JP5672122B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program for forming an image by ejecting ink onto roll paper.

In an ink jet recording apparatus using roll paper, it is already known that when a roll paper roll end with a roll paper sticking to the paper tube is detected, the roll paper is completely stopped on the spot and notified to the user. .
However, in the conventional roll end control, when the roll end is detected during printing, if the paper is completely stopped on the spot and the paper is rewound, the conveyance path may be stained with ink. I can not. Also, if a cutter is placed downstream of the printing unit to apply back tension to the paper to prevent paper skew, etc., even if the roll paper is cut with that cutter and the paper is ejected, The printed paper remains in the machine, and manual operation by the user occurs.
In addition, since a normal process is not completed for a sheet that is not cut during printing or after printing is completed, there is a problem in that the sheet or ink is wasted because printing must be performed again.

To deal with this problem, for example, Patent Document 1 describes that when a label printer runs out of paper, the paper is discharged without being cut at the time of the last printing so that a cut piece is not generated. Has been.
Further, in Patent Document 2, in the ink jet recording apparatus, for the purpose of eliminating waste of roll paper and ink at the roll end of the roll paper, it is memorized how far printing has been performed, and the printing is put on hold to When the roll paper is replaced with a new roll paper, it is necessary to set the continuous printing from the print hold status, that is, if a roll end occurs during printing on the roll paper, the continuous printing will not start from the beginning but the roll end. A control method for resuming printing from the printed part is described.

  These printers are similar to the present invention, which will be described later, in that it eliminates the waste of roll paper / ink (which may be a recording material such as toner, which is generically referred to herein as ink) generated at the roll end. However, when the roll paper is solid on a shaft core such as a paper tube, the problem of eliminating waste of the roll paper and ink has not been solved.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a roll paper wound in a roll shape such as a roll paper solidly attached to an axial core such as a paper tube in an image forming apparatus (here, a roll-shaped recording medium is generically called a roll paper). ) To eliminate waste of roll paper and ink generated at the roll end.

The invention according to claim 1 is an upstream cut unit for cutting roll paper upstream of a printing unit, a downstream cut unit for cutting roll paper downstream of a printing unit, a conveyance unit for conveying roll paper, and the conveyance A conveyance control unit for controlling the means, a roll end detection means for detecting the roll end of the roll paper that is solid on the shaft core, and when the detection means detects the roll end, the upstream side cutting means for removing the roll paper A cutting control unit that performs cutting control at a cutting position, and a printing end determination unit that determines whether or not printing of the cut roll paper has been completed. The image forming apparatus performs control for discharging roll paper when it is determined that printing is finished.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the cut printed roll paper is cut with a downstream cutter, the length of the cut paper is a length that can be discharged out of the apparatus. A dischargeable length determination unit that determines whether or not the dischargeable length determination unit determines that the length of a piece of cut paper is a length that can be discharged outside the machine, When the cut paper is cut and discharged, and it is determined that the length of the cut paper is not long enough to be discharged outside the machine, the printed roll paper is discharged without being cut by the downstream cutter. is there.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, whether or not printing on the cut roll paper is possible when the printing end determination unit determines that the printing has not ended. When the printable length determination unit determines that printing is possible, the length of the cut paper when the cut printed roll paper is cut by the downstream cutter is determined. The dischargeable length determination unit that determines whether or not the length can be discharged outside the machine, and when the dischargeable length determination unit determines that the length of the cut paper is a length that can be discharged outside the machine, This is an image forming apparatus that cuts and discharges paper with the downstream cutter and discharges paper without cutting when it is determined that the length of the cut-out paper is not long enough to be discharged outside the apparatus.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, when the dischargeable length determination unit determines that the length of the cut paper is not a length that can be discharged to the outside of the apparatus, a roll is further provided. An image forming apparatus having means for selecting whether or not to cut paper with a downstream cutter.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when the cut of the roll paper with the downstream cutter is selected, the user is notified to remove the remaining piece of paper remaining in the machine. An image forming apparatus including a unit.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, when the printable length determination unit determines that printing is not possible, the roll paper is discharged out of the apparatus without printing. An image forming apparatus.
The invention according to claim 7 is an upstream cut means for cutting the roll paper upstream of the print section, a downstream cut means for cutting the roll paper downstream of the print section, a transport means for transporting the roll paper, and an axis A roll end detection unit that detects a roll end of the roll paper that is solidly attached to the computer, a conveyance control unit that controls the conveyance unit, and the detection unit that has detected the roll end. And a conveyance control unit that functions as a cutting control unit that performs control to cut the roll paper by the upstream-side cutting unit, and a print end determination unit that determines whether printing of the cut roll paper has been completed. Is a program for executing a process of discharging the roll paper when the printing end determination unit determines that the printing has ended.

  In the image forming apparatus, when the roll paper with a solid core is rolled, the user can discharge the paper without the need for jam processing, and at the same time, the waste of the roll paper and ink can be eliminated.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, typically an ink jet recording apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the roll end detection means of roll paper. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit that performs cutting control of upstream and downstream cutters that cut roll paper when roll paper reaches a roll end, and roll paper conveyance control at that time. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process at the time of the roll end detection of the roll paper with which the paper tube etc. were stuck. It is a figure explaining the different processing performed based on the position on the conveyance path of a roll paper at the time of detecting the roll end of roll paper. It is a figure explaining the cutting position of the roll paper which is solidly attached to the paper tube cut with an upstream cutter and a downstream cutter.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The present embodiment relates to processing when a roll paper roll end solid on an axial core such as a paper tube occurs in an image forming apparatus using roll paper, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus.
In other words, when a roll end of roll paper that has been solidified with glue or the like on the shaft core of a paper tube or the like occurs, the roll paper is cut with a cutter (upstream cutter) that is upstream of the print unit on the transport path. The paper can be discharged to the outside, and then cut to a specified length with a cutter (downstream cutter) downstream from the printing unit on the transport path, so that printing (not limited to literal printing here) (It refers to general recording) Rolled paper can be handled as regular printing paper.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a main configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In the ink jet recording apparatus 1, a paper tube or the like in which an end portion of a roll paper is solidified with glue on an axis core.
In the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, an upstream cutter 10, a printing unit (carriage) 12 including an inkjet head, and a downstream cutter 14 are sequentially arranged along the conveyance direction in the conveyance path 20 of the roll paper P. Has been placed.

  Along the conveyance path 20, a roller 21, a pair of conveyance rollers (a pinch roller and a conveyance roller: here collectively referred to as a conveyance roller, hereinafter) 22, and a pair of conveyance rollers 23 before and after the printing unit 12. , 24 and a pair of paper discharge rollers (paper discharge conveyance rollers) 25 for conveying the roll paper P cut to a predetermined length by the downstream cutter 14 to the outside of the apparatus. These rollers 21 or transport rollers 22 to 25 are driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown) (for example, a stepping motor) that is controlled by a motor control unit of a control unit described later, and transports the roll paper P.

In the inkjet recording apparatus 1, a known back tension applying mechanism (for example, an end of the roll paper, not shown) is fitted to the roll paper P being conveyed so that the roll paper P does not skew during printing and conveyance. A brake shoe for applying a back tension is provided on the outer periphery of the rotatable flange, and the back tension is generated by a mechanism (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-187646) that presses against the flange with a pressure spring and generates a back tension. Is multiplied.
In the present embodiment, in order to maintain the back tension of the roll paper, a cutter (downstream cutter) 14 is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 12, and the roll paper P is cut after the printing is finished, and then the trailing edge of the roll paper. It is done according to the position.

In the above configuration, the roll paper P is fed out by the roller 21 and sent to the conveyance path 20 in accordance with the printing timing of the printing unit 12.
The delivered roll paper P is conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 23 and reaches the printing unit 12. Here, the printing unit 12 is a known one, and for example, printing is performed by ink droplets ejected from an inkjet head mounted on a carriage and moving in the main scanning direction. After the printing, the roll paper P is transported by a pair of transport rollers 24 and a paper discharge roller 25 toward a paper discharge tray (not shown) outside the apparatus. When the cutting position reaches a predetermined paper size, the paper is cut by the downstream cutter 14.
In this way, each time the printing unit 12 performs predetermined printing, the downstream cutter 14 discharges the paper to the paper discharge tray while cutting into a predetermined paper size.

By the way, when the end of the roll paper P is glued to a solid sheet such as a paper tube as in the present embodiment, when the roll paper P is rewound and reaches the roll end, the roll paper P is further removed. It cannot be paid out.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the roll end of the roll paper P is detected, the conveyance of the roll paper P is immediately stopped, the upstream cutter 10 is operated to cut the roll paper P, and the paper is already fed into the conveyance path 20. The roll paper P is separated from the paper tube.
The subsequent handling of the roll paper P separated from the paper tube is basically the same as the normal processing, but the roll paper P, which is originally continuous paper, is cut in the middle, so that the roll paper P is removed from the downstream cutter 14. When cutting at a predetermined length, there is a case where the length of the cut end portion is too short to be discharged out of the machine. If this point is not taken into consideration, the roll paper may stay in the machine and jam.
In this embodiment, when the roll paper becomes the roll end in this way, the cutting and conveyance of the roll paper are controlled so that an unintended jam does not occur and normal printing processing can be performed.

Here, the roll end detection of the roll paper P can use any known roll end detection means.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a roll end detection unit of the roll paper P.
The roll end detection means 30 detects slits 32a provided at a predetermined circumferential pitch on a disk 32 (pulse plate) provided coaxially with the shaft 38 of the paper feed driven roller 36 to detect a change in rotational speed. . The disk 32 is provided with radial slits 32a along the circumferential direction. The slits 32a are read by the transmission type sensor 34, and the feed driven roller 36 is changed by changing the ON / OFF time interval of the transmission type sensor 34. The rotation speed is detected. When the ON / OFF time interval of the transmission sensor 34 fluctuates and stops, the control unit determines that it is a roll end (see JP 2004-136514 A). Alternatively, the roll end detection means 30 may be an end mark detection means for detecting an end mark entered at the end portion of the roll paper P (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-252338).

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the control unit 50 that performs cutting control of the upstream and downstream cutters 10 and 14 for cutting the roll paper P and transport control of the roll paper P at that time when the roll paper P reaches the roll end. FIG.
The control unit 50 controls the entire inkjet recording apparatus 1, for example, but may be a dedicated unit that performs control necessary for transporting and cutting the roll paper.

  The control unit 50 is a computer and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 52, an output unit (output interface) 51, an input unit (input interface) 53, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 54, and a ROM connected via an internal bus 55. (Read Only Memory) 56, the output unit 51 includes a motor 44 for driving the rollers, a display unit 46 for confirming settings and the like, for example, a liquid crystal display, and a cutter (upstream cutter 10) for cutting roll paper. The downstream cutter 14) is connected to the input unit 53. The input unit 53 includes, for example, input means 40 capable of key input for setting and the roll end detection means 30 for detecting the roll end of the roll paper P. It is connected.

  Here, the RAM 54 is a storage unit that provides a work area for the CPU 52 and temporarily stores programs and data necessary for the processing of the CPU 52, and the ROM 56 is a storage unit that stores programs and the like. is there.

Further, the CPU 52 includes a roll end determination unit 521, a print end determination unit 522, a conveyance control unit 523, a cutting control unit 524, and a paper length determination unit 525 as function realizing means by a program. Further, the CPU 52 controls, for example, an operation sequence of each of these functional units based on a program.
Here, the roll end determination unit 521 determines the roll end of the roll paper P based on the roll end detection signal from the roll end detection means 30.
The print end determination unit 522 determines whether or not printing in the print unit 12 has been completed when the roll end determination unit 521 determines that the roll end has occurred.
The conveyance control unit 523 adjusts the roll paper P in accordance with the print timing by the inkjet head, the cutting timing of the downstream cutter 14, and the like based on the determination of the roll end determination unit 521, the print end determination unit 522, the paper length determination unit 525, and the like. Transport control is performed.
The cutting control unit 524 performs cutting control of the cutters (upstream cutter 10 and downstream cutter 14) based on the determination results of the roll end determination unit 521 and the paper length determination unit 525, settings described later, and the like.
Further, the paper length determination unit 525 can determine whether or not the length of the roll paper P when the roll paper P is cut by the upstream cutter 10 is, for example, capable of printing (all prints that should be printed). The length determination unit and the length of the roll paper P include a dischargeable length determination unit that determines whether or not a piece of cut paper generated when the paper is cut by the downstream cutter 14 after printing can be discharged. Needless to say, the printable length determination unit and the dischargeable length determination unit may be independent function realizing means.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when detecting a roll end of a roll paper solidly attached to a paper tube or the like.
According to the present embodiment, when the roll end detection unit 30 detects the roll end of the roll paper P that is solid on a paper tube or the like, the conveyance control unit 523 stops the conveyance of the roll paper P and performs cutting control. The unit 524 operates the upstream cutter 10 to cut the roll paper P (S101). Next, the print end determination unit 522 determines whether or not the printing of the roll paper P being transported has ended (S102).

Here, when the printing end determination unit 522 determines that the printing (recording) of the roll paper in the conveyance path 20 has not been completed (S102, NO), the paper length determination unit 525 determines the remaining printing and conveyance. The length is compared with the length of roll paper that can be printed and transported by the upstream cutter 10 and is currently in the printing section 12, and the roll paper cut by the upstream cutter 10 is used for printing and transporting to the outside of the machine. It is determined whether or not it is possible (S107). If it is determined that printing and transporting to the outside of the machine are impossible (S107, NO), the paper is discharged outside the machine with a margin at the trailing edge of the roll paper (S113).
When the paper length determination unit 525 determines that the length of the roll paper is a length that can be printed and transported to the outside of the machine (S107, YES), “printing and transport” is continued (S108), and the process proceeds to step S103. To do.

  In step 102, when the print end determination unit 522 determines that the printing has already ended (S102, YES), the paper length determination unit 525 sets the target roll paper length with the downstream cutter 14 (ie, a predetermined roll paper length). When the paper is cut, it is determined whether or not the cut paper remaining in the machine can be discharged out of the machine (S103). Here, when a length that can be discharged out of the apparatus is secured even when the paper is cut off (S103, YES), the position aimed at the paper by the control of the cutting control unit 524 becomes the position of the downstream cutter 14. The roll paper P is controlled to be transported, and the roll paper P is cut at that position (S104), and the printed paper and the cut paper are sequentially discharged out of the apparatus under the control of the transport control unit 523 (S105, S106). .

In step S103, when the paper length determination unit 525 determines that the length that can be discharged is not secured for the cut piece of paper (that is, when the cut piece of paper cannot be discharged) (S103, NO), the cutting control unit. Whether or not 524 is still set to cut (that is, even if the dischargeable length is not secured) is checked (S109). If the cut is still set (S109, YES), the rear end of the target roll paper is transported to the position of the downstream cutter 14 and cut (S110), and the printed paper is removed from the machine. The paper is discharged (S111), and the cut paper remaining in the machine is left in the machine. Therefore, in this case, it is removed manually (S112). In this case, in order to notify the user to remove the cut off remaining in the aircraft, the notification is made by a notification means such as light, sound, or voice.
If it is determined in step S109 not to cut (S109, NO), the conveyance control unit 523 operates the paper discharge roller 25 to discharge the roll paper P to the outside with a margin at the rear end. (S113).
In the above description, when the paper length determination unit 525 determines that the length of the cut edge is not a length that can be discharged outside the machine, the cutting control unit 524 determines that the downstream cutter is in accordance with the setting. 14 is set to determine whether or not to perform the cutting. Since the setting is performed by the user, the means for setting this is also a selection means for determining whether or not to perform the cutting.

5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams illustrating different processes performed based on the position of the roll paper P on the conveyance path 20 when the roll end of the roll paper P is detected.
FIG. 5A (showing a state where the position to be cut by the downstream cutter 14 of the roll paper P has already exceeded the printing unit 12) is shown in step S102 of FIG. ] Shows a state of YES.
In this case, since the cutting position (the rear end of the roll paper P) for securing the target roll paper length has already passed through the printing unit 12 (printing has been completed), it is conveyed to the downstream cutter 14. And cut. That is, the cut and printed paper can be handled as a regular one.

FIG. 5B (showing a state in the middle of printing) shows a state of YES in step S107 “Can all the printed paper be cut?” In FIG.
In this case, the cutting position for securing the target roll paper length is upstream of the printing unit 12, but if “printing and conveyance” is possible within the roll paper length cut by the upstream cutter 10, By performing printing and then transporting it to the downstream cutter 14 and cutting it to the target roll paper length, the cut printed paper can be handled as a regular one.

FIG. 5C (showing a case where the target print area and roll paper length cannot be secured) is a diagram showing a NO state in step S107 “Can all print on cut roll paper?” In FIG.
In this case, the cutting position for securing the target roll paper length is not within the roll paper length cut by the upstream cutter 10, and in this case, it cannot be handled as a regular printed paper. The paper is discharged as it is.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the cutting position of the roll paper P that is solidly attached to the paper tube to be cut by the upstream cutter 10 and the downstream cutter 14 (in this case, the roll cut by the upstream cutter 10). This is an example where printing is possible on paper P).
When the roll end of the roll paper P that is solid on the paper tube is detected by the roll end detection means 30, first, the upstream cutter 10 and the "solid paper roll" and other roll papers ("normally printed roll paper" Paper + Cut off ”). Next, the downstream cutter 14 cuts into “normally printed roll paper” and “cut off”.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the roll end of the roll paper P solid on a paper tube or the like is detected, the upstream cutter 10 upstream of the printing unit 12 on the conveyance path 20 is detected. The roll paper P can be cut, and then cut to a regular length by the downstream cutter 14 downstream of the printing unit 12 on the conveyance path 20.
Therefore, the roll paper P can be handled as regular printing paper. By determining the cut position of the roll paper P, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 having the cutters 10 and 14 on the upstream side and the downstream side of the printing unit 12 on the transport path 20 is solid in a state where it cannot be transported any more. Even when the roll end is detected, the roll paper P can be discharged out of the apparatus without jamming and taking time and effort for the user. In addition, at least the roll paper P that has not been cut after the end of printing is discharged, so that waste of the roll paper P and ink can be eliminated.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet recording device, 10 ... Upstream cutter, 12 ... Printing part, 14 ... Downstream cutter, 20 ... Conveyance path, 21 ... Roller, 22-24 ... Conveyance roller, 25... Discharge roller, 30... Roll end detection means, 40... Input means, 44. Output unit 52 ... CPU 53 ... Input unit 54 ... RAM 56 ... ROM 521 ... Roll end determination unit 522 ... Print end determination unit 523 Transport control unit, 524... Cutting control unit, 525... Paper length determination unit, P.

JP-A-4-329168 JP 2010-012660 A

Claims (7)

Upstream side cutting means for cutting the roll paper upstream of the printing unit;
A downstream cutting means for cutting the roll paper downstream of the printing unit;
Conveying means for conveying roll paper;
A transport control unit for controlling the transport means;
Roll end detection means for detecting the roll end of the roll paper solid on the shaft core;
A cutting control unit for controlling the cutting of the roll paper by the upstream side cutting unit when the detecting unit detects the roll end;
A print end determination unit that determines whether or not printing of the cut roll paper has been completed,
The conveyance control unit is an image forming apparatus that performs control to discharge the roll paper when the printing end determination unit determines that printing is completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A dischargeable length determination unit that determines whether or not the length of the cut paper when the cut printed roll paper is cut with a downstream cutter is a length that can be discharged outside the apparatus;
When the dischargeable length determination unit determines that the length of the cut piece of paper is a length that can be discharged outside the machine, the printed roll paper is cut and discharged by the downstream cutter, and the length of the cut piece of paper is discharged. Is an image forming apparatus that discharges the printed roll paper without being cut by the downstream cutter when it is determined that the length is not a length that can be discharged outside the apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A printable length determination unit that determines whether printing is possible on the cut roll paper when the print end determination unit determines that printing is not completed;
Whether or not the length of the cut paper when the cut printed roll paper is cut by the downstream cutter when the printable length determination unit determines that printing is possible is a length that can be discharged out of the machine. The dischargeable length determination unit for determining,
When the dischargeable length determination unit determines that the length of the cut paper is the length that can be discharged outside the machine, the cut is discharged by the downstream cutter, and the length of the cut paper is discharged outside the machine. An image forming apparatus that discharges paper without cutting when it is determined that the length is not possible. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
When the dischargeable length determination unit determines that the length of the cut paper is not a length that can be discharged outside the apparatus, the image further includes means for selecting whether or not to cut the roll paper with the downstream cutter. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
An image forming apparatus provided with notification means for notifying a user to remove a piece of cut paper remaining in the apparatus when cutting a roll paper with a downstream cutter is selected. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
An image forming apparatus that discharges the roll paper out of the apparatus without printing when the printable length determination unit determines that printing is not possible. Upstream cutting means for cutting roll paper upstream of the printing section, downstream cutting means for cutting roll paper downstream of the printing section, transport means for transporting the roll paper, and roll paper with a solid core A roll end detecting means for detecting the roll end of the image forming apparatus,
A transport control unit for controlling the transport means;
A cutting control unit for controlling the cutting of the roll paper by the upstream side cutting unit when the detecting unit detects the roll end;
Function as a print end determination unit that determines whether or not the cut roll paper has been printed,
A program for executing a process of discharging roll paper when the conveyance control unit determines that the printing end determination unit has completed printing.

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