JP5282222B2 - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress printing-quality deterioration due to the distortion of printing characters and the inclination of printing, and paper-jamming by suppressing an increase in meandering of a printing medium during printing due to a printing head. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU functioning as a control means determines whether or not a printing area based on printing data stored in a RAM being a storage means is biased by taking the center line of a label as the printing medium along the direction conveyed by a platen roller functioning as a conveying means as a boundary, and when determining that the printing area is biased, a pulse motor functioning as a driving means is controlled to have a conveying speed lower than the normal conveying speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method suitable for transport control of a printing medium.

  Conventionally, in a printer, for example, a label printer, for example, which is equipped with an auto-feed when offline and activated, for example, a label, which is a print medium, is conveyed for feeding only one sheet. It has become.

  This is for recognizing the label size before printing on the label, and when the label is conveyed, a predetermined mark attached to the label is detected by the pitch sensor.

  By the way, the label is transported at a constant speed according to the set value of the label printer. After the label size is recognized by the auto feed, the print data from the host computer or the like is received and the label is printed. When done, the labels can meander due to various factors.

  Such label meandering tends to occur more frequently as the number of printed labels increases. This is because, for example, the degree of contact between the platen roller that transports the label to the print head side and the label changes for each label to be printed, or when the print head contacts the label during printing by the print head, It is thought that fine meandering is strengthened.

  In this case, if the label is transported at a constant speed according to the set value of the label printer, the label meandering causes a slight shift in the relative position between the print head and the print surface of the label. The print quality may be deteriorated due to distortion or the inclination of the print, or paper jam may occur. In order to prevent such deterioration in print quality and paper jam, it is conceivable to change the label transport speed according to the state of occurrence of meandering.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-260628, the label transport speed is changed. In the patent document 1, an image is formed by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording medium. A recording unit for recording, a spur disposed on a conveyance path downstream in the conveyance direction from the recording unit, and a downstream part and an upstream part from the recording part of the conveyance path are connected to reverse the recording medium. A reversing guide unit, a path switching unit that is disposed in a downstream portion and that is capable of sending a recording medium transported from the first end to the reversing guide unit starting from the second end, and the surface of the recording medium The first transport speed of the recording medium from the end of image recording to the second end passing through the spur is slower than the second transport speed of the recording medium after the second end passes through the spur. An image including a control unit that performs deceleration control of the recording medium It has proposed a recording apparatus.

JP 2008-246803 A

  In the above-described ink jet recording apparatus of Patent Document 1, the first conveyance speed of the recording medium from the end of image recording on the surface of the recording medium until the second end of the recording medium passes the spur is Since the second end is set slower than the second conveyance speed of the recording medium after passing through the spur, the recording medium having an image recorded on the surface is slowly conveyed until the second end passes through the spur. Therefore, the ink droplets are sufficiently dried until the recording medium on which the image is recorded on the surface passes through the spur, thereby suppressing the formation of spur marks near the second end of the recording medium. The occurrence of cockling in the vicinity of the second end is suppressed.

  However, in such an image recording apparatus, in order to sufficiently dry the ink droplets on the recording medium, the second speed of the recording medium passes through the spur at the conveying speed of the recording medium after the image recording is completed. When the second end passes through the spur, the conveyance speed of the recording medium is increased. However, the conveyance speed of the recording medium in the print area by the print head is set to a predetermined constant speed. ing.

  For this reason, if meandering occurs on the recording medium during printing by the print head, as described above, print quality may be degraded due to distortion of the printed characters, inclination of the print, or paper jam may occur. There was a problem that sometimes.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and by suppressing the increase in meandering of the print medium during printing by the print head, the print quality is deteriorated due to the distortion of the print characters and the inclination of the print. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing medium and a printing method capable of suppressing the occurrence of paper jam.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a conveying unit that conveys a print medium to the print head side, a driving unit that applies a driving force to the conveying unit, a storage unit that stores at least print data, and a direction along the conveying direction. In addition, it is determined whether the print area based on the print data is biased with the center line of the print medium as a boundary, and if it is determined whether the print area is biased, the drive means is slower than a specified transport speed. And a control unit that controls the conveyance speed to be low.
In addition, when the number of prints based on the print data is small, the control unit does not determine whether the print area based on the print data is biased, and causes the drive unit to have a specified transport speed. Can be controlled.
The printing method of the present invention stores at least print data by a step of conveying a print medium to the print head side by a conveying unit, a step of applying a driving force to the conveying unit by a driving unit, and a storage unit. The process and the control means determine whether the print area based on the print data is biased at the center line of the print medium along the transport direction, and whether the print area is biased. When judged, it has a step of controlling the driving means so as to be a lower conveyance speed slower than a prescribed conveyance speed.
In the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention, the control means causes the print area based on the print data stored in the storage means to be biased with the center line of the print medium along the direction conveyed by the conveyance means as a boundary. When it is determined whether or not there is a bias in the print area, the driving means is controlled so as to have a lower transport speed slower than the specified transport speed.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the print head from coming into contact with the print medium during printing by the print head and to prevent the fine meandering of the print medium from being increased. Subtle deviations are less likely to occur.

  According to the printing apparatus and the printing method of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the print head from coming into contact with the print medium during printing by the print head and to increase the fine meandering of the print medium. Since it is made difficult for the slight deviation in the relative position to the printing surface to occur, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the printing quality and the occurrence of paper jam due to the distortion of the printing characters and the inclination of the printing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment in which the printing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a label printer, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining a label continuum used in the label printer of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the label printer mainly includes a supply unit 10, a printing unit 20, a drive unit 40, and a control unit 50. In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes a pitch sensor that detects a position detection mark 63 printed on the back surface of a mount 61 described later. It should be noted that the size of a label 62, which will be described later, is recognized in accordance with the detection by the pitch sensor 12.

  A continuous label body 60 as shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the supply shaft 11 of the supply unit 10. That is, the continuous label body 60 includes a belt-like mount 61 and a plurality of labels 62 that are a plurality of print media that are detachably attached to one surface (front surface) of the mount 61.

  Further, a position detection mark 63 indicating a print start position is printed on the other surface (back surface) of the mount 61. Then, the label 62 is affixed to the mount 61 so that the end of the label 62 is positioned just on the front side opposite to the portion on which the position detection mark 63 on the back side of the mount 61 is printed. .

  A gap 64 is provided between two adjacent labels 62. Here, the gap 64 is a portion of only the mount 61 between two adjacent labels 62. Then, the label continuum 60 is unwound from the supply shaft 11 by a rotational drive of a platen roller 22 and the like described later, and is transferred to the printing unit 20. At this time, the position sensor mark 63 on the mount 61 is detected by the pitch sensor 12.

  Here, for example, in the case where an auto feed is mounted offline and at the time of start-up, before printing on the label 62, one or two labels 62 are conveyed for feeding.

  At this time, the position detection mark 63 is detected by the pitch sensor 12 described above, so that the print position with respect to the label 62 is grasped. When the position detection mark 63 corresponding to the leading label 62 and the position detection mark 63 corresponding to the rear label 62 following the label 62 are detected by the pitch sensor 12, the conveyance speed of the label 62 is determined. From the time from when the position detection mark 63 corresponding to the leading label 62 is detected by the pitch sensor 12 until the position detection mark 63 corresponding to the rear label 62 following the label 62 is detected, The distance between the two position detection marks 63 is detected, and the distance of the gap 64 is subtracted from the distance, whereby the size of the label 62 is recognized.

  For example, when printing is performed on the label 62 by the print head 21 of the printing unit 20 described later, the size of the label 62 according to the detection result by the pitch sensor 12 described above is recognized before printing on the label 62. It is also possible to recognize that meandering has occurred in the conveyance of the label 62.

  The printing unit 20 includes a thermal print head 21 (hereinafter referred to as the print head 21) that performs printing on the label 62 on the mount 61 described above, and a platen roller 22 that is disposed to face the print head 21. ing. Here, in order to obtain good printing on the label 62, the surface of the print head 21 is made smooth, and pressure for pressing the label 62 toward the platen roller 22 is applied to the print head 21 itself. ing. The platen roller 22 generates a printing pressure in cooperation with the print head 21 and also constitutes a conveying unit.

  In the print head 21, there are a case where thermal printing is directly performed on the label 62 and a case where printing is performed on the label 62 via an ink ribbon (not shown). A case of performing thermal printing is shown. When printing is performed on the label 62 via an ink ribbon (not shown), the ink ribbon is attached to a feeding reel and a take-up reel (not shown), and the ink ribbon is placed between the print head 21 and the label 62. What is necessary is just to let it pass. The print head 21 may perform printing by an ink jet method.

  The driving unit 40 that is a driving unit includes a pulse motor 41 and a timing belt 42 that transmits the rotational driving force of the pulse motor 41 to the platen roller 22.

  The control unit 50 controls the operation of each unit. As the main control by the control unit 50 in the present embodiment, a predetermined transport speed (for example, 9 m / min) of the label 62 or a lower transport speed (for example, 6 m / min) slower than the predetermined transport speed is set. There is a feature in controlling the driving of the pulse motor 41, and details thereof will be described later.

  Next, the details of the control unit 50 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 50 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining conditions for changing the conveyance speed of the label 62 of FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 50 includes a CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, motor control unit 54, print control unit 55, sensor control unit 56, external interface 57, and internal interface 58. These are connected to each other via a data bus 59.

  The CPU 51 as control means controls the operation of each part based on the detection result from the pitch sensor 12, the control program stored in the ROM 52, and the like. Further, the CPU 51 determines the print area on the label 62 by the print head 21 described above based on the print data such as characters, figures, and barcodes to be printed stored in the RAM 53, and the motor control unit 54 Then, control is performed to feed the label 62 at a prescribed conveyance speed or to feed the label 62 at a low conveyance speed slower than the prescribed conveyance speed.

  That is, in the above-described print data, in addition to the character, graphic, and barcode to be printed on the label 62, the character, graphic, and barcode to be printed are printed at which position or in what size size. In addition, control data such as the number of printed sheets is included.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the control data is such that the character to be printed on the label 62 becomes, for example, 6: 4 with the center line 62a along the conveyance direction of the label 62 as a boundary. If it is, the CPU 51 controls the motor controller 54 so that the label 62 is fed at a lower transport speed that is slower than the specified transport speed.

  This is because the print head 21 comes into contact with the print surface of the label 62 during printing by the print head 21 when the print area is biased to the left side, for example, with the center line 62a along the conveyance direction of the label 62 as a boundary. This is to prevent the fine meandering of the label 62 from being enhanced.

  As described above, the CPU 51 controls the motor control unit 54 so that the label 62 is fed at a lower conveyance speed slower than the predetermined conveyance speed, thereby suppressing the increase in the fine meandering of the label 62 and the print head 21. Since it is difficult for subtle deviations in the relative position between the label 62 and the printing surface of the label 62 to occur, even if meandering occurs in the feed of the label 62, the printed characters may be distorted or the printing may be tilted. It is possible to prevent the quality from deteriorating and the paper jam from occurring.

  Here, it is assumed that the print area is deviated to the left side, for example. However, even when the print area is deviated to the right side, similarly to the above, the CPU 51 causes the motor control unit 54 and the label 62 to move to the specified conveyance speed. Control to feed at a slower and lower speed. In addition, the deviation of the print area does not necessarily have to be 6: 4. Even if it is 7: 3, 8: 2, 9: 1, 10: 0, The CPU 51 controls the motor control unit 54 so as to feed the label 62 at a low transport speed that is slower than the specified transport speed.

  On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the above-mentioned control data has, for example, approximately 5: 5 characters to be printed on the label 62 at the center line 62a along the conveyance direction of the label 62. In such a case, the CPU 51 controls the motor control unit 54 so as to feed the label 62 at a specified transport speed. This is because the printing area on the label 62 by the print head 21 is substantially evenly performed with the center line 62a along the conveyance direction of the label 62 as a boundary. This is because the risk of increasing the meandering is reduced.

  The ROM 52 stores a control program, various fixed data, control table data, and the like. The RAM 53 stores flags, work areas, and the like. The motor control unit 54 controls the step driving of the pulse motor 41 by giving a pulse signal to the pulse motor 41. In addition, when the label 62 is fed at a specified transport speed by the above-described control from the CPU 51, the motor control unit 54 gives a pulse signal based on a specified duty ratio to the pulse motor 41, and feeds the label 62 to the specified transport. When feeding at a low conveyance speed slower than the speed, a pulse signal based on a duty ratio smaller than the prescribed duty ratio is given to the pulse motor 41.

  The print control unit 55 controls the printing operation of the print head 21 by generating a control signal corresponding to print data such as characters, figures and barcodes to be printed supplied from the CPU 51 and supplying the control signal to the print head 21. To do.

  The sensor control unit 56 controls the detection operation by the pitch sensor 12, receives an electrical signal that is a detection result from the pitch sensor 12, converts the electrical signal into digital data, and gives the digital data to the CPU 51.

  The external interface 57 takes in data related to printing from a PC (personal computer) 70, for example, and sends status information on the label printer side to the PC 70. The internal interface 58 receives input information from the input unit 13 provided in the label printer, and sends status information to be displayed on the monitor 14.

  Next, the operation of the label printer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the presence or absence of print data is determined (step S1). That is, when print data from, for example, a PC (personal computer) 70 is taken in via the external interface 57 and stored in the RAM 53, it is determined that there is print data (step S1: YES).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the number n of labels 62 to be printed is 2 or more (n ≧ 2) from the above-described control data included in the print data (step S2). Here, when the number n of the labels 62 to be printed is two or more (step S2: YES), the print area is calculated from the above-described control data included in the print data (step S3).

  Then, it is determined from the result of calculating the print area whether the print area is biased (step S4). That is, as described with reference to FIG. 4A described above, the character to be printed on the label 62 becomes, for example, 6: 4 with the center line 62a along the conveyance direction of the label 62 as a boundary. At this time, it is determined that the printing area is biased (step S4: YES), and the CPU 51 controls the motor control unit 54 to feed the label 62 at a lower conveyance speed slower than the specified conveyance speed (step S5). . Then, printing on the label 62 by the print head 21 is started (step S6).

  As described above, the feed at a low transport speed slower than the standard transport speed for the label 62 causes a slight meandering in the feed of the label 62, and the printed characters are distorted or printed. It is possible to prevent the print quality from being deteriorated due to the tilting and the paper jam from occurring.

  Next, it is determined whether or not printing for the number of prints indicated by the control data included in the print data has been completed (step S7). If printing for the number of prints has not been completed (step S7). S7: NO), the process returns to step S5, and the next label 62 is similarly fed at a lower transport speed slower than the specified transport speed, and printing by the print head 21 is performed.

  Then, when printing for the number of prints indicated by the control data described above has been completed (step S7: YES), the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the number n of the labels 62 to be printed is not two or more in step S2 described above (step S2: NO), or the printing area is not biased in step S4 (for example, characters to be printed on the label 62 are almost all). 5: 5) (step S4: NO), the CPU 51 controls the motor control unit 54 to feed the label 62 at a specified transport speed (step S8). . Then, printing on the label 62 by the print head 21 is started (step S9).

  Here, when there is no bias in the print area, the print area on the label 62 by the print head 21 is bordered by the center line 62a along the conveyance direction of the label 62, as described above with reference to FIG. Since it is performed almost evenly, even if meandering occurs in the feed of the label 62, there is no possibility of increasing the meandering.

  When the number n of the labels 62 to be printed is not two or more, the reason why the printing area is not calculated in step S3 and the feeding is performed at the specified conveyance speed in step S8 is that the label 62 This is because meandering at the time of feeding may occur as the number of printed sheets increases. In other words, if the number of printed sheets is 1, the possibility of occurrence of meandering at the time of feeding the label 62 is low. Therefore, even if the label 62 is fed at a specified conveyance speed, the printed characters are distorted, It can be said that the print quality is not deteriorated due to the printing being inclined, or the paper jam is rarely caused.

  In addition, when the number of prints is 1, the print area is not calculated in step S3, so that there is an advantage that it is not necessary to reduce the processing speed related to printing on the label 62 by the print head 21. In this way, when the number of prints is one, by preventing the print area from being calculated, it is possible to quickly check the print quality and the like for the label 62 in, for example, test print.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not the number n of labels 62 to be printed is two or more. However, the number n of labels 62 is not limited to two or more, but is three or more, for example. It may be determined whether or not.

  Next, it is determined whether or not printing for the number of prints indicated by the control data included in the print data has been completed (step S10). If printing for the number of prints has not been completed (step S10). (S10: NO), the process returns to step S8, and the next label 62 is similarly fed at the specified transport speed, and printing by the print head 21 is performed.

  Then, when printing for the number of prints indicated by the control data described above is completed (step S10: YES), the process is terminated.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the CPU 51 serving as the control unit serves as the storage unit with the center line 62a of the label 62 serving as the print medium along the direction conveyed by the platen roller 22 serving as the conveyance unit as a boundary. When it is determined whether or not the print area is biased based on the print data stored in the RAM 53, and it is determined that the print area is biased, the pulse motor 41 that is the driving means is a low speed slower than the specified transport speed. It was made to control so that it might become a conveyance speed.

  Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the print head 21 from slidingly contacting the label 62 and increasing the fine meandering of the label 62 during printing by the print head 21, and the relative relationship between the print head 21 and the print surface of the label 62 is suppressed. Since it is made difficult for the slight deviation in the position to occur, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the print quality and the occurrence of the paper jam due to the distortion of the print characters or the inclination of the print.

  In the present embodiment, when the number of prints based on the print data stored in the RAM 53 is small (for example, one), the CPU 51 does not determine whether the print area based on the print data is biased. Since the pulse motor 41 is controlled so as to have a prescribed conveyance speed, it is possible to quickly confirm the print quality and the like on the label 62 in, for example, test printing.

  In this embodiment, in step S2 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the number n of labels 62 to be printed is two or more. The number n of labels 62 is determined by the pitch sensor 12. When the total size of the detected labels 62 reaches a predetermined value, it may be determined that the number is one.

  That is, the label 62 has a size of about 2 cm such as a label for a price tag and a size of about 15 cm such as an IC tag label. In particular, when the size is about 2 cm, it may be difficult to determine whether the print area based on the print data is biased. This is because the smaller the size, the fewer the number of print lines.

  Therefore, in this case, when the total size of the labels of about 2 cm reaches a predetermined value, the plurality of labels are regarded as one sheet, and the print data from all of the plurality of labels regarded as one sheet is printed. By determining whether or not there is a bias in the print area based on the print head 21, the print head 21 is in sliding contact with the label 62 during the printing by the print head 21, and the fine meandering of the label 62 occurs. Due to the increase, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the printing quality and the occurrence of paper jam due to the distortion of the printing characters and the inclination of the printing.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment at the time of applying the printing apparatus of this invention to a label printer. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the label continuous body used with the label printer of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the conditions in the case of changing the conveyance speed of the label of FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the label printer in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Supply part 11 Supply axis 12 Pitch sensor 13 Input part 14 Monitor 20 Print part 21 Thermal print head 22 Platen roller 40 Drive part 41 Pulse motor 42 Timing belt 50 Control part 51 CPU
54 Motor control section 55 Print control section 56 Sensor control section 57 External interface 58 Internal interface 59 Data bus 60 Label continuum 61 Mount 62 Label 63 Mark for position detection

Claims (3)

Conveying means for conveying the print medium to the print head side;
Driving means for applying a driving force to the conveying means;
Storage means for storing at least print data;
It is determined whether there is a bias in the print area based on the print data, with the center line of the print medium along the transport direction as a boundary. And a control unit that controls the conveyance speed to be lower than a predetermined conveyance speed.   The control means controls the driving means so as to achieve a specified transport speed without determining whether the print area based on the print data is biased when the number of prints based on the print data is small. The printing apparatus according to claim 1. A step of conveying the print medium to the print head side by a conveying means;
Applying a driving force to the conveying means by the driving means;
Storing at least print data by storage means;
When the control means determines whether there is a bias in the print area based on the print data at the center line of the print medium along the transport direction, and determines whether the print area is biased, And a step of controlling the driving means so as to have a low transport speed that is slower than a predetermined transport speed.

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