JP4400383B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that records an image on a recording medium.

  Various techniques are known for printers capable of recording color images on a recording medium. For example, Patent Document 1 includes three thermal heads capable of individually recording each of yellow, magenta, and cyan colors, and the three recording heads that are drawn from the recording paper roll are conveyed in the paper feeding direction. A one-pass color thermal printer that records a color image with a thermal head is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a 3-pass color thermal printer. In such a printer, a color thermal recording paper having a length of one frame drawn from a recording paper roll is sent out so as to face one thermal head, and then a yellow image is recorded while being pulled back, and then the recording paper. Are sent and pulled back alternately, and a magenta image is recorded at the second pull back, and a cyan image is recorded at the third pull back.

Patent Document 3 is provided with three thermal heads of yellow, magenta, and cyan. After the recording paper drawn from the recording paper roll is conveyed in the paper feeding direction and the print preparation is completed, the recording paper is loaded. A one-pass color thermal printer that records a color image of one frame while being conveyed in the pull-back direction is disclosed. In such a printer, when a color image of one frame is recorded, the recording paper is conveyed again in the paper feeding direction and cut at the rear end portion of the color image. Then, the recording paper on which the color image is recorded is discharged, and the next one-frame color image is recorded while the recording paper that has been prepared for printing is conveyed in the pullback direction.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-174476 JP-A-9-99572 JP 2001-246769 A

  In the printer described in Patent Document 1, a color image can be recorded only by transporting the recording paper in one direction without transporting the recording paper back and forth. However, in such a printer, when the three thermal heads are pressed against the recording paper in order from the one where the recording paper has reached the printing position, the image is deteriorated due to load fluctuations during conveyance of the recording paper. Sometimes. Therefore, in such a printer, in order to prevent the deterioration of the image, the recording of the color image is started after all the three thermal heads are pressed against the recording paper. For this reason, the portion between the thermal head in the vicinity of the leading edge of the recording paper, that is, the length between the most upstream thermal head and the most downstream thermal head in the paper feeding direction from the leading edge of the recording paper is stretched between the thermal heads. Recording of a color image is started. For this reason, there is a problem in that an image is not formed in the length portion where the recording paper is stretched and a blank portion is formed.

  On the other hand, in the printers described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, a color image can be recorded even in the vicinity of the leading end of the recording paper, so that it is possible to prevent the recording paper from being wasted. Here, in the printer described in Patent Document 3, when the recording paper is conveyed in the pullback direction, all three thermal heads are pressed against the recording paper, so that the image is caused by load fluctuations during the conveyance of the recording paper. Is rarely worse.

  However, in the printer of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to repeat feeding and pulling of the recording paper three times in order to record a single color image. Further, in the printer of Patent Document 3, it is necessary to feed and pull back the recording paper once for each color image of one frame. Therefore, in order to record a color image of a plurality of frames in these printers, the reciprocating conveyance of the recording paper has to be repeated many times.

  Here, in the printers of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, a pair of transport rollers is disposed between the recording paper roll and the thermal head, and the transport direction of the recording paper is switched by switching the driving direction of the pair of transport rollers. Is changed to either the paper feed direction or the pull back direction. Therefore, in order to record a color image of a plurality of m frames (m is an integer of 2 or more), the printer of Patent Document 2 must reciprocate the recording paper 3 m times, and the driving direction of the conveying roller pair is changed. It is necessary to switch only (6m-1) times. In the printer of Patent Document 3, the recording paper must be reciprocated and conveyed m times, and the driving direction of the conveying roller pair needs to be switched only (2m-1) times.

  As described above, when the driving direction of the conveying roller pair is switched, a time-related conveying loss occurs due to the switching. Therefore, if the number of times of switching the driving direction of the conveying roller pair is increased, the time-related conveying loss is increased accordingly, and the processing capability of the printer is lowered.

  In many cases, a margin is provided between a plurality of images formed on a recording sheet. Therefore, when the recording paper is cut at the end of each image, a guide for supporting the back side of the recording paper is not provided in the vicinity of the cutting blade so that a blank portion that becomes cut waste passes and falls. . Here, when roll paper is used as the recording paper, since the recording paper has curl, the leading edge of the recording paper does not have a guide when the recording paper is conveyed near the cutting blade. A paper jam may occur due to being caught in the area.

  Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to improve the processing capability when recording a plurality of images while preventing image deterioration due to waste of the recording medium and load fluctuation during conveyance of the recording medium, and a cutting mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that can suppress the occurrence of a paper jam in the vicinity.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

The printer of the present invention includes an image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording medium, a supply unit storing a long recording medium, and the supply unit and the image recording unit while a recording medium faces the image recording unit. A conveying mechanism that conveys a path including the cutting mechanism, a cutting mechanism that can cut the recording medium that is conveyed along the path, and a recording surface that is disposed upstream of the cutting mechanism and supports the back side of the recording surface of the conveyed recording medium And a first support that supports the back side of the recording surface of the recording medium to be conveyed, and is arranged so that a gap is formed between the first guide and the first guide downstream of the cutting mechanism. 2, a first roller disposed on the recording surface side of the recording medium upstream of the cutting mechanism, and a first roller disposed on the back side of the recording surface of the recording medium upstream of the cutting mechanism. Two rollers, The first roller and the second roller move at least one of the first roller and the second roller so that the first roller and the second roller are in a pressure-bonded state or a state where the second roller is not pressure-bonded. a first driving mechanism, a conveyance control means for controlling the transport mechanism, before SL comprises a first driving control means for controlling the first driving mechanism, the hardness of the surface of said first roller, said much larger than the hardness of the surface of the second roller, the first drive control means, after the leading edge of the recording medium conveyed enters between the first roller and the second roller, the By bringing the first roller and the second roller into a pressure-bonding state, the leading edge of the recording medium is curved toward the recording surface, and at least until the leading edge of the curved recording medium reaches the second guide. Is the first roller and the second roller It is characterized in that the over La controlling said first driving mechanism so as to maintain the state of being crimped.

  According to this configuration, the first roller and the second roller after the end surface of the recording medium conveyed along the path including the supply unit and the image recording unit enters between the first roller and the second roller. Is in a state of being pressed, the hardness of the surface of the first roller is larger than the hardness of the surface of the second roller, so that the vicinity of the end surface of the recording medium is curved toward the recording surface. Therefore, even when the guide for supporting the recording medium is not disposed in the vicinity of the cutting position in the cutting mechanism, when the end surface of the recording medium is transported in the vicinity of the cutting position, the edge of the portion where the end surface of the recording medium has no guide It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a paper jam due to being caught on.

  In the printer of the present invention, it is preferable that the surface hardness of the first roller and the second roller is 20 degrees or more.

  According to this configuration, when the first roller and the second roller are pressure-bonded, the vicinity of the end surface of the recording medium can be appropriately curved.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the second roller is a driving roller that is rotationally driven, the first roller is a driven roller that is rotatably supported, and the first drive control unit includes the first roller. One roller may be reciprocated in a direction toward the second roller.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the recording surface of the recording medium from being damaged by reciprocating the first roller as the driven roller in the direction toward the second roller as the driving roller.

The printer of the present invention includes an image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording medium, a supply unit storing a long recording medium wound so that a first surface thereof is on the outside, and the recording medium as the image A transport mechanism capable of transporting in a first direction from the supply unit toward the image recording unit while facing the recording unit, and a second direction opposite to the first direction; and the first direction And a cutting mechanism capable of cutting the recording medium conveyed in either of the second directions, and disposed on the upstream side of the cutting mechanism and opposite to the first surface of the conveyed recording medium Between the first guide for supporting the recording medium and the first guide on the downstream side of the cutting mechanism, and the first surface of the recording medium to be conveyed a second guide supporting the opposite side, than the cutting mechanism A first roller disposed on the first surface side of the recording medium on the flow side, and a second roller disposed on the opposite surface side of the first surface of the recording medium on the upstream side of the cutting mechanism. And moving at least one of the first roller and the second roller so that the first roller and the second roller are in a state where they are pressure-bonded or not. a first driving mechanism for, in the first direction the recording medium as the recording medium of the plurality of images recordable length is arranged on the opposite side of the supply portion to the image recording unit A plurality of conveyance control means for controlling the conveyance mechanism so as to be conveyed in the second direction after being conveyed, and a plurality of recording media conveyed in the second direction by the conveyance mechanism by the image recording unit. So that images of Comprises an image recording control means for controlling said image recording section, and a first driving control means for controlling the pre-Symbol first driving mechanism, the hardness of the surface of the first roller, the second much larger than the hardness of the surface of the roller, the first drive control means, after the leading edge of the recording medium conveyed in the first direction enters between the second roller and the first roller Thus, by setting the first roller and the second roller to be in a pressure-bonding state, the leading edge of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface, and at least the leading edge of the curved recording medium is the second surface. The first drive mechanism is controlled so that the first roller and the second roller are kept in a pressure-bonded state until reaching the guide .

In this specification, “upstream side” and “downstream side” relate to the first direction from the supply unit to the image recording unit.

  According to this configuration, a plurality of images can be recorded on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction after the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction from the supply unit toward the image recording unit. Therefore, an image can be recorded in the vicinity of the leading end of the recording medium (the region from the leading end of the recording medium portion that is transported in the first direction and then fed back in the second direction), and the recording medium is being transported. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image due to the load fluctuation. Further, even when a plurality of images are recorded on the recording medium, it is only necessary to reciprocate the recording medium once, and it is only necessary to switch the conveying direction of the recording medium in the conveying mechanism once. Transport loss can be reduced. As a result, when a plurality of images are recorded on a recording medium, it is possible to improve the processing capability of the printer while preventing image deterioration due to waste of the recording medium and load fluctuation during conveyance of the recording medium.

  The first roller and the second roller after the leading end of the recording medium conveyed in the first direction from the supply unit to the image recording unit enters between the first roller and the second roller. Is in a state of being pressed, the hardness of the surface of the first roller is larger than the hardness of the surface of the second roller, so that the vicinity of the tip of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface. Therefore, even when the guide for supporting the recording medium is not disposed in the vicinity of the cutting position in the cutting mechanism, when the leading end of the recording medium is transported in the first direction near the cutting position, the leading end of the recording medium is It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a paper jam due to being caught by the edge of the portion that is not present.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the transport mechanism may be capable of transporting the recording medium in the second direction by applying a transport force to the recording medium between the supply unit and the image recording unit. .

  According to this configuration, when a plurality of images are recorded on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction, it is possible to effectively suppress deterioration of the image due to load fluctuations during conveyance of the recording medium. Can do.

  In the printer of the present invention, it is preferable that the surface hardness of the first roller and the second roller is 20 degrees or more.

  According to this configuration, when the first roller and the second roller are pressure-bonded, the vicinity of the tip of the recording medium can be appropriately curved.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the second roller is a driving roller that is rotationally driven, the first roller is a driven roller that is rotatably supported, and the first drive control unit includes the first roller. One roller may be reciprocated in a direction toward the second roller.

  According to this configuration, the first surface of the recording medium can be prevented from being damaged by reciprocating the first roller, which is the driven roller, in the direction toward the second roller, which is the driving roller.

In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the third roller disposed on the first surface side of the recording medium on the downstream side of the cutting mechanism and the opposite side of the first surface of the recording medium on the downstream side of the cutting mechanism. The third roller and the fourth roller disposed on the surface side, and the third roller and the fourth roller so that the third roller and the fourth roller are in a state where they are pressed or not pressed a second drive mechanism for moving at least one of the fourth roller, further comprising a second driving control means for controlling the pre-Symbol second drive mechanism, the hardness of the third roller surface of Is larger than the hardness of the surface of the fourth roller, and the second drive control means is configured such that the leading edge of the recording medium conveyed in the second direction is between the third roller and the fourth roller. After entering in between, said third The roller and the fourth roller are brought into a pressure-bonded state so that the leading edge of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface side, at least until the leading edge of the curved recording medium reaches the first guide. The second drive mechanism may be controlled so that the third roller and the fourth roller are kept in a pressure-bonded state .

  According to this configuration, the third roller and the fourth roller are pressure-bonded after the leading edge of the recording medium fed back in the second direction enters between the third roller and the fourth roller. In this state, since the hardness of the surface of the third roller is larger than the hardness of the surface of the fourth roller, the vicinity of the tip of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface. Therefore, even when the guide for supporting the recording medium is not disposed near the cutting position in the cutting mechanism, the leading end of the recording medium is not guided by the guide when the leading end of the recording medium is transported in the second direction near the cutting position. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a paper jam due to being caught by the edge of the portion that is not present.

  In the printer of the present invention, it is preferable that the surface hardness of the third roller and the fourth roller is 20 degrees or more.

  According to this configuration, when the third roller and the fourth roller are pressure-bonded, the vicinity of the front end of the recording medium can be appropriately curved.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the fourth roller is a driving roller that is rotationally driven, the third roller is a driven roller that is rotatably supported, and the second driving control unit includes the second driving control unit. The three rollers may be reciprocated in the direction toward the fourth roller.

  According to this configuration, the first surface of the recording medium can be prevented from being damaged by reciprocating the third roller, which is a driven roller, in the direction toward the fourth roller, which is a driving roller.

In the printer of the present invention, an image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording medium, a supply unit storing a long recording medium wound so that the first surface thereof is on the outside, and the recording medium as the image A transport mechanism capable of transporting in a first direction from the supply unit toward the image recording unit while facing the recording unit, and a second direction opposite to the first direction; and the first direction And a cutting mechanism capable of cutting the recording medium conveyed in either of the second directions, and disposed on the upstream side of the cutting mechanism and opposite to the first surface of the conveyed recording medium Between the first guide for supporting the recording medium and the first guide on the downstream side of the cutting mechanism, and the first surface of the recording medium to be conveyed second guide and said cutting mechanism for supporting the opposite side A fifth roller disposed on the first surface side of the recording medium on the downstream side, and a sixth roller disposed on the opposite surface side of the first surface of the recording medium on the downstream side of the cutting mechanism. At least one of the fifth roller and the sixth roller so that the roller, the fifth roller, and the sixth roller are in a pressure-bonded state or a state where the roller is not pressure-bonded. a third driving mechanism for moving the recording medium is the first such record media of a plurality of images recordable length is arranged on the opposite side of the supply portion to the image recording unit A conveyance control means for controlling the conveyance mechanism so as to be conveyed in the second direction after being conveyed in the direction, and the image recording unit on a recording medium conveyed in the second direction by the conveyance mechanism Will record multiple images. As an image recording control means for controlling said image recording section, before SL and a third drive control means for controlling the third driving mechanism, the hardness of the surface of the fifth roller, the first much larger than the hardness of the surface of the sixth roller, said third driving control means enters the leading edge of the recording medium conveyed in the second direction between the sixth roller and the fifth roller After that, the front end of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface by bringing the fifth roller and the sixth roller into pressure contact, and at least the front end of the curved recording medium is The third drive mechanism is controlled so that the fifth roller and the sixth roller are kept in a pressure-bonded state until reaching one guide .

  According to this configuration, a plurality of images can be recorded on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction after the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction from the supply unit toward the image recording unit. Therefore, an image can be recorded in the vicinity of the leading end of the recording medium (the region from the leading end of the recording medium portion that is transported in the first direction and then fed back in the second direction), and the recording medium is being transported. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image due to the load fluctuation. Further, even when a plurality of images are recorded on the recording medium, it is only necessary to reciprocate the recording medium once, and it is only necessary to switch the conveying direction of the recording medium in the conveying mechanism once. Transport loss can be reduced. As a result, when a plurality of images are recorded on a recording medium, it is possible to improve the processing capability of the printer while preventing image deterioration due to waste of the recording medium and load fluctuation during conveyance of the recording medium.

  Further, after the leading edge of the recording medium fed back in the second direction enters between the fifth roller and the sixth roller, the fifth roller and the sixth roller are brought into a pressure-bonding state. Since the hardness of the surface of the fifth roller is larger than the hardness of the surface of the sixth roller, the vicinity of the tip of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface. Therefore, even when the guide for supporting the recording medium is not disposed near the cutting position in the cutting mechanism, the leading end of the recording medium is not guided by the guide when the leading end of the recording medium is transported in the second direction near the cutting position. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a paper jam due to being caught by the edge of the portion that is not present.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the transport mechanism may be capable of transporting the recording medium in the second direction by applying a transport force to the recording medium between the supply unit and the image recording unit. .

  According to this configuration, when a plurality of images are recorded on the recording medium conveyed in the second direction, it is possible to effectively suppress deterioration of the image due to load fluctuations during conveyance of the recording medium. Can do.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the surface hardness of the fifth roller and the sixth roller is 20 degrees or more.

  According to this configuration, when the fifth roller and the sixth roller are pressure-bonded, the vicinity of the front end of the recording medium can be appropriately curved.

  In the printer according to the aspect of the invention, the sixth roller is a driving roller that is rotationally driven, the fifth roller is a driven roller that is rotatably supported, and the third driving control unit includes the third driving control unit. The five rollers may be reciprocated in the direction toward the sixth roller.

  According to this configuration, the first surface of the recording medium can be prevented from being damaged by reciprocating the fifth roller, which is the driven roller, in the direction toward the sixth roller, which is the driving roller.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing unit of the printer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration in the vicinity of the cutting position in the cutting mechanism included in the printing unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the conveying roller pair and the feeding roller pair of the printer of FIG. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the decurling roller pair included in the printing unit of FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a main part of the printer of FIG. 1 and a control device to which these are connected.

  A thermal sublimation thermal printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as “printer 1”) includes an operation unit 10, a control device 20, and a printing unit 30. The operation unit 10 is for an operator to operate the printer 1 and has a display 11 for displaying various information about the printer 1 and notifying the operator. Here, in the present embodiment, a touch panel method is adopted for the operation unit 10, and an operation screen 12 including various buttons is displayed on the display 10. Accordingly, the operator can execute an operation on the printer 1 by touching the operation screen 12.

  The control device 20 receives input from the operation unit 10 and controls various operations in the printer 1. In addition, the control device 20 has a plurality of data input units 20a for acquiring print data from various storage media such as a card slot and a disk drive. The storage medium may be any medium that can store print data, such as a CD-ROM or a memory card.

  The operation unit 10 and the control device 20 are fixedly arranged on the upper surface of a housing 30 a that houses the print unit 30. Here, the display surface of the display 11 of the operation unit 10 and the storage medium insertion surface of the data input unit 20a of the control device 20 substantially coincide with the front of the printer 1 (housing 30a) (the surface on the left front side in FIG. 1). ing. Therefore, it is easy for the operator heading to the front of the printer 1 to operate the display 11 and the data input unit 21.

  The housing 30a has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the lateral width (front width) D1 is smaller than the depth D2. Therefore, the printer 1 can be installed even in a relatively narrow space. Furthermore, an opening 95 is formed on the front surface of the housing 30a for drawing out a print box 96 (described later) housed in the housing 30a to the outside of the housing 30a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print unit 30 includes a paper supply unit 40 that holds a paper wound in a roll shape and a paper winding unit that winds up the paper that has been unwound from the paper supply unit 40. Between the take-up unit 80 and the paper supply unit 40 and the paper take-up unit 80, there is a transport mechanism 38 that can transport the paper along a transport path curved in one direction. A cutting unit 50, an overcoat unit 60, and a printing unit 70 are disposed between the paper supply unit 40 and the paper winding unit 80 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transport path. A print box 96 is provided near the conveyance path between the paper supply unit 40 and the cutting unit 50.

  In the present embodiment, “paper transport direction (transport direction)” means a direction from the paper supply unit 40 toward the paper winding unit 80. Further, the “paper front end” and the “image front end” mean the end on the downstream side of the paper or the image transport direction, and the “paper rear end” and “image rear end” The term “edge” means an end portion on the upstream side of the sheet or image in the conveying direction.

  The paper supply unit 40 has a magazine case 41 provided in the uppermost stream of the transport path, and a long paper is wound around the rotation shaft 43 so that the printing surface is on the outside. The wound winding part 45 is loaded. Here, the rotating shaft 43 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2 when the sheet is unwound from the sheet supply unit 40 and conveyed toward the downstream side in the conveying direction by the motor 43a (see FIG. 7). When the unwound paper is taken up by the paper supply unit 40, it is rotated clockwise in FIG. The rotary shaft 43 is connected to a shaft (not shown) that is rotationally driven by a motor 43a via a one-way clutch 43c having the same function as one-way clutches 34c and 35c described later.

  The transport mechanism 38 is arranged in order from the upstream side in the transport direction, and includes a pair of paper feed rollers 31 that can transport the paper unrolled from the winding unit 45 of the paper supply unit 40 upward, and the cutting unit 50. Are also arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction and turn roller pair 32 that changes the transport direction of the paper transported upward, and the first curl that is disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the cutting section 50 and can press the paper. A pair of removal rollers 36, a second curl removal roller pair 37 that is disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the cutting unit 50 and capable of pressure-bonding paper, and a paper roller that is disposed on the upstream side of the printing unit 70 in the transport direction. A pair of transport rollers 34 and a feed roller that is disposed downstream of the print unit 70 in the transport direction and feeds the paper transported toward the downstream side of the print unit 70 in the transport direction into the paper winding unit 80. Pair 35 The has.

  In this embodiment, the paper feed roller pair 31, the turn roller pair 32, and the feed roller pair 35 are made of resin rollers, and the transport roller pair 34 is made of a metal roller. Further, the first decurling roller pair 36 and the second decurling roller pair 37 are composed of rubber / resin rollers, and the surface hardness thereof is larger than 20 degrees.

  Here, the paper feed roller pair 31, the turn roller pair 32, the first decurling roller pair 36, the second decurling roller pair 37, the conveying roller pair 34, and the feeding roller pair 35 have a circumference having a predetermined radius (FIG. 2). In this case, it is arranged along the two-dot chain line). As can be seen from FIG. 2, the head portions 61 and 71 to 73 of the overcoat portion 60 and the printing portion 70 are also arranged along the circumference, and the paper supply portion 40 and the paper take-up portion 80 are It arrange | positions inside the said periphery.

  The paper feed roller pair 31, the first curl removal roller pair 36, the second curl removal roller pair 37, the transport roller pair 34, and the feed roller pair 35 are controlled by motors 31a and 36c controlled by the transport control unit 27a (see FIG. 7). , 37c, 34a, and 35a (see FIG. 7), and can be rotationally driven.

  Here, the configuration of the first decurling roller pair 36 and the second decurling roller pair 37 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the first decurling roller pair 36 and the second decurling roller pair 37 are disposed below the conveyance path (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3A). Drive rollers 36a and 37a, and driven rollers 36b and 37b disposed above the conveyance path, respectively.

  Here, the hardness of the surfaces of the driven rollers 36b and 37b is larger than the hardness of the surfaces of the drive rollers 36a and 37a. In the present embodiment, the driving rollers 36a and 37a have a surface hardness of 40 degrees rubber, and the driven rollers 36b and 37b have a surface hardness of 120 degrees Rockwell hardness (R scale) resin. The roller.

  The driving rollers 36a and 37a are fixed so as to be rotatable so that the upper ends of the outer peripheral surfaces thereof are disposed substantially on the conveyance path. On the other hand, the driven rollers 36b and 37b are respectively connected to drive mechanisms 36d and 37d (see FIG. 7) controlled by the curl removal control unit 27d. The driven rollers 36b and 37b are rotatably supported and can be moved in the direction toward the drive rollers 36a and 37a by the drive mechanisms 36d and 37d, respectively. Therefore, the driven rollers 36b and 37b do not press the paper between the driving rollers 36a and 37a and the driving rollers 36a and 37a (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3A) and the driving rollers 36a and 37a. A position (a position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3A) can be taken.

  In the present embodiment, the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b, and the driving roller 37a and the driven roller 37b are in a pressure-bonded state in which the paper is crimped with a force that can remove the curl of the paper, and the paper Can be in either of a contact state where the sheet is clamped (a sheet is crimped with a force smaller than a force capable of removing the curl of the sheet) and a separated state where the sheets are separated from each other.

  Here, FIG. 3B shows a state in which the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is pressure-bonded to the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b of the first decurling roller pair 36 when the sheet is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction. Is shown. As described above, since the hardness of the surface of the driven roller 36b is larger than the hardness of the surface of the driving roller 36a, the outer shape of the driven roller 36b hardly changes, but the driven roller 36a has an outer shape. A concave portion is formed in the portion pressed by 36b. Accordingly, the sheet between the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b is curved along the concave portion, whereby the vicinity of the leading end of the sheet is lifted upward in the transport direction. The state in which the driving roller 37a and the driven roller 37b of the second decurling roller pair 37 are pressure-bonded is the same as described above.

  The cutting unit 50 is disposed between the first decurling roller pair 36 and the second decurling roller pair 37. The cutting unit 50 includes a rolling cutter 51 disposed above the conveyance path, a fixed blade 52 disposed below the conveyance path, and a chip box 53.

  The rolling cutter 51 has a disk shape, and a blade is formed on the entire circumference of the rolling cutter 51. The center of the rolling cutter 51 is held by a shaft 51a. The rolling cutter 51 is connected to a drive mechanism 55 (see FIG. 7) controlled by the cutting control unit 27c via a shaft 51a. The drive mechanism 55 rotates and drives the rolling cutter 51 via the shaft 51a, and moves forward or backward along the sheet conveyance path along a direction orthogonal to the sheet (in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 2). . On the other hand, the fixed blade 52 is a rectangular blade that is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the paper transport path and is longer than the entire width of the paper transport path.

  Therefore, when the cutting control unit 27c controls the drive mechanism 55 and moves the rolling cutter 51 along the width direction of the paper while rotating the paper while the paper is arranged at the cutting position by the cutting unit 50, the rolling cutter The sheet is cut by the interaction between 51 and the fixed blade 52. In the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, as will be described later, the cutting unit 50 cuts the paper at the leading edge and the trailing edge of each image.

  The chip box 53 is disposed below the rolling cutter 51 and the fixed blade 52. Accordingly, when the paper is cut at the leading edge or the trailing edge of each image and the blank portion between the images is cut, the blank portion is stored in the chip box 53.

  Here, the paper transported in the vicinity of the first decurling roller pair 36 and the second decurling roller pair 37 is guided to guides 55 and 56 (shown by bold lines in FIG. 3) disposed below the transport path. It is conveyed while being supported. Note that the upper end of the drive roller 36 a of the first decurling roller pair 36 protrudes upward from an opening (not shown) of the guide 55, and the upper end of the drive roller 37 a of the second decurling roller pair 37 is of the guide 56. It protrudes upward from an opening (not shown).

  The guide 55 is disposed upstream of the cutting position in the cutting unit 50 in the conveying direction, and its end 55a (end on the downstream side in the conveying direction) is between the first decurling roller pair 36 and the cutting position. Has been placed. Accordingly, a passage 57 for dropping chips into the chip box 53 is formed between the cutting position and the guide 55. Similarly, the guide 56 is disposed downstream of the cutting position in the cutting unit 50 in the conveying direction, and an end 56a (an end on the upstream side in the conveying direction) of the second curl removing roller pair 37 and the cutting position. It is arranged between. Accordingly, a passage 58 for dropping chips into the chip box 53 is formed between the cutting position and the guide 56.

  The overcoat unit 60 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance roller pair 34 in the conveyance direction. The overcoat part 60 has one head part 61. The head unit 61 is for performing a colorless and transparent overcoat (OC) on the surface of the paper on which an image is printed. Thus, by overcoating the surface of the paper, the light resistance of the image printed on the paper can be improved and the surface of the paper can be protected. Further, by selecting the material of the overcoat, the gloss of the print can be improved and a high-quality print can be provided.

  The printing unit 70 is disposed between the overcoat unit 60 and the feed roller pair 35. The printing unit 70 has three head units 71 to 73. The head portions 71 to 73 are for performing printing corresponding to cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively. Here, in the printer 1, a head unit 71 corresponding to cyan, a head unit 72 corresponding to magenta, and a head unit 73 corresponding to yellow are provided in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction to the downstream side in the transport direction. In the printer 1, the transport roller pair 34 is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the overcoat unit 60 and the printing unit 70, and the feed roller pair 35 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction.

  In the printer 1 of the present embodiment, when the paper unrolled from the paper supply unit 40 is conveyed toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction, the overcoat in the overcoat unit 60 and the color image in the printing unit 70 are performed. Is not performed, and when the paper once wound on the paper take-up unit 80 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction from the print unit 70 is fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction, the print unit 70 The printing of the image at and the overcoat at the overcoat unit 60 are performed. Accordingly, the printer 1 can print a color image in the order of yellow, magenta, and cyan on the paper surface, and can further overcoat the paper surface on which the color image is printed.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the head units 61 and 71 to 73 will be described. In addition, since the structure of the head parts 61 and 71 to 73 is the same, only the head part 73 will be described in detail here.

  The head unit 73 includes a thermal head 73a having a large number of heating elements (not shown) arranged over the entire width of the paper conveyance path, and a tip portion of the thermal head 73a (in the vicinity of the paper conveyance path and the heating elements are arranged). A platen roller 73b facing the other end, a tape-like ribbon 73c having an ink area to which ink corresponding to yellow is attached, a ribbon supply roller 73d around which a ribbon 73c before printing is wound, and a post-printing ribbon A ribbon take-up roller 73e for taking up the ribbon 73c.

  Here, the thermal head 73a can be moved back and forth with respect to the paper transport path by an elevating mechanism 73f (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the thermal head 73a can selectively take the print position where the ribbon 73c and the paper are pressed against each other and the retracted position where the paper 73 is not pressed between the vicinity of the tip and the platen roller 73b.

  In the head unit 73, when the paper is conveyed between the thermal head 73a and the platen roller 73b in a state where the thermal head 73a is disposed at the printing position, the ink of the ribbon 73c heated by the thermal head 73a. Thus, a color image corresponding to yellow can be printed on the paper. At this time, when the sheet is conveyed between the thermal head 73a and the platen roller 73b, the ribbon 73c is also moved from the ribbon supply roller 73d toward the ribbon take-up roller 73e as the sheet is conveyed. Sent.

  The head unit 61 and the head units 71 and 72 are similar to the head unit 73 in that the thermal heads 61a, 71a and 72a, the platen rollers 61b, 71b and 72b, the ribbons 61c, 71c and 72c, and the ribbon supply roller 61d. 71d, 72d, ribbon take-up rollers 61e, 71e, 72e, and elevating mechanisms 61f, 71f, 72f, respectively.

  Here, in the head unit 61 and the head units 71 and 72, ink corresponding to colorless and transparent, cyan and magenta, respectively, instead of the tape-like ribbon 73c having an ink region to which ink corresponding to yellow of the head unit 73 is attached. Tape-shaped ribbons 61c, 71c, and 72c having an ink region to which are attached are used.

  A pair of guides 75 a to 75 c are disposed between the head portion 61 of the overcoat portion 60 and the head portions 71 to 73 of the printing portion 70, respectively. Each of the pair of guides 75a to 75c includes two plate-like members, and guides the sheet (mainly the leading end portion of the sheet) conveyed between the head units 61 and 71 to 73, respectively. is there. Accordingly, the pair of guides 75a to 75c are arranged so as to face each other with a predetermined interval across the sheet conveyance path.

  The paper take-up unit 80 has a storage case 81 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path. The storage case 81 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a part of the storage case 81 opens as a paper insertion opening 82. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the central angle of the portion that becomes the insertion port 82 is about 90 degrees, and one edge 82a is in the vicinity of the left end of the storage case 81, and the other The edge portion 82 b is in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the storage case 81.

  Here, the feeding roller pair 35 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper portion of the edge portion 82 a of the storage case 81, and the sheet conveyed downward by the feeding roller pair 35 is located in the storage case 81 from the vicinity of the end portion 82 a of the insertion port 82. Inserted into. The paper inserted into the paper winding unit 80 is guided by contacting the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 81. As a result, in the storage case 81, the paper is wound in order from the leading edge of the paper so that the printing surface becomes the outer surface according to the curl of the paper. The storage case 81 is rotatably provided with four winding rollers 83a to 83d. A part of each of the winding rollers 83 a to 83 d protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 81. Accordingly, since the frictional force when the paper comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 81 is reduced, the paper is prevented from being damaged.

  The print box 96 is for discharging the paper (print) on which each color image printed by the cutting unit 50 is printed after the image is printed in the printing unit 70 and the overcoat unit 60 is overcoated. Is. The print box 96 is a box-shaped member having an upper end opened, and is supported by a support shaft 97 at the lower end to be rotatable. Accordingly, the print box 96 has a state in which the print box 96 is housed in the housing 30a (shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) and an upper end portion of the print box 96 through the opening 95 provided on the front surface (right surface in FIG. 2). A state in which the vicinity is pulled out of the housing 30a (a state indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2) can be taken. Therefore, the operator can easily take out the paper on which each color image is printed by pulling out the upper end portion of the print box 96 from the front of the printer 1 (housing 30a).

  A sorting mechanism (not shown) is provided above the print box 96 so as to be close to the transport path upstream of the turn roller pair 32 in the transport direction. In this sorting mechanism, the paper is fed back toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction when the paper is wound around the paper supply unit 40 and when the paper on which each color image is printed is discharged to the print box 96. It is possible to switch the paper transport path when printing. Therefore, by controlling the sorting mechanism, only the paper on which each color image is printed can be stored in the print box 96.

  Further, an image detection sensor 90 that can detect an end portion (mainly a rear end portion of the image) of an image printed on a sheet conveyed along the conveyance path, on the upstream side of the cutting unit 50 in the conveyance direction. Is provided. On the other hand, a paper detection sensor 91 that can detect the edge of the paper is provided upstream of the overcoat unit 60 in the transport direction. In the present embodiment, the end of the overcoat unit 60 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction and the detection position by the paper detection sensor 91 substantially coincide with each other.

  Next, operations of the conveying roller pair 34 and the feeding roller pair 35 will be described with reference to FIG. 4A illustrates the operation of the transport roller pair 34 and the feed roller pair 35 when the paper is transported downstream in the transport direction, and FIG. 4B illustrates that the paper is reversed upstream in the transport direction. The operations of the conveying roller pair 34 and the feeding roller pair 35 during feeding are shown. As shown in FIG. 4, the conveyance roller pair 34 includes a driving roller 34d and a driven roller 34e. The drive roller 34d is connected to a shaft 34b that is rotationally driven by a motor 34a via a one-way clutch 34c. Similarly, the feed roller pair 35 includes a drive roller 35d and a driven roller 35e, and the drive roller 35d is connected to a shaft 35b that is rotationally driven by a motor 35a via a one-way clutch 35c.

  Since the one-way clutches 34c and 35c have the same function, the function of the one-way clutch 34c will be described here. The one-way clutch 34c is fixed to the driving roller 34d and rotates together with the driving roller 34d. When the drive roller 34d rotates faster than the rotational speed of the shaft 34b, the rotational force of the shaft 34b is not transmitted to the drive roller 34d, and the drive roller 35d rotates idly with respect to the shaft 34b. In other cases, the rotational force of the shaft 34b is transmitted to the drive roller 34d via the one-way clutch 34c, and the shaft 34b and the drive roller 34d rotate together.

  Therefore, when the conveyance roller pair 34 holds the sheet, the conveyance speed of the sheet is slower than the conveyance speed of the sheet based on the rotational force of the conveyance roller pair 34 driven by the motor 34a. Is transmitted to the conveying roller pair 34. Then, the sheet is transported with a transport force applied by the transport roller pair 34. On the other hand, when the paper conveyance speed is faster than the paper conveyance speed based on the rotational force of the conveyance roller pair 34 driven by the motor 34a, the driving force of the motor 34a is not transmitted to the conveyance roller pair 34 and is conveyed. The roller pair 34 is idle. That is, the transport roller pair 34 is driven to rotate at a rotational speed corresponding to the paper transport speed.

  Here, the sheet conveying speed based on the rotational force of the conveying roller pair 34 driven by the motor 34a is V1, and the sheet conveying speed based on the rotational force of the feeding roller pair 34 driven by the motor 35a is V2. Consider the case of transporting a sheet downstream in the transport direction with reference to (a). At this time, as will be described later, after the leading edge of the paper reaches the feed roller pair 35 and is nipped, the drive of the transport roller pair 34 is stopped, and the transport speed V1 becomes zero. On the other hand, the feed roller pair 35 is rotationally driven by the driving force of the motor 35a being transmitted through the shaft 35b and the one-way clutch 35c. Since the sheet sandwiched between the transport roller pair 34 is transported at the transport speed V2, the transport roller pair 34 is idled by the function of the one-way clutch 34c.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4B, consider a case where the paper is fed back upstream in the transport direction. At this time, as will be described later, since the driving of the feed roller pair 35 is stopped, the conveyance speed V2 becomes zero. On the other hand, the conveying roller pair 34 is rotationally driven by the driving force of the motor 34a being transmitted through the shaft 34b and the one-way clutch 34c. Then, the sheet sandwiched by the pair of feed rollers 35 is reversely fed at the conveyance speed V1, and therefore the pair of feed rollers 35 is idled by the function of the one-way clutch 35c.

  The pair of paper feed rollers 31 is also connected to a shaft (not shown) that is rotationally driven by a motor 31a via a one-way clutch 31c having the same function as the one-way clutches 34c and 35c described above. Accordingly, the paper feed roller pair 31, the transport roller pair 34, and the feed roller pair 35 are configured to remove the paper unrolled from the paper supply unit 40 by individually controlling the motors 31a, 34a, and 35a by the transport control unit 27a. The sheet can be conveyed downstream in the conveying direction and taken up by the paper take-up unit 80, and the paper once taken up in the paper take-up unit 80 can be unwound and unwound from the paper take-up unit 80. The printed paper can be fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction.

  The printing unit 30 also has an encoder 33 that can detect the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34. Here, as described above, the transport roller pair 34 is driven and rotated by the motor 34a to transport the paper, and is driven and rotated along with the paper transported by the feed roller pair 35. obtain. The encoder 33 can detect the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34 even when the conveyance roller 34 is in any of the above states.

  Next, the operation of the first decurling roller pair 36 and the second decurling roller pair 37 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a state when the paper is transported downstream in the transport direction, and FIG. 6 shows a state when the paper is reversely fed upstream in the transport direction.

  First, when the paper is transported downstream in the transport direction, the driven roller 36b is connected to the driving roller 36a until the leading edge of the paper reaches the first decurling roller pair 36, as shown in FIG. The driven roller 37b is disposed at a position where the driven roller 37b is not in contact with the driving roller 37a.

  Then, when the leading edge of the sheet passes through the first decurling roller pair 36, the driven roller 36b is disposed at a position where it is pressed against the driving roller 36a, as shown in FIG. As a result, the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is curved and lifted upward in the conveyance path by being pressed against the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b.

  Subsequently, when the driving roller 36a of the first decurling roller pair 36 is driven in a state where the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is lifted upward, the leading edge of the sheet is fixed to the fixed blade 52 as shown in FIG. It reaches in the order above and on the guide 56. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the fixed blade 52 and the guide 56, the driven roller 36b is moved, so that the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b are switched from the pressure-bonded state to the contact state.

  Thereafter, when the sheet is further conveyed, as shown in FIG. 5D, the driven roller 36b is moved to switch the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b from the contact state to the separated state.

  As described above, when the leading edge of the sheet is conveyed above the passage 57 between the guide 55 and the cutting position and the passage 58 between the guide 56 and the cutting position, the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is lifted upward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the leading edge of the sheet from being caught by the edge portions of the passages 57 and 58.

  On the other hand, when the paper is fed back upstream in the transport direction, the driven roller 36b is driven by the drive roller 36a until the leading edge of the paper reaches the second decurling roller pair 37, as shown in FIG. The driven roller 37b is disposed at a position not in contact with the driving roller 37a.

  Then, when the leading edge of the paper passes through the second decurling roller pair 37, the driven roller 37b is disposed at a position where it is pressed against the driving roller 37a as shown in FIG. 6B. As a result, the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is curved and lifted upward in the conveyance path by being pressed against the driving roller 37a and the driven roller 37b.

  Subsequently, when the driving roller 37a of the second decurling roller pair 37 is driven in a state where the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is lifted upward, the leading edge of the sheet is fixed to the fixed blade 52 as shown in FIG. It arrives in the order above and on the guide 55. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the fixed blade 52 and the guide 56, the driven roller 37b is moved, so that the driving roller 37a and the driven roller 37b are switched from the pressure-bonding state to the contact state.

  Thereafter, when the sheet is further conveyed, as shown in FIG. 6D, the driven roller 37b is moved, so that the driving roller 37a and the driven roller 37b are switched from the contact state to the separated state.

  As described above, when the leading edge of the sheet is conveyed above the passage 58 between the guide 56 and the cutting position and the passage 57 between the guide 55 and the cutting position, the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is lifted upward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the leading edge of the sheet from being caught by the edge portions of the passages 57 and 58.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 20 includes a motor 43 a that drives the rotation shaft 43 of the paper supply unit 40, a paper feed roller pair 31, drive rollers 36 a and 37 a, a transport roller pair 34, and a feed roller pair 35. Motors 31 a, 36 c, 37 c, 34 a, 35 a that are respectively driven, an encoder 33 that detects the number of rotations of the conveying roller pair 34, a driving mechanism 55 for the rolling cutter 51 of the cutting unit 50, an overcoat unit 60, and a printing unit 70. The elevating mechanisms 61f and 71f to 73f of the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a and the drivers 61g and 71g to 73g, the image detection sensor 90, the paper detection sensor 91, and the operation unit 10 are respectively connected.

  The control device 20 includes hardware such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM controlled by appropriate software, and includes a maximum winding amount storage unit 21, a print information storage unit 22, and a necessary winding amount calculation unit. 23, a comparison unit 24, a winding amount determination unit 25, a conveyance amount detection unit 26, a conveyance control unit 27a, a print control unit 27b, a cutting control unit 27c, and a curl removal control unit 27d. ing.

  The maximum winding amount storage unit 21 maximizes the maximum length of paper that can be transported downstream in the transport direction from the printing unit 70 when the paper is transported from the paper supply unit 40 toward the paper winding unit 80. It is stored as the winding amount. The maximum winding amount is determined by the length of the conveyance path between the printing position by the head unit 73 arranged on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the printing unit 70 and the insertion port 82 of the sheet winding unit 80, and the sheet winding. This value is calculated by adding together the length of paper that can be taken up in the storage case 81 of the unit 80. The maximum winding amount is input to the maximum winding amount storage unit 21 by the operator.

  Here, the maximum winding amount largely varies depending on the size of the storage case 81. The length of paper that can be wound in the storage case 81 may be the maximum length of paper that can actually be stored in the storage case 81, or the maximum length of paper that can be stored in the storage case 81. It may be shorter than the length and can be set arbitrarily. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the length of the paper that can be wound in the storage case 81 used when the maximum winding amount is calculated is that the paper is not damaged or scratched in the storage case 81. The length of the range is set to be shorter than the maximum length of paper that can be stored in the storage case 81.

  The print information storage unit 22 stores various setting values when a color image is printed. Here, the set values include the print length of one frame for each print type (the length in the transport direction), the number of prints (the number of frames), the length of the margin formed between adjacent images, and the head heat dissipation. Includes additional length. As the print length of one frame for each print type, a plurality of values are stored for each of a plurality of print types such as a standard size and a panorama size, for example. As the number of prints, a value input for each order by the operator before printing is stored. Further, the length of the margin between the images and the additional length for heat radiation of the head are stored as values input by the operator before starting printing. The additional length is such that the temperatures of the thermal heads 71a, 72a, 73a that have generated heat for printing an image and the thermal head 61a that has generated heat for overcoating are substantially the same as the ambient temperature after energization. The sheet is set to such a length that the sheet faces each of the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a. In the present embodiment, the time required for each of the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a that have generated heat to be substantially the same as the ambient temperature, and the sheet to be fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction. The additional length is calculated by the product with the conveyance speed.

  The necessary winding amount calculation unit 23 calculates the length of paper necessary for printing all of a plurality of color images included in one order as the necessary winding amount. In other words, in order to print all of a plurality of color images included in one order, before the printing of the color image by the printing unit 70, paper having a length capable of printing these color images is printed on the printing unit. It is necessary to carry the sheet downstream in the carrying direction from 70. Therefore, when the paper is conveyed from the paper supply unit 40 toward the paper take-up unit 80, the printing position by the head unit 73 of the printing unit 70 is used to print all of the plurality of color images included in one order. The length of the paper to be transported exceeding this is calculated as the required winding amount.

  Here, the necessary winding amount will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of color images included in one order are printed in the vicinity of the leading edge of the paper. In FIG. 8, a case where six images of the same print type are included in one order is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 8, a region corresponding to the additional length z for heat radiation of the head is provided near the front end (left end portion in FIG. 8) of the paper, and from there toward the upstream side (right side in FIG. 8) The area corresponding to the print length x and the area corresponding to the margin length y are alternately provided by the number n of prints.

Accordingly, in the necessary winding amount calculation unit 23, when the print type and the number of prints of a color image included in one order are input by the operator before the start of printing, each value stored in the print information storage unit 22 is set. Based on this, the required winding amount L corresponding to one order is calculated by the following equation.
L = z + x * n + y * (n-1)

  The comparison unit 24 compares the required winding amount calculated by the required winding amount calculation unit 23 with the maximum winding amount stored in the maximum winding amount storage unit 21. Then, the comparison unit 24 obtains a comparison result regarding the magnitude relationship between the required winding amount and the maximum winding amount.

  The winding amount determination unit 25 is actually conveyed downstream of the printing unit 70 in the conveyance direction before the conveyance direction of the sheet is changed from the direction toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction to the direction toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction. The length of the sheet (actual winding amount), that is, the length of the sheet that is actually conveyed beyond the position facing the head unit 73 of the printing unit 70 is determined. Here, the winding amount determination unit 25 determines the winding amount based on the comparison result by the comparison unit 24. That is, when the comparison unit 24 obtains a comparison result that the required winding amount is equal to or less than the maximum winding amount, the winding amount determination unit 25 determines the actual winding amount as the necessary winding amount, On the other hand, when the comparison unit 24 obtains a comparison result that the required winding amount is longer than the maximum winding amount, the actual winding amount is determined as the maximum winding amount.

  The carry amount detection unit 26 detects the carry amount of the paper based on the number of rotations of the carry roller pair 34 detected by the encoder 33 after the leading edge of the paper is detected by the paper detection sensor 91. That is, the transport amount detection unit 26 detects the length of the paper transported downstream in the transport direction from the position detected by the paper detection sensor 91. As a result, the conveyance amount detection unit 26 is conveyed downstream of the printing unit 70 in the conveyance direction before the sheet conveyance direction is changed from the direction toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction to the direction toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction. The length of the paper can be detected. As will be described later, after the leading edge of the sheet reaches the feed roller pair 35, the sheet is transported by the transport force applied from the feed roller pair 35 instead of the transport force applied from the transport roller pair 34. However, even in this case, the carry amount detection unit 26 always detects the carry amount of the paper based on the number of rotations of the carry roller pair 34.

  The conveyance amount detection unit 26 can detect the conveyance amount of the paper not only when the paper is conveyed toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction but also when the paper is conveyed toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction. . Therefore, when the paper transport direction is changed from the direction downstream in the transport direction to the direction upstream in the transport direction, the transport direction is changed from the transport amount downstream in the transport direction before the transport direction is changed. The leading end position of the sheet can be detected by subtracting the transport amount upstream in the transport direction after being performed.

  The conveyance control unit 27a includes motors 43a, 31a, and 36c that drive the rotation shaft 43, the paper feed roller pair 31, the first curl removal roller pair 36, the second curl removal roller pair 37, the conveyance roller pair 34, and the feed roller pair 35. , 37c, 34a, and 35a, the paper is transported from the paper supply unit 40 to the paper take-up unit 80, and the paper is reversely fed from the paper take-up unit 80 to the paper supply unit 40.

  The printing control unit 27b controls the raising / lowering timing and printing timing of the thermal head 61a of the overcoat unit 60 and the thermal heads 71a to 73a of the printing unit 70. Specifically, when the paper is transported downstream in the transport direction, the print control unit 27b sets the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a to the retracted position, and before the paper is fed back upstream in the transport direction, The raising / lowering timing is controlled so that the thermal heads 61a, 71a to 73a are set to the printing positions. In addition, the print control unit 27b prints a plurality of color images included in one order separated by the length of the blank portion on the paper that has been fed back upstream in the transport direction, and finally, The printing timing is controlled so that the image is not printed in an area corresponding to the additional length on the leading end side of the paper than the printed color image. Further, the print control unit 27b controls the overcoat unit 60 so as to overcoat only the area where the color image of the paper is printed.

  The cutting control unit 27 c controls the cutting timing at the cutting unit 50. In detail, the cutting control unit 27c detects the conveyance amount detection unit 26 to the upstream side in the conveyance direction after the sheet conveyance direction is changed from the direction toward the downstream in the conveyance direction to the direction toward the upstream in the conveyance direction. Based on the transport amount of the paper, it is detected that the rear end portion of the color image printed most upstream in the transport direction has reached the cutting position by the cutting unit 50, and the rear end portion of the color image is cut. Thus, the cutting unit 50 is controlled. Further, the cutting control unit 27c detects the color image based on the conveyance amount of the sheet upstream in the conveyance direction after the trailing edge of the image is detected by the image detection sensor 90, which is detected by the conveyance amount detection unit 26. Is detected to have reached the cutting position by the cutting unit 50, and the cutting unit 50 is controlled so that the leading end of the color image is cut. Further, the cutting control unit 27c detects the conveyance direction based on the conveyance amount upstream of the conveyance direction after the sheet is cut at the leading end of the color image, which is detected by the conveyance amount detection unit 26. It is detected that the rear end of the color image adjacent on the downstream side has reached the cutting position by the cutting unit 50, and the cutting unit 50 is controlled so that the rear end of the color image is cut.

  The decurling control unit 27d controls the drive mechanisms 36d and 37d to move the driven rollers 36b and 37b of the decurling roller pair 36 and 37.

  Next, an operation when an image is printed in the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the printer 1.

  First, the leading end of the sheet unwound by rotating the rotary shaft 43 from the paper winding unit 45 loaded in the paper supply unit 40 is transported only by the transport force applied from the paper feed roller pair 31. (Step S101). As described above, when the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet conveyed downstream in the conveying direction is conveyed above the passages 57 and 58 near the cutting unit 50, the first decurling roller pair 36 presses the sheet. By doing so, the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is conveyed in a state where it is lifted above the conveyance path.

  Then, the conveyance by the paper feed roller pair 31 is continued until the leading edge of the paper passes through the conveyance roller pair 34 and reaches the paper detection sensor 91 (step S102). Here, when the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor 91, a detection signal indicating that the leading edge of the sheet has been detected is transmitted from the sheet detection sensor 91 to the control device 20.

  In this way, when the leading edge of the paper reaches the paper detection sensor 91, the conveyance of the paper is stopped and a standby state is entered (step S103). At this time, if the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a are arranged at the print positions, the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a are moved to the retracted positions (step S104).

  Thereafter, when an order is received from the operator and the print type and the number of prints of color images included in one order are input (step S105), the print information is stored as preparation for starting the conveyance of the paper. Based on the information stored in the unit 22, the necessary winding amount corresponding to the one order is calculated by the necessary winding amount calculation unit 23 (step S106). Then, the required winding amount is compared with the maximum winding amount stored in the maximum winding amount storage unit 21 by the comparison unit 24 (step S107). Based on the comparison result, the winding amount determination unit 25 determines the actual winding amount (step S108). In this way, after completion of the sheet conveyance preparation, the sheet is conveyed only by the conveyance force applied from the conveyance roller pair 34 (step S109). At this time, both the rotation shaft 43 and the paper feed roller pair 31 of the paper supply unit 40 are rotatable.

  Thereafter, in a state in which the thermal heads 61a and 71a to 73a are disposed at the retracted positions, the leading end of the sheet passes through the overcoat unit 60 and the print unit 70 without performing overcoat and image printing, and the feed roller The conveyance is continued only by the conveyance force applied from the conveyance roller pair 34 until the pair 35 is reached (step S110). When the leading edge of the sheet reaches the nipping roller pair 35 and is nipped, the sheet is thereafter conveyed only by the conveying force applied from the feeding roller pair 35 and is wound from the leading edge of the sheet. Are sequentially fed into the storage case 81 of the unit 80 (step S111). At this time, as the paper is fed into the storage case 81, the leading edge of the paper is guided to the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 81 and the take-up rollers 83 a to 83 d, and the paper is wound around the curl in the storage case 81. Therefore, it is wound up. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the feed roller pair 35, the transport roller pair 34 is accompanied by the paper transported by the feed roller pair 35 from the state in which the transport force is applied to the paper by the function of the one-way clutch 34c. It is switched to the state of driven rotation.

  Thereafter, when the sheet having the length of the winding amount determined by the winding amount determination unit 25 is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction from the printing position by the head unit 73, the winding of the sheet is finished, The conveyance of the sheet from the sheet supply unit 40 toward the sheet winding unit 80 is stopped (step S112). That is, the conveyance amount of the paper detected by the conveyance amount detection unit 26 based on the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34 detected by the encoder 33 after the front end of the paper is detected by the paper detection sensor 91 is taken up. When the winding amount determined by the amount determination unit 25 and the length of the conveyance path in the overcoat unit 60 and the printing unit 70 are added, the conveyance control unit 27a finishes winding the sheet. Then, the conveyance of the sheet downstream in the conveyance direction is stopped. At this time, the rear end portion of the image printed on the most upstream side in the transport direction of the sheet having the winding amount is disposed at the printing position by the head unit 73.

  Then, the thermal head 61a of the overcoat unit 60 and the thermal heads 71a to 73a of the printing unit 70 are simultaneously moved from the retracted position to the printing position (step S113). Thereafter, the sheet is fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the transport force applied from the pair of paper feed rollers 31 and the pair of transport rollers 34 (step S114). Accordingly, at this time, the pair of paper feed rollers 31 and the pair of transport rollers 34 that have been driven to rotate are rotationally driven in the direction of transporting paper toward the upstream side in the transport direction, and the pair of feed rollers 35 The function of the clutch 35c causes the driven rotation. Further, the rotation shaft 43 of the paper supply unit 40 is rotationally driven in a direction to rewind the paper into the magazine case 41.

  Then, while the paper is being fed back toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction, for each color image included in one order, printing corresponding to yellow by the head unit 73, printing corresponding to magenta by the head unit 72, and printing by the head unit 71 Printing corresponding to cyan is sequentially performed. In this way, each color image is printed in the order of yellow, magenta, and cyan, thereby completing the color image (step S115). Subsequently, overcoating is performed on the surface of the paper on which the color image is printed by the head unit 61 (step S116). When the printing and overcoating for a plurality of color images are completed while the paper is being sent back upstream in the transport direction, the thermal head 61a of the overcoat unit 60 and the thermal heads 71a to 73a of the printing unit 70 are moved from the printing position. They are simultaneously moved to the retracted position (step S117).

  In the present embodiment, when the necessary winding amount is shorter than the maximum winding amount, reverse feeding to the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is started, and simultaneously printing of a color image is started. All of the color images included in the order are printed intermittently so that a margin of a predetermined width is formed between the images. On the other hand, when the necessary winding amount is longer than the maximum winding amount, the reverse feeding to the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is started, and at the same time, the printing of the color image is started, and the color image included in one order. Are intermittently printed so that a margin of a predetermined width is formed between the images. That is, as described above, a color image is printed on the paper so that the image areas and the margins are alternately arranged. However, no image is printed in an area corresponding to the additional length for heat radiation near the leading edge of the paper. And in the printing part 70, when there exists an image area | region at the same timing in the position facing at least 2 of the three head parts 71-73, printing is simultaneously performed by those head parts. In addition, the overcoat in the overcoat unit 60 is performed in parallel with the printing of the color image in the print unit 70. In this way, in the printing unit 70 and the overcoat unit 60, a plurality of printable sheets can be printed on the paper having the winding amount determined by the winding amount determination unit 25 or the paper having the maximum winding amount. The color image is printed and overcoated.

  The trailing end of the color image printed on the most upstream side in the transport direction (corresponding to the trailing end of the sheet having the winding amount determined by the winding amount determination unit 25) is formed by the cutting unit 50. When the cutting position is reached, the reverse feeding of the paper is stopped, and the paper is cut at the trailing edge of the color image (step S118). Note that the timing at which the trailing edge of the color image reaches the cutting position by the cutting unit 50 is detected based on the carry amount detected by the carry amount detection unit 26. After the paper is cut in this way, the paper on which the image upstream of the most upstream color image in the transport direction is not formed (the paper of the length of the winding amount determined by the winding amount determination unit 25) The sheet on the upstream side in the transport direction from the rear end portion is rewound to the sheet supply unit 40.

  Subsequently, when the sheet is reversely fed only by the conveyance force applied from the conveyance roller pair 34 and the rear end portion of the image on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction reaches the detection position by the image detection sensor 90, the image detection sensor 90 controls the control device. A detection signal indicating that the rear end portion of the image has been detected is transmitted to 20 (step S119). When the vicinity of the rear end of the paper that is fed back upstream in the transport direction is transported above the passages 57 and 58 near the cutting portion 50, the second curl removing roller pair 37 presses the paper. Then, the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet is conveyed in a state where it is lifted above the conveyance path.

  Then, the conveyance amount detection unit 26 detects the trailing edge of the image by the image detection sensor 90, and then determines the amount of the sheet upstream in the conveyance direction based on the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34 detected by the encoder 33. Detect the transport amount. Based on the transport amount, the cutting control unit 27c detects that the leading end of the color image has reached the cutting position by the cutting unit 50. At this time, the reverse feeding of the paper is stopped, and the paper is cut at the leading end of the color image (step S120). In this way, the paper from which the leading edge and trailing edge of the color image are cut is stored in the print box 96.

  Each time the paper is cut at the leading edge of the color image, it is determined whether the color image printed on the cut paper is the final image printed closest to the leading edge of the paper. (Step S121). Here, if it is determined that the image is not the final image, the paper is reversely fed again. Then, the conveyance amount detection unit 26 cuts the sheet at the leading end of the color image, and then, based on the number of rotations of the conveyance roller pair 34 detected by the encoder 33, the conveyance amount upstream of the conveyance direction. Detect the transport amount. In the cutting control unit 27c, based on the conveyance amount, the rear end portion of the color image adjacent to the color image whose leading end portion was cut in step S120 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction reaches the cutting position by the cutting unit 50. Detecting that At this time, the reverse feeding of the paper is stopped, and the paper is cut at the rear end portion of the color image (step S122). Then, it returns to step S119 and the process similar to the above is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the image is the final image, it is determined whether or not printing of all color images included in one order has been completed (step S123). If it is determined that printing of all the color images included in one order has not been completed, the process returns to step S106 and the same processing as described above is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that all the printing of the color images included in one order has been completed, the process ends.

  Note that when it is determined in step S123 that all printing of color images included in one order has not been completed, for example, the comparison unit 24 determines that the necessary winding amount is longer than the maximum winding amount. This is a case where the winding amount determination unit 25 determines the maximum winding amount as the final winding amount. That is, in this case, printing of the remaining color images that could not be printed on the sheet having the maximum winding amount among the color images included in one order is continued. In this way, the same processing as described above is repeated until all the printing of the color images included in one order is completed.

  As described above, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, after the paper is transported in the direction from the paper supply unit 40 to the paper winding unit 80, the upstream side in the transport direction from the overcoat unit 60 and the printing unit 70. A plurality of color images can be printed on a sheet that is fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the transport force of the disposed transport roller pair 34. For this reason, it is possible to print a color image in an area from the front end of the paper portion that is reversely fed after conveyance, and it is possible to suppress deterioration of the image due to load fluctuations during conveyance of the paper. Further, even when printing a plurality of color images on paper, it is only necessary to reciprocate the paper once, and it is only necessary to switch the paper transport direction in the transport mechanism 38 once. Loss can be reduced. As a result, when printing a plurality of color images on paper, the processing capability of the printer 1 can be improved while preventing image deterioration due to paper waste and load fluctuations during paper transport.

  Further, when the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b are brought into a pressure-bonding state after the leading edge of the paper conveyed downstream in the conveying direction enters the first decurling roller pair 36, the hardness of the surface of the driven roller 36b is as follows. Since the hardness of the surface of the driving roller 36a is greater, the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is curved upstream in the transport direction. Therefore, even when the passages 57 and 58 in which guides for supporting the paper are not arranged are formed in the vicinity of the cutting position in the cutting unit 50, the leading edge of the paper is located above the passages 57 and 58 near the cutting position on the downstream side in the transport direction. When the paper is transported, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a paper jam due to the leading edge of the paper being caught by the edges of the passages 57 and 58.

  Further, when the driving roller 37a and the driven roller 37b are brought into a pressure-bonding state after the leading edge of the sheet fed back upstream in the conveying direction enters the second decurling roller pair 37, the hardness of the surface of the driven roller 37b. Is larger than the hardness of the surface of the drive roller 37a, the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet is curved upstream in the transport direction. Therefore, even when the passages 57 and 58 in which guides for supporting the paper are not disposed are formed in the vicinity of the cutting position in the cutting unit 50, the leading edge of the paper is conveyed when the top of the passages 57 and 58 near the cutting position is conveyed. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a paper jam due to the leading edge of the paper being caught by the edges of the passages 57 and 58.

  Further, since the hardness of the surface of the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b of the first decurling roller pair 36 is 20 degrees or more, when the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b are pressure-bonded, the vicinity of the front end of the sheet is moderately adjusted. Can be curved. Further, by causing the driven rollers 36b and 37b to reciprocate in the direction toward the driving rollers 36a and 37a, it is possible to suppress the printing surface of the paper from being damaged. The same applies to the driving roller 37a and the driven roller 37b of the second decurling roller pair 37.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made as long as they are described in the claims. . For example, in the above-described embodiment, the color image is printed on the paper that is reversely fed toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the transport force by the transport roller pair 34 disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction from the overcoat unit 60 and the print unit 70. Is printed, but is not limited to this. Therefore, a color image may be printed on a sheet that is fed back toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the transport force of the transport roller pair disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction from the overcoat unit 60 and the print unit 70.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first curl removing roller pair 36 for removing the curl of the paper conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction on the upstream side in the conveyance direction from the cutting position in the cutting unit 50, and the cutting in the cutting unit 50. Both of the second decurling roller pair 37 for removing the curl of the paper that is fed back to the upstream side in the transport direction on the downstream side in the transport direction from the position are provided, but only one of these is provided. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, the surface hardness of the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b of the first decurling roller pair 36 is 20 degrees or more, but the surface hardness of these rollers is less than 20 degrees. May be. The same applies to the driving roller 37a and the driven roller 37b of the second decurling roller pair 37.

  In the above-described embodiment, the driven roller 36b of the first decurling roller pair 36 reciprocates in the direction toward the driving roller 36a. However, the driving roller 36a reciprocates in the direction toward the driven roller 36b. Alternatively, the driving roller 36a and the driven roller 36b may reciprocate in the direction toward the other.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printing unit 70 has a plurality of head units 71 to 73, and a color image is printed on the paper. However, the printing unit has only one head unit. A single color image may be printed on the paper.

  In the above-described embodiment, the color image is printed while the sheet is conveyed to the upstream side in the conveyance direction after the sheet is conveyed to the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the printing unit 70. The same effect as that of the present invention can also be obtained in a printer that prints a color image while being transported from the upstream side in the transport direction to the downstream side in the transport direction from the printing unit.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 1 includes the overcoat unit 60 that performs overcoating on the surface of the paper on which an image is printed. However, the overcoat unit 60 may be omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the thermal sublimation printer 1, a color image is printed by the three head portions 71 to 73 that come into contact with the paper that is the recording medium. If there is, the configuration of the image recording unit is not limited to this. Therefore, it may be a thermal printer (including a thermal transfer system and a thermal recording system) having a head that comes into contact with a recording medium, and has, for example, an inkjet head, a FOCRT (Fiber Optic Cathode-Ray-Tube), a laser light source, etc. And a printer capable of recording a color image without contacting the recording medium. Further, the image recording unit does not necessarily have a plurality of image recording heads, and may have only one image recording head capable of recording a color image. Therefore, for example, it has three inkjet heads each having nozzles capable of ejecting yellow, magenta and cyan inks, and these heads reciprocate in a direction crossing the recording medium conveyance direction to record a color image. Or a single inkjet head having nozzles capable of discharging yellow, magenta, and cyan inks, and the head reciprocates in a direction intersecting the recording medium conveyance direction. A printer that records a color image may be used.

1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming unit of the printer of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the structure of the cutting position vicinity in the cutting mechanism contained in the printing part of FIG. It is a figure showing operation | movement of the conveyance roller pair and feed roller pair of the printer of FIG. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the decurling roller pair contained in the printing part of FIG. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the decurling roller pair contained in the printing part of FIG. It is a block diagram about the principal part of the printer of FIG. 1, and the control apparatus to which these were connected. It is a figure which shows a mode when the several color image contained in 1 order is printed in the front-end | tip part vicinity of a paper. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the printer 1.

Explanation of symbols

1 Thermal printer (printer)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Operation part 20 Control apparatus 21 Maximum winding amount memory | storage part 22 Print information storage part 23 Required winding amount calculation part 24 Comparison part 25 Winding amount determination part 26 Conveyance amount detection part 27a Conveyance control part (conveyance control means)
27b Print control unit (image recording control means)
27c Cutting control unit 27d Curl removal control unit (first drive control means; second drive control means; third drive control means)
30 Print unit 34 Conveying roller pair 36 First decurling roller pair 36a Driving roller (second roller)
36b Follower roller (first roller)
36d Drive mechanism (first drive mechanism)
37 Second decurling roller pair 37a Driving roller (fourth roller; sixth roller)
37b Follower roller (third roller; fifth roller)
37d Drive mechanism (second drive mechanism; third drive mechanism)
38 Transport mechanism 40 Paper supply unit (supply unit)
50 Cutting part (cutting mechanism)
60 Overcoat part 61a Thermal head 70 Printing part (image recording part)
71a-73a Thermal head 80 Paper winding part

Claims (14)

An image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording medium;
A supply unit storing a long recording medium;
A transport mechanism that transports a path including the supply unit and the image recording unit while a recording medium faces the image recording unit;
A cutting mechanism capable of cutting the recording medium conveyed along the path;
A first guide that is disposed upstream of the cutting mechanism and supports the back side of the recording surface of the recording medium to be conveyed;
A second guide that is disposed so that a gap is formed between the first guide and the downstream side of the cutting mechanism, and that supports the back side of the recording surface of the recording medium to be conveyed;
A first roller disposed on the recording surface side of the recording medium upstream of the cutting mechanism;
A second roller disposed on the back side of the recording surface of the recording medium upstream of the cutting mechanism;
The first roller and the second roller move at least one of the first roller and the second roller so that the first roller and the second roller are in a pressure-bonded state or a state where the second roller is not pressure-bonded. 1 drive mechanism;
A transport control means for controlling the transport mechanism;
And a first driving control means for controlling the pre-Symbol first driving mechanism,
The hardness of the surface of the first roller is much larger than the hardness of the surface of said second roller,
The first drive control unit is configured to press the first roller and the second roller after the leading end of the recording medium to be conveyed enters between the first roller and the second roller. In this state, the leading edge of the recording medium is curved toward the recording surface side, and at least until the leading edge of the curved recording medium reaches the second guide, the first roller and the second roller The printer is characterized in that the first drive mechanism is controlled so as to keep the pressure-bonded state .   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the surface hardness of the first roller and the second roller is 20 degrees or more. The second roller is a driving roller that is driven to rotate, and the first roller is a driven roller that is rotatably supported,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first drive control unit reciprocates the first roller in a direction toward the second roller. An image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording medium;
A supply unit storing a long recording medium wound so that the first surface is on the outside;
A transport mechanism capable of transporting a recording medium in a first direction from the supply unit to the image recording unit and a second direction opposite to the first direction while facing the image recording unit;
A cutting mechanism capable of cutting the recording medium conveyed in either the first direction or the second direction;
A first guide that is disposed upstream of the cutting mechanism and supports the opposite side of the first surface of the recording medium to be conveyed;
A second gap is disposed downstream of the cutting mechanism so as to form a gap with the first guide, and supports a side opposite to the first face of the recording medium to be conveyed. A guide,
A first roller disposed on the first surface side of the recording medium upstream of the cutting mechanism;
A second roller disposed on the opposite side of the first surface of the recording medium upstream of the cutting mechanism;
The first roller and the second roller move at least one of the first roller and the second roller so that the first roller and the second roller are in a pressure-bonded state or a state where the second roller is not pressure-bonded. 1 drive mechanism;
The second after the plurality of images are conveyed recording medium in the first direction so that the recording medium of the recordable length is arranged on the opposite side of the supply portion to the image recording unit Transport control means for controlling the transport mechanism so as to be transported in the direction;
Image recording control means for controlling the image recording unit so that a plurality of images are recorded by the image recording unit on a recording medium conveyed in the second direction by the conveyance mechanism;
And a first driving control means for controlling the pre-Symbol first driving mechanism,
The hardness of the surface of the first roller is much larger than the hardness of the surface of said second roller,
The first drive control means is configured such that after the leading end of the recording medium conveyed in the first direction enters between the first roller and the second roller, the first roller and the first roller In this state, the tip of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface by pressing the second roller, and at least until the tip of the curved recording medium reaches the second guide. A printer , wherein the first drive mechanism is controlled so that a roller and the second roller are kept in a pressure-bonded state .   5. The conveyance mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the conveyance mechanism is capable of conveying the recording medium in the second direction by applying a conveyance force to the recording medium between the supply unit and the image recording unit. The printer described.   The printer according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the surface hardness of the first roller and the second roller is 20 degrees or more. The second roller is a driving roller that is driven to rotate, and the first roller is a driven roller that is rotatably supported,
The printer according to claim 4, wherein the first drive control unit reciprocates the first roller in a direction toward the second roller. A third roller disposed on the first surface side of the recording medium downstream of the cutting mechanism;
A fourth roller disposed on the opposite side of the first surface of the recording medium downstream of the cutting mechanism;
The third roller and the fourth roller move at least one of the third roller and the fourth roller so that the third roller and the fourth roller are in a state where they are pressure-bonded or not. Two drive mechanisms;
Further comprising a second driving control means for controlling the pre-Symbol second driving mechanism,
Hardness of the surface of the third roller is much larger than the hardness of the surface of the fourth roller,
The second drive control means is configured such that after the leading end of the recording medium conveyed in the second direction enters between the third roller and the fourth roller, the third roller and the second roller 4 so that the tip of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface, and at least until the tip of the curved recording medium reaches the first guide. The printer according to claim 4 , wherein the second driving mechanism is controlled so that a roller and the fourth roller are kept in a pressure-bonded state .   The printer according to claim 8, wherein the surface hardness of the third roller and the fourth roller is 20 degrees or more. The fourth roller is a driving roller that is driven to rotate, and the third roller is a driven roller that is rotatably supported,
The printer according to claim 8, wherein the second drive control unit reciprocates the third roller in a direction toward the fourth roller. An image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording medium;
A supply unit storing a long recording medium wound so that the first surface is on the outside;
A transport mechanism capable of transporting a recording medium in a first direction from the supply unit to the image recording unit and a second direction opposite to the first direction while facing the image recording unit;
A cutting mechanism capable of cutting the recording medium conveyed in either the first direction or the second direction;
A first guide that is disposed upstream of the cutting mechanism and supports the opposite side of the first surface of the recording medium to be conveyed;
A second gap is disposed downstream of the cutting mechanism so as to form a gap with the first guide, and supports a side opposite to the first face of the recording medium to be conveyed. A guide,
A fifth roller disposed on the first surface side of the recording medium downstream of the cutting mechanism;
A sixth roller disposed on the opposite side of the first surface of the recording medium downstream of the cutting mechanism;
A fifth moving unit moves at least one of the fifth roller and the sixth roller so that the fifth roller and the sixth roller are in a state where they are pressure-bonded or not. 3 drive mechanisms;
The second after the plurality of images are conveyed recording medium in the first direction so that the recording medium of the recordable length is arranged on the opposite side of the supply portion to the image recording unit Transport control means for controlling the transport mechanism so as to be transported in the direction;
Image recording control means for controlling the image recording unit so that a plurality of images are recorded by the image recording unit on a recording medium conveyed in the second direction by the conveyance mechanism;
And a third drive control means for controlling the pre-Symbol third driving mechanism,
The hardness of the surface of the fifth roller is much larger than the hardness of the surface of said sixth roller,
The third drive control means may be configured such that after the leading end of the recording medium conveyed in the second direction enters between the fifth roller and the sixth roller, 6 so that the tip of the recording medium is curved toward the first surface, and at least until the tip of the curved recording medium reaches the first guide. A printer, characterized in that the third drive mechanism is controlled so that a roller and the sixth roller are kept in a pressure-bonded state .   12. The conveyance mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the conveyance mechanism can convey the recording medium in the second direction by applying a conveyance force to the recording medium between the supply unit and the image recording unit. The printer described.   The printer according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the surface hardness of the fifth roller and the sixth roller is 20 degrees or more. The sixth roller is a drive roller that is driven to rotate, and the fifth roller is a driven roller that is rotatably supported,
The printer according to claim 11, wherein the third drive control unit reciprocates the fifth roller in a direction toward the sixth roller.

Images