JP5652513B2 - Image recording apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and an image forming method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium that outputs a form smaller than a standard-sized form (for example, see Patent Document 1). The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is a kitchen printer used in a kitchen, and outputs a kitchen slip instructing cooking.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-035927

By the way, when a small form is output by the image recording apparatus, there is a problem that it is difficult to see that the recorded form is output from the discharge port, and it is difficult to pick the output form by hand.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and realizes a configuration that is easy to see and receive by hand when discharged, even if the recording medium discharged from the image recording apparatus is of a small size, The purpose is to improve convenience.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording unit, and discharges the recording medium from a discharge port, and the recording unit in a cutting unit for forming a cutting to leave off a part of the recording medium to the recording medium on which the image has been recorded, to record an image on the recording medium by the recording unit based on the received data, the transport unit to transport the recording medium by, and a control unit which Ru to form a cut by the cutting portion, wherein, when processing the second data following the first data, the first An image is recorded based on the first data, and after the recording medium is discharged from the discharge port by the first length, the cut is formed, and the second data is processed following the first data . If not, the said first data Zui is recorded an image, after the recording medium was ejected by the first length second length longer than from the discharge port, to stop the recording medium, and this to form the notch It is characterized by.
According to this configuration, when the next form is not output continuously, that is, when outputting the final form when outputting a plurality of forms continuously, or when outputting only one form, Only the form is transported by an additional transport amount in addition to a predetermined form length and then cut.
For this reason, when the image recording apparatus stops after outputting the form, the finally output form is longer than the other forms by the additional conveyance amount. Accordingly, since the last output form is longer from the discharge port, it is easy to visually recognize the image even when the last form remains at the discharge port, and it is easy to pick it by hand. Thereby, when cutting the recording medium and outputting the form, an easy-to-use image recording apparatus can be easily realized even if the form size is small, and the convenience can be improved.

In the above-described configuration, when the recording medium is cut in the width direction by the cutting unit, a part of the recording medium in the width direction may be left uncut.
In this case, since a part of the width direction of the recording medium is left uncut, the form output from the image recording apparatus is output in a state connected to the discharge port, and does not fall from the discharge port. Can be prevented. Further, since the form connected to the discharge port is longer than the other forms, it is easy to visually recognize the image even when it remains in the discharge port, and it is easy to pick it up by hand.
Further, in the above configuration, a recess may be formed on a lateral surface of the main body of the image recording apparatus, and the discharge port may be opened at the back of the recess.
In this case, by making the form finally discharged from the discharge port longer than a predetermined form length, the form can be easily seen and picked up even in the configuration output from the discharge port located at the back of the recess. For this reason, an easy-to-use image recording apparatus can be easily realized even when the form size is small, regardless of the position of the discharge port, and convenience can be improved.

The present invention also provides a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, a transport unit that transports the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording unit, and ejects the recording medium from a discharge port, and the image is recorded by the recording unit. And controlling the image recording apparatus provided with a cutting unit that cuts the recording medium at a predetermined position on the conveyance path by the conveyance unit, and causes the recording unit to record an image on the recording medium and a predetermined form. When the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit by the length and then cut by the cutting unit, a form is output, and when the next form is not output following the output form, an image of the output form is output. After the recording of the image and the conveyance of a predetermined form length, the conveyance of the additional conveyance amount set in advance is performed and then the cutting unit cuts the image recording apparatus. To provide a method.
According to this method, when the next form is not output continuously, that is, when outputting the final form when outputting a plurality of forms continuously, or when outputting only one form, Only the form is transported by an additional transport amount in addition to a predetermined form length and then cut. For this reason, when the image recording apparatus stops after outputting the form, the finally output form is longer than the other forms by the additional conveyance amount. Accordingly, since the last output form is longer from the discharge port, it is easy to visually recognize the image even when the last form remains at the discharge port, and it is easy to pick it by hand. Thereby, when cutting the recording medium and outputting the form, an easy-to-use image recording apparatus can be easily realized even if the form size is small, and the convenience can be improved.

  According to the present invention, since the form finally output when the image recording apparatus stops is long, it is easy to use even if the form is small, and the convenience can be improved.

1 is a perspective view showing a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing the vicinity of a paper discharge port of the printer. It is a top view which shows the structural example of the slip discharged | emitted from a printer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part showing the vicinity of a paper discharge unit of the printer. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of an order management system. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on the output of a slip.

Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermal printer 1 according to the embodiment.
A thermal printer 1 (hereinafter referred to as a printer 1) as an image recording apparatus uses a roll paper (not shown) in which thermal paper is wound in a roll shape as a recording medium, and a thermal head 46 (FIG. 2) provided with a heating element. This is a printer that records (prints) an image including characters on roll paper. The printer 1 according to the present embodiment is used in a kitchen such as a restaurant as an example, and outputs a ticket form slip that informs a cook or the like in the kitchen of the order contents in accordance with an order for a dish or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 10 (main body) of the printer 1 is configured by combining a front panel 11 and an upper cover 12 constituting the front surface of the printer 1 with a substantially box-shaped case cover 20. The case cover 20 includes an upper panel member 21 that constitutes the upper rear portion from the upper surface of the main body 10, a rear panel member 22 that constitutes the rear and bottom surfaces of the main body 10, and a side panel 27 that constitutes the side surface of the main body 10. Yes. The side panel 27 is also attached to a side surface that does not appear in FIG. The front panel 11, the upper cover 12, the upper panel member 21, the rear panel member 22, and the power switch 23 are all molded products of resin.

A paper discharge port 16 (discharge port) for discharging the roll paper on which an image is printed by the printer 1 is opened on the front surface of the printer 1, and the upper cover 12 is disposed on the paper discharge port 16. A front panel 11 is disposed below the front panel 16.
The front panel 11 is attached to the front of the printer 1 so as to be openable and closable, and a release lever 24 is provided on the side of the front panel 11. By operating the release lever 24, the front panel 11 opens to the front side, and a roll paper storage portion (not shown) that stores the roll paper is exposed inside the printer 1. Therefore, a user (operator) who uses the printer 1 can load the roll paper into the main body 10 by operating the release lever 24 and opening the front panel 11. At the bottom of the front panel 11, a display unit 26 having an LED that lights / flashes according to the operating state of the printer 1 (power on / off, presence / absence of error, remaining paper state, etc.), and roll paper A feed button 25 is provided for the user to instruct feeding.
On the upper surface of the printer 1, the upper panel member 21 is attached to the upper cover 12. The upper surface of the main body 10 is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the installation surface of the printer 1, and the front side of the printer 1 is high and the back side is low. The upper panel member 21 and the rear panel member 22 constitute a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the installation surface.
Further, on the upper surface of the main body 10, a push button type power switch 23 for switching the power of the printer 1 on and off is provided.
Further, the upper cover 12 is disposed across the front part of the upper surface of the printer 1 from the upper part of the front surface of the printer 1.

A paper discharge unit 14 (concave portion) is provided on the front surface of the printer 1, and a paper discharge port 16 is opened at the back of the paper discharge unit 14. The paper discharge port 16 discharges the roll paper on which the image is printed in a substantially horizontal direction at a position deeper than the front surface of the printer 1. The paper discharge unit 14 has two inclined surfaces 18 that face the upper cover 12 downward and extend upward from the paper discharge port 16, and the slope 15 that extends upward from the front panel 11 and below the paper discharge port 16. It is a concave portion having two inclined surfaces, and forms a paper pool space 14 a in front of the paper discharge port 16.
The printed roll paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 16, and when image printing and discharge are subsequently performed, the leading edge of the roll paper hangs down at the opening of the paper discharge unit 14. In order to make it easier to pick up the roll paper discharged from the paper discharge port 16 in this way, a left side support base 31 and a right side support base 32 are arranged at the left and right ends of the paper discharge unit 14.

  The left support base 31 and the right support base 32 have upper surfaces 31a and 32a, which are horizontal surfaces located slightly below the paper discharge port 16, respectively. The roll paper discharged from the paper discharge port 16 hangs down or is rolled down by a roll of roll paper accommodated in the main body 10, or the roll paper cut out leaving the center is supported. When the corners of the bases 31 and 32 are bent, the leading edge of the roll paper contacts the upper surfaces 31a and 32a. In this state, there is a space below the roll paper between the left support base 31 and the right support base 32, so the user can easily pick the roll paper by inserting their fingers into this space. Can be taken up.

  Further, front protrusions 31b and 32b are formed on the front surfaces of the left support base 31 and the right support base 32, respectively. The lower ends of the left support base 31 and the right support base 32 are substantially flush with the front surface of the main body 10, and the front protrusions 31 b and 32 b bulge forward from the front surface of the main body 10. The front projections 31b and 32b float the leading edge of the roll paper when the roll paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 16 and goes out of the paper discharge unit 14 and hangs downward. When the front end of the roll paper is on the front protrusions 31 b and 32 b, the roll paper floats forward from the front surface of the printer 1 between the left support base 31 and the right support base 32.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the vicinity of the paper discharge port 16 of the printer 1. In FIG. 2, the transport path of the roll paper as the recording medium is indicated by a virtual line P.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a flange 13 protruding forward is formed at the lower portion of the upper cover 12, and a slope 18 entering the back from below the flange 13 is formed. In addition, a slope 15 is formed in the upper part of the front panel 11, and a paper discharge port 16 for discharging roll paper is opened between the rear end of the slope 15 and the rear end of the slope 18. Yes. The slope 18 is composed of a substantially flat surface, while the slope 15 is a curved surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a cutter mechanism 45 is disposed in the back of the paper discharge outlet 16. The cutter mechanism 45 includes a movable blade 48 positioned above the conveyance path P and a fixed blade 49 positioned below. The cutter blade 45 is moved by a cutter drive motor 52 (FIG. 5) and a drive mechanism (not shown). By moving up and down, the roll paper is sandwiched between the movable blade 48 and the fixed blade 49. Each part such as a cutter drive motor 52, a drive mechanism (not shown), a movable blade 48, and a fixed blade 49 constituting the cutter mechanism 45 is attached to a frame 40 provided inside the case cover 20.
A roll paper storage unit (not shown) for storing roll paper is formed at the lower right of the area shown in FIG. 2, and the leading end of the roll paper stored in this roll paper storage unit is drawn upward to provide a paper guide 43. And is wound up by the platen roller 42. The platen roller 42 is a roll type platen that is rotationally driven by a transport motor 51 (FIG. 5), and winds and transports roll paper.

A paper detection sensor 44 for detecting the presence or absence of paper is disposed so as to contact or approach the platen roller 42 from above the roll paper. The paper detection sensor 44 is a sensor that detects whether or not there is roll paper between the platen roller 42 and, for example, a reflective optical sensor is used. Further, a thermal head 46 is disposed on the downstream side of the paper detection sensor 44 so as to face the platen roller 42. The thermal head 46 has a heat generating part 47 configured by arranging heat generating elements in a line, and the heat generating part 47 is pressed against a roll paper wound around the platen roller 42 by a biasing force of a spring (not shown). Is arranged to be.
The printer 1 includes characters on the roll paper by rotating the platen roller 42 to convey the roll paper and controlling the heat generation state of each element included in the heat generating unit 47 to change the color of only a specific position of the roll paper. Print the image. The roll paper on which the image is printed is conveyed through the conveyance path P, reaches the fixed blade 49 of the cutter mechanism 45, is cut by the cutter mechanism 45, and is discharged from the paper discharge port 16.

  A light guide plate 17 is attached to the upper slope 18 of the paper discharge unit 14. The light guide plate 17 is a transparent or translucent plate-like member made of a light-transmitting material such as glass or synthetic resin such as acrylic, and is disposed along the slope 18 and fixed to the slope 18 by adhesion or the like. Has been. The light guide plate 17 is a member that illuminates the paper discharge port 16 brightly by guiding light incident from the front end thereof and radiating it to the paper discharge port 16.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an output form of roll paper by the printer 1.
The printer 1 of this embodiment outputs a ticket form slip (form) in a kitchen such as a restaurant as described above, and FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the ticket form slip. An upward arrow in FIG. 3 indicates the output direction of the slips 110 to 130.
The spelling slip 100 shown in FIG. 3 is output by connecting one or a plurality of slips 110, 120, 130, and each slip 110, 120, 130 is the name of the ordered dish (product). And the order quantity, the table number of the customer who ordered, the number of people, the time of ordering, etc. A slit C is formed by the cutter mechanism 45 at the boundary between the slips 110 to 130. The cut C has a shape in which the roll paper is cut inward from both ends in the width direction and the center is left uncut. By leaving a part in the cut C, each of the slips 110 to 130 is connected to the paper discharge port 16 and does not fall apart one by one. In FIG. 3, a slip 110 following the spelling slip 100 is illustrated, but when the spelling slip 100 is output from the paper discharge outlet 16, the slip 130 at the end of the spelling slip 100 is a roll paper inside the main body 10. Connected to the top of The leading portion of the roll paper becomes the leading slip 110 when the next spelling slip 100 is output.

  The printer 1 is connected to a host computer 5 to be described later. When an instruction to print a batch of order contents input by the handy terminal 3 (FIG. 5) is input from the host computer, The spelling slip 100 is printed out. Here, the batch order content is an order received from a customer at one table at a time. For example, when five kinds of dishes are ordered at a time, a total of five slips 110 to 130 are provided. Is printed out. There is no limit to the number of items in the order, and only one item may be ordered. Therefore, the spelling slip 100 may be composed of only one slip. Since the printer 1 stops after printing the spelling slip 100, the user picks up part or all of the spelling slip 100 from the paper discharge unit 14 of the stopped printer 1 and tears the uncut portion of the cut C. Good.

The slips 110 and 120 and the slip 130 shown in FIG. 3 have different lengths, and the slip 110 located at the head of the spelling slip 100 and the slip 130 at the end of the spelling slip 100 are longer than the slip 120.
The basic length L1 (predetermined form length) of the slips 110 to 130 is preset in the printer 1, and the printer 1 prints the length L1 every time the slips 110 to 130 are output. The roll paper is cut by the cutter mechanism 45. L1 is, for example, 20 mm.
Here, of the slips included in the spelling slip 100, when the slip 110 and the slip 120 are output, the printer 1 rolls by the platen roller 42 while printing an image of one slip by the thermal head 46 (FIG. 2). The paper is conveyed and an image is printed in the range of length L1. Subsequently, the printer 1 transports the roll paper while printing an image of the next slip 120 or slip 130, and during this transport, the end of the slip 110 or slip 120 on which the previous image was printed is at a position E1 in FIG. When it reaches, the printer 1 forms the cut C by the cutter mechanism 45. By repeating this operation, a cut C is formed in the roll paper for each length L1.

When outputting the slip 130 at the end of the spelling slip 100, the printer 1 prints an image in the range of the length L1 by printing an image while transporting roll paper, similarly to the slip 110 and the slip 120. Here, the printer 1 transports the roll paper by the platen roller 42 until the end of the range of the length L1 reaches the position E1 in FIG. 2, and then further roll paper by the length L2 (additional transport amount) by the platen roller 42. Transport. Thereby, the slip 130 becomes a slip having a margin of length L3 in the lower part in addition to the shape of the slip 120.
Since the slip 130 is located at the end of the spelling slip 100, when the output of the spelling slip 100 is finished and the printer 1 is stopped, the slip 130 is connected to the paper discharge port 16. Since the paper discharge outlet 16 is behind the paper discharge section 14 as described above, it can be said that the slip 130 closest to the paper discharge outlet 16 is in a position where it is difficult to visually recognize, in particular, a small size as shown in FIG. It is considered that the slip 130 is difficult to see from the outside of the paper discharge unit 14 and is difficult to pick. However, a margin of length L3 is formed in the slip 130 in addition to L1, and the image of the slip 130 moves forward by the length L3. Therefore, even if the slip 130 remains connected to the discharge outlet 16, the paper discharge unit 14, the image of the slip 130 is easy to see. In addition, since the slip 130 is long by the length L3, it is easier to pick the slip 130 from the outside of the paper discharge unit 14.

  Immediately after the output of the slip 130, the slip 130 is connected to the top of the roll paper inside the main body 10. A margin of length L3 is generated in the leading portion of the roll paper, that is, the slip 110 of the spelling slip 100 to be output next. As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting position E1 at which the roll paper is cut by the cutter mechanism 45 is a predetermined distance away from the position E2 at which the image is printed by the heat generating portion 47 of the thermal head 46, and immediately after the slip 130 is output. Is white roll paper between E1 and E2 downstream of the heat generating part 47. Since this portion cannot be printed by the heat generating portion 47, a margin of length L3 corresponding to the position between E1 and E2 is generated at the top of the slip 110.

FIG. 4 is a main part perspective view showing the vicinity of the paper discharge unit 14 of the printer 1. 4A shows a state where only the slip 110 is output, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the slip 120 is output following the slip 110.
As shown in FIG. 4A, in a state where one piece of slip 110 or slip 130 is out of the paper discharge outlet 16, if this slip is a small size, it almost fits in the paper discharge unit 14. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the state where the slip 110 and the slip 120 or slip 130 following the slip 110 are out of the discharge outlet 16, the leading slip 110 goes out of the discharge section 14, The slip 120 or the slip 130 closest to the paper discharge port 16 is contained in the paper discharge unit 14.
As described above, when the sizes of the slips 110, 120, and 130 discharged from the discharge port 16 are small, these slips remain in the back of the paper pool space 14a, and are difficult to see from the outside of the printer 1 and difficult to pick. Can be considered. In the printer 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, a margin of length L2 is provided in the last slip 130 of the spelling slip 100 so that the image of the slip 130 is conveyed in front of the paper pool space 14a. ing. Thereby, even if the size of the slip is small, it is easy to see and pick, and the convenience of the printer 1 is improved.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the order management system 2 including the printer 1.
The order management system 2 shown in FIG. 5 includes a printer 1, a handy terminal 3 in which a customer service representative inputs an order from a customer at a store where the printer 1 is installed, and data relating to an order input by the handy terminal 3. An order management server 4 for storing and processing, and a host computer 5 for transmitting transaction data for instructing printing to the printer 1 based on data stored in the order management server 4 are configured. The handy terminal 3 and the order management server 4 are connected by a wireless communication line, and the order management server 4 and the host computer 5 and the host computer 5 and the printer 1 are connected by a wired communication line.

In the order management system 2, when the customer service representative receives an order from the customer and operates the handy terminal 3, and inputs the contents of the order and the table number and number of customers of the ordered customer, the input information is Are sent to the order management server 4 and totaled for each customer by the order management server 4. At the same time, the order management server 4 prints out the contents of the new order by the printer 1 in response to the data relating to the new order being transmitted from the handy terminal 3. Send data about the contents of.
The host computer 5 generates transaction data to be transmitted to the printer 1 based on the data related to the new order transmitted from the order management server 4. This transaction data is data for printing the spelling slip 100 illustrated in FIG. 3, and corresponds to the content entered as one order by the handy terminal 3, and the name of the ordered dish (product) and the order. This is data in which information such as quantity, ordering customer table number, number of people, order time, etc. is arranged for each slip. In the transaction data, cut instruction data is included between the data of each slip, and data indicating the last slip is added to the data of the last (tail) slip in the transaction data. .

The printer 1 includes a control unit 50 connected to a paper detection sensor 44, a thermal head 46, a conveyance motor 51, and a cutter drive motor 52. Output. The thermal head 46 appropriately generates heat from each heating element included in the heating unit 47 (FIG. 2) in accordance with a control signal input from the control unit 50.
The transport motor 51 is configured as a stepping motor, for example, and rotates the platen roller 42 (FIG. 2) according to the driving pulse input from the control unit 50 by an angle corresponding to the number of pulses. The cutter drive motor 52 operates based on the drive current input from the control unit 50, and moves the movable blade 48 of the cutter mechanism 45 (FIG. 2) downward to cut the roll paper. Further, the paper detection sensor 44 detects roll paper wound around the platen roller 42 and outputs a voltage value corresponding to the detection state to the control unit 50. The conveyance motor 51 constitutes a conveyance unit together with the platen roller 42, the cutter mechanism 45 including the cutter drive motor 52 constitutes a cutting unit, and the thermal head 46 corresponds to a recording unit.

The control unit 50 incorporates a memory (not shown), and stores a control program and data for controlling the printer 1 in this memory. The data stored in this memory includes a slip length L1 and L2 as an additional conveyance amount.
The control unit 50 monitors the running out of roll paper based on the voltage value input from the paper detection sensor 44. While the paper is not cut, the control unit 50 outputs a drive pulse to the transport motor 51 to rotate it, and outputs a control signal to the thermal head 46 to print an image on the roll paper. Further, the control unit 50 outputs a driving pulse to the transport motor 51 and outputs a driving current to the cutter driving motor 52 at a predetermined timing, and causes the cutter mechanism 45 to cut the roll paper. The control unit 50 executes the above operation based on the transaction data input from the host computer 5, and prints out the slips 110, 120, and 130.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the order management system 2 related to the output of the spelling slip 100. In particular, FIG. 6A shows the operation of the host computer 5 and FIG. 6B shows the operation of the printer 1.
When receiving data related to the order from the order management server 4, the host computer 5 generates transaction data corresponding to one order based on the received data (step S11), and transmits it to the printer 1 (step S12). ).

The control unit 50 of the printer 1 receives the transaction data transmitted from the host computer 5 (step S21), analyzes the transaction data, and detects data for printing the slip (step S22). Here, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the detected data is the data of the last slip in the transaction data (step S23). This determination is made based on whether or not data indicating the final slip is added to the data detected in step S22.
If it is not the final slip (step S23; No), the control unit 50 performs detection by executing conveyance by the conveyance motor 51, printing of an image by the thermal head 46, formation of a cut C by the cutter mechanism 45, and the like. The slip 110 corresponding to the processed data is printed out (step S24), and the process returns to step S22.
When the process of step S22 is executed after the second time, the control unit 50 detects data for the next slip in the transaction data, and whether or not the detected data is the data of the final slip in step S23. Is determined.

  When the slip data detected in the transaction data is the data of the last slip (step S23; Yes), the control unit 50 performs transport by the transport motor 51 and prints an image by the thermal head 46 to obtain the length. An image is printed in the range of L1, and this range is conveyed to the outside of the paper discharge port 16 (step S25). Further, the control unit 50 drives the transport motor 51 to transport the length L2 (step S26), and then forms a cut C by the cutter mechanism 45 (step S27), and ends this process. And stop.

As described above, the printer 1 according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied includes a thermal head 46 that prints an image on roll paper, a platen roller 42 that conveys the roll paper and discharges it from the paper discharge port 16, and roll paper. A cutter mechanism 45 that cuts at a position E1 on the conveyance path P, and a control unit 50 that controls these and outputs slips 110 to 130. The control unit 50 outputs the next slip following the slip to be output. When not outputting, i.e., when outputting the final slip 130 of the spelling slip 100, after the printing of the slip 130 and the conveyance corresponding to L1 set as the length of the slip, it is further set in advance. After carrying the length L2, it is cut by the cutter mechanism 45. Thus, when outputting the final slip 130 or outputting only one slip 130, the slip 130 is longer than the other slips 120 by L2. Accordingly, since the last output slip 130 is longer than the paper exit 16, it is easy to visually recognize the image even when the last slip remains at the paper exit 16, and it is easy to pick it up by hand. Thereby, even if the size of the slips 110 to 130 for cutting and outputting the roll paper is small, the easy-to-use printer 1 can be easily realized, and the convenience can be improved.
In particular, in the slip 130, a margin corresponding to the length L2 is formed below the image printed by the thermal head 46, so that the portion on which the image is printed is pushed away from the paper discharge port 16. For this reason, the visibility of the image of the slip 130 is effectively improved by increasing the carry amount.

Further, since the cutter mechanism 45 leaves a part in the width direction of the roll paper to form the cut C, the slips 110 to 130 output from the printer 1 are output in a state of being connected to the paper discharge outlet 16. Since it does not fall from the paper discharge port 16, it can be prevented from being lost or soiled. Further, since the slip 130 connected to the paper discharge outlet 16 is longer than the other slips 120, it is easy to visually recognize the image even when it remains at the paper discharge outlet 16, and it is easy to pick it up by hand.
In addition, the paper discharge port 16 opens to the back of the paper discharge unit 14 formed on the front surface of the main body 10 of the printer 1, and the slip 130 is behind the paper discharge unit 14 and is difficult to see. Since the slip 130 is longer than the set slip length L1, it is easy to see and pick even when connected to the paper discharge port 16. For this reason, regardless of the position of the paper discharge port 16, even if the size of the slip 130 is small, it is very easy to use and the convenience can be improved.

  In addition, the said embodiment shows the one aspect | mode which applied this invention, Comprising: This invention is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the paper discharge unit 14 is provided on the front surface of the main body 10 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be provided on other side surfaces. However, the sheet discharge unit 14 may be provided on any surface as long as it is a horizontally oriented surface such as a surface facing obliquely upward or a surface facing obliquely downward. Further, the cutting operation by the cutter mechanism 45 is not limited to the cutting method of forming the cut C by leaving the central portion of the slips 110 to 130, but the end may be cut off. The cutter mechanism 45 can be configured to cut the roll paper with two or more movable blades, and cuts the roll paper with one movable blade and a stand that receives the movable blade. It is good also as a structure. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a heat-sensitive roll paper is used as a recording medium has been described. However, a sheet made of synthetic resin or natural fiber can be used as a recording medium in addition to paper, and the surface of these sheets is processed. The sheet may be a cut sheet, a continuous sheet, a roll sheet, or the like. The cut sheet may be a single-layer sheet or a copy sheet. The recording unit of the printer 1 is not limited to a thermal head that prints an image on thermal roll paper using the thermal head 46, but an ink jet head that prints an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, or a dot impact recording. Various types of recording heads such as a head and a thermal sublimation printer can be used, and the transport unit for transporting the recording medium is not limited to the platen roller 42 and may include other transport rollers. Of course, other detailed configurations of the printer 1 can be arbitrarily changed. Further, the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to a printer, but can be applied to other electronic devices including a printer.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Thermal printer (image recording device), 5 ... Host computer, 10 ... Main body, 14 ... Paper discharge part (recessed part), 16 ... Paper discharge port (discharge port), 20 ... Case cover, 23 ... Power switch, 42 ... Platen roller (conveying unit), 45 ... Cutter mechanism (cutting unit), 46 ... thermal head (recording unit), 50 ... control unit, 51 ... conveying motor (conveying unit), 52 ... cutter driving motor, 100 ... split slip, 110, 120, 130... Slip (form).

Claims (4)

A recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium;
A transport unit for transporting the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording unit and discharging the recording medium from a discharge port;
A cutting unit for forming a cut to leave a part of the recording medium in the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording unit;
A controller that records an image on the recording medium by the recording unit based on received data, transports the recording medium by the transport unit, and forms a cut by the cutting unit;
The controller is
When processing the second data subsequent to the first data, an image is recorded based on the first data, and after the recording medium is discharged from the discharge port by the first length, to form the notches,
When the second data is not processed subsequent to the first data, an image is recorded based on the first data, and the recording medium is moved from the discharge port to the second length longer than the first length. after draining the length, the recording medium is stopped, the image recording apparatus, characterized in that to form the notch.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a roll paper storage unit that stores the recording medium wound in a roll shape.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion is formed on a surface of the main body of the image recording apparatus on which the discharge port is formed, and the discharge port is opened in the concave portion. When the second data is received following the first data and the first data,
Forming an image on a recording medium based on the first data;
Conveying the recording medium on which the image is formed based on the first data to a discharge port, and discharging the recording medium from the discharge port by a first length;
Forming a cut to leave a part of the recording medium in the recording medium;
After receiving the first data and not receiving the second data,
Forming an image on a recording medium based on the first data;
Conveying the recording medium on which the image is formed based on the first data to a discharge port, and discharging the recording medium from the discharge port by a second length longer than the first length;
After discharging the recording medium with the second length from the discharge port, the conveyance of the recording medium is stopped,
An image forming method comprising forming a cut in the recording medium to leave a part of the recording medium.

Images