JP5866946B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer capable of performing calibration processing using a calibration pattern printed on roll paper (roll-shaped paper) supplied from a paper supply unit.

  Conventionally, paper wound in a roll is supplied from the paper feed unit to the printing unit, the print unit performs print processing on the paper, and the printed paper is cut in the paper width direction and discharged from the discharge port. Various printers configured to be able to do this are known. In addition, printers usually have individual differences for each apparatus, and the relationship between a reference density gradation value (reference density) and the density of a print result actually output by the printer is also different for each printer. . Therefore, at the time of shipment of the printer, calibration processing (color tone correction processing) is performed in which the density of an image actually printed on paper is corrected in association with the reference density. Also, the density characteristics (color characteristics) of the print results may change depending on the usage environment (temperature, humidity, etc.), continuous use for a certain period (aging), and ink replacement. Calibration processing may be performed to correct the error.

  In Patent Document 1, in a printer capable of performing print processing on roll paper, the roll paper is cut into a predetermined size by a cutting unit disposed between a paper feeding unit that supplies the roll paper and the printing unit, and the cut is performed. A technique is disclosed in which after a calibration pattern is printed on a sheet of paper at the printing unit, the calibration pattern is measured (colorimetric) by a sensor disposed between the printing unit and the discharge port, and the sheet is discharged as it is from the discharge port. ing. In the calibration process itself, the difference between the measured density of the calibration pattern by the sensor and the reference density is automatically calculated, and the density of the image printed by the printing unit is calibrated based on the difference calculation result. Complete.

  Further, as an aspect of performing calibration processing by adopting a device layout in a printer different from the printer described in Patent Document 1, a calibration pattern is printed on a predetermined area of a roll paper by a printing unit, and then the calibration is performed. The density of the movement pattern is measured by a sensor disposed between the printing unit and the discharge port, and is located between the printing unit and the discharge port and separated from the sensor by a predetermined distance (upstream in the transport direction or transported from the sensor). A mode is conceivable in which the paper cut in the paper width direction by the cutting portion disposed on the downstream side in the direction is discharged from the discharge port.

JP 2006-001049 A

  However, in any of the above-described aspects, the process of measuring the calibration pattern with the sensor and the process of cutting the roll paper are performed at different timings, and a mechanism for moving the sensor in the scanning direction; A mechanism for moving the rotary blades constituting the cutting unit in the paper width direction has to be individually arranged in a limited space in the printer.

  Although no attempt has been made to improve against such an event, the present inventor has found that the scanning direction when the calibration pattern is measured by the sensor and the cutting direction of the roll paper by the cutting unit are the same direction. Focusing on a certain point, the inventors have come up with a printer that can simultaneously perform a process of measuring a calibration pattern and a process of cutting a roll paper.

  That is, the present invention relates to a paper feeding unit that can store paper wound in a roll shape, a printing unit that performs printing processing on paper supplied from the paper feeding unit along the paper conveyance path, and paper in the paper width direction. The present invention relates to a printer provided with a cutting part that can be cut into two parts and a discharge part having a discharge port. Here, the printer of the present invention includes various printers such as a thermal transfer printer, an ink jet printer, and a laser printer, and the print processing method by the printing unit is not particularly limited.

Then, the printer of the present invention applies a blade that is movable in the paper width direction as a cutting unit, and a movable body that is movable in the paper width direction while holding the blade. A sensor that can measure the calibration pattern printed on the paper by the printing unit is attached, and the cutting process of the paper by the cutting unit and the measurement process of the calibration pattern by the sensor are performed at the same time , and the blade is relative to the sensor. It is characterized in that it is arranged downstream in the paper transport direction . Here, the “blade” may be a rotary blade or a blade that does not rotate.

  In such a printer, by moving the blade in the paper width direction, the sensor attached to the moving body that moves in the paper width direction with the blade held can be moved in the paper width direction that is the scanning direction. In addition, the paper cutting process by the cutting unit and the calibration pattern measurement process (color measurement process) by the sensor can be performed simultaneously with one action. Furthermore, if the blade is moved in the paper width direction, the sensor attached to the moving body that holds the blade can also be moved, so that a dedicated mechanism for moving the sensor in the scanning direction is unnecessary, and only that much. The arrangement space in the printer can be simply expanded, and can be effectively used as an arrangement space for other members and mechanisms.

  Further, in the present invention, tension is applied to the sheet that is disposed upstream of the cutting unit in the sheet conveyance direction (printing unit side) and that presses or sandwiches the sheet in the thickness direction at least during the cutting process to go to the cutting unit. A printer including a tension applying unit can also be configured. Here, during the cutting process, the portion of the paper that is cut by the cutting portion can be regarded as being in contact with and supported by the blade that moves in the paper width direction. Therefore, if the sheet is pressed or gripped in the thickness direction on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction from the cutting unit, tension can be applied to the sheet toward the cutting unit. And, by applying tension to the paper toward the cutting portion by the tension applying portion, it is possible to hold the paper conveyed between at least the tension applying portion and the cutting portion straightly and stretched without loosening, The paper can be prevented from shifting in the direction of blade movement or wrinkles during the cutting process to ensure the straightness of the cut surface, and the relative distance between the paper and the sensor can be kept constant during the sensor measurement process. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress a decrease in measurement accuracy due to a change in the relative distance between the paper and the sensor. Note that the timing at which the tension is applied to the paper by the tension applying unit may be at least synchronized with the timing at which the cutting process and the measurement process are performed, and the paper is transported downstream in the paper transport direction without performing the cutting process and the measurement process. During the processing, the tension applying state by the tension applying unit may be set to be released, or the tension applying state by the tension applying unit may be maintained.

  In particular, in the printer of the present invention, if the blade is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction (discharge side) relative to the sensor, the portion measured by the sensor becomes a portion continuous with the roll paper. Therefore, compared with the aspect in which the portion measured by the sensor is a piece of paper separated from the roll paper by the cutting process of the cutting unit, the piece of paper separated from the roll paper moves in a direction away from the sensor by its own weight. Therefore, a dedicated backup mechanism for keeping the separated sheet piece in a predetermined position is unnecessary, which is advantageous in terms of deleting the number of parts and simplifying the structure. Furthermore, by disposing the sensor at a position farther from the discharge port than the blade, it is possible to realize a device layout in which ambient light from the discharge port does not enter the sensor or at least is difficult to enter.

  According to the present invention, since the sensor is attached to the movable body that is movable in the paper width direction while holding the blade, the measurement process of the calibration pattern by the sensor and the cutting of the paper by the cutting unit having the blade It is possible to provide a novel printer that can perform processing simultaneously, eliminates the need for a dedicated mechanism for scanning the sensor in the paper width direction, reduces the number of components, and simplifies the internal layout. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a paper pass line in the printer according to the embodiment of the invention. . The principal part enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a cutting unit and a sensor immediately before cutting measurement processing in the printer according to the embodiment when viewed from the downstream side (discharge port side) in the sheet conveyance direction. The schematic diagram which looked at the cutting part and sensor in a cutting | disconnection measurement process in the printer which concerns on the same embodiment from the paper conveyance direction downstream (discharge port side) 6 is a flowchart of cutting measurement processing in the printer according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer P according to the present embodiment is a sublimation type printer that performs sublimation print processing on a sheet S by thermal transfer of ink on an ink ribbon. The sublimation printer P includes a paper feed unit 1, a printing unit 2 that performs sublimation print processing on the surface of the paper S supplied from the paper feed unit 1, a discharge unit 3 having a discharge port 31, and a paper S A paper transport mechanism 4 that transports the paper along a paper transport path L (paper path line) formed between the paper feeding section 1 and the discharge section 3, and a discharge port 31 on the paper transport path L that is more than the printing section 2. And a cutting section 5 that is disposed on the side and capable of cutting the paper S in the paper width direction B. The sublimation printer P includes at least a paper feeding unit 1, a printing unit 2, a paper transport mechanism 4, and a cutting unit 5 in a common casing C, and includes a discharge port 31 that constitutes the discharge unit 3 and an unillustrated portion. The discharge tray is configured to be exposed outside the casing C. Further, the operations of the paper feeding unit 1, the printing unit 2, the discharge unit 3, the paper transport mechanism 4, and the cutting unit 5 are controlled by control units provided at appropriate locations in the printer P (not shown).

  The paper feeding unit 1 can accommodate the paper S wound in a roll shape. Although FIG. 1 shows the state in which the paper S is exposed to the outside, the accommodation space for the paper S can be made a space isolated from the external space by attaching an appropriate cover member (not shown) to the housing C. . FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a paper pass line L in the printer P of the present embodiment, schematically showing only parts and mechanisms arranged along the paper pass line L, and omitting other parts and mechanisms. ing. Moreover, in the same figure, only the area | region which accommodates the downward area | region of the cutting part 5 and the roll paper S among the housing | casing C is shown with the cross-sectional schematic diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper transport mechanism 4 that transports the paper S between the paper feed unit 1 and the discharge unit 3 is, for example, a paper feed arranged sequentially from the paper feed unit 1 side to the discharge unit 3 side. A set of a feed roller 40, a feed-side feed roller 41 and a first pinch roller 42, a set of a feed roller 43 and a second pinch roller 44, and a set of a discharge-side feed roller 45 and a third pinch roller 46 are used. It is configured. It should be noted that the number of rollers themselves, or the number of rollers and pinch rollers, and the location of the rollers can be set as appropriate according to the specifications.

  The printing unit 2 includes a thermal head 21 and a platen roller 22 that is disposed at a position facing the thermal head 21 and sandwiches the paper S between the thermal head 21 and plays a part of the functions of the paper transport mechanism 4. The ink ribbon is a well-known printer capable of performing thermal transfer printing on the paper S with ink of an ink ribbon (not shown) conveyed between the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 22.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge unit 3 discharges the paper S, which has been subjected to a desired print process by the printing unit 2, as a cut sheet cut into a predetermined size from the discharge port 31 to the outside of the housing C. It can be placed in a stacked state on a tray. Further, the discharge unit 3 has a set of a discharge roller 32 and a discharge pinch roller 33 for conveying the paper S toward the discharge port 31 closer to the printing unit 2 than the discharge port 31 (see FIG. 1). ). The discharge roller 32 and the discharge pinch roller 33 have a part of the function of the discharge unit 3 and a part of the function of the paper transport mechanism 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutting unit 5 includes a rotary blade 51 (corresponding to the “blade” of the present invention) disposed on the printing surface (front surface) side of the paper S, and a back surface (back surface) of the paper S. ) Side and a fixed blade 52 fixedly arranged in a posture extending in the paper width direction B, and the rotary blade 51 is slid on the fixed blade 52 and scanned in the paper width direction B according to the control of the control unit. The sheet S is cut in the sheet width direction B. The rotary blade 51 has a substantially disk shape with a blade formed on the outer peripheral portion. Also, as shown in the figure, the relative position between the rotary blade 51 and the fixed blade 52 is set so that the blade formed on the outer peripheral edge of the rotary blade 51 can overlap the fixed blade 52 and the paper transport direction A almost without any gap. doing. The cutting unit 5 of the present embodiment includes a rail 53 arranged at a position facing the fixed blade 52 in the thickness direction of the paper S, and a paper width direction B along the rail 53 in a state where the rotary blade 51 is rotatably held. And a reciprocating slider 54 (corresponding to the “moving body” of the present invention). By moving the slider 54 along the rail 53, the rotary blade 51 is also moved in the paper width direction B. ing.

  The printer P according to the present embodiment attaches the sensor 6 to the cutting unit 5 and simultaneously performs the movement of the rotary blade 51 in the paper width direction B and the movement of the sensor 6 in the scanning direction (paper width direction B). It is configured to be able to. In the present embodiment, as the slider 54, the rotary blade holding portion 541 that is disposed at a position facing the surface of the rail 53 facing the discharge portion 3 side and holds the rotary blade 51, and the printing portion 2 side of the rail 53 is arranged. A device provided with a sensor holding portion 542 that is arranged at a position facing the facing surface and holds the sensor 6 is applied. The rotary blade holding portion 541 is a box-like one having a window portion (not shown) that opens by the thickness of the rotary blade 51 and allows the rotation of the rotary blade to be formed on the bottom wall. The rotary blade 51 is held by the rotary blade holding portion 541 so as to be rotatable about the rotary shaft 511 in a state where the lower end side region is exposed to the outside from the window portion.

  The sensor 6 includes a light source 61 (light projecting unit) that emits light of a predetermined wavelength toward the paper S, and a light receiving element 62 (light receiving unit) that detects reflected light from the paper S. In the present embodiment, an LED is applied as the light source 61, and a color sensor element or a photosensor element is applied as the light receiving element 62. When the printing process by the printing unit 2 is a color print, it is preferable to apply a color sensor having a color sensor element as a sensor. When the printing process by the printing unit 2 is a monochrome print, as a sensor, It is preferable to apply a photosensor having a photosensor element. Examples of the combination of the light source 61 and the light receiving element 62 include a combination of a white light source and a color sensor element, a combination of a white light source and a photosensor integrally provided with a color filter, or a predetermined colored light source and a photosensor. And the like. It should be noted that a plurality of types of sensors 6 may be provided, and the type of the sensor 6 to be used can be switched by an appropriate switching mechanism depending on the print mode (color print or monochrome print) to be output.

  In the printer P according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensor 6 in which the light source 61 and the light receiving element 62 are mounted on a common substrate 63 is formed in a box shape that opens downward in the slider 54. It is housed in the sensor holding part 542. Further, a partition plate 64 for preventing and suppressing light from the light source 61 from directly entering the light receiving element 62 is disposed between the light source 61 and the light receiving element 62. Here, what accommodated the sensor 6 in the sensor holding | maintenance part 542 can be caught as the sensor unit 6U, and this sensor unit 6U is comprised so that it can move to the paper width direction B simultaneously with the rotary blade 51. FIG. Further, the rotation center axis 511, the light source 61, and the light receiving element 62 of the rotary blade 51 are arranged at positions aligned on the same straight line along the paper transport direction A. Note that the light source 61 and the light receiving element 62 in the sensor 6 can be individually replaced, or the entire sensor unit 6U can be replaced.

  Although the cutting part 5 and the sensor 6 are electrically connected and can be driven simultaneously, the drive sources themselves may be provided individually or in common. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the longitudinal dimension of the rail 53 (dimension in the paper width direction B) is set larger than the width dimension of the paper S, and the slider 54 that holds the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6. Is positioned at or near the end of the rail 53 so that the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 are positioned at a retreat position where they cannot interfere with the paper S conveyed along the paper conveyance path L (paper path line). Can do. In particular, in the present embodiment, the longitudinal dimension of the rail 53 is set to be larger than the sheet width dimension, and both ends of the rail 53 are positioned farther from the center of the sheet width direction B than the side edges of the sheet S (on the sheet S). (Position that does not overlap). Therefore, when the slider 54 is positioned at one end of the rail 53 or in the vicinity of one end and when positioned at the other end or near the other end, the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 are in the retracted position. In the following description, the position of the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 when the slider 54 is positioned at or near one end of the rail 53 is referred to as a “first retraction position”, and the slider 54 is the other end of the rail 53 or The position of the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 when positioned in the vicinity of the other end is referred to as a “second retraction position”.

  Further, the printer P according to the present embodiment is disposed upstream of the cutting unit 5 and the sensor 6 in the paper transport direction A, and at least during the cutting process, presses or sandwiches the paper S in the thickness direction toward the cutting unit 5. A tension applying unit 7 that applies tension to the paper S is provided. In the present embodiment, the tension applying unit 7 is configured by using a sheet pressing roller 71 that presses the sheet S from above and a sheet holding plate 72 that can hold the sheet S between the sheet pressing roller 71. The printer P according to the present embodiment is configured to cut the paper S between the rotary blade 51 and the fixed blade 52, and a portion of the paper S that is cut by contact with the rotary blade 51 during the cutting process. Is a state of being held between the rotary blade 51 and the fixed blade 52 until just before cutting. Accordingly, a portion of the sheet S upstream of the sheet conveyance direction A with respect to the position held by the rotary blade 51 and the fixed blade 52 (supported by the cutting unit 5) is pressed in the sheet thickness direction by the tension applying unit 7. By pinching, the sheet S toward the cutting unit 5 can be corrected to a straightened posture.

  Next, the operation and action of the printer P of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described separately for normal print processing and calibration processing. In the following, normal print processing will be described first.

  In the printer P according to the present embodiment, first, based on print data input by a user operation or the like, the paper S wound in a roll shape by the paper feed unit 1 is fed with the paper feed side feed roller 41 and the first. The sheet is sequentially passed between the pinch roller 42 and between the feed roller 43 and the second pinch roller 44 and conveyed to the printing unit 2. Then, the thermal transfer printing process is performed on the print setting area (print screen) on the print surface (front surface) of the paper S by the printing unit 2. The printing unit 2 in the present embodiment prints a color image on the printing surface of the paper S by sublimating each color ink of yellow, magenta, and cyan and overprinting ink or special color ink by the heat of the thermal head 21 (formation). To do). At this time, it is possible to perform gradation printing with the print density level changed by adjusting the temperature of the thermal head 21 in accordance with the print data input to the control unit. It is possible to print a quality color image.

  Next, the printer P according to the present embodiment sequentially transports the paper S that has undergone the thermal transfer printing process by the printing unit 2 to the discharge unit 3 side, and the cutting unit 5 performs the cutting process. Note that the printer P of the present embodiment continues to transport the paper S along the paper transport path L (paper path line) by the paper transport mechanism 4 except during the cutting process. 5 and the sensor 6 are positioned at the first retracted position or the second retracted position so that the smooth conveyance process of the sheet S is not hindered. In the cutting process in the printer P of the present embodiment, the rotary blade 51 located at either the first retracted position or the second retracted position according to the control of the control unit with respect to the paper S that has undergone the thermal transfer printing process. Is moved to the other retreat position, and the sheet S sandwiched between the rotary blade 51 and the fixed blade 52 is cut in the sheet width direction B. The printer P of the present embodiment can appropriately adjust the size of the print screen along the paper transport direction A by changing the number of divisions and the division pitch of the paper S by the cutting unit 5 according to the control of the control unit. it can.

  In particular, the printer P of the present embodiment has an upstream side in the paper transport direction A from a portion of the paper S that is sandwiched between the rotary blade 51 and the fixed blade 52 and cut (cut by the cutting unit 5). Since the portion is pressed or sandwiched in the sheet thickness direction by the tension applying unit 7 and tension is applied to the sheet S toward the cutting unit 5, the sheet S is shifted in the sheet width direction B during the cutting process, or the rotary blade 51. Therefore, the cutting process by the cutting unit 5 can be performed smoothly and appropriately, and the cut surface of the paper S can be made a straight line. In such a normal print process, use of unnecessary power can be avoided by stopping the measurement process by the sensor 6.

  Finally, the printer P of the present embodiment conveys the paper S (printed cut paper) cut to a predetermined size on the paper conveyance path L toward the discharge port 31 by the discharge roller 32 and the discharge pinch roller 33. Then, the sheets S (printed cut sheets) discharged from the discharge port 31 are stored in a stacked state on the discharge tray.

  Next, calibration processing in the printer P of the present embodiment will be described. In the printer P of the present embodiment that performs thermal transfer printing processing using an ink ribbon, the calibration processing is performed when the printer P is shipped, when the ink ribbon is loaded, and when the ink ribbon is replaced. For example, there are cases where the color characteristics of the print result that is actually output have changed due to environmental conditions or the passage of a certain period of use.

  The printer P according to the present embodiment feeds the paper S wound in a roll shape by the paper feed unit 1 based on a calibration command signal input by a user operation or an automatic operation performed at regular intervals. The sheet is sequentially passed between the side feed roller 41 and the first pinch roller 42 and between the feed roller 43 and the second pinch roller 44 and conveyed to the printing unit 2. ) Prints the calibration pattern CP.

  In the printer P of the present embodiment, each color ink of yellow, magenta, and cyan is printed in three regions partitioned in the paper width direction B, and the printing density of each patch CPa partitioned equally in the paper transport direction A is set. A calibration pattern CP of a color image that is gradually changed along the conveyance direction (for example, the density is gradually reduced toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction) is printed. In FIG. 3, the frame of each patch CPa is indicated by a solid line, but the print density in the patch CPa is not particularly shown.

  Here, if the patch CPa row aligned in the paper width direction B is a “patch row”, it can be said that the calibration pattern CP is a plurality of patch rows having different print densities formed in the paper transport direction A. Information regarding the number of patch rows and the dimensions of each patch row along the paper conveyance direction A (patch information) is input in advance to the control unit.

  The printer P according to the present embodiment transports the calibration pattern CP printed on the paper S to the discharge unit 3 side by the paper transport mechanism 4 to a position where the sensor 6 can measure the calibration pattern CP. In a state where the sheet conveyance process is stopped (see FIG. 3), the cutting process by the cutting unit 5 and the measurement process of the calibration pattern CP by the sensor 6 are performed simultaneously (cutting measurement process). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet S that has been subjected to the printing process of the calibration pattern CP by the printing unit 2 is transferred to the foremost line (the most downstream line in the sheet conveyance direction A) among the patch lines in the calibration pattern CP. The first patch row that is the patch row) is transported to a position that can be measured by the sensor 6 (patch row measurement position). Here, when the patch row to be measured is “Nth patch row”, in this embodiment, the “Nth patch row measurement position” and the Nth patch row can be measured by the sensor 6. The boundary between the N-th patch row and the “N−1” -th patch row or the vicinity of the boundary is set to a position that can be cut by the cutting unit 5. Note that the first patch row measurement position corresponds to the first paper row and the “1-1” row, that is, the “0th row” corresponding to the “calibration pattern CP printed portion of the paper conveyance direction. This is a position where the cutting portion 5 can cut the boundary with the “A downstream region” or the vicinity of the boundary. During the transport process of the sheet S, the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 of the cutting unit 5 are positioned at either the first retracted position or the second retracted position that does not interfere with the sheet S (for example, the first retracted position).

The printer P of the present embodiment conveys the sheet S to the first patch row measurement position, and stops the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 in one retreat position (for example, the first retreat position) at the position where the transport process is stopped. Position) to the other retracted position (second retracted position). In the present embodiment, the slider 54 that integrally holds the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 is moved in the paper width direction B along the rail 53, so that the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 are moved to the first retracted position and the second retracted position. It can be moved between the positions at the same time. Then, by simultaneously moving the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 from the first retracted position toward the second retracted position, the paper S is sandwiched between the rotary blade 51 and the fixed blade 52 as shown in FIG. The boundary between the first patch row and the region where the calibration pattern CP is not printed or the vicinity of the border can be cut, and the first patch row can be measured by the sensor 6. In particular, in the present embodiment, during the cutting measurement process, the tension is applied by pressing the sheet S in the thickness direction with a tension applying unit (the sheet pressing roller 71 and the sheet holding plate 72) disposed in the vicinity of the cutting unit 5. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the paper S from being pulled in the width direction B by the rotary blade 51 and causing wrinkles, and to cut the paper S with a cutting surface parallel to the paper width direction B. relative distance can be kept constant, high-precision measurement processing of measuring color surface is a surface which is printed calibration pattern CP of the sensor 6 and the paper S in the measuring process (during a scan in the sheet width direction B) The result can be obtained. Further, the distance between the light source 61 and the light receiving element 62 and the sheet S arranged in a box-shaped sensor holder 542 which was opened downward of the slider 54 (specifically measuring the color surface) can be set near Thus, the calibration pattern CP can be efficiently measured in a state where the incidence of disturbance light is prevented. Further, a surface treatment for preventing reflected light may be performed on the inward surface of the sensor holding portion 542 so that a highly accurate measurement processing result can be obtained.

  When the cutting measurement processing for the paper S is simultaneously completed by the above procedure, the continuity with the roll paper S which is in the area downstream of the cutting surface of the paper S in the transport direction and accommodated in the paper feeding unit 1 is obtained. The blocked strip-shaped portion (long in the paper width direction B) (hereinafter referred to as “paper piece S1”) is dropped by its own weight without being held by the discharge roller 32 and the discharge pinch roller 33. Therefore, the printer P of the present embodiment includes a sheet piece receiving unit 8 that receives a strip-shaped sheet piece S1 that is interrupted from continuity with the roll sheet S (see FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, the sheet piece receiving portion 8 is configured by using a receiving box 81 that can be slid and placed, for example, in the space below the cutting portion 5 after the internal space of the housing C. The receiving box 81 has at least a sheet piece receiving opening opened upward, and the sheet piece S1 that is separated from the roll paper S by the cutting unit 5 and falls by its own weight is placed in the receiving box 81 through the sheet piece receiving opening. Can be accommodated. The process of discarding the sheet pieces S1 collected in the receiving box 81 can be easily performed by putting a hand in the receiving box 81 taken out from the housing C or by turning the receiving box 81 upside down. As described above, the sheet piece S1 is stored in a place different from the receiving place (discharge tray) of the sheet S (printed cut sheet) subjected to the normal print process, so that the normal print process is performed on the discharge tray. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the applied paper S (printed cut paper) and a paper piece S1 that has no other use and is to be discarded are mixed, and the user does not need the paper piece S1. You can clearly indicate that it is a thing. In FIG. 1, the trajectory accommodated in the receiving box 81 while the sheet piece S <b> 1 falls is schematically shown by a one-dot chain line.

  The printer P of the present embodiment repeats the cutting measurement process according to the number of patch rows of the calibration pattern CP printed on the paper S. Specifically, the control unit controls the operation of each unit based on the operation flow shown in FIG. That is, the printer P according to the present embodiment first passes the sheet S to the patch row measurement position of the Nth row through the process of substituting 1 into “N” meaning the patch row to be measured (S1 in FIG. 5). It is transported and temporarily stopped (S2 in the figure). Next, the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 are moved from either one of the first retracted position and the second retracted position to the other retracted position (S3 in the figure). Thus, the N-th patch row can be measured by the sensor 6, and the vicinity of the boundary between the N-th patch row and the “N−1” -th patch row on the paper S is cut by the cutting unit 5. can do. Subsequently, whether or not the value previously assigned to N in the control unit, that is, the patch row to be measured exceeds the number of patch rows (total number of patch rows) of the calibration pattern CP input to the control unit in advance. (S4 in the figure). When the determination is “NO”, the value obtained by adding 1 to N at that time is set as a new “N” (S5 in the figure), and “N” controls S2 to S5 shown in the figure. When it is determined that “N” has exceeded the number of patch rows of the calibration pattern CP input to the control unit in S4 shown in FIG. (S4: YES in the figure), the cutting measurement process is terminated. In addition, in S3 shown in FIG. 3, when referring to the process of moving the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 from either the first retracted position or the second retracted position to the other retracted position, the odd-numbered patches The direction in which the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 move when measuring the rows (for example, the direction in which the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 move from the first retracted position to the second retracted position) and the rotary blade 51 and the sensor 6 when measuring even-numbered patch rows. Is opposite to the direction of movement (for example, the direction of movement from the second retracted position to the first retracted position).

  After passing through the above procedure, the printer P according to the present embodiment, based on the measured information of each patch array, in the control unit, the measured density of the calibration pattern CP and the reference density input in advance to the control unit. The difference is automatically calculated, the density of the printing unit 2 is calibrated based on the difference calculation result, and the calibration process is terminated.

  Note that when the measurement process for the last patch row (the most upstream patch row in the paper transport direction A) is completed, this last patch row is continuous with the roll paper S accommodated in the paper supply unit 1. ing. Therefore, when it is necessary to separate this patch row from the roll paper S, the paper S is conveyed by one row of the patch rows in the carrying direction, and the cutting unit 5 is moved to the one side of the paper S stopped at that position. Is moved from one retracted position to the other retracted position. As a result, the paper S can be cut at or near the boundary between the last patch row and the area where the calibration pattern CP is not printed, and the paper piece S1 on which the last patch row is printed is changed to the paper piece. It can be accommodated in the receiving part 8.

  As described above, the printer P according to the present embodiment measures the calibration pattern CP printed on the paper S by the printing unit 2 on the slider 54 that is a part of the cutting unit 5 that cuts the paper S in the paper width direction B. Since a possible sensor 6 is attached, and the measurement process of the calibration pattern CP by the sensor 6 and the cutting process by the cutting unit 5 are performed at the same time, the conventional printer P that performs the measurement process and the cutting process with a time difference. Compared to the above, the measurement process of the calibration pattern CP and the cutting process of the paper S can be simultaneously performed with one action, so that the working efficiency is improved and the sensor 6 is moved in the scanning direction which is the paper width direction B. There is no need to provide a mechanism for moving the rotary blade 51 in the paper width direction B, and the number of parts is reduced and the structure is simplified. It can be achieved to enable the.

  In particular, the printer P of the present embodiment realizes a configuration in which disturbance light from the discharge port 31 does not enter the sensor 6 (is difficult to enter) by disposing the sensor 6 at a position farther from the discharge port 31 than the rotary blade 51. doing. Furthermore, if the part measured by the sensor 6 during the cutting measurement process is a sheet piece S1 separated from the roll paper S by the cutting process of the cutting unit 5, the direction in which the separated sheet piece S1 is separated from the sensor 6 by its own weight. In order to prevent the sheet P1 from being moved to a predetermined position, a dedicated backup mechanism for keeping the separated sheet piece S1 in a predetermined position is required. However, in the printer P of the present embodiment, the sensor 6 is relative to the rotary blade 51. Since the part measured by the sensor 6 at the time of the cutting measurement process is set to be a part continuous with the roll paper S, the piece of paper separated by the cutting unit 5 A dedicated back-up member for preventing the situation where S1 falls due to its own weight is not necessary. Such a point also greatly contributes to the elimination of the number of parts of the printer P and the simplification of the structure.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. For example, two or more sensors can be attached to the moving body of the cutting portion (the slider 54 in the above-described embodiment). Moreover, you may apply the fixed blade which does not rotate as a blade which can move to a paper width direction among cutting parts.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cutting part is exemplified by a combination of a blade (rotating blade) and a fixed blade arranged in a posture extending in the paper width direction. The cutting part may be realized by a combination of a pair of blades sandwiched between them (whether or not they are rotary blades). In this case, the moving body that accompanies the sensor is a moving body that holds the rotating blade that is disposed on the printing surface (printing surface) side of the paper among the pair of rotating blades.

  Further, the tension applying unit can be configured by a pair of rollers or a pair of plates that can sandwich the sheet in the thickness direction, or can be configured by a roller or plate that presses the sheet only from one side in the thickness direction. Further, the tension applying unit is in contact with the paper in the entire width direction of the paper, or is in partial contact with a predetermined location (one location or multiple locations) in the width direction of the paper. It doesn't matter.

  The printer according to the present invention includes a thermal transfer printer that sublimates ink, a thermal printer that melts ink, or various printers other than a thermal printer, such as an ink jet printer, a laser printer, or the same printing. A rewritable printer or the like that can be repeatedly rewritten on an object may be used. In addition, a configuration in which a sensor is attached to a rotary blade, which is a technical feature of the present invention, can be applied to a printer capable of duplex printing.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper feed part 2 ... Printing part 3 ... Discharge part 31 ... Discharge port 5 ... Cutting part 51 ... Blade (rotating blade)
54 ... Moving object (slider)
6 ... Sensor 7 ... Tension applying part L ... Paper transport path S ... Paper

Claims (2)

A paper feeding unit that can store paper wound in a roll, a printing unit that performs printing processing on paper supplied from the paper feeding unit along the paper conveyance path, and paper that can be cut in the paper width direction A printer comprising a cutting part and a discharge part having a discharge port,
The cutting unit includes a blade that can move in the paper width direction, and a movable body that can move in the paper width direction while holding the blade.
The movable body is accompanied by a sensor capable of measuring a calibration pattern printed on paper by the printing unit,
It is configured to perform the cutting process by the cutting unit and the calibration pattern measurement process by the sensor at the same time ,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein the blade is disposed relatively downstream of the sensor in the paper conveyance direction . Tension that is arranged on the upstream side of the cutting unit with respect to the sheet conveyance direction and applies tension to the sheet toward the cutting unit by pressing or sandwiching the sheet in the thickness direction when performing at least the cutting process and the measurement process at the same time. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an attaching unit.

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