JP5481449B2 - Printing apparatus and control program therefor - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a printing apparatus including two printing units and a control program therefor.

  In a printing apparatus including two printing units, a continuous label sheet is set in one printing unit, and a normal thermal sheet is set in the other printing unit, thereby printing a ticket or a stamp in one printing unit, Receipts related to ticket and stamp sales can be printed on the other print section.

  In such a printing apparatus having two printing sections, for example, when one printing section fails or for the purpose of power saving, a continuous label sheet of one printing section is guided to the other printing section, and a thermal sheet and a continuous label are provided. Printing on paper can be performed only by the other printing unit.

JP 2002-123625 A

  When the continuous label sheet of one print unit is guided to the other print unit, the label may be peeled off from the continuous label sheet being conveyed depending on the frequency and direction of bending of the continuous label sheet in the conveyance path.

  An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can prevent peeling of a label when a continuous label sheet of one printing section is guided to the other printing section and printed, and a control program therefor.

  A printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first printing unit including a first conveyance path that pulls out and conveys a first sheet wound in a roll shape, and a first head that prints information on the sheet on the first conveyance path. And a second print path having a second transport path for pulling out and transporting the second sheet wound in a roll shape, a second head for printing information on the sheet on the second transport path, and the first sheet A third conveyance path that conveys the second sheet to the second conveyance path, a fourth conveyance path that conveys the second sheet to the first conveyance path as necessary, and a third conveyance path that conveys the first sheet. The first control means for guiding the first sheet to the second conveying path and executing printing on the first sheet by the second head, and guiding the second sheet to the first conveying path by the fourth conveying path. By the first head for one sheet Second control means for executing printing, third control means for allowing or prohibiting execution of printing by the first control means in accordance with the type and specification of the first sheet, and execution of printing by the second control means And a fourth control means for permitting or prohibiting according to the type and specification of the second sheet.

The figure which shows the structure of one Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating normal sheet conveyance according to an embodiment. The figure which shows a mode that the paper of the 1st printing part in one Embodiment is conveyed to the 2nd printing part. The figure which shows a mode that the paper of the 2nd printing part in one Embodiment is conveyed to the 1st printing part. The figure which shows an example of the continuous label paper in one Embodiment. The figure which shows the back side of the continuous label paper of FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control circuit of one Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the control of one Embodiment. The figure which shows a mode that the continuous label paper of FIG. 5 is conveyed from a 1st printing part to a 2nd printing part. The figure which shows a mode that the continuous label paper of a specification different from FIG. 5 is conveyed from a 1st printing part to a 2nd printing part. The figure which shows a mode that the continuous label paper of FIG. 5 is conveyed from a 2nd printing part to a 1st printing part. The figure which shows a mode that the continuous label paper of a specification different from FIG. 5 is conveyed from a 2nd printing part to a 1st printing part.

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 has two discharge ports 2 and 3 on the front surface, and has a first print unit 10 at an upper position corresponding to the discharge port 2, and corresponds to the discharge port 3. A second print unit 20 is provided at the lower position.

  The first print unit 10 feeds out the leading edge of the first paper 11 wound in a roll shape, and pulls out the first paper 11 fed out by the paper feed rollers 12 and 13 to the discharge port 2. A first transport path 14 that transports the paper, a thermal head 15 that prints information on one surface (upper surface) of a first paper 11 on the first transport path 14 or a second paper 21 that will be described later, and a paper on the thermal head 15. A platen roller 16 that presses the sheet, a cutter 17 that cuts the sheet that has passed through the thermal head 15, and a first that detects the presence or absence of a black mark on the other surface (lower surface) of the first sheet 11 fed by the sheet feeding rollers 12 and 13. A mark sensor 18 and a paper sensor 19 for optically detecting the paper entering the thermal head 15 are provided. The first sheet 11 is wound in a state where one surface (upper surface) is on the outer peripheral side and the other surface (lower surface) is on the inner peripheral side.

  The second printing unit 20 feeds out the leading edge of the second paper 21 wound in a roll shape, and pulls out the second paper 21 fed out by the paper feeding rollers 22 and 23 to the discharge port 3. A second transport path 24 that transports the paper, a second paper 21 on the second transport path 24, or a thermal head 25 that prints information on one surface (upper surface) of the first paper 11, and a paper on the thermal head 25. A platen roller 26 to be pressed, a cutter 27 for cutting the sheet that has passed through the thermal head 25, and a second mark for detecting the presence or absence of a black mark on the other surface (lower surface) of the second sheet 21 drawn by the sheet feeding rollers 22 and 23. A sensor 28 and a paper sensor 29 for optically detecting the paper entering the thermal head 25 are provided. The second sheet 21 is wound so that one surface (upper surface) is on the outer peripheral side and the other surface (lower surface) is on the inner peripheral side.

  Normally, as shown in FIG. 2, the first sheet 11 of the first print unit 10 is sent to the thermal head 15 by the first conveyance path 14, and the second sheet 21 of the second print unit 20 is conveyed to the second conveyance path 24. Is sent to the thermal head 25.

  On the other hand, a third transport path 31 that transports the first paper 11 to the second transport path 24 as necessary from the first transport path 14 of the first print unit 10 to the second transport path 24 of the second print unit 20 is provided. Arranged. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the first sheet 11 is bent downward while bending the first sheet 11 so that one surface (upper surface) is the outside and the other surface (lower surface) is the inside. Next, the first sheet 11 is guided to the second conveyance path 24 while being bent so that one surface (upper surface) of the first sheet 11 is inside and the other surface (lower surface) is outside.

  A fourth conveyance path 32 that conveys the second paper 21 to the first conveyance path 14 as necessary is disposed from the second conveyance path 24 of the second print unit 20 to the first conveyance path 14 of the first print unit 10. Is done. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the second sheet 21 is bent upward so that one surface (upper surface) of the second sheet 21 is inside and the other surface (lower surface) is outside. Next, the second sheet 21 is guided to the first conveyance path 14 while being bent so that one surface (upper surface) of the second sheet 21 is outside and the other surface (lower surface) is inside.

  The first sheet 11 is a normal thermal sheet having a heat-sensitive layer on the surface, or a continuous label sheet in which a number of labels having a heat-sensitive layer are sequentially attached to a strip-like mount. An example of this continuous label sheet is shown in FIG. That is, a large number of labels 41 having a heat-sensitive layer are attached to one surface 40 a of the belt-like mount 40 in order. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, black marks 42 serving as a reference for the cutting position are printed on the other surface 40 b of the belt-like mount 40 in order. The continuous label sheet includes a specification in which one surface 40a of the belt-like mount 40 is wound on the outer peripheral side of the roll and the other surface 40b is on the inner peripheral side of the roll. There is a specification that is wound so that the surface 40b becomes the outer peripheral side of the roll and the one surface 40a becomes the inner peripheral side of the roll.

The control circuit is shown in FIG.
The first printing unit 10 includes a CPU 40, a ROM 41 for storing a control program, a RAM 42 for storing data, a paper transport mechanism 43 including the paper feed rollers 12 and 13, the first transport path 14 and the third transport path 31, the thermal An interface 47 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the head 15, a platen drive mechanism 44 that drives the platen roller 16, the cutter 17, the mark sensor 18, the paper sensor 19, the operation unit 45, the display unit 46, and the second print unit 20. And a communication interface 48 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the host device 60. The CPU 40, the ROM 41, and the RAM 42 constitute a microcomputer that controls the first print unit 10.

  The second printing unit 20 includes a CPU 50, a ROM 51 for storing a control program, a RAM 52 for storing data, a paper transport mechanism 53 including the paper feed rollers 22, 23, the second transport path 24, and the fourth transport path 32, the thermal A head 25, a platen drive mechanism 54 for driving the platen roller 26, the cutter 27, the mark sensor 28, and the paper sensor 29 are provided. The CPU 50, ROM 51, and RAM 52 constitute a microcomputer that controls the second print unit 20.

The microcomputer of the first print unit 10 and the microcomputer of the second print unit 20 have the following means (1) to (6) as main functions based on the control programs in the ROMs 41 and 51.
(1) First control means for guiding the first sheet 11 to the second conveyance path 24 by the third conveyance path 31 and executing printing by the second head 25 on the first sheet 11.

  (2) Second control means for guiding the second paper 21 to the first transport path 14 by the fourth transport path 32 and executing printing by the first head 15 on the second paper 21.

  (3) First determination means for determining whether or not the first sheet 11 is a continuous label sheet having a label affixed to one surface (upper surface) on the outer peripheral side of the roll. Specifically, when the first mark sensor 18 detects the black mark 42, the first sheet 11 is a continuous label sheet having a label 41 attached to one surface (upper surface) which is the outer peripheral side of the roll. If the first mark sensor 18 does not detect the black mark 42, it is determined that the first sheet 11 is not a continuous label sheet having a label attached to one surface (upper surface) on the outer peripheral side of the roll.

  (4) Second determination means for determining whether or not the second sheet 21 is a continuous label sheet having a label affixed to one surface (upper surface) on the outer peripheral side of the roll. Specifically, when the second mark sensor 28 detects the black mark 42, the second sheet 21 is a continuous label sheet in which a label 41 is attached to one surface (upper surface) on the outer peripheral side of the roll. If the second mark sensor 28 does not detect the black mark 42, it is determined that the second sheet 21 is not a continuous label sheet having a label affixed to one side (upper surface) on the outer peripheral side of the roll.

  (5) Third control means for permitting or prohibiting execution of printing by the first control means according to the type and specification of the first sheet 11. Specifically, the execution of printing by the first control unit is permitted if the print target is not continuous label paper, and is permitted if the determination result of the first determination unit is affirmative if the print target is continuous label paper. And prohibition in the case of denial.

  (6) Fourth control means for permitting or prohibiting execution of printing by the second control means according to the type and specification of the second paper 21. Specifically, the execution of printing by the second control means is allowed if the print target is not continuous label paper, and is prohibited if the print target is continuous label paper.

Next, the control will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
A continuous label sheet with a label attached to one surface (upper surface) on the outer peripheral side of the roll is set as the first sheet 11 in the first print unit 10, and a normal thermal sheet is used as the second sheet 21 as the second print unit. A case where the value is set to 20 will be described as an example.

  For example, when the first printing unit 10 fails or when the operation of the first printing unit 10 for power saving is stopped, the first sheet 11 is sent to the second printing unit 20 through the third conveyance path 31 and the first sheet 11 is not printed. When the operation mode for substituting the label printing by the second printing unit 20 is set by the operation unit 45 (YES in step 101, YES in step 102), the black mark 42 on the other surface (lower surface) of the first sheet 11 is set. Presence / absence is detected by the first mark sensor 18 (step 103).

  If there is a black mark 42 (YES in step 103), the first sheet 11 is determined as a continuous label sheet having a label attached to one side (upper surface) on the outer peripheral side of the roll. 2 The printing of the label printing by the printing unit 20 is allowed (step 105). In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the first sheet 11 is sent downward while being bent so that one surface (upper surface) 40a of the belt-like mount 40 is on the outer side and the other surface (lower surface) 40b is on the inner side. Subsequently, the film is guided to the second conveyance path 24 while being bent so that one surface (upper surface) 40a is inside and the other surface (lower surface) 40b is outside.

  At the first corner where the first sheet 11 extends from the first conveyance path 14 to the third conveyance path 31, the belt-like mount 40 bends away from the label 41. However, since the bending frequency is low, the label 41 has a roll bending direction. There is no concern that the label 41 will be peeled off from the belt-like mount 40 because the curled folds in the same direction remain. Subsequently, at the second corner where the first sheet 11 extends from the third conveyance path 31 to the second conveyance path 24, the belt-like mount 40 bends toward the label 41, so that the label 41 is not peeled off here either. Therefore, label printing by the second printing unit 20 can be performed properly without causing the label 41 to peel off.

  However, if there is no black mark 42 (NO in step 103), the determination is that the first sheet 11 is not a continuous label sheet with a label attached to one side (upper surface) on the outer peripheral side of the roll. In addition to prohibiting the second printing unit 20 from performing label printing (step 106). Then, the prohibition is notified by displaying on the display unit 46 (step 107).

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the first sheet 11 is a continuous label sheet having a specification in which a label 41 is pasted on the other surface (lower surface) of the strip-shaped mount 40, and the strip-shaped mount 40 is labeled at the first corner. In the second corner that follows, the belt-like mount 40 bends away from the label 41, and in this second corner, the label 41 still has a bend in the same direction as the roll bending direction. The label 41 may be peeled off from the belt-like mount 40. Not only this, but since the label 41 does not exist on the second thermal head 25 side of the second print unit 20, label printing itself is impossible. Therefore, in this case, substitution of label printing is prohibited.

  The first paper 11 is a normal thermal paper, and the first paper 11 is sent to the second printing unit 20 through the third transport path 31 and the receipt printing for the first paper 11 is performed by the second printing unit 20. When the operation mode is set on the operation unit 45 (YES in step 101, NO in step 102), the receipt printing by the second printing unit 20 is permitted (step 105).

  On the other hand, for example, when the second printing unit 20 fails or when the operation of the second printing unit 20 for power saving is stopped, the second sheet 21 is sent to the first printing unit 10 through the fourth conveyance path 32 and the second sheet is printed. When the operation mode in which the first print unit 10 substitutes the label print for 21 is set in the operation unit 45 (NO in step 101, YES in step 108, YES in step 109), the label print by the second print unit 20 Is unconditionally prohibited (step 110). Then, the prohibition is notified by displaying on the display unit 46 (step 111).

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the second sheet 21 is fed upward while being bent so that one surface (upper surface) 40a of the belt-like mount 40 is inside and the other surface (lower surface) 40b is outside. Subsequently, the first surface (upper surface) 40a is guided to the first conveyance path 14 while being bent so that the other surface (lower surface) 40b is inward. At the first corner where the second sheet 21 extends from the second conveyance path 24 to the fourth conveyance path 32, the strip-shaped mount 40 bends toward the label 41, so that the label 41 does not peel off. However, at the second corner where the first sheet 11 extends from the fourth conveying path 32 to the first conveying path 14, the belt-like mount 40 bends away from the label 41, and the bending frequency for the label 41 is the second time. Since there is no longer any curl in the same direction as the roll, the label 41 may be peeled off from the belt-like mount 40. Therefore, in this case, substitution of label printing is prohibited.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the second sheet 11 is a continuous label sheet having a specification in which a label 41 is attached to the other side (lower surface) of the strip-shaped mount 40, the strip-shaped mount 40 is removed from the label 41 at the first corner. Although it bends away, it is the first bend, so there is no concern that the label 41 will peel off from the belt-like mount 40. Subsequently, at the second corner where the second sheet 21 extends from the fourth conveyance path 32 to the first conveyance path 14, the belt-like mount 40 bends toward the label 41, so that the label 41 is not peeled off here either. However, even if there is no concern about the label 41 being peeled off, the label print itself is impossible because the label 41 does not exist on the first thermal head 15 side of the first print unit 10. Therefore, in this case, substitution of label printing is prohibited.

  The second sheet 21 is a normal thermal sheet, and the second sheet 21 is sent to the first print unit 10 through the fourth transport path 32, and the first print unit 10 performs a receipt print on the second sheet 21. When the operation mode is set on the operation unit 45 (NO in step 101, YES in step 108, NO in step 109), the receipt printing by the first printing unit 10 is permitted (step 112).

  As described above, it is possible to appropriately perform the label printing substitution for guiding the continuous label sheet of one print section to the other print section without causing the label to peel off.

  In the control of the above embodiment, the mark sensor 28 of the second print unit 20 is not necessary. However, when the second print unit 20 is used in the upper position and the first print unit 10 is used in the lower position, The mark sensor 28 is required.

  In addition, the said embodiment and each modification are shown as an example, and are not intending limiting the range of invention. The novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, rewrites, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In these embodiments and modifications, the scope of the invention is included in the gist, and is included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus, 2, 3 ... Ejection port, 10 ... 1st printing part, 11 ... 1st paper, 12 ... Conveyance roller, 14 ... Thermal head, 15 ... Platen roller, 16 ... Cutter, 20 ... 2nd printing part 21 ... second sheet, 22 ... conveying roller, 24 ... thermal head, 25 ... platen roller, 26 ... cutter, 30 ... CPU, 40 ... CPU, 51 ... host device

Claims (6)

A first print section having a first transport path for pulling out and transporting the first paper wound in a roll shape, and a first head for printing information on the paper on the first transport path;
A second print section having a second transport path for pulling out and transporting the second paper wound in a roll shape and a second head for printing information on the paper on the second transport path;
A third transport path for transporting the first sheet to the second transport path as necessary;
A fourth transport path for transporting the second sheet to the first transport path as necessary;
First control means for guiding the first sheet to the second conveyance path by the third conveyance path and executing printing on the first sheet by the second head;
Second control means for guiding the second sheet to the first conveyance path by the fourth conveyance path and executing printing on the second sheet by the first head;
Third control means for allowing or prohibiting execution of printing by the first control means according to the type and specification of the first paper;
Fourth control means for permitting or prohibiting execution of printing by the second control means in accordance with the type and specification of the second paper;
A printing apparatus comprising: The first head prints information on one side of the paper on the first transport path;
The second head prints information on one side of the paper on the second transport path;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The first and second print sections are arranged in a positional relationship of an upper stage and a lower stage,
The third conveyance path conveys the first sheet downward while bending the first sheet so that one surface of the first sheet is on the outside and the other surface is on the inside. Guiding one side to the second transport path while bending to a state where the other side is the outside,
The fourth conveyance path conveys the second sheet upward while bending the second sheet so that one surface of the second sheet is inside and the other surface is outside. Guiding to the first transport path while bending in a state where one surface is outside and the other surface is inside,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. First determination means for determining whether or not the first sheet is a continuous label sheet having a label affixed to one surface on the outer peripheral side of the roll;
Second determination means for determining whether or not the second sheet is a continuous label sheet having a label affixed to one surface on the outer peripheral side of the roll;
Further comprising
The third control means permits the execution of printing by the first control means if the print target is not continuous label paper, and if the print target is continuous label paper, the determination result of the first determination means is positive. Allowed in case and prohibited in case of negative,
The fourth control means permits the execution of printing by the second control means if the print target is not continuous label paper, and prohibits if the print target is continuous label paper.
The printing apparatus according to claim 3. A first mark sensor for detecting a mark on the other surface on the inner peripheral side of the roll of the first paper;
A second mark sensor for detecting a mark on the other surface on the inner peripheral side of the roll of the second paper;
Further comprising
When the first mark sensor detects a mark, the first determination unit determines that the first sheet is a continuous label sheet having a label affixed to one surface on the outer peripheral side of the roll, When the first mark sensor does not detect a mark, it is determined that the first sheet is not a continuous label sheet having a label affixed to one side which is the outer peripheral side of the roll.
When the second mark sensor detects a mark, the second determination unit determines that the second sheet is a continuous label sheet in which a label is attached to one surface on the outer peripheral side of the roll, When the second mark sensor does not detect a mark, it is determined that the second sheet is not a continuous label sheet having a label affixed to one surface on the outer peripheral side of the roll.
The printing apparatus according to claim 4. A first print section having a first transport path for pulling out and transporting the first paper wound in a roll shape, and a first head for printing information on the paper on the first transport path;
A second print section having a second transport path for pulling out and transporting the second paper wound in a roll shape and a second head for printing information on the paper on the second transport path;
A third transport path for transporting the first sheet to the second transport path as necessary;
A fourth transport path for transporting the second sheet to the first transport path as necessary;
A computer,
In a printing apparatus comprising:
In the computer,
A function of guiding the first sheet to the second conveyance path by the third conveyance path and executing printing by the second head on the first sheet;
A function for permitting or prohibiting the execution of the print according to the type and specification of the first sheet;
A function of guiding the second sheet to the first conveyance path by the fourth conveyance path and executing printing by the first head on the second sheet;
A function for permitting or prohibiting the execution of the print according to the type and specification of the second sheet;
A control program for a printing apparatus characterized by realizing the above.

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