JP4566816B2 - Sheet processing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, while feeding out Repetitive processing sheet wound into a roll, in which about the sheet processing equipment for cutting the processed sheet at a predetermined length.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a label producing apparatus that prints input information on a processing tape that is wound in a roll and accommodated in a cartridge, and cuts the printed portion with a cutter to create a label. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). In this type of label producing apparatus, a platen roller that feeds the tape from the upstream side facing the tape feeding path, a cutter that cuts the processing tape at a predetermined length, and a discharge port that discharges the processing tape are arranged. The printing process or the like is performed while feeding the processing tape while being fed by the feeding means.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-214828

  In such a conventional label producing apparatus, when the processing tape in the cartridge becomes small, the platen roller is separated from the end of the processing tape, and even if the platen roller is rotated, the tape feeding of the processing tape is not performed. . If the cutting process is performed in such a state, a short tape piece remains in the apparatus, and the remaining tape piece may adhere to the cutter or may be cut twice. In addition, when cutting processing is performed in a tape feeding abnormal state (jamming) such as when the tape is removed from the feeding path due to tape winding, etc., chips enter deep inside the device, and the cutter, gear, etc. This can cause damage to the equipment.

In view of the above problems, the present invention is, and the tape piece has been cut is left in the device, to provide a sheet processing equipment which can be prevented from being damaged, such as cutters and gears by the cutting process Let that be the issue.

The sheet processing apparatus of the present invention is disposed between a feeding unit that feeds a processing sheet toward the sheet discharge port, and between the feeding unit and the sheet discharge port, and cuts when the processing sheet is fed by a predetermined amount by the feeding unit. A full cut means, a full cut means and a sheet discharge port, a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a processed sheet, a full cut means and a detection means, and the full cut means A sheet discharge unit for forcibly discharging the cut processed sheet from the sheet discharge port, and a process sheet with the leading end positioned at the position of the full cut unit, the feed unit is at a distance from the full cut unit to the detection unit. When the corresponding feed amount has been fed, the detection control means for executing detection by the detection means, and when the detection means detects the processing sheet “none”, the processing sheet is cut by the full cut means. And full-cut control means for stopping, are disposed in the sheet feeding direction upstream side of the full-cut unit, a printing unit for printing on sent by Yuku processing sheet by the feed means, detecting means detects the processed sheet "no" The printing control means for prohibiting printing on the processing sheet by the printing means .

According to these configurations, it is possible to confirm that the processing sheet has reached the position of the detection means, that is, that the processing sheet has been normally sent, by detecting the processing sheet “present” by the detection means. . At the same time, it is possible to confirm that the processing sheet has not been normally sent for some reason by detecting the processing sheet “none”. Therefore, by prohibiting the cutting process by the full cut means in such a case, the processed sheet is not cut in a state where the front end of the processed sheet has not reached the position of the detecting means near the sheet discharge port. In other words, when the sheet feeding is normal, the processed sheet can be discharged from the sheet discharge port. When the sheet feeding is abnormal, the processed sheet can be left in the feeding path in a long state. Further, there is no possibility that chips enter the inside of the apparatus and damage constituent devices such as cutters and gears. The “some cause” may be considered when the end of the sheet passes through the feeding means, or when the processed sheet is sent out of the feeding path due to a sheet curl or the like.
Further, by providing the paper discharge means, the feed path from the full cut means to the sheet discharge port becomes long, and these means may cause abnormal feeding of the processed sheet. Therefore, it is very effective to perform the above detection in such a case.

  According to this configuration, when the processing sheet is not detected, that is, when the processing sheet is not sent normally, the printing process is prohibited, and therefore it is possible to minimize the unnecessary printing process. Further, when the end of the sheet passes the feeding means, it is possible to prevent the platen roller from being stained by ink by not performing blank printing.

Further, in this case, when the detection unit detects the processing sheet “absent”, it is preferable to further include a notification unit that performs notification to that effect.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prompt the user to check the state of the processing sheet and take an appropriate countermeasure.

Further, in this case, the processing sheet is accommodated in the sheet cartridge so as to be fed out in a state of being wound in a roll shape, and further includes a cartridge mounting portion for detachably mounting the sheet cartridge, and the feeding means includes the sheet cartridge. It is preferable that it is disposed upstream of the sheet feeding opening.

  According to this configuration, when the processing sheet is not normally fed, the processing sheet remaining in the apparatus can be easily removed by removing the sheet cartridge from the apparatus.

Further, in this case, the processing sheet is composed of a recording sheet and a release sheet adhered to the back surface of the recording sheet, and is disposed between the full cut means and the paper discharge means, and is a half cut means for cutting the recording sheet. Is preferably further provided.

  According to this configuration, by providing the half cut means and the paper discharge means, the feed path from the full cut means to the sheet discharge port becomes long, and these means may cause abnormal feeding of the processed sheet. . Therefore, it is very effective to perform the above detection in such a case.

In these cases, the paper discharge means is preferably driven in synchronism with the drive of the full cut means.

  The case where a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a tape processing apparatus will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. This tape processing apparatus has a printing unit, in which printing is performed on a processing tape comprising a recording tape and a release tape attached to the back surface of the recording tape, and the printed portion is cut to obtain a tape piece (label ).

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the tape processing apparatus in an opened state. As shown in the figure, the tape processing apparatus 1 includes a device main body 2 that performs printing on the processing tape T, a tape cartridge that houses the processing tape T and the ink ribbon R, and is detachably attached to the device main body 2. C.

  The apparatus body 2 has an outer shell formed by an apparatus case 3, and a keyboard 4 constituting an operation unit 110 (see FIG. 3) is disposed on the upper surface of the front half of the apparatus case 3. A cartridge mounting portion 20 into which the tape cartridge C can be detachably mounted is formed in a recess in the left portion of the upper surface of the rear half of the device case 3.

  The cartridge mounting portion 20 is provided with an opening / closing lid 8 for opening and closing the cartridge mounting portion 20, and a viewing window 10 is formed on the opening / closing lid 8 so as to visually check whether the tape cartridge C is mounted or not mounted. Has been. In addition, a rectangular display 9 for displaying an input result from the keyboard 4 and the like is formed on the right side of the upper surface of the rear half of the device case 3.

  A tape discharge port 11 is formed on the left side of the device case 3 so as to communicate the cartridge mounting portion 20 with the outside. The processing tape T fed from the tape cartridge C is provided in the device case 3 facing the tape discharge port 11. The cutter unit 50 for cutting is incorporated. Then, the printed portion of the processing tape T is cut by the cutter unit 50, whereby the tape piece Ta (not shown) of the printed processing tape T is discharged from the tape discharge port 11.

  On the other hand, a power supply port for supplying power and a connection port for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer (both not shown) are formed on the right side of the device case 3. Although not shown in both figures, a circuit board constituting a control unit 100 (see FIG. 3) that performs overall control of the tape processing apparatus 1 is mounted inside the apparatus case 3.

  A print head 22 having a heating element and covered with a head cover 24, a platen drive shaft 23 and a take-up drive shaft 25 for feeding the processing tape T and the ink ribbon R of the tape cartridge C protrude from the cartridge mounting portion 20. In addition, a print feed motor 121 (see FIG. 3), a gear train, and the like (not shown) for driving the platen drive shaft 23 and the take-up drive shaft 25 are built in the back side (inside) of the cartridge mounting portion 20. ing. When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 20, the print head 22 is inserted into the through opening 34 of the tape cartridge C, and the platen drive shaft 23 and the winding drive shaft 25 are inserted into the platen roller 35 and the ribbon take-up reel 32. Engage each other. Further, the feeding end portion of the processing tape T slightly protrudes from the tape cartridge C, and the front end of the processing tape T faces the cutter unit 50 (full cut mechanism 53; see FIG. 2) in a mounted state. When the open / close lid 8 is closed, the print head 22 is in contact with the platen roller 35 with the processing tape T and the ink ribbon R sandwiched at the portion of the through-opening 34 and enters a print standby state. .

  When printing is instructed, the platen roller 35 and the ribbon take-up reel 32 are driven to feed the processing tape T and the ink ribbon R, and based on input data such as characters input from the keyboard 4 or the like. Printing is performed by the print head 22. After printing, only the processing tape T is discharged from the tape outlet 11 to the outside of the apparatus through the tape outlet 36 of the tape cartridge C, and the ink ribbon R wraps around the wall surface of the through opening 34 and is wound around the ribbon take-up reel 32. It has come to be taken. Note that a tape type detection sensor 131 (see FIG. 3) that is configured of a plurality of microswitches and identifies the type of the processing tape T is provided at the corner of the cartridge mounting unit 20.

  The processing tape T is composed of a recording tape Sr made of a resin (for example, polyethylene terephthalate) provided with an adhesive layer on the back surface, and a release tape Sp made of fine paper or resin affixed by the adhesive layer. In addition, the printing surface of the recording tape Sr is processed so that the ink transfer by thermal transfer is good. The processing tape T is wound around the tape reel 37 in a roll shape and stored in the cartridge case 33 with the recording tape Sr on the outside and the release tape Sp on the inside. A plurality of types of processing tapes T are prepared for each width and color of the processing tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge C. A plurality of small detection holes (not shown) are formed on the back surface of the cartridge case 33, and the plurality of detection holes are identified by the tape type detection sensor 131, and the type of the processing tape T is identified. It is like that.

  The printed processing tape T sent out by the platen roller 35 is sent to the cutter unit 50 for cutting the printed portion. Here, the area around the cutter unit 50 will be described. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view around the cutter unit 50. As shown in the figure, the cutter unit 50 is disposed between the cartridge mounting portion 20 and the tape discharge port 11, and cuts both the recording tape Sr and the release Sp tape of the processing tape T in a scissors manner. A full-cut mechanism 53, a half-cut mechanism 54 that is disposed downstream of the full-cut mechanism 53 in the tape feeding direction and cuts only the recording tape Sr of the processing tape T in a scissors type with a stopper, and a half-cut mechanism 54 And a discharge mechanism 45 that forcibly discharges the tape piece Ta that is cut by rotating in synchronism with the drive of the full cut mechanism 53.

  Further, a tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 that detects the presence / absence of the processing tape T is disposed downstream of the discharge mechanism 45 in the tape feeding direction. The tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 includes a photo interrupter in which a light emitting element 132a (light emitting diode) and a light receiving element 132b (phototransistor) are incorporated, and detects the presence or absence of the processing tape T at a predetermined timing. That is, the tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 is always OFF to save power, and is turned ON (operated) at the detection timing (details will be described later).

  Next, the configuration of the control system of the tape processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The tape processing apparatus 1 includes a keyboard 4 and a display 9, and includes an operation unit 110 that controls a user interface such as input of character information and display of various information by a user, a tape cartridge C, a print head 22, and a print feed motor 121. A printing unit 120 that prints print data generated based on character information input on the processing tape T while feeding the processing tape T and the ink ribbon R, a full-cut mechanism 53, a half-cut mechanism 54, and these A cutter unit 50 that has a full cutter motor 51 and a half cutter motor 52 to drive each, and performs full cut and half cut on the printed processing tape T, and various sensors such as a tape type detection sensor 131 and a tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 And a detection unit 13 that performs various types of detection. A display driver 141, a head driver 142, a print feed motor driver 143, and a cutter motor driver 144, a drive unit 140 that drives each unit, and a control unit 100 that is connected to each unit and controls the entire tape processing apparatus 1. It is comprised by. The discharge mechanism 45 (see FIG. 2) is driven by the full cutter motor 51.

  The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, and an input / output control device (IOC: Input Output Controller) 104, which are connected to each other via an internal bus 105. The CPU 101 inputs various signals and data from each unit in the tape processing apparatus 1 via the IOC 104 according to the control program in the ROM 102. Further, various data in the RAM 103 is processed based on the various signals and data input, and various signal data is output to each part in the tape processing apparatus 1 via the IOC 104, thereby controlling the printing process.

Here, the detection of the processing tape T by the tape presence / absence detection sensor 132, which is performed along with the printing process and the printing process by the tape processing apparatus 1 (in synchronization with the drive of the print feed motor 121), will be described. The printing process is started with a predetermined key operation by the user as a trigger after arbitrary information is input by the user via the keyboard 4 or the like. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the user performs a predetermined key operation and issues a print instruction, the tape processing apparatus 1 receives this instruction and starts driving the print feed motor 121 and the print head 22 to perform print processing. Start (S01). When the print feed motor 121 is driven by the feed amount corresponding to the sensor-cutter distance that is the distance from the full-cut mechanism 53 to the tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 (S02: Yes), the tape processing apparatus 1 (CPU 101) is Then, the tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 is activated (ON) to detect the presence / absence of the processing tape T (S03). The feed amount corresponding to the distance between the sensor and the cutter is converted into the number of steps when the print feed motor 121 is a stepping motor, and into the number of pulses of an encoder provided therein when the print feed motor 121 is a DC motor, Executed.

  In the detection of the processing tape T (S03), when the processing tape “present” is detected (S04: Yes), that is, when the processing tape T has reached the position of the tape presence / absence detection sensor 132, the tape feeding is abnormal. If it is determined that there is no print, the printing process is continued (S05). When the process of printing the print data on the processing tape T is completed (S06), the cutting process including the half-cut process by the half-cut mechanism 54 and the full-cut process by the full-cut mechanism 53 is sequentially performed (S07). When the cut tape piece is discharged from the tape discharge port 11 by the paper mechanism 45 (S08), the printing process is completed (S09).

  On the other hand, in the detection of the processing tape T (S03), when the processing tape “None” is detected (S04: No), that is, when the processing tape T has not reached the position of the tape presence / absence detection sensor 132, the tape feeding is performed. It is determined that there is an abnormality, and the printing process and cutting process (full cut process / half cut process) are prohibited (S10). Then, to prompt the user to confirm the processing tape T, a message to that effect is displayed on the display 9 (S11). In this case, instead of displaying the message, an indicator or LED may be used for display.

  For setting the timing at which the tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 is activated (ON), the number of steps that the print feed motor 121 is driven by the feed amount corresponding to the sensor-cutter distance is calculated. The tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 may be operated (ON) immediately before the predetermined number of steps is reached.

  As described above, the tape processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment detects the presence or absence of the processing tape T on the downstream side in the feed direction of the cutter unit 50 (the full cut mechanism 53 and the half cut mechanism 54) and in the vicinity of the tape discharge port 11. A tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 is provided to detect the processing tape T along with the printing process (synchronized with the drive of the print feed motor 121). When the processing tape T is not detected, the cutting process is prohibited. Therefore, there is no possibility of cutting the processing tape in a state where the front end of the processing tape has not reached the position of the tape presence / absence detection sensor 132 in the vicinity of the tape discharge port 11.

  Specifically, the end of the processing tape T passes through the platen roller 35, and the processing tape T may not be fed even though the platen roller 35 is rotating. By prohibiting the cutting process in this state, it is possible to prevent a short piece of tape from remaining in the apparatus and sticking to the cutter or being cut twice. In addition, when the processing tape T is out of the feed path due to winding of the processing tape T or the like, the cutting process is prohibited in a state of abnormal feeding (jamming), so that chips enter the apparatus deeply. There is no possibility of damaging components such as the unit 50 and gears. Further, by prohibiting the printing process when a feed abnormality is detected, it is possible to minimize the useless printing process. Further, since the printing tape is not printed in a state where the end of the processing tape T passes through the platen roller 35, the platen roller 35 can be prevented from being stained.

  When the end of the processing tape T is bonded to the tape core, the end of the processing tape T does not pass through the platen roller 35. However, when the processing tape T remains in a slight state, Since the end is bonded to the tape core, the processing tape T is not fed even though the platen roller 35 is rotating. Therefore, even when the end of the processing tape T is bonded to the tape core, the cutting process is prohibited in a state where the processing tape T is not fed.

  When the processing tape “none” is detected in the tape presence / absence detection (FIG. 4; corresponding to S04), a message is displayed on the display 9, and then the tape feeding by the platen roller 35 is triggered by the user's predetermined key operation. It may be configured to restart and perform tape detection again. Further, in this case, it is preferable that the printing process and the cutting process are prohibited and the message display to the user is continued until the processing tape T “present” is detected in this tape detection.

  Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the half-cut mechanism 54 and the paper discharge mechanism 45 described in the present embodiment are omitted. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to a tape processing apparatus that prints on the processing tape T but also to a cutting apparatus that performs a cutting process on the processing tape and a Braille stamping apparatus that performs Braille stamping. Further, the processing object is not limited to a tape, and may be a paper medium such as roll paper.

  Furthermore, each part (each function) of the tape processing apparatus 1 shown in the above example can be provided as a program. It is also possible to provide the program stored in a storage medium (not shown). As the recording medium, a CD-ROM, a flash ROM, a memory card (compact flash (registered trademark), smart media, memory stick, etc.), a compact disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital versatile disk, a flexible disk, and the like can be used.

  In addition, the configuration and processing steps of the tape processing apparatus 1 can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention, regardless of the above-described embodiment.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the tape processing apparatus of an open state. It is an external appearance perspective view around a cutter unit. It is a block diagram of the control system of a tape processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the timing of printing and tape detection.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape processing apparatus 11 ... Tape discharge port 20 ... Cartridge mounting part 35 ... Platen roller 50 ... Cutter unit 53 ... Full cut mechanism 54 ... Half cut mechanism 45 ... Discharge mechanism 132 ... Tape presence detection sensor C ... Tape Cartridge T ... Processing tape

Claims (5)

Feeding means for feeding the processed sheet toward the sheet discharge port;
A full cut means that is disposed between the feeding means and the sheet discharge port and cuts the processed sheet when a predetermined amount is fed by the feeding means;
A detecting means disposed between the full cut means and the sheet discharge port for detecting the presence or absence of the processing sheet;
A paper discharge unit disposed between the full cut unit and the detection unit, forcibly discharging the processed sheet cut by the full cut unit from the sheet discharge port;
When the feed sheet is fed by a feed amount corresponding to the distance from the full cut means to the detection means, the detection sheet is detected by the detection means. Detection control means;
A full-cut control means for prohibiting cutting of the processing sheet by the full-cut means when the detection means detects the processing sheet "no";
A printing unit disposed on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of the full-cut unit, and performing printing on the processing sheet sent by the feeding unit;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that prohibits printing on the processing sheet by the printing unit when the detection unit detects the processing sheet “none” .   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying that when the detection means detects the processing sheet “none”. The processing sheet is accommodated in a sheet cartridge in a rollable state so as to be freely fed out.
A cartridge mounting part for detachably mounting the sheet cartridge;
The feed means, the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is disposed upstream from the sheet feeding port of the sheet cartridge. The treatment sheet is composed of a recording sheet and a release sheet adhered to the back surface of the recording sheet,
The full cut unit and the disposed between the paper discharge means, wherein the half-cut means for cutting the recording sheet, further sheet processing apparatus according to any one of 3 claims 1, characterized in that it comprises . It said sheet discharge means, the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that driven synchronously with the driving of the full cut unit.

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