JP6817146B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and is suitable for application to, for example, an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus that prints by an electrophotographic method.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer method first transfers a toner image to an intermediate transfer belt that rotates at a constant speed, and then secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to paper. In an image forming apparatus using this intermediate transfer method, the distance from the start of image formation to the secondary transfer is long, a toner image is first formed on the intermediate transfer belt, and the timing of paper transfer is adjusted to perform the secondary transfer. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an image forming apparatus, the length of the mount along the transport direction at the tip of the paper is limited because the paper transport distance for accelerating and decelerating the paper transport in order to align the writing position of the image on the paper is limited. The tip mount length must be within the specified range.

JP-A-2010-277038

However, in an image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer method, when printing on die-cut label paper or the like with labels attached to roll-shaped mounts at predetermined intervals, if the tip mount length is longer than the specified range, predetermined printing is performed. There is a possibility that acceleration / deceleration of image writing alignment may be performed with the paper tip inserted in the secondary transfer roller that rotates at a high speed. In that case, since the tip of the paper is sandwiched between the secondary transfer rollers, it becomes difficult to adjust the speed of paper transport, and the image forming apparatus cannot print at the correct position or the paper jams. It may occur.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose an image forming apparatus capable of improving print quality.

In order to solve such a problem, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is formed by temporarily attaching a plurality of labels with a gap having a predetermined label-to-label mount length along the longitudinal direction of the long mount. An image in which a transport member that transports continuous paper in a transport path, a detection unit that is placed in the transport path and detects at least a mount or a label, and a detection unit that is arranged downstream of the detection unit in the transport direction and transfers an image to the label. The transfer member is controlled so that the timing of transferring the image from the transfer unit and the image transfer unit to the label coincides with the timing of the label reaching the image transfer unit, and the tip is the distance from the tip of the continuous paper to the leading label. If the mount length is within the specified range, the image is transferred from the image transfer section to the label, and if the tip mount length is outside the specified range, the label is transferred from the image transfer section by the amount corresponding to the length exceeding the specified range. A control unit that delays the timing of transferring the image is provided on the label .

This makes it possible to prevent the present invention from accelerating or decelerating the image writing position alignment with respect to the continuous paper with the paper tip inserted in the image transfer unit.

According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of preventing acceleration / deceleration of image writing alignment for continuous paper with the tip of the paper inserted in the image transfer unit and thus improving print quality can be provided. realizable.

It is a side view which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus. It is a side view which shows the paper standby position and the print standby position. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the image forming apparatus by 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the feeder part by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the paper transport processing procedure (1) by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the paper transport processing procedure (2) by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the tip mount length measurement processing procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the printing process procedure by 1st and 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the roll paper. It is a figure which shows the transport of the roll paper when the tip mount length is longer than a specified range. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the image forming apparatus by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the paper transport processing procedure (1) by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the paper transport processing procedure (2) by 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the image forming apparatus according to 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the paper transport processing procedure by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the printing process procedure by 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the adjustment of the exposure timing by the 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the transport speed of a roll paper.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[1. First Embodiment]
[1-1. Configuration of image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is composed of a feeder unit 2 and a printing unit 4. The feeder section 2 is provided on the upstream side of the roll paper P in the transport direction with respect to the printing section 4, and cuts the roll paper P and transports the roll paper P to the downstream side in the transport direction to the printing section 4. Feed paper. The printing unit 4 is provided on the downstream side of the feeder unit 2 in the transport direction of the roll paper P, and the roll paper P having the label LB attached to the long mount MT shown in FIG. 9A is electronic. Print in photographic format.

[1-2. Feeder section configuration]
The feeder unit 2 has a paper presence / absence sensor 50, a first transfer roller 51, a second transfer roller 55, a third transfer roller 57, a cutter unit 54, a transmission sensor 52, a reflection sensor 53, and a cutter out sensor 56, and is long. Roll paper P is built-in.

In the roll paper P, a long mount MT is wound in a roll shape, and as shown in FIG. 9A, the roll paper P is formed along the longitudinal direction of the mount MT on a temporary attachment surface which is one side of the mount MT. A plurality of rectangular labels LB are temporarily attached so as to be lined up at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction, which is the transport direction of the mount MT, with a gap GP having a predetermined length open. As shown in FIG. 9B, on the back surface of the label on the other side opposite to the temporary attachment surface of the mount MT, a label is attached to the tip of each of the plurality of labels LB temporarily attached to the temporary attachment surface in the transport direction. A black mark BM indicating the tip of the label, which is the tip of the LB in the transport direction, is pre-printed. As a result, the black mark BM indicates the position of the label LB temporarily attached to the temporary attachment surface on the surface opposite to the back surface of the label on which the black mark BM is printed. In the following, the length along the transport direction of the label LB is also referred to as the label length LL, and the distance along the transport direction between adjacent label LBs, that is, the length along the transport direction of the gap GP is also referred to as the inter-label mount length LG. , The length of the mount MT along the transport direction from the paper tip, which is the tip of the roll paper P in the transport direction, to the label LB at the beginning adjacent to the upstream side of the paper tip in the transport direction, that is, the tip portion of the mount MT in the transport direction. The length along the transport direction of the tip mount portion FMT, which is also called the tip mount length LTMT.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first transfer roller 51, the second transfer roller 55, and the third transfer roller 57 are provided in the transfer path 7 of the roll paper P, and are rotated by sandwiching the roll paper P. The roll paper P is conveyed to the printing unit 4. The paper presence / absence sensor 50 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the first transport roller 51, detects whether the roll paper P is set in the feeder portion 2, and sends the detection result to the MPU 74.

The transmission sensor 52 and the reflection sensor 53 are optical sensors of, for example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) provided on the upstream side of the cutter unit 54 in the transport direction, and can be used for label LB, mount MT, and black mark BM on roll paper P. Identify. The transmission sensor 52 irradiates the detection light from the light emitting portion arranged on the temporary contact surface side of the roll paper P toward a predetermined detection target point, and the detection light is emitted from the light receiving portion arranged on the back surface side of the label on the roll paper. By receiving the transmitted light transmitted through P, the label LB and the mount MT are detected based on the difference in the light transmittance between the label LB and the mount MT, and the detection result is sent to the MPU 74. The reflection sensor 53 irradiates the detection light from the light emitting portion arranged on the back surface side of the label on the roll paper P toward a predetermined detection target point, and the detection light is emitted from the light receiving portion arranged on the back surface side of the label on the roll paper. By receiving the reflected light reflected by P, the black mark BM is detected based on the difference in light reflectance between the mount MT and the black mark BM, and the detection result is described later in the MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 74 (FIG. 4). ).

The cutter unit 54 as a cutting portion is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the transmission sensor 52 and the reflection sensor 53, and under the control of the MPU 74, transports the gap GP in the roll paper P between adjacent labels LB. At the cut position PC, which is the central portion of the direction, that is, the position where only half of the inter-label mount length LG is conveyed from the rear end of the label LB in the conveying direction, along the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the roll paper P. And disconnect. As a result, the cutter unit 54 cuts the roll paper P into the paper size instructed by the printing unit 4, and divides the roll paper P into a predetermined number of label LBs and individual roll papers that are mount MTs corresponding to the label LBs. At this time, the MPU 74 controls the cutter unit 54 by setting the cutting position by adjusting the timing and the position based on the detection result of the transmission sensor 52 or the reflection sensor 53. That is, the MPU 74 uses the time when the paper tip is detected by the transmission sensor 52 or the reflection sensor 53 as a reference, and sets the timing at which the roll paper P is conveyed by a specified amount from that time to the cutter unit 54 as the timing for cutting the gap GP. Set. The divided individual roll paper is supplied to the printing unit 4 by the third transport roller 57. Hereinafter, the position where the cutter unit 54 cuts the roll paper P in the image forming apparatus 1 is also referred to as an in-device cut position PMC (FIG. 10).

The cutter-out sensor 56 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the third transport roller 57, detects whether or not the roll paper P has passed, and sends the detection result to the MPU 74.

As shown in FIG. 3, the feeder unit 2 is controlled by the feeder unit control unit 60 as a whole. The feeder unit control unit 60 is mainly composed of the MPU 74 shown in FIG. 4, and by reading a predetermined control program from the ROM (Read Only Memory) 75 and executing the control program, the initial unit 61, the feeder unit communication unit 62, It controls the command decoding unit 63, the paper transport control unit 64, the cutter control unit 65, and the sensor control unit 66. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 76 (FIG. 4) functions as a working area used when the control program operates. The EEPROM 77 (FIG. 4) stores paper transport parameters such as transport speed, paper length, inter-label mount length LG, paper set state, and cut position determination amount.

The initial unit 61 performs the initial operation of the entire feeder unit 2. The feeder unit communication unit 62 is connected to the printing unit 4 by a general serial communication UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter), and communicates with the printing unit 4. The command decoding unit 63 decodes various commands received from the printing unit 4 by the feeder unit communication unit 62 and sends them to the feeder unit control unit 60. The paper transport control unit 64 determines the tip mount length LTMT by the tip mount length measurement control unit 67. The cutter control unit 65 controls the cutter unit 54 (FIG. 4) to cut the roll paper P. The cutter motor 82 shown in FIG. 4 drives the cutter blade. The first transfer roller motor 78 drives the first transfer roller 51. The second transfer roller motor 79 drives the second transfer roller 55. The third transfer roller motor 80 drives the third transfer roller 57.

The sensor control unit 66 (FIG. 3) includes a paper presence / absence sensor control unit 68, a transmission sensor control unit 69, a reflection sensor control unit 70, and a cutter-out sensor control unit 71, which are activated at regular intervals to provide various sensor information. Is acquired and notified to the feeder unit control unit 60. The paper presence / absence sensor control unit 68 detects the paper presence / absence state based on the output value of the paper presence / absence sensor 50 in which the sensor output value connected to the IO port of the MPU 74 is binary. The cutter-out sensor control unit 71 detects the presence / absence of paper that has passed through the cutter unit 54 based on the output value of the cutter-out sensor 56, which has a binary sensor output value connected to the IO port of the MPU 74. Further, the MPU 74 detects the home position position of the cutter blade in the cutter unit 54 based on the output value of the home position sensor 81 in which the sensor output value connected to the IO port of the MPU 74 is a binary value. The transmission sensor control unit 69 detects the mount MT of the roll paper P and the label LB based on the output value of the transmission sensor 52 connected to the A / D converter of the MPU 74. The reflection sensor control unit 70 detects the tip of the label LB by detecting the black mark BM based on the output value of the reflection sensor 53 connected to the A / D converter of the MPU 74.

[1-3. Print section configuration]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the printing unit 4 is a so-called intermediate transfer type color electrophotographic printer, and is an image forming unit 36, an LED head 10, a primary transfer roller 12, an intermediate transfer belt 13, and an IN sensor 14. A fourth transport roller 15, a WR sensor 16, a secondary transfer roller 17, a fixing unit 18, and a discharge roller 19 are provided, and a desired color image is printed on the roll paper P by an electrophotographic method. Hereinafter, the first transfer roller 51, the second transfer roller 55, the third transfer roller 57, the fourth transfer roller 15, and the discharge roller 19 are collectively referred to as a transfer member 9.

The image forming unit 36 is arranged with four image forming units 11 that form each toner image as each of the cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) developer images. ..

An intermediate transfer belt 13 made of a wide endless belt is provided on the lower side of the image forming portion 36. The intermediate transfer belt 13 is stretched around a plurality of rollers such as the belt roller 20, and is in contact with the photoconductor drum of each image forming unit 11 in the upper portion thereof, and is secondarily transferred in the lower portion. The roller 17 is in contact with the transport path 7 of the roll paper P. As the belt roller 20 rotates, the intermediate transfer belt 13 rotates at a constant speed along the belt traveling direction, which is clockwise in the left side view.

Primary transfer rollers 12 are provided at four locations directly below each of the image forming units 11. That is, each image forming unit 11 sandwiches the upper portion of the intermediate transfer belt 13 with each primary transfer roller 12.

The fourth transport roller 15 and the discharge roller 19 are provided in the transport path 7 of the roll paper P, and by sandwiching and rotating the roll paper P, the roll paper P is transported to the downstream side in the transport direction. The IN sensor 14 as the second detection unit is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the fourth transport roller 15, detects whether or not the roll paper P has passed, and sends the detection result to the printing unit control unit 30. To do. The WR sensor 16 is provided near the upstream side of the secondary transfer roller 17 in the transport direction, and is, for example, an LED optical sensor. By detecting the label LB and the mount MT and sending the detection result to the printing unit control unit 30. , Prevent transport error.

When the image data is supplied, each image forming unit 11 uniformly charges the photoconductor drum with the charging roller, and then exposes the photoconductor drum with the LED light corresponding to the light emission data from the LED head 10. The printing unit 4 that forms a toner latent image in the exposed area, adheres toner to the toner latent image, and develops the toner image to form a toner image corresponding to the image data on the surface of the photoconductor drum. By running, the toner images of each color formed by each image forming unit 11 are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 13, and the transferred toner image is advanced to the secondary transfer roller 17. At this time, the printing unit 4 adjusts the timing and position based on the detection results of the IN sensor 14 and the WR sensor 16 to set the position where the image is formed on the label LB, whereby the head of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 13 is set. However, the fourth transport roller 15 is controlled so that the roll paper P passes at the timing overlapping with the print / write position, and the transport of the roll paper P is controlled. The secondary transfer roller 17 transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 13 to the roll paper P by pressing the roll paper P against the intermediate transfer belt 13.

The printing unit 4 conveys the roll paper P on which the toner image is transferred to the downstream side in the conveying direction, which is the rearward toward the fixing unit 18, and advances the roll paper P into the fixing unit 18. The fixing unit 18 fixes the toner to the roll paper P by applying heat and pressure to the roll paper P and the toner while rotating the heating rollers and the pressure rollers arranged above and below the transport path 7 in a predetermined direction. , This roll paper P is further moved backward. As a result, an image based on the print data is formed on the roll paper P. Subsequently, the printing unit 4 conveys the roll paper P on which the toner image is fixed by the ejection roller 19 and ejects it to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1.

In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 cuts the gap GP in the cutter unit 54 at an appropriate position on the roll paper P based on the detection results of the transmission sensor 52 or the reflection sensor 53, and the detection results of the IN sensor 14 and the WR sensor 16. An image is formed on the label LB in the printing unit 4 at an appropriate position on the roll paper P based on the above.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printing unit 4 is controlled and controlled by the printing unit control unit 30 as a whole. The printing unit control unit 30 is mainly composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and by reading a predetermined program from a storage unit (not shown) and executing the program, the data receiving unit 31, the printing unit communication unit 32, It controls the fixing control unit 33, the paper transport control unit 34, the sensor control unit 35, and the image forming unit 36.

The data receiving unit 31 receives print data from the host device 6. The printing unit communication unit 32 is connected to the feeder unit 2 by a general serial communication UART, and communicates with the feeder unit 2. The fixing control unit 33 fixes the toner image on the label LB while melting the toner with heat. The paper transport control unit 34 transports the roll paper P conveyed from the feeder unit 2 by the fourth transfer roller 15 and accelerates / decelerates the transfer speed in the image writing position alignment control.

The sensor control unit 35 has an IN sensor control unit 37 and a WR sensor control unit 38. The IN sensor control unit 37 detects the presence or absence of the passed roll paper P based on the detection result of the IN sensor 14. The WR sensor control unit 38 detects the mount MT and the label LB of the roll paper P based on the detection result of the WR sensor 16.

The image forming unit 36 has an exposure unit 40 and a transfer control unit 41. The exposure unit 40 exposes the photoconductor drum in the image forming unit 11 to generate a latent toner image. The transfer control unit 41 performs transfer control for primary transfer of the toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 13.

[1-4. motion]
In such a configuration, when the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on, the printing unit 4 prepares for a printing start request from the higher-level apparatus 6 by executing an initial operation. On the other hand, when the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on, the feeder unit 2 executes the initial operation by the initial unit 61. Specifically, the feeder unit 2 confirms that the roll paper P is set, and then confirms that there is no roll paper P on the transport path 7, and the first transport roller motor 78 and the second transport roller motor The 79 and the third transfer roller motor 80 are initialized, and the paper tip positions are aligned.

Here, the paper standby position PS1 and the print standby position PS2 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The paper standby position PS1 shown in FIG. 2 (A) is a state in which the roll paper P is not set (no paper) because the paper tip of the roll paper P is started from a fixed position. This is the position where the paper tips are aligned when the paper presence / absence sensor 50 detects the set state (with paper) or when the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on. The print standby position PS2 shown in FIG. 2B is a position where the paper tips of the subsequent roll paper P are aligned because the paper tip of the subsequent roll paper P is a fixed position when the roll paper P is continuously printed while being cut. Is. The state in which the leading edge of the paper is located at either the paper standby position PS1 or the print standby position PS2 is also referred to as a paper set state.

The feeder unit control unit 60 receives a paper feed request command from the printing unit 4 side at regular intervals by the feeder unit communication unit 62, sequentially analyzes the command decoding unit 63, and feeds paper speed and paper length (paper feed speed). Information such as label cut length LC) and inter-label mount length LG is acquired.

As shown in FIG. 9, the label cut length LC is a length along the transport direction from the tip of the paper to the cutting of the roll paper P, but it is not limited to one label LB and is the minimum ejectable paper. It is longer than the long LEJ. As described above, the roll paper P is cut at the cut position PC at half of the inter-label mount length LG between the labels LB adjacent to each other in the transport direction on the downstream side in the transport direction by the label cut length LC from the paper tip. Label. Further, the minimum ejectable paper length LEJ is the longest distance between the rollers inside the image forming apparatus 1 because the paper length required along the transport direction is equal to or larger than the distance between the adjacent transport rollers in order to transport the roll paper P. The paper length calculated from the distance.

[1-5. Paper transport processing]
The specific processing procedure of the paper transport process by the feeder unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6. The feeder unit control unit 60 starts the paper transfer processing procedure RT1 by reading and executing the paper transfer program from the ROM 75, and proceeds to step SP1.

In step SP1, the feeder unit control unit 60 waits until a print command is received from the print unit 4 by the feeder unit communication unit 62, and when the print command is received, the process proceeds to step SP2. In step SP2, the feeder unit control unit 60 has transfer speed information indicating the transfer speed of the roll paper P, paper length information indicating the paper length (label cut length LC), and inter-label mount length information indicating the inter-label mount length LG. Is acquired from the print command and stored in the RAM 76, and the process proceeds to step SP3.

In step SP3, the feeder unit control unit 60 stands by until the paper is set, and when the paper is set, the process proceeds to step SP4. In step SP4, the feeder unit control unit 60 rotates the first transfer roller 51, the second transfer roller 55, and the third transfer roller 57 so as to have the transfer speed, starts the transfer of the roll paper P, and moves to step SP5.

In step SP5, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether the paper tip has started to be conveyed from the position of the paper standby position PS1 or has started to be conveyed from the position of the print standby position PS2, that is, the paper set state is the paper standby position PS1. It is determined whether or not it was. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the paper tip has started to be conveyed from the paper standby position PS1. At this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP6 and measures the tip mount length shown in FIG. The processing procedure SRT1 is executed by the tip mount length measurement control unit 67 to determine the tip mount length LTMT, and the process proceeds to step SP7. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP5, this means that the paper tip has started to be conveyed from the print standby position PS2, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 skips steps SP6 and SP7 and proceeds to step SP8. Move.

In step SP7, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether or not the tip mount length LTMT determined in step SP6 is within the specified range SR shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the defined range SR is a transfer position from the pre-transfer paper detection position P1 which is the position where the WR sensor 16 detects the paper tip to the position where the secondary transfer roller 17 sandwiches the roll paper P. It corresponds to the distance to P2. Therefore, when the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR, it means that the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the distance from the pre-transfer paper detection position P1 to the transfer position P2. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this indicates that the printer is in a printable state, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP8. In step SP8, the feeder unit control unit 60 notifies the printing unit 4 of the printable state by the feeder unit communication unit 62, and proceeds to step SP9. This printable state means that the tip mount length LTMT is within the specified range SR and the roll paper P can be printed in the normal state by the printing unit 4. In step SP9, the feeder unit control unit 60 sets the label cut length LC to the cut position determination amount in order to cut the roll paper P with the label cut length LC acquired from the printing unit 4 in step SP2, and in step SP12 (FIG. Move on to 6). For example, when the feeder unit control unit 60 detects the paper tip (that is, the mount MT of the paper tip) by the transmission sensor 52, the feeder unit 60 cuts the amount of the label cut length LC from the paper tip based on the position of the transmission sensor 52. Set to the position judgment amount.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP7, this indicates that the mount length is out of the specified range, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP10. In step SP10, the feeder unit control unit 60 sets a state outside the specified range of mount length, which indicates that the tip mount length LTMT is out of the specified range SR, and proceeds to step SP11. In step SP11, the feeder unit control unit 60 sets the minimum ejectable paper length LEJ to the cut position determination amount in order to cut the roll paper P after conveying the minimum ejectable paper length LEJ, and in step SP12 (FIG. 6). Move to.

In step SP12, the feeder unit control unit 60 conveys the cut position determination amount set in step SP9 or SP11, and then the tip of the next paper, which is the subsequent roll paper P located upstream of the cut position PC in the conveying direction. The cutter control unit 65 controls so that the mount length of the paper is cut at a position within the specified range SR, and after the paper cut is completed, the process proceeds to step SP13.

For example, when the tip mount length LTMT is out of the specified range SR, the cutter control unit 65 detects the paper tip (that is, the mount MT at the paper tip) with the transmission sensor 52 as shown in FIG. 10 (A) ( As shown in the paper tip detection state ST1) and FIG. 10B, after the roll paper P is conveyed by the minimum ejectable paper length LEJ, which is the cut position determination amount, to the minimum ejectable paper length completion state ST2, FIG. As shown in (C), the roll paper P is further conveyed until the mount detection state ST3 in which the mount MT is detected by the transmission sensor 52 is reached. After that, the cutter control unit 65 determines the amount of transport until the cut position PC closest to the upstream side in the transport direction from the mount MT detected by the transmission sensor 52 in the mount detection state ST3 reaches the cut position PMC in the apparatus. After a certain mount detection state, the roll paper P is further conveyed by the transfer amount C1, the cut position transfer complete state ST4 shown in FIG. 10 (D) is set, and then the roll paper P is cut. Although the calculation of the cut position PC has been described here with reference to the transmission sensor 52, when the black mark BM is detected by the reflection sensor 53, the feeder unit control unit 60 calculates the cut position PC with reference to the reflection sensor 53. ..

In step SP13, the feeder unit control unit 60 conveys the next sheet, waits until the tip of the next sheet is conveyed to the print standby position PS2, and moves to step SP14 when the tip of the next sheet is conveyed to the print standby position PS2. In step SP14, the feeder unit control unit 60 stops the rotation of the first transfer roller 51 and the second transfer roller 55 so that the tip of the next sheet stops at the print standby position PS2, and stops the transfer of the roll paper P. Move to.

In step SP15, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether or not a state outside the mount length specified range is set. If a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that the state is currently after the cutting operation within the specified range of the mount length, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP16. In step SP16, the feeder unit control unit 60 checks whether or not there is a next page print request, which is a print request for the next sheet, and whether or not there is a transfer stop request, and whether or not there is a next page print request and there is a transfer stop request. To judge. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the feed operation is terminated, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP17. In step SP17, the feeder unit control unit 60 stops the rotation of the third transfer roller 57, moves to step SP21, and ends the paper transfer processing procedure RT1. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP16, this indicates that there is a request for the next page. At this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 skips step SP17, moves to step SP21, and temporarily ends the paper transport processing procedure RT1. , The paper transport processing procedure RT1 for the next page is executed again.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP15, this indicates that the state is currently after the cutting operation due to the outside of the mount length specified range, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP18. In step SP18, the feeder unit control unit 60 clears the state outside the range specified by the mount length, and proceeds to step SP19. In step SP19, the feeder unit control unit 60 uses the third transport roller 57 to feed the paper piece, which is the roll paper P from the paper tip to the cut portion, from the feeder unit 2 after the cutting operation is performed outside the specified range of the mount length. By transporting the paper to the printing unit 4, the cut pieces of paper having a mount length outside the specified range SR are ejected, and the process proceeds to step SP20. In step SP20, the feeder unit control unit 60 rotates the first transfer roller 51 and the second transfer roller 55 so as to have the transfer speed indicated by the transfer speed information, and restarts the transfer of the roll paper P to specify the mount length. It is possible to print on the next paper after cutting with the tip mount length LTMT within the range, return to step SP8 (FIG. 5), and repeat the subsequent processing.

[1-6. Tip mount length measurement process]
Next, a specific processing procedure of the tip mount length measurement process by the feeder portion 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. When a positive result is obtained in step SP5 of the paper transport processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 5), the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP6, starts the tip mount length measurement processing procedure SRT1, and moves to step SP31. In step SP31, the feeder unit control unit 60 prepares for mount length measurement by clearing the mount length counter, and proceeds to step SP32. In step SP32, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether or not the label LB is detected by the transmission sensor 52 or the reflection sensor 53 by the transmission sensor control unit 69 or the reflection sensor control unit 70. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the label LB has not been detected, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP33.

In step SP33, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether or not the mount MT is detected by the transmission sensor 52 by the transmission sensor control unit 69. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the mount MT has not been detected. At this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 returns to step SP32 and determines again whether or not the label LB has been detected. On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP33, this indicates that the mount MT is being detected, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP34.

In step SP34, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether or not the mount has been detected. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the mount detected state has not yet been set, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP35. In step SP35, the feeder unit control unit 60 sets the mount detected state and moves to step SP36. In step SP36, the feeder unit control unit 60 starts the mount length count, returns to step SP32, and determines again whether or not the label LB is detected. From the detection of the paper tip to the detection of the label LB, the feeder unit control unit 60 obtains a positive result in step SP34 via steps SP32 and SP33, returns to step SP32, and repeats steps SP32, SP33, and SP34. ..

When the tip of the label LB in the transport direction is detected, the feeder unit control unit 60 obtains a positive result in step SP32 and moves to step SP37. In step SP37, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether or not the mount has been detected. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the mount MT has already been detected, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 skips steps SP38 and SP39 and proceeds to step SP40.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP37, this means that the mount MT has not been detected yet, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP38. In step SP38, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether or not the mount MT is present at the paper tip portion. Specifically, when the feeder unit control unit 60 detects the label LB with the transmission sensor 52, the amount conveyed from the paper standby position PS1 matches the distance from the paper standby position PS1 to the detection position by the transmission sensor 52. If it is determined that the mount MT does not exist at the paper tip, but the amount of paper conveyed from the paper standby position PS1 is larger than the distance from the paper standby position PS1 to the detection position by the transmission sensor 52, the mount is at the paper tip. It is determined that MT exists. Further, when the feeder unit control unit 60 detects the black mark BM by the reflection sensor 53, if the amount of paper conveyed from the paper standby position PS1 matches the distance from the paper standby position PS1 to the detection position by the reflection sensor 53, While it is determined that the mount MT does not exist at the paper tip, if the amount of paper conveyed from the paper standby position PS1 is larger than the distance from the paper standby position PS1 to the detection position by the reflection sensor 53, the mount MT is at the paper tip. Judge that exists.

If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the mount MT is present at the tip of the paper, and at this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP39. On the other hand, when a negative result is obtained in step SP38, for example, as shown in FIG. 9C, the tip of the label is flush with the tip of the paper and the tip mount portion FMT does not exist, so that the mount is at the tip of the paper. It indicates that MT does not exist and the leading edge of the paper starts from the label LB. At this time, the feeder unit control unit 60 skips step SP39 and moves to step SP40. As described above, when the tip mount portion FMT does not exist at the tip portion of the paper, for example, the tip mount length LTMT becomes shorter than the specified range SR. Further, as shown in FIG. 9D, the tip mount length LTMT may be longer than the specified range SR.

In step SP39, the feeder unit control unit 60 calculates the mount length from the transport amount from the paper standby position PS1 and the distance from the paper standby position PS1 to the detection position by the transmission sensor 52 or the reflection sensor 53, and sets the mount length counter. Set and move to step SP40. Specifically, when the feeder unit control unit 60 detects the label LB with the transmission sensor 52, the feeder unit 60 calculates a value obtained by subtracting the distance from the paper standby position PS1 to the detection position by the transmission sensor 52 from the amount of paper conveyed from the paper standby position PS1. , Tip mount length LTMT. On the other hand, when the reflection sensor 53 detects the black mark BM, the feeder unit control unit 60 calculates a value obtained by subtracting the distance from the paper standby position PS1 to the detection position by the reflection sensor 53 from the amount conveyed from the paper standby position PS1. The tip mount length is LTMT.

In step SP40, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines the tip mount length LTMT by storing the value of the mount length counter in the RAM 76 as the tip mount length LTMT, moves to step SP41, and ends the tip mount length measurement processing procedure SRT1. The process proceeds to step SP7 of the paper transport processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 5).

[1-7. Printing process]
Next, a specific processing procedure of the printing process by the printing unit 4 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The print unit control unit 30 starts the print processing procedure RT2 by reading a print program from a storage unit (not shown) and executing the print program, and proceeds to step SP61. In step SP61, the printing unit control unit 30 waits until the data receiving unit 31 receives the printing request from the host device 6, and when the printing request is received, the process proceeds to step SP62. In step SP62, the printing unit control unit 30 starts image formation control when it receives image data from the host device 6, analyzes the image data, develops it into bitmap data of each color, and proceeds to step SP63. In step SP63, the print unit control unit 30 transmits a print command to the feeder unit 2 by the print unit communication unit 32, and proceeds to step SP64. The feeder unit control unit 60 receives this print command from the print unit 4 in step SP1 (FIG. 5).

In step SP64, the printing unit control unit 30 waits until the exposure timing is reached, and when the exposure timing is reached, the process proceeds to step SP65. In step SP65, the printing unit control unit 30 exposes the photoconductor drum in the image forming unit 11 with the exposure unit 40 to generate a toner latent image, attaches toner to the toner latent image, develops the toner image, and performs intermediate transfer. The toner image is first transferred onto the belt 13 by the transfer control unit 41, and the process proceeds to step SP66.

In step SP66, the printing unit control unit 30 waits until the paper tip reaches the IN sensor 14, and when the IN sensor control unit 37 detects that the paper tip has reached the IN sensor 14, the process proceeds to step SP67. In step SP67, the printing unit control unit 30 controls the deceleration timing of paper transport by the paper transport control unit 34, decelerates when the deceleration timing is reached as shown in FIG. 18A, and proceeds to step SP68.

In step SP68, the printing unit control unit 30 waits until the tip of the mount, which is the tip of the mount MT in the transport direction, reaches the WR sensor 16, and when the WR sensor control unit 38 detects that the tip of the mount has reached the WR sensor 16. Move to step SP69. In step SP69, the printing unit control unit 30 waits until the label tip reaches the WR sensor 16, and when the WR sensor control unit 38 detects that the label tip has reached the WR sensor 16, the process proceeds to step SP70.

In step SP70, the printing unit control unit 30 controls the reacceleration timing of the paper transport by the paper transport control unit 34, reaccelerates when the reacceleration timing is reached as shown in FIG. 18A, and proceeds to step SP71. In step SP71, the printing unit control unit 30 performs secondary transfer to the label LB with the secondary transfer roller 17, fixes the toner to the label LB with the fixing unit 18, and transfers the label LB to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 with the discharge roller 19. The print processing procedure RT2 is completed by moving to step SP72.

[1-8. Effect, etc.]
In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 9D, when the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR and not within the specified range SR, the image forming apparatus 1 sets the roll paper P to the minimum ejectable paper length LEJ or more. With the mount MT first detected after transporting, the mount MT is cut so that the mount length at the tip of the next sheet is within the specified range SR, and the sheet is ejected to the label LB attached to the sheet. Did not print. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 corrects the roll paper P by transporting the roll paper P and then cutting the roll paper P when the tip mount length LTMT is out of the specified range SR. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 can prevent the roll paper P from accelerating or decelerating the image writing position alignment with the paper tip inserted in the secondary transfer roller 17. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can prevent printing from being unable to be performed at a correct position and paper jams from occurring, and can improve reliability.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 performs an acceleration / deceleration operation for image writing alignment on the next paper whose tip mount length LTMT is within the specified range SR on the upstream side in the transport direction from the ejected paper piece. I tried to print with. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can prevent the image writing position from shifting, so that the print quality can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9C, when the tip mount length LTMT is shorter than the specified range SR, the label tip is detected immediately after the mount tip is detected by the transmission sensor 52 or almost at the same time when the mount tip is detected. It will be. In such a case, the state changes rapidly from the state in which the roll paper P is not detected to the state in which the label LB is detected, so that the transmission sensor 52 may not be able to detect the tip of the label normally. In that case, the image forming apparatus 1 cannot detect the correct label tip position, and the image writing position is deviated by, for example, a misalignment amount G, resulting in a decrease in printing accuracy and fixability as shown in FIG. 9C. Printing on a bad mount MT causes problems such as stains due to scattering of unfixed toner.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the tip mount length LTMT is shorter than the specified range SR and not within the specified range SR, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the mount MT that is first detected after the roll paper P is conveyed to the minimum ejectable paper length LEJ or more. By cutting the mount MT so that the mount length at the tip of the next paper is within the specified range SR and ejecting the paper piece, printing is not performed on the label LB attached to the paper piece, and the tip mount is prevented. The long LTMT prints on the next sheet within the specified range SR. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can prevent the printing accuracy from being lowered and the generation of stains due to scattering of unfixed toner due to printing on the mount MT.

According to the above configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 temporarily attaches a plurality of labels LB with a gap GP having a predetermined inter-label mount length LG along the transport direction which is the longitudinal direction of the long mount MT. From the transport member 9 that transports the roll paper P as continuous paper formed by the above in the transport path 7, the WR sensor 16 that is arranged in the transport path 7 and detects at least the mount MT or the label LB, and the WR sensor 16. The secondary transfer roller 17 that transfers the image to the label LB and the timing of transferring the image from the secondary transfer roller 17 to the label LB are arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the label LB reaches the secondary transfer roller 17. When the tip mount length LTMT, which is the distance from the tip of the roll paper P to the top label LB, is within the specified range SR, the transport member 9 is controlled so as to match the timing of the roll paper P, from the secondary transfer roller 17 to the label LB. When the image is transferred and the tip mount length LTMT is out of the specified range SR, a printing unit control unit 30 or a feeder unit control unit 60 for performing a predetermined correction is provided. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can prevent the roll paper P from accelerating or decelerating the image writing position alignment with the paper tip inserted in the secondary transfer roller 17.

[2. Second Embodiment]
[2-1. Configuration of image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 11 in which the members corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, the image forming apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment has a feeder unit as compared with the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Although the feeder portion 102 is provided in place of 2, the other parts are similarly configured. The feeder unit 102 according to the second embodiment is provided with the paper transfer control unit 164 instead of the paper transfer control unit 64 as compared with the feeder unit 2 according to the first embodiment, but other than that, the feeder unit 102 is provided. It is configured in the same way. The paper transport control unit 164 according to the second embodiment has an additional operation selection unit 84 when the mount length is out of the specified range as compared with the paper transport control unit 64 according to the first embodiment, but other than that. Is configured in the same way.

The feeder unit control unit 60 automatically cuts the roll paper P in the feeder unit 102 like the image forming apparatus 1 when the mount length is out of the specified range, or the user manually cuts the roll paper P. The operation information when the roll paper P is out of the specified range of the mount length, which is the information in which the user selects either the manual cut to cut the roll paper P, is acquired from the printing unit 4 via the feeder unit communication unit 62, and the mount length is specified. It is stored in the operation selection unit 84 when out of range.

[2-2. Paper transport processing]
A specific processing procedure of the paper transport processing by the image forming apparatus 101 will be described with reference to the paper transport processing procedure RT101 of FIGS. 12 and 13 in which the same reference numerals are given to the flows corresponding to those of FIGS. 5 and 6. Compared with the paper transport processing procedure RT1, the paper transport processing procedure RT101 is provided with step SP102 instead of step SP2, and steps SP81, SP82 and SP83 are added. In step SP1, the feeder unit control unit 60 performs the same processing as the paper transport processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 5).

In step SP102, the feeder unit control unit 60 includes information indicating whether to perform automatic cutting or manual cutting when the mount length is out of the specified range, in addition to the transport speed information, the paper length information, and the inter-label mount length information. The operation information when a certain mount length is out of the specified range is acquired from the print command, stored in the RAM 76, and the process proceeds to step SP3. The feeder unit control unit 60 performs the same processing as the paper transport processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 5) in steps SP3 to SP7 and step SP10.

In step SP81, since the tip mount length LTMT is out of the specified range SR, the feeder unit control unit 60 determines whether to perform automatic cutting or manual cutting based on the operation information when the mount length is out of the specified range. The time operation selection unit 84 determines. When automatic cutting is selected, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP11 and performs the same processing as the paper transport processing procedure RT1. On the other hand, when manual cutting is selected, the feeder unit control unit 60 moves to step SP82.

In step SP82, the feeder unit control unit 60 reversely rotates the first transport roller 51 and the second transport roller 55, and performs a paper retracting operation for winding the roll paper P until the paper presence / absence sensor 50 detects that there is no paper. When the paper evacuation operation is completed, the process proceeds to step SP83.

In step SP83, the feeder unit control unit 60 notifies the user of a paper reset request prompting the user to cut the roll paper P and then set it again on a panel or the like (not shown), and the user notifies the user of the roll paper P. Waits until is reset, and then moves to step SP6. The user removes the roll paper P from the feeder section 102, cuts the roll paper P appropriately with a cutter, scissors, or the like, and then sets the roll paper P in the feeder section 102 again.

[2-3. Effect, etc.]
In the above configuration, the image forming apparatus 101 makes it possible to select manual cutting when the mount length is out of the specified range. As a result, when manual cutting is selected, the image forming apparatus 101 has a tip mount length LTMT longer than the specified range SR or a label cut length LC of a plurality of label LBs as compared with the automatic cutting. It is possible to reduce the amount of waste paper when straddling.

Further, the image forming apparatus 101 allows the user to select either automatic cutting or manual cutting. Here, as compared with the manual cut, the automatic cut is a roll paper P that is discarded without being printed on the label LB. Although there are many waste papers, the user himself removes the roll paper P from the feeder unit 102 and cuts the roll paper P by himself / herself. Since it is not necessary, the user has no trouble. On the other hand, although the manual cutting has less waste paper as compared with the automatic cutting, the user needs to remove the roll paper P from the feeder unit 102 and cut the paper by himself / herself, which requires a lot of time and effort for the user. As a result, the image forming apparatus 101 can reflect the user's intention such as wanting to reduce waste paper or to eliminate the user's trouble.

Others The image forming apparatus 101 has almost the same effect as that of the image forming apparatus 1.

[3. Third Embodiment]
[3-1. Configuration of image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 14 in which the members corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, the image forming apparatus 201 according to the third embodiment has a feeder unit as compared with the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Although the feeder unit 202 is provided in place of 2 and the printing unit 204 is provided in place of the printing unit 4, the other parts are similarly configured. The feeder unit 202 according to the third embodiment is provided with the feeder unit control unit 260 instead of the feeder unit control unit 60 as compared with the feeder unit 2 according to the first embodiment, but other than that. It is configured in the same way. In the printing unit 204 according to the third embodiment, as compared with the printing unit 4 according to the first embodiment, the printing unit control unit 230 replaces the printing unit control unit 30 and the image forming unit 36 replaces the image. Although the forming portion 136 is provided, other parts are similarly configured.

The image forming unit 136 according to the third embodiment has an additional tip mount length determining unit 39 as compared with the image forming unit 36 according to the first embodiment. The tip mount length determination unit 39 determines from the tip mount length LTMT received from the feeder unit 202 whether or not the tip mount portion FMT is longer than the specified range SR.

[3-2. Paper transport processing]
A specific processing procedure for the paper transport processing by the feeder unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 201 will be described with reference to the paper transport processing procedure RT201 of FIG. 15 in which the same reference numerals are given to the flows corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 6. In the paper transport processing procedure RT201, steps SP7, SP8, SP10, SP11, SP15, SP18, SP19 and SP20 are omitted as compared with the paper transport processing procedure RT1, and step SP208 is provided in place of step SP8. There is. The feeder unit control unit 260 performs the same processing as the paper transport processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 5) in steps SP1 to SP6.

In step SP208, the feeder unit control unit 260 notifies the printing unit 204 of the tip mount length information indicating the tip mount length LTMT determined in step SP6 by the feeder unit communication unit 62, and proceeds to step SP9. The feeder unit control unit 260 performs the same processing as the paper transport processing procedure RT1 (FIGS. 5 and 6) in steps SP9, SP12 to SP14, SP16 and SP17.

[3-3. Printing process]
A specific processing procedure of the printing process by the printing unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 201 will be described with reference to the printing processing procedure RT202 of FIG. 16 in which the same reference numerals are given to the flows corresponding to those of FIG. In the print processing procedure RT202, steps SP91, SP92, SP93 and SP94 are added as compared with the print processing procedure RT2. The printing unit control unit 230 performs the same processing as the printing processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 8) in steps SP61 to SP63. The feeder unit control unit 260 receives the print command from the print unit 204 in step SP1 (FIG. 15), and notifies the print unit 204 of the tip mount length information in step SP208 described above.

In step SP91, the printing unit control unit 230 waits until the tip mount length information is received from the feeder unit 202 by the printing unit communication unit 32, and when the tip mount length information is received, the process proceeds to step SP92. In step SP92, the printing unit control unit 230 determines whether or not the tip mount length LTMT of the roll paper P to be printed, which is indicated by the tip mount length information, is longer than the specified range SR by the tip mount length determination unit 39. .. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR, and at this time, the printing unit control unit 230 moves to step SP93. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP92, this indicates that the tip mount length LTMT is within the specified range SR, and at this time, the printing unit control unit 230 skips step SP93 and moves to step SP64.

In step SP93, the printing unit control unit 230 has the output timing of the toner latent image TI when the tip mount length LTMT is within the specified range SR, as shown in FIG. 17 (A). In addition, the delay time is calculated from the length exceeding the specified range SR and the transport speed so that the output of the toner latent image is delayed by the excess length LE in which the tip mount length LTMT exceeds the specified range SR, and the exposure timing is set. Add and move to step SP64. The printing unit control unit 230 performs the same processing as the printing processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 8) in steps SP64 to SP68.

In step SP94, the printing unit control unit 230 determines whether or not the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR by the tip mount length determining unit 39. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the tip mount length LTMT is within the specified range SR, and at this time, the printing unit control unit 230 moves to step SP69. In step SP69, the printing unit control unit 230 waits until the label tip reaches the WR sensor 16 as in the printing processing procedure RT2, and when the WR sensor control unit 38 detects that the label tip has reached the WR sensor 16, the step Move to SP70. On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP94, this means that the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR, and at this time, the printing unit control unit 230 skips step SP69 and moves to step SP70. As a result, the printing unit control unit 230 re-accelerates the paper transport without confirming that the label tip reaches the WR sensor 16. As a result, when the tip mount length LTMT is within the specified range SR, the reacceleration timing becomes the label tip reference as shown in FIG. 18 (A). On the other hand, when the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR, the re-acceleration timing becomes the mount tip reference as shown in FIG. 18 (B). The printing unit control unit 230 performs the same processing as the printing processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 8) in steps SP70 to SP72.

[3-4. Effect, etc.]
Here, as in the image forming apparatus 1, when the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR and the paper piece is ejected and printed on the next paper, the tip of the label LB that actually prints on the next paper Since the image alignment is performed based on the above, the printing accuracy is high, but the waste paper is generated.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 201, when the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR, the timing of transferring the toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 13 is delayed by the length exceeding the specified range SR, and the image alignment is performed. The paper re-acceleration timing in control is switched from the label tip reference to the mount tip reference. That is, the image forming apparatus 201 corrects the control by changing the exposure timing and the paper reacceleration timing when the tip mount length LTMT is out of the specified range. Therefore, since the image forming apparatus 201 performs image alignment based on the tip of the mount MT instead of the label LB on which printing is actually performed, the time from the detection of the mount MT to the transfer of the toner image to the label LB is performed. The time from the detection of the label LB to the transfer of the toner image to the label LB is longer than that of the image forming apparatus 1, but the occurrence of waste paper can be suppressed. As a result, the image forming apparatus 201 can prevent the image writing position from shifting while suppressing the occurrence of waste paper.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 201, when the tip mount length LTMT is longer than the specified range SR, the paper reacceleration timing in the image alignment control is shown in FIG. 18 (B) from the label tip reference shown in FIG. 18 (A). Since the switching to the mount tip reference is performed, the time from the detection of the roll paper P by the WR sensor 16 until the tip of the roll paper P reaches the secondary transfer roller 17 can be lengthened. As a result, the image forming apparatus 201 can prevent a state in which the speed of paper transport is adjusted in a state where the tip of the mount has reached the secondary transfer roller 17.

As described above, although the printing accuracy of the image forming apparatus 201 tends to be lower than that of the image forming apparatus 1, it is possible to prevent the image writing position shift while suppressing the occurrence of waste paper.

The other image forming apparatus 201 has almost the same effect as that of the image forming apparatus 1.

[4. Other embodiments]
In the second embodiment described above, the user is made to select in advance whether to perform automatic cutting or manual cutting, and the operation information when the mount length is out of the specified range is stored in the operation selection unit 84 when the mount length is out of the specified range. The case of doing so was described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the user may be allowed to select whether to perform automatic cutting or manual cutting when it is determined that the mount length is out of the specified range.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 1, 101 and 201, which is an intermediate transfer method in which the toner image primary transferred from the image forming unit 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 13 is secondarily transferred to the roll paper P. Was described when applying. The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to a direct transfer type image forming apparatus that directly transfers a toner image from an image forming unit to a roll paper P at an image transfer unit. However, in the case of the intermediate transfer method, the effect of the present invention is remarkable because the distance from the position where the toner image is first transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 13 to the position where the toner image is secondarily transferred to the roll paper P is long and the position adjustment is difficult. Play on.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to each of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments. That is, the present invention has an applicable scope to an embodiment in which each of the above-described embodiments and a part or all of the above-mentioned other embodiments are arbitrarily combined, and an embodiment in which a part is extracted. Is.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transport member 9 as a transport member, the WR sensor 16 as a detection unit, the secondary transfer roller 17 as an image transfer unit, and the printing unit control unit 30 or 230 as a control unit. A case where the image forming apparatus 1, 101 or 201 as an image forming apparatus is configured by the feeder unit control unit 60 or 260 and the feeder unit control unit 60 or 260 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image forming apparatus may be configured by a transport member having various other configurations, a detection unit, an image transfer unit, and a control unit.

The present invention can also be used in various devices for printing on labels by cutting and transporting a long medium in which labels are temporarily attached to a long mount at predetermined intervals.

1, 101, 201 ... Image forming device, 2, 102, 202 ... Feeder section, 4, 204 ... Printing section, 6 ... Upper device, 7 ... Transport path, 9 ... Transport member, 10 ... LED head, 11 ... image forming unit, 12 ... primary transfer roller, 13 ... intermediate transfer belt, 14 ... IN sensor, 15 ... 4th transfer roller, 16 ... WR sensor, 17 ... secondary transfer Roller, 18 ... Fixing unit, 19 ... Discharge roller, 20 ... Belt roller, 30, 230 ... Printing unit control unit, 31 ... Data receiving unit, 32 ... Printing unit communication unit, 33 ... Fixing control Unit, 34 ... Paper transport control unit, 35 ... Sensor control unit, 36 ... Image forming unit, 37 ... IN sensor control unit, 38 ... WR sensor control unit, 39 ... Tip mount length determination unit , 40 ... exposure unit, 41 ... transfer control unit, 50 ... paper presence / absence sensor, 51 ... first transport roller, 52 ... transmission sensor, 53 ... reflection sensor, 54 ... cutter unit, 55 ... 2nd transfer roller, 56 ... cutter out sensor, 57 ... 3rd transfer roller, 60, 260 ... feeder section control unit, 61 ... initial section, 62 ... feeder section communication section, 63 ... command decoding section , 64, 164 ... Paper transport control unit, 65 ... Cutter control unit, 66 ... Sensor control unit, 67 ... Tip mount length measurement control unit, 68 ... Paper presence / absence sensor control unit, 69 ... Transmission sensor control Unit, 70 ... Reflection sensor control unit, 71 ... Cutter-out sensor control unit, 74 ... MPU, 75 ... ROM, 76 ... RAM, 77 ... EEPROM, 78 ... First transport roller motor, 79 ... ... 2nd transport roller motor, 80 ... 3rd transport roller motor, 81 ... Home position sensor, 82 ... Cutter motor, 84 ... Mount length out of specified range Operation selection unit, P ... Roll paper, MT ... ... mount, LB ... label, FMT ... tip mount, GP ... gap, BM ... black mark, LG ... inter-label mount length, LC ... label cut length, LTMT ... tip mount length, LEJ ... ... Minimum ejectable paper length, PC ... Cut position, LL ... Label length, SR ... Specified range, PMC ... In-device cut position, ST1 ... Paper tip detection status, ST2 ... Minimum ejectable paper length completed Status, ST3 …… Mount detection state, ST4 …… Cut position Transport completed state, C1 …… Paper transfer amount after mount detection state, PS1 …… Paper standby position, PS2 …… Print standby position, P1 …… Pre-transfer paper detection position , P2 …… Transfer position.

Claims (7)

A transport member that transports continuous paper formed by temporarily attaching a plurality of labels with a gap having a predetermined label-to-label mount length along the longitudinal direction of the long mount, and a transport member that transports the continuous paper in the transport path.
A detection unit that is arranged in the transport path and detects at least the mount or the label.
An image transfer unit that is arranged downstream of the detection unit in the transport direction and transfers an image to the label, and an image transfer unit.
The transport member is controlled so that the timing at which the image is transferred from the image transfer unit to the label coincides with the timing at which the label reaches the image transfer unit, and the distance from the tip of the continuous paper to the label at the beginning. When the tip mount length is within the specified range, the image is transferred from the image transfer unit to the label, and when the tip mount length is outside the specified range, the amount corresponding to the length exceeding the specified range. An image forming apparatus having a control unit for delaying the timing of transferring an image from the image transfer unit to the label. It is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the detection unit, and further has at least a second detection unit for detecting the mount.
The image transfer unit transfers the image transferred from the predetermined image forming unit to the intermediate transfer belt to the label.
When the tip mount length is within the specified range, the control unit determines the position of the image transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the label with reference to the timing at which the tip of the mount is detected by the second detection unit. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the transport speed of the continuous paper is decelerated in order to match the above, and then the transport speed of the continuous paper is re-accelerated based on the timing when the tip of the label is detected by the detection unit. apparatus. When the tip mount length is outside the specified range, the control unit delays the timing of transferring an image from the image forming unit to the intermediate transfer belt by the amount corresponding to the length exceeding the specified range, and at the same time, After decelerating the transport speed of the continuous paper in order to align the position of the image transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the label with reference to the timing when the tip of the mount is detected by the second detection unit, the detection unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transport speed of the continuous paper is re-accelerated based on the timing at which the tip of the backing paper is detected. A transport member that transports continuous paper formed by temporarily attaching a plurality of labels with a gap having a predetermined label-to-label mount length along the longitudinal direction of the long mount, and a transport member that transports the continuous paper in the transport path.
A detection unit that is arranged in the transport path and detects at least the mount or the label.
An image transfer unit that is arranged downstream of the detection unit in the transport direction and transfers an image to the label, and an image transfer unit.
A cutting portion that is arranged upstream of the image transfer portion in the transport direction and cuts the gap in the mount, and a cutting portion that cuts the gap.
The transport member is controlled so that the timing of transferring an image from the image transfer unit to the label coincides with the timing of the label reaching the image transfer unit, and the distance from the tip of the continuous paper to the top of the label. If the tip mount length is it is within the prescribed range, to transfer an image to the label from the image transfer unit, when the tip mount length is out of the specified range, in terms of the continuous paper by a predetermined distance transport A control unit that is cut by the cutting unit and discharged to the outside,
A selection unit for selecting whether to cut the continuous paper by the cutting portion when the tip mount length is longer than the specified range, or to stop the transport of the continuous paper and have the user cut the continuous paper. Image forming apparatus to have. A transport member that transports continuous paper formed by temporarily attaching a plurality of labels with a gap having a predetermined label-to-label mount length along the longitudinal direction of the long mount, and a transport member that transports the continuous paper in the transport path.
A detection unit that is arranged in the transport path and detects at least the mount or the label.
An image transfer unit that is arranged downstream of the detection unit in the transport direction and transfers an image to the label, and an image transfer unit.
The transport member is controlled so that the timing at which the image is transferred from the image transfer unit to the label coincides with the timing at which the label reaches the image transfer unit, and the distance from the tip of the continuous paper to the label at the beginning. When the tip mount length is within the specified range, the image is transferred from the image transfer section to the label, and the tip mount length is longer than the distance from the detection section to the image transfer section. An image forming apparatus having a control unit that delays the timing of transferring an image from the image transfer unit to the label by a portion corresponding to a length exceeding the specified range . A transport member that transports continuous paper formed by temporarily attaching a plurality of labels with a gap having a predetermined label-to-label mount length along the longitudinal direction of the long mount, and a transport member that transports the continuous paper in the transport path.
A detection unit that is arranged in the transport path and detects at least the mount or the label.
An image transfer unit that is arranged downstream of the detection unit in the transport direction and transfers an image to the label, and an image transfer unit.
A cutting portion that is arranged upstream of the image transfer portion in the transport direction and cuts the gap in the mount, and a cutting portion that cuts the gap.
The transport member is controlled so that the timing of transferring an image from the image transfer unit to the label coincides with the timing of the label reaching the image transfer unit, and the distance from the tip of the continuous paper to the top of the label. If the tip mount length is it is within the prescribed range, to transfer an image to the label from the image transfer unit, when the tip mount length is out of the specified range, in terms of the continuous paper by a predetermined distance transport An image forming apparatus having a control unit for cutting by the cutting unit and discharging the continuous paper to the outside without transferring the image to the label by the image transfer unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4, 5, and 6, wherein the image transfer unit transfers an image transferred from a predetermined image forming unit to an intermediate transfer belt to the label. ..

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