JP4320726B2 - Printing apparatus and paper travel control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a paper travel control method thereof, and more particularly, to a thermal fixing type printing apparatus that uses continuous paper and a paper travel control method thereof.

  In a heat fixing type ultra-high speed printing apparatus that uses continuous paper, a high temperature is required for fixing. Therefore, heat is applied by passing the paper over a preheating plate of about 70 ° C, and a heat roll of about 190 ° C is used. Fixing is in progress.

  As a conventional problem, if paper running is stopped for a long time with paper loaded, due to job switching, jam occurrence, replacement of consumables such as toner or lunch break, etc., paper will be stopped for the amount of time stopped by heat roll Will be damaged by heat.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, for example, the first mode in which the continuous paper feeding operation is stopped when the transfer is completed, and after the transfer is finished, the page portion of the transferred continuous paper is fixed and then moved out of the apparatus. A second mode in which the paper is discharged and stopped, and a third mode in which, after the transfer is completed, the page portion of the transferred continuous paper is fixed, taken out of the apparatus, and then pulled back into the apparatus and stopped. There is a paper transport mechanism that can be set to be switchable (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 7-137376 A

  However, there are various types of paper used. For example, mail sticker paper with glue applied on both sides, special paper such as card paper with a card attached to it, etc. can be heated for a long time. Although problems such as poor adhesion and card paper peeling occur, high quality paper does not cause major problems even if it is heated slightly.

  In other words, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the mode must be switched based on the paper to be used, which causes troublesome work for the user.

  Therefore, the present invention eliminates troublesome work for the user as described above, and a printing apparatus capable of avoiding damage to paper due to heat even when paper travel is stopped for a long time during printing on special paper, and the paper travel An object is to provide a control method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a continuous paper running means for running a continuous paper, a transfer means for transferring a toner image onto the continuous paper run by the continuous paper running means, and the transfer means. A heating unit that heats the continuous paper on which the toner image is transferred; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred onto the continuous paper heated by the heating unit; Special paper detecting means for detecting whether or not the continuous paper is special paper suitable for heating, and the special paper detecting means detects that the continuous paper driven by the continuous paper running means is special paper Means that when the printing process is stopped, the continuous means on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer means is fixed by the fixing means. When the running means is operated in the first print processing mode and the special paper detecting means detects that the continuous paper that is run by the continuous paper running means is not special paper, the stop is performed when the printing process is stopped. And a print processing mode switching means for operating the continuous paper running means in the second print processing mode so as to stop the running of the continuous paper.

  The continuous paper running means corresponds to the paper running unit 3 shown in FIG. 1, the special paper detecting means corresponds to the special paper detecting means 7 shown in FIG. 1, and the print processing mode switching means is the mode setting means shown in FIG. 10 corresponds.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the continuous paper travel unit is configured such that the distance between the transfer unit and the fixing unit when the print processing is stopped in the first print processing mode. The continuous sheet is caused to travel only for a long time.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further comprises marking means for performing marking for identifying a portion of the continuous paper on which the toner image has not been transferred as the continuous paper travels. And

  The marking means corresponds to the marking means 12 shown in FIG.

  The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 3, the marking means performs marking for identifying a portion of the continuous paper that is affected by heat by the fixing means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for performing a printing process in which a toner image is transferred onto a continuous sheet by a transfer unit, and the transferred toner image is fixed on the continuous sheet by a fixing unit. A continuous paper running means, a running control means for running the continuous paper by a distance between the transfer means and the fixing means when the printing process is stopped, and the toner image is not transferred by running the continuous paper. And marking means for applying a marking for identifying a portion of the continuous paper.

  The continuous paper running means corresponds to the paper running section 3 shown in FIG. 1, the running control means corresponds to the control section 2 shown in FIG. 1, and the marking means corresponds to the marking means 12 shown in FIG.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the marking means performs marking for identifying a portion of continuous paper that is affected by heat by the fixing means.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transfer means for transferring a toner image onto a continuous paper, a heating means for heating the continuous paper on which the toner image is transferred, and the toner image transferred onto the heated continuous paper. In the paper travel control method of the printing apparatus comprising the fixing means for fixing the paper, when detecting whether the continuous paper is a special paper unsuitable for heating, and detecting that the continuous paper is a special paper, Automatically switching to a first print processing mode for controlling the running of the continuous paper so that all of the portion of the continuous paper to which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer means is fixed when the printing process is stopped; When it is detected that the continuous paper is not a special paper, when the printing process is stopped, the printing is automatically switched to the second print processing mode in which the running of the continuous paper is stopped together with the stop.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the continuous paper travel is controlled between the transfer unit and the fixing unit when the print process is stopped in the first print process mode. The continuous paper is caused to travel by a distance of.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, marking for identifying a portion of the continuous paper on which the toner image has not been transferred is performed by running the continuous paper.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, a marking is provided for identifying a portion of continuous paper that is affected by heat by the fixing means.

  The invention according to claim 11 is a paper travel control method for a printing apparatus that performs a printing process in which a toner image is transferred onto a continuous paper by a transfer unit, and the transferred toner image is fixed on the continuous paper by a fixing unit. When the printing process is stopped, the continuous sheet is caused to travel by a distance between the transfer unit and the fixing unit, and marking is performed for identifying a portion of the continuous sheet on which the toner image is not transferred by the continuous sheet traveling. It is characterized by giving.

  The invention of claim 12 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 11, marking is performed for identifying a portion of continuous paper that is affected by heat by the fixing means.

  According to the present invention, various types of media can be obtained by automatically detecting a special paper that causes a problem due to the heat applied for a long time, and avoiding the heat applied to the special paper for a long time when printing is stopped. There is an effect that it becomes possible to cope with.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a printing apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 2 that performs control processing for the entire printing apparatus 1, a paper traveling unit 3 that travels continuous paper set in the printing apparatus 1, and a jam that detects continuous paper jam. Whether the sensor 4, the operator panel 5 having an operation instruction switch, the host 6 for creating and storing print data, or the continuous paper set in the printing apparatus 1 is a special paper such as a mail sticker paper or a card paper. Special paper detection means 7 to detect, mode setting means 10 to set a printing mode (normal mode 8 and special paper mode 9) according to the type of continuous paper set in the printing apparatus 1, and printing set by the mode setting means 10 A mode display unit 11 for displaying the mode is a mark for marking the end face of the continuous paper in order to determine the portion of the continuous paper that has been run without transfer when printing stops. And a ring unit 12.

  The special paper detection means 7 detects whether the paper is a special paper based on the presence of a transmission sensor, a customer barcode, and the like.

  Next, the functional operation of the printing apparatus 1 will be described in detail.

  When continuous paper is set in the printing apparatus 1 and the control unit 2 receives print data from the host 6, the special paper detection unit 7 detects whether or not the continuous paper set is special paper.

  When it is detected that the continuous paper is a special paper, the control unit 2 sets the special paper mode by the mode setting unit 10, displays that the special paper mode is set on the mode display unit 11, and the paper traveling unit 3. Start and start printing.

  In the middle of printing, when the jam sensor detects a jam of continuous paper, the operator presses the stop switch on the operator panel 5 and the printing data from the host 6 is terminated, the printing unit stops printing. When the sheet running unit 3 is driven so that the portion of the continuous paper that has been transferred but not yet fixed is fixed by the heat roll, and all of the continuous paper portion is fixed by the heat roll, the paper The traveling unit 3 is stopped. At this time, the control unit 2 performs marking for discriminating the portion of the paper that has been run without transfer in order to fix the continuous paper portion.

  Further, when it is detected that the continuous paper is not a special paper, the control unit 2 sets the normal mode by the mode setting means 10, displays on the mode display unit 11 that the normal mode is set, and the paper traveling unit 3 Start and start printing. When printing is stopped in the normal mode, the control unit 2 determines that it is not necessary to fix the portion of the continuous paper that has been transferred but has not yet been fixed with a heat roll, and the paper traveling unit. 3 is stopped.

  Next, a printing process performed by the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  When print data is received from the host (step S201), it is detected whether the set paper is a special paper (step S202).

  If the paper is a special paper (YES in step S203), the special paper mode is set (step S204), and printing is started (step S205).

  If printing is stopped in the middle of printing (YES in step S206), the paper is run to fix the portion of the paper to which the print data is transferred (step S207), marking is performed (step S208), and the paper When all of the portions are fixed, the travel of the paper is stopped (step S209), and the printing process is terminated.

  Further, when printing is not stopped in the middle of printing (NO in step S206) and printing is completed (YES in step S210), the printing process is terminated.

  If the paper is not a special paper (NO in step S203), the normal mode is set (step S211), and printing is started (step S212).

  If printing stops in the middle of printing (YES in step S213), the travel of the paper is stopped (step S209), and the printing process ends.

  If printing is not stopped in the middle of printing (NO in step S213) and printing is completed (YES in step S214), the printing process is terminated.

  Next, a printing process performed by the printing apparatus 1 in the special paper mode will be described with reference to a specific embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining in detail the printing process performed by the printing apparatus 1 in the special paper mode.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the continuous paper 13 is stocked on the stacker 18 by running on the preheating plate 16 between the photosensitive drum 14 and the transfer device 15 on the preheating plate 16 in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing. At this time, the print data is transferred to the continuous paper 13 by the photosensitive drum 14 and the transfer device 15, the remaining heat is given by the preheating plate 16, and the print data is fixed by the heat roll 17.

  When printing stops during printing, the running of the continuous paper 13 also stops. As shown in FIG. 3B, the portion A in the figure runs between the photosensitive drum 14 and the transfer device 15, and thus the print data is transferred. Further, the portion B shown in the figure continues to receive heat from the heat roll 17 and the preheat plate 16, and a problem occurs in the special paper, which is not useful.

  Therefore, even if printing is stopped, the continuous paper 13 is run in order to fix the print data transferred to the portion A in the figure with the heat roll 17.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the portion A in the drawing passes through the heat roll 17, the running of the continuous paper 13 is stopped, thereby fixing all the print data transferred to the portion A in the drawing. Can do. Here, although the part C in the figure continues to receive heat from the heat roll 17 and the preheat plate 16, there is no problem because the print data is not transferred to the part C in the figure.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating in detail the marking performed by the printing apparatus 1 in the special paper mode.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of the continuous paper 13 when the printing is stopped in the middle of printing in the special paper mode and is run to fix the portion to which the print data 19 is transferred.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the continuous paper 13 is run to fix the portion to which the print data 19 is transferred, the print data 19 is moved in the running direction of the continuous paper 13 from the position of the illustrated heat roll. Is fixed, and print data is not transferred in the direction opposite to the running direction of the continuous paper 13 from the position of the heat roll. Therefore, by marking 20 at the positions of the photosensitive drum and the transfer device shown in the drawing, the portion shown in the drawing D where the print data 19 is not transferred can be easily identified.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), after printing is stopped, it is the portion E shown in the figure that receives heat from the heat roll and the preheat plate, so that the marking is previously made at the end position of the portion E shown in the figure. By doing this, the part E in the figure can be easily discriminated. Accordingly, if the end position of the portion E shown in the drawing is returned to the positions of the photosensitive drum and the transfer device shown in the drawing and the printing is resumed, the waste of the continuous paper 13 can be eliminated.

  Note that, as in the embodiment described above, the configuration is not limited to the special paper mode, and a configuration in which the continuous paper is run and marking is performed when printing is stopped in the normal mode may be used.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a printing apparatus 1 according to the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed by the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating in detail a printing process performed by the printing apparatus 1 in a special paper mode. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating in detail marking performed by the printing apparatus 1 in a special paper mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 2 Control part 3 Paper travel part 4 Jam sensor 5 Operator panel 6 Host 7 Special paper detection means 8 Normal mode 9 Special paper mode 10 Mode setting means 11 Mode display part 12 Marking means 13 Continuous paper 14 Photosensitive drum 15 Transfer Equipment 16 Preheat plate 17 Heat roll 18 Stacker 19 Print data 20 Marking

Claims (12)

Continuous paper running means for running continuous paper;
Transfer means for transferring a toner image to a continuous paper traveled by the continuous paper travel means;
Heating means for heating the continuous paper on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer means;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the continuous paper to the continuous paper heated by the heating means;
Special paper detection means for detecting whether or not the continuous paper traveled by the continuous paper travel means is special paper unsuitable for heating ;
When the special paper detection means detects that the continuous paper traveled by the continuous paper travel means is a special paper, the continuous paper on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer means when the printing process is stopped. The continuous paper running means is operated in the first print processing mode so that all the parts are fixed by the fixing means, and the continuous paper run by the continuous paper running means by the special paper detecting means is not special paper. A printing process mode switching unit that operates the continuous sheet running unit in the second printing process mode so as to stop the running of the continuous sheet when the printing process is stopped. printing apparatus characterized that you. The continuous paper traveling means includes:
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the printing process is stopped in the first printing process mode, the continuous sheet is caused to travel by a distance between the transfer unit and the fixing unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a marking unit configured to perform marking for identifying a portion of the continuous sheet on which the toner image has not been transferred as the continuous sheet travels. The marking means is
The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein marking is performed to identify a portion of continuous paper that is affected by heat by the fixing unit. In a printing apparatus for performing a printing process in which a toner image is transferred onto a continuous sheet by a transfer unit, and the transferred toner image is fixed on the continuous sheet by a fixing unit.
Continuous paper running means for running the continuous paper;
A travel control unit that travels the continuous sheet by a distance between the transfer unit and the fixing unit when the printing process is stopped;
A printing apparatus comprising: marking means for performing marking for identifying a portion of the continuous paper on which the toner image has not been transferred as the continuous paper travels. The marking means is
The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein marking is performed to identify a portion of continuous paper that is affected by heat by the fixing unit. A transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image onto the continuous sheet; a heating unit configured to heat the continuous sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred; and a fixing unit configured to fix the transferred toner image onto the heated continuous sheet. In the paper travel control method of the printing apparatus,
Detecting whether the continuous paper is a special paper unsuitable for heating ;
When it is detected that the continuous paper is a special paper, the continuous paper is run so that all the portions of the continuous paper to which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit are fixed when the printing process is stopped. Automatically switch to the first print processing mode to control,
When it is detected that the continuous paper is not a special paper, when the printing process is stopped, the printing apparatus is automatically switched to the second print processing mode for stopping the running of the continuous paper together with the stop. Paper running control method. Control of running of the continuous paper is
6. The paper travel control of the printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the printing process is stopped in the first print processing mode, the continuous paper travels a distance between the transfer unit and the fixing unit. Method. The paper travel control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein marking for identifying a portion of the continuous paper on which the toner image has not been transferred is performed by running the continuous paper. 8. The paper travel control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein marking for identifying a portion of continuous paper that is affected by heat is performed by the fixing unit. In a paper travel control method of a printing apparatus that performs a printing process in which a toner image is transferred to a continuous paper by a transfer unit, and the transferred toner image is fixed on the continuous paper by a fixing unit.
When the printing process is stopped, the continuous paper travels a distance between the transfer unit and the fixing unit,
A paper travel control method for a printing apparatus, wherein marking is performed for identifying a portion of the continuous paper on which the toner image has not been transferred by travel of the continuous paper. 12. The paper travel control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein marking for identifying a portion of continuous paper that is affected by heat is performed by the fixing unit.

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