roll paper width transmitted from the host 10 (step 4). If the roll paper width stored in the roll paper size storage unit 72 and the roll paper width transmitted from the host 10 do not match, the integrated management unit 78 displays on the monitor 37 “Please check the roll paper width”. At the same time, a command for performing the same display is transmitted to the host 10 (step 5).
[0035]
After storing the roll paper width in step 3 and after determining that the roll paper width stored in the roll paper size storage unit 72 and the roll paper width transmitted from the host 10 match in step 4, the integrated management unit 78. Determines whether the job sheet size storage flag is ON (step 6).
[0036]
After the designation of the width direction development in step 1, in the first printing of job 1, the job paper size storage flag 75 is not stored in the job paper size storage unit 74 in which the already printed job paper size is stored. In step 7, the integrated management unit 78 stores the job paper size (height H1, width B1) transmitted from the host 10 in the job paper size storage unit 74 and job paper. The storage flag 75 is turned on (step 7). Thereafter, the printing mechanism control unit 78 converts the print command of job 1 into a control signal and transmits it to the printing mechanism 40, and as shown in FIG. 8, the job 1 is moved to the normal position on the roll paper, that is, Then, print the job 1 on the roll paper with the top position of the roll paper as the top position (X1, Y1) of the paper of the job 1 (step 13). When the job 1 is printed, the paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77 obtains the paper feed amount L2 up to a position where the entire job 1 can be visually observed, and passes this to the printing mechanism control unit 79 to send the paper feed / rewind mechanism 43. Drive. The paper feed / rewind mechanism 43 drives the feed roller 44 to rotate forward, and feeds the roll paper 1 by the paper feed amount L2 obtained by the paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77 (step 14).
[0037]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the entire job 1 comes out of the printer exterior 49 and can be viewed. When the distance from the head reference position to the cutter 48 is a and the distance from the cutter 48 to the exterior 49 is b, as shown in FIG. The paper feed amount L2 from (2) is (a + b). In FIGS. 4A and 4B, Hn is the job sheet height.
[0038]
Next, it is assumed that a print command for printing a test job 2 is input from the printer host 10 next to the job 1 on the roll paper. In this case, the printer 30 performs the processing up to step 6 described above, and since the job paper size storage flag 74 has already been turned on in step 7 of job 1 in this step 6, the integrated management unit 78, it is determined that the job sheet size storage flag 74 is ON. Then, the integrated management unit 78 stores the job paper size (H2, B2) transmitted from the host 10 in the job paper size storage unit 73 (step 8). The job sheet position assignment unit 76 determines whether or not the entire job 2 can be printed even if the job 2 is printed beside the job 1 (step 9). In this determination, it is determined whether the sum (B1 + B2) of the paper width B1 of the job 1 printed so far and the paper width B2 to be printed is equal to or smaller than the width Br of the roll paper. If it is determined that the entire job 2 cannot be printed, the process proceeds to step 15 (FIG. 4). If it is determined that the entire job 2 can be printed, the job sheet position assigning unit 76 further obtains the job sheet start position of this job 2. (Step 10). Here, as shown in FIG. 8, assuming that the roll paper width direction is X, the roll paper length direction is Y, and the job paper head position of job 1 is (X1, Y1), the job of job 2 The paper leading position is (X1 + B1, Y1). Next, the paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77 obtains a paper rewind amount L1 for the job paper leading position Y1 of job 2 to reach the head reference position. The sheet rewinding amount L1 is the distance from the job sheet leading position Y1 in the state of FIG. 7B to the job sheet leading position Y1 in the state of FIG. 7C, so (H1 + a + b) It becomes. The printing mechanism control unit 79 outputs a control signal corresponding to the paper rewinding amount L1 to the paper feeding / rewinding mechanism 43, drives the feed roller 44 and the attachment shaft 45 in reverse, and winds the roll paper 1 by L1. Return (step 11). Subsequently, the printing mechanism control unit 79 drives the control signal corresponding to the head movement amount B1 so that the printing head 41 moves to the paper leading position (X1 + B1) in the roll paper width direction (X direction) obtained in Step 10. Output to the carriage mechanism 42 and move the print head 41 by B1 (step 12). Thereafter, the printing mechanism control unit 78 converts the print command related to the image data of job 2 into a control signal, and as shown in FIG. 8, the job 2 with reference to the paper leading position (X1 + B1, Y1) of job 2 Is printed on the roll paper (step 13). Here, as an example of setting the adjacent position in the width direction of the job 1 already printed on the roll paper as the paper position of the job 2, the position next to the paper of the job 1 and in contact with the paper of the job 1 is set. Although the paper position of job 2 is set, the position of the paper of job 2 may be a position beside the paper of job 1 and slightly away from the paper of job 1 in the horizontal direction. After the job 2 is printed, similarly to the case after the job 1 is printed, the roll paper is fed by the paper feed amount L2, that is, to the position where the entire job 2 can be visually observed (step 14).
[0039]
If it is determined in step 9 that the job sheet position assigning unit 76 cannot print a job to be printed next to a job that has already been printed, the process proceeds to step 15 as shown in FIG. Determines whether or not automatic cutting is set, and if automatic cutting is set, the position of the maximum height Hmax of the job paper among the one or more printed jobs developed in the horizontal direction is the cutter. Paper feed or rewind is performed so as to reach position 48 (step 16). For example, as shown in FIG. 8, after printing to the job 3 in the horizontal direction and further trying to print the job 4, when the process reaches the step 16 through the step 15, the job sheet position assigning unit 76 prints so far. Among the jobs 1, 2, and 3, the position of the maximum job sheet height H3 (= Hmax) is set as the sheet start position of job 4. Then, the paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77 performs the paper feed amount or winding until the position of the maximum job paper height H3 (= Hmax), in other words, the paper leading position of the job 4 reaches the position of the cutter 48. The return amount L3 is obtained by the following equation.
[0040]
L3 = (Hmax + a) − (Hn + a + b)
= Hmax-Hn-b
Hn is the sheet height of the job printed immediately before. Further, when Hmax> Hn + b, paper feeding is performed, and when Hmax <Hn + b, rewinding is performed.
[0041]
When the position of the maximum height Hmax of the job paper reaches the position of the cutter 48, the printing mechanism control unit 79 outputs a control signal to the cutter driving mechanism 49 and causes the cutter 48 to cut the roll paper (step 17). When the roll paper is cut, the paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77 obtains the rewind amount L4 so that the top of the new roll paper reaches the reference position of the print head 41, and the printing mechanism control unit 79 A control signal corresponding to the paper rewind amount L4 is output to the paper feed / rewind mechanism 43, and the feed roller 44 and the attachment shaft 45 are driven in reverse to rewind the roll paper by L4 (step 18). As shown in FIG. 7E, the rewinding amount L4 is a which is the distance from the position of the cutter 48 to the head reference position.
[0042]
When the roll paper is rewound, the integrated management unit 78 erases the paper sizes of the already printed jobs 1, 2, and 3 stored in the job paper size storage unit 74, and the paper size of the job 4 to be printed from now on. Is stored (step 20). Thereafter, the printing mechanism control unit 78 converts the print command related to the image data of the job 4 into a control signal, and the new sheet leading position obtained by the job sheet position allocation unit 76 is used as a reference as shown in FIG. Then, job 4 is printed on roll paper (step 13) (FIG. 3). After the job 4 is printed, the roll paper is sent to a position where the entire job 4 is visible (step 14).
[0043]
If it is determined in step 15 that automatic cutting is not set, the position of the maximum height Hmax of the job sheet of one or more jobs developed in the horizontal direction reaches the head reference position. Then, paper feeding or rewinding is performed (step 19). At this time, the job sheet position assignment unit 76 sets the position of the maximum job sheet height H3 (= Hmax) among the jobs 1, 2, and 3 printed so far as the sheet start position of the job 4. Then, when the paper height of the job printed immediately before is Hn (FIG. 7B), the paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77 has the maximum job paper height as shown in FIG. 7F. The position of H3 (= Hmax), in other words, the paper feed amount or the rewind amount L5 until the paper leading position of job 4 reaches the head reference position is obtained by the following equation.
[0044]
L5 = (Hn + a + b) -Hmax
Thereafter, similarly to the case where the roll paper is automatically cut, the processes of steps 20, 13, and 14 are executed.
[0045]
If it is determined in step 1 that there is no width direction development designation, the integrated management unit 78 determines whether or not the job paper size storage flag 75 is on as shown in FIG. 5 (step 21). If the job paper size storage flag 75 is off, the printing mechanism control unit 79 prints this job (step 22) and ends. If the job sheet size storage flag 75 is ON, the width direction development designation is made for the already printed job, but the width direction development designation is not made for the job to be printed. In this case, the integrated management unit 78 determines whether automatic cutting is set (step 23). If automatic cutting is set, steps 24, 25, and 26 are executed in the same manner as steps 16, 17, and 18 (FIG. 4) described above, and then the roll paper size storage unit 72 and The stored contents of the job paper size storage unit 74 are erased and the storage flags 73 and 75 are turned off (step 28), and then the print processing of this job is executed (step 29). If automatic cut is not set, step 27 is executed and then steps 28 and 29 are executed as in step 19 (FIG. 4).
[0046]
As described above, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of jobs can be printed side by side with a simple operation of width direction development designation for each job, it is possible to suppress paper waste. Furthermore, each time each job is printed, the printed portion of each job comes out of the exterior of the printer, so it is possible to check the color and the like for each job.
[0047]
Next, a printer system as a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0048]
The printer system of the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in terms of hardware, and is developed in the width direction that has been processed in the printer in the first embodiment in terms of software. The processing is performed by the printer host 10a.
[0049]
For this reason, the printer driver 60a of the printer host 10a has a user interface 61, a command creation unit 66, and a transmission / reception unit 67 similar to the printer driver 60 in the first embodiment, and a roll paper size storage unit 72a. A roll paper size storage flag 73a, a job paper size storage unit 74a, a job paper size storage flag 75a, a job paper position allocation unit 76a, a paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77a, and a width direction development integrated management unit 78a. ing. Roll paper size storage unit 72a, roll paper size storage flag 73a, job paper size storage unit 74a, job paper size storage flag 75a, job paper position allocation unit 76a, paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77a, width direction of the printer driver 60a The development integrated management unit 78a includes a roll paper size storage unit 72, a roll paper size storage flag 73, a job paper size storage unit 74, a job paper size storage flag 75, and a job paper position allocation unit 76 of the printer 30 according to the first embodiment. The paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77 and the width direction development integrated management unit 78 have basically the same functions. However, unlike the integrated management unit 78 of the printer 30 in the first embodiment, the width direction development integrated management unit 78a of the printer driver 60a does not need to interpret commands from the printer, and thus has this command interpretation function. Not.
[0050]
On the other hand, the print controller 31a of the printer 30a has a transmission / reception unit 71 and a print mechanism controller 79 similar to the print controller 31 of the first embodiment as firmware, and interprets commands from the printer 10a. A command interpreter 80 for performing
[0051]
The operation of the printer system of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the job paper head position obtained by the job paper position assignment unit 76a, the paper feed amount or the rewind amount obtained by the paper feed / return amount calculation unit 77a, and the like can be generated via the width direction development integrated management unit 78a. These values are sent to the section 66, converted into commands, and sent to the printer 30a. In accordance with this command, the printer 30a prints a plurality of jobs arranged in the horizontal direction.
[0052]
In each of the above embodiments, test jobs for checking the color and the like are arranged side by side. However, the present invention is not limited to this and will be experimental. Needless to say, it is possible to print a plurality of jobs side by side. The above embodiments are all intended for inkjet pudding, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a laser printer can be used as long as it handles roll paper. Good.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, after printing a certain job, when it is desired to print another job side by side, these jobs can be printed side by side with a simple operation of width direction development. After creating all the jobs that are arranged side by side and setting the layout of these jobs, there is no need to print them all at once, and the roll paper is manually rewound like other conventional technologies. There is no need, and the user's effort can be reduced. In addition, since a plurality of jobs can be printed side by side, waste of paper can be reduced. Further, every time each job is printed, the entire printed portion of each job comes out of the printer exterior, so it is possible to check the color and the like for each job.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a printer system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the printer system according to the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a printer operation according to the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a printer operation according to the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating the printer operation according to the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a print condition setting screen of the printer host according to the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the amount of roll paper fed or rewound in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a roll paper in which a plurality of jobs are printed side by side in the first embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a printer system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view (No. 1) of a roll paper on which a plurality of test jobs are printed in the prior art.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view (No. 2) of a roll paper on which a plurality of test jobs are printed in the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... paper
10, 10a ... Printer host
17 ... CD-ROM
20, 32 ... CPU
21, 33 ... ROM
22, 34 ... RAM
26: Hard disk drive
27 ... CD-ROM drive
30, 30a ... Inkjet printer
37 ... Monitor
37b ... Width direction expansion designation button
40 ... Printing mechanism
41 ... Print head
42. Head drive / carriage mechanism
43. Paper feed / rewind mechanism
44 ... feed roller
45 ... Mounting shaft
46 ... Mounting shaft rotation mechanism
47 ... Drive mechanism
48 ... Cutter
48a ... Cutter drive mechanism
49 ... Printer exterior
60, 60a ... Printer driver
61 ... User interface
62 ... Width direction development designation selection part
63: Job paper size selection section
64: Roll paper size selection section
65 ... Automatic cut selection section
66 ... Command creation part
67, 71 ... Transmitter / receiver
72, 72a ... Roll paper size storage unit
73, 73a ... Roll paper size storage flag
74, 74a: Job paper size storage unit
75, 75a: Job paper size storage flag
76, 76a: Job paper position assignment unit
77, 77a: Paper feed / return amount calculation section
78 ... Integrated Management Department
78a ... width direction development integrated management part
79. Printing mechanism control unit

Claims (2)

In a printer that prints on roll paper,
Roll paper width storage means for storing the width of the roll paper;
Job paper size storage means for storing the paper size of each job including the paper size of the printed job;
A paper feeding / rewinding means for feeding and rewinding the roll paper;
A width direction development receiving means for receiving a width direction development instruction to print the jobs side by side in the width direction of the roll paper;
When the width direction development acceptance unit accepts the width direction development instruction for a specific job, the roll paper width stored in the roll paper width storage unit and the job paper size storage unit already printed Whether or not the specific job can be printed on the roll paper at an adjacent position in the width direction of the already printed job, based on the paper size of the job and the paper size of the specific job. If it is determined that a specific job can be printed, job paper position assigning means for assigning the adjacent position in the width direction of the already printed job on the roll paper as a paper position for printing the specific job;
After the specific job is printed on the roll paper, a feed amount calculating means for obtaining a feed amount of the roll paper for exposing the paper height of the specific job from the exterior of the printer;
A printing mechanism control means for controlling a printing mechanism including the paper feeding / rewinding means so that the specific job is printed at the paper position assigned by the job paper position assignment means;
With
The job paper position assigning means includes:
When it is determined that the specific job cannot be printed at an adjacent position in the width direction of the already printed job on the roll paper, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the roll paper, from the leading position of the paper of the already printed job, A position separated by a distance equal to or greater than the height of the highest job paper height among the one or more jobs printed in the width direction is assigned as the paper start position of the specific job,
The paper feeding / rewinding means is:
A roller that rotates in contact with one surface of the roll paper;
An attachment shaft to which the roll paper is attached;
A roller driving mechanism for driving and rotating the roller in a feeding direction for feeding the roll paper, and driving and rotating the roller in a rewinding direction for rewinding the roll paper;
An attachment shaft driving mechanism for driving and rotating the attachment shaft in a rewinding direction for rewinding the roll paper, and for rotating the roll paper following the feeding direction when the roll paper starts to be fed by the driving rotation of the roller; Have
The attachment shaft drive mechanism drives and rotates the attachment shaft so that a rewind speed in the rewind direction of the attachment shaft is slower than a rewind speed in the rewind direction of the roller,
The printing mechanism control means controls the printing mechanism so that the specific job is printed from the leading position of the paper of the specific job, and after the specific job is printed on the roll paper, the feeding mechanism Controlling the paper feeding / rewinding unit based on the amount of movement of the roll paper corresponding to the rotation amount of the roller so that the roll paper is fed by the amount of feeding determined by the amount calculation unit;
A printer characterized by that. The printer according to claim 1 .
The printing mechanism has a cutter for cutting the roll paper, and a cutter driving means for operating the cutter,
The feed amount calculating unit determines that the specific job cannot be printed at an adjacent position in the width direction of the already printed job on the roll paper by the job sheet position allocating unit, and the sheet of the specific job When the head position is assigned, the roll paper feed amount or rewind amount is obtained so that the paper start position of the specific job reaches the cutter position,
The printing mechanism control means controls the paper feed / rewind means so that the roll paper is fed or rewound by the feed amount or the rewind amount determined by the feed amount calculation means, Operating the cutter driving means to cut the roll paper, and then printing the specific job from the top position of the paper of the specific job determined by the job paper position assigning means;
A printer characterized by that.

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