JP6840549B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printer that performs partial cutting.

Conventionally, there has been a printer in which recording is performed on a long recording medium, a part of the recorded portion is cut in a state of being connected to an unrecorded recording medium, and the printer is issued as a receipt or the like. In such a printer, the issued receipt can be collected by pulling it downstream in the transport direction of the recording medium and separating it from the unrecorded recording medium.

In the case of a printer that uses a stepping motor to convey a recording medium, the receipt is pulled during collection, so that a force is applied to the unrecorded recording medium in the direction of pulling out the recording medium, and the input pulse and stepping to the stepping motor. There may be a phase shift that is out of sync with the rotation of the motor. If the phase shift occurs, the characters will be partially crushed in the next recording operation, and the recording quality will deteriorate.

As a related technology, conventionally, in a printer that transports an object to be transported such as a recording medium by using a stepping motor, a technology that suppresses a phase shift by exciting the stepping motor other than when transporting the recording medium has been used. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3 below).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-000827 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-172951 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-208269

However, although the above-mentioned conventional technique can prevent the recording quality from deteriorating by exciting the stepping motor other than when the recording medium is conveyed, the power consumption becomes large and the stepping motor generates heat. There was a problem that it would end up. Further, when the receipt is not always collected, there is a problem that unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary heat generation are caused by the excitation of the stepping motor assuming that the receipt is pulled.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of preventing deterioration of recording quality and suppressing unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary heat generation in order to solve the above-mentioned problems caused by the prior art.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the printer according to the present invention rotates a transport member that can rotate around an axis parallel to the main scanning direction by a driving force of a stepping motor in the sub-scanning direction. The transport means for transporting the recording medium along the line, the recording means for performing the recording operation on the recording medium conveyed by the transport means, and the cutting position on the downstream side of the recording position by the recording means in the sub-scanning direction. A cutting means that performs a cutting operation that cuts the recording medium with a part of the recording medium connected, and a detection means that detects the presence or absence of the recording medium at a detection position downstream of the cutting position in the sub-scanning direction. After the cutting operation by the cutting means, when the detecting means detects the recording medium, the stepping motor is energized with the rotation of the stepping motor stopped, and the detecting means detects the recording medium. It is characterized in that it is provided with a control means for stopping energization of the stepping motor when it is not detected.

Further, in the above invention, the printer according to the present invention has a current level lower than the current level of the stepping motor required for transporting the recording medium in a state where the control means has stopped the rotation of the stepping motor. It is characterized by being energized.

Further, in the above-mentioned invention, the printer according to the present invention transfers the stepping motor to the stepping motor regardless of the detection result by the detection means after the control means completes the cutting operation by the cutting means and a predetermined time elapses. It is characterized by stopping the energization.

Further, in the printer according to the present invention, in the above invention, the recording medium at the detection position is based on the output of the jam sensor in which the detection means detects the transport state of the recording medium by the transport means at the detection position. It is characterized by detecting the presence or absence of.

According to the printer according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent deterioration of recording quality and suppress unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary heat generation.

It is explanatory drawing (the 1) which shows the appearance of the printer of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing (the 2) which shows the appearance of the printer of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the printer of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hardware structure of the printer of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the printer of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing procedure of the printer of embodiment which concerns on this invention.

A preferred embodiment of the printer according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Printer configuration)
First, the appearance of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 and 2 are explanatory views showing the appearance of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the printer of the embodiment according to the present invention is viewed from an oblique direction, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the printer of the embodiment according to the present invention is viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. ing.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 101. The housing 101 is provided with an discharge port 102 for discharging the recorded recording medium recorded by the printer 100. On the side of the housing 101 opposite to the discharge port 102, an insertion port (see reference numeral 301 in FIG. 3) for inserting a recording medium into the printer 100 is provided.

The housing 101 is composed of a casing 103 and an upper lid member 104. The upper lid member 104 is provided on the upper part of the housing 101, and the casing 103 is provided on the lower side of the housing 101. The upper lid member 104 is rotatably connected to the casing 103. The upper lid member 104 can be rotated by operating the lever 105.

(Internal configuration of printer 100)
Next, the internal configuration of the printer 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. In FIG. 3, a transport path 304 is provided inside the housing 101 from the insertion port 301 to the discharge port 102 via the print portion 302 and the cutter portion 303. The transport path 304 extends in the housing 101 along the sub-scanning direction.

The printing unit 302 performs a recording operation for recording characters and the like on a recording medium inserted into the transport path 304 from the insertion port 301. The print unit 302 is not limited to recording characters, and can record characters other than characters, such as symbols, predetermined logo marks, and other images. The recording method in the print unit 302 may be, for example, a thermal method.

The print unit 302 for recording the thermal system includes a thermal system print head (thermal head) 302a. Specifically, the thermal head 302a includes a plurality of heat generating elements (heating resistors) arranged in a line in the width direction of the recording medium, a driver IC for driving the heat generating resistors, and the like.

The driver IC selectively energizes the electrode wiring corresponding to each heat generating element in the thermal head 302a from a power source (not shown) to generate heat of the heat generating element corresponding to the energized electrode wiring. By transferring the heat generated in the heat generating element to the heat-sensitive color-developing recording medium, the thermal head 302a can print characters, symbols, various images, and the like on the heat-sensitive color-developing surface of the recording medium.

As in this embodiment, in the printer 100 provided with the printing unit 302 that performs thermal printing, a recording medium having thermal color development is used. The description of the thermal head 302a and the control method of the thermal head 302a will be omitted because they can be easily realized by using various known techniques.

Further, the printed portion 302 includes a platen 302b arranged to face the thermal head 302a with the transport path 304 in between. The thermal head 302a is urged toward the platen 302b by an urging member such as a spring. The platen 302b supports the recording medium to which the printing pressure is applied by the thermal head 302a during the recording operation from the side opposite to the thermal head 302a with the transport path 304 in between.

The platen 302b has a function of transporting a recording medium. The platen 302b is rotatably provided about an axis extending in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the recording medium drawn out to the transport path 304). The platen 302b is connected to the stepping motor via a gear or the like (not shown). As a result, when the platen 302b rotates in response to the driving force transmitted from the stepping motor, a frictional force is generated between the recording medium sandwiched between the platen 302b and the thermal head 302a and the platen 302b, and the friction is generated. The recording medium can be conveyed by force. In this embodiment, the platen 302b can realize the transport member.

The cutter section 303 is provided on the transport path 304 on the downstream side of the print section 302 in the transport direction of the recording medium. The cutter portion 303 includes a fixed blade member 303a whose position is fixed, and a movable blade member 303b provided at a position facing the fixed blade member 303a with a transport path 304 in between. Further, the cutter portion 303 includes a drive source such as a cutter motor (see reference numeral 405 in FIG. 4) and a power transmission mechanism (not shown) that transmits the driving force generated by the cutter motor to the movable blade member 303b. ) Etc. are included. The cutter motor can be realized by, for example, a DC motor or the like.

The movable blade member 303b is provided so as to be movable in the direction of contacting and separating from the fixed blade member 303a, and is separated from the fixed blade member 303a during non-operation such as when waiting for cutting of the recording medium. Positioned. The movable blade member 303b reciprocates so as to cross the transport path 304 by the driving force generated by the cutter motor. The cutter portion 303 can cut the recording medium by reciprocating the movable blade member 303b as described above in a state where the recording medium is positioned between the fixed blade member 303a and the movable blade member 303b. it can.

The fixed blade member 303a includes a blade having a curved shape that protrudes toward the transport path 304 side toward the central portion in the main scanning direction. The movable blade member 303b includes a blade having a substantially V shape recessed toward the apex. The blade of the movable blade member 303b is curved so as to be separated from the transport path 304 toward the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade portion.

As a result, the cutter portion 303 prevents the movable blade member 303b so that a part of the blade of the movable blade member 303b does not come into contact with a part of the blade of the fixed blade member 303a (more specifically, the central portion in the sub-scanning direction). By reciprocating the above, it is possible to perform so-called partial cutting, in which a part of the recording medium is cut while being connected. By performing the partial cut, the cut recording medium is not separated into individual pieces, but is connected to the roll-shaped recording medium held by the printer 100. By performing the partial cut, it is possible to prevent the cut recording medium from being scattered around the printer 100.

The partial cut is not limited to cutting the recording medium with the central portion in the width direction of the recording medium connected, but also cuts the recording medium with one end portion in the width direction of the recording medium connected. You may. Further, the cutter portion 303 completely cuts the recording medium by reciprocating the movable blade member 303b so that the entire blade of the movable blade member 303b comes into contact with the entire blade of the fixed blade member 303a, that is, so-called full cut. You can also do.

A jam sensor 305 is provided at a detection position on the downstream side of the cutting position by the cutter portion 303 in the sub-scanning direction. The output of the jam sensor 305 changes depending on the presence or absence of the recording medium at the detection position. The jam sensor 305 can be realized, for example, by a reflective optical sensor. The reflection type optical sensor includes a light emitting element that emits light with respect to the detection position, and a light receiving element that receives the light emitted by the light emitting element and reflected by the recording medium.

The jam sensor 305 is not limited to that realized by the reflective optical sensor. The jam sensor 305 may be realized by, for example, a transmissive optical sensor. The transmissive optical sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged so as to face each other with the transport path 304 in between. The transmissive optical sensor is provided so that the light emitted by the light emitting element passes through the detection position. Further, the jam sensor 305 may be realized by, for example, a microswitch (not shown) that opens and closes the contacts of the electric circuit according to the operation of the actuator and outputs an ON signal or an OFF signal.

(Hardware configuration of printer 100)
Next, the hardware configuration of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention includes a CPU 401, a memory 402, a communication I / F (interface) 403, a thermal head 302a, a stepping motor 404, a cutter motor 405, and a jam. It is equipped with a sensor 305. Each part 302a, 305, 401-405 included in the printer 100 is connected by a bus 400.

The CPU 401 controls the entire printer 100. The memory 402 can be realized by a recording medium such as a ROM or RAM, and is used as a work area when storing a program such as a boot program or when the CPU 401 develops image data related to a recording operation.

The communication I / F 403 is connected to an external device (not shown). The communication I / F 403 controls the interface between the network and the inside of the printer 100, and controls the input / output of data in the printer 100. The external device generates various instruction information for the printer 100, and outputs the generated instruction information to the printer 100. Specifically, the external device can be realized by, for example, a refueling device at a gas station.

The thermal head 302a is driven and controlled by the CPU 401, and selectively energizes the electrode wiring corresponding to each of the plurality of heat generating elements via the driver IC, and selectively heats each heat generating element. By transferring the heat generated in the heat generating element of the thermal head 302a to the heat-sensitive color-developing recording medium, characters, symbols, various images, and the like can be recorded on the heat-sensitive color-developing surface of the recording medium.

The stepping motor 404 and the cutter motor 405 convert electrical energy into mechanical energy to generate rotational driving force. The stepping motor 404 includes a stator (stator) and a rotor (rotor). The stator includes a coil and is excited by energizing the coil. The rotor is attracted to the stator by the magnetic force generated by the stator when it is excited. As a result, the stepping motor 404 rotates by a predetermined step angle.

The stepping motor 404 and the cutter motor 405 are each driven and controlled by the CPU 401, and the rotation direction is switched according to the excitation sequence and the direction of the applied current via the driver IC. That is, the rotation directions of the stepping motor 404 and the cutter motor 405 can be arbitrarily switched by controlling the excitation sequence and the direction of the current applied to the stepping motor 404 and the cutter motor 405 by the CPU 401, respectively.

The jam sensor 305 inputs to the CPU 401 an output that changes depending on the presence or absence of the recording medium at the detection position. The CPU 401 determines whether or not the recording medium is normally conveyed in the transfer path 304 based on the number of drive steps of the stepping motor 404 and the output of the jam sensor 305. Then, when the CPU 401 determines that the recording medium is not normally transported in the transport path 304, that is, a jam has occurred, the CPU 401 notifies an external device or the like (not shown) of the abnormality.

Further, the CPU 401 determines the presence / absence of the recording medium at the detection position based on the output of the jam sensor 305. In addition to the output of the jam sensor 305, the CPU 401 can determine the presence or absence of the recording medium after the partial cut at the detection position based on the driving condition of the cutter motor 405.

(Functional configuration of printer 100)
Next, the functional configuration of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, each function of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be realized by a transport unit 501, a recording unit 502, a cutting unit 503, a detection unit 504, and a control unit 505. The transport unit 501, the recording unit 502, the cutting unit 503, the detection unit 504, and the control unit 505 that realize each function of the printer 100 can be realized by each unit included in the printer 100.

The transport unit 501 transports the recording medium along the sub-scanning direction by rotating the platen 302b by the driving force of the stepping motor 404. Specifically, the transport unit 501 controls the stepping motor 404 by the CPU 401, and rotates the platen 302b by driving the stepping motor 404 to rotate, thereby transporting the recording medium along the sub-scanning direction.

The recording unit 502 performs a recording operation on the recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit 501. Specifically, the recording unit 502 drives and controls the thermal head 302a in the printing unit 302 by the CPU 401, selectively energizes the electrode wiring corresponding to each of the plurality of heat generating elements included in the thermal head 302a, and each of them. The recording operation is performed by selectively heating the heat generating element.

The cutting unit 503 performs a cutting operation of cutting the recording medium in a state where a part of the recording medium is connected at a cutting position on the downstream side of the recording position by the recording unit 502 in the sub-scanning direction. Specifically, the cutting portion 503 drives and controls the cutter motor 405 in the cutter portion 303 by the CPU 401 so that a part of the blade of the movable blade member 303b does not come into contact with a part of the blade of the fixed blade member 303a. A cutting operation (partial cut) is performed by reciprocating the movable blade member 303b.

The detection unit 504 detects the presence or absence of the recording medium at the detection position. Specifically, the detection unit 504 detects the presence or absence of the recording medium at the detection position based on the output from the jam sensor 305 in the CPU 401. When the jam sensor 305 is realized by a reflective optical sensor, it is determined that the recording medium exists at the detection position when the reflected light from the recording medium is input to the light receiving element based on the output from the jam sensor 305. ..

When the detection unit 504 detects the recording medium after the cutting operation by the cutting unit 503, the control unit 505 energizes the stepping motor 404 with the rotation of the stepping motor 404 stopped. Further, when the detection unit 504 does not detect the recording medium, the control unit 505 stops the energization of the stepping motor 404.

That is, the control unit 505 energizes the stepping motor 404 with the rotation of the stepping motor 404 stopped while the detection unit 504 detects the recording medium after the cutting operation by the cutting unit 503. Then, when the detection unit 504 stops detecting the recording medium, the control unit 505 stops energizing the stepping motor 404.

When the printer 100 is installed outdoors for the purpose of issuing a receipt recording the amount of refueling and its consideration based on a recording instruction from the refueling device, for example, the issued recording medium, the receipt, is affected by wind or the like. You need to avoid being skipped. Further, it is desirable that the printer 100 installed for such a purpose can easily collect the receipt.

In the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the control unit 505 maintains the stepping motor 404 in an excited state so that the rotor of the stepping motor 404 and the electromagnet formed by the coil of the stator are attracted to each other. be able to. As a result, the rotor can be prevented from rotating.

By maintaining the stepping motor 404 in the excited state in this way, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the recording medium with a large force as compared with the case where the stepping motor 404 is in the non-excited state. As a result, even when the issued receipt (the recording medium in which the recording operation is performed and the recording medium is cut from the unrecorded recording medium by the partial cut) is collected and pulled to the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction. It is possible to prevent step-out, so-called phase shift, in which the synchronization between the input pulse with respect to the stepping motor 404 and the rotation of the stepping motor 404 is lost.

If a phase shift occurs, the position where recording starts in the next recording operation will shift from the original position when the phase shift does not occur, and the characters will be partially crushed, resulting in poor recording quality. It will drop. On the other hand, in the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the occurrence of phase shift can be prevented by the above control by the control unit 505, so that the recording operation on the recording medium is started in the subsequent recording operation. It is possible to prevent deterioration of recording quality due to the disordered position.

Further, the control unit 505 puts the stepping motor 404 in a state of being excited only while the detection unit 504 is detecting the recording medium after the cutting operation by the cutting unit 503, and after the recording medium is collected, the stepping motor 404 is transferred to the stepping motor 404. Since the energization is stopped, unnecessary power consumption due to energization in a situation where it is not necessary to excite the stepping motor 404 can be suppressed, and unnecessary heat generation of the stepping motor 404 due to the energization can be suppressed.

Further, the control unit 505 is energized at a current level lower than the current level of the stepping motor 404 required for transporting the recording medium in a state where the rotation of the stepping motor 404 is stopped. As a result, the stepping motor 404 is in a weakly excited state, the occurrence of phase shift can be prevented, and the electric power required for energizing the stepping motor 404 other than during the recording operation can be suppressed.

Further, after the cutting operation by the cutting unit 503 is completed and a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 505 stops energizing the stepping motor 404 regardless of the detection result by the detecting unit 504. That is, even in a situation where the receipt (recording operation is performed and the recording medium cut by the partial cut from the unrecorded recording medium) is not collected, the control unit 505 completes the cutting operation by the cutting unit 503. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the energization of the stepping motor 404 is stopped.

For example, when the printer 100 is installed outdoors for the purpose of issuing a receipt recording the amount of refueling and its consideration based on a recording instruction from the refueling device as described above, it is a recorded recording medium that has been issued. It is necessary to prevent the receipt from being blown by the wind. Further, while it is desirable that the printer 100 installed for such a purpose can easily collect the receipt, it is assumed that the issued receipt is left uncollected.

In the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, after the cutting operation by the cutting unit 503 is completed and a predetermined time elapses, the energization of the stepping motor 404 is stopped regardless of the detection result by the detection unit 504. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the receipt from being blown by wind or the like regardless of whether or not the receipt is collected, and it is possible to easily collect the receipt.

(Example of processing procedure of printer 100)
Next, an example of the processing procedure of the printer 100 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, it waits until the recording instruction transmitted from the external device is received (step S601: No).

When the recording instruction transmitted from the external device is received in step S601 (step S601: Yes), the recording operation is performed based on the recording instruction (step S602). Then, the cutting operation is performed after the recording operation (step S603), and the recording medium is cut with a part of the recording medium on which the recording operation has been performed connected to the unrecorded recording medium.

Next, the stepping motor 404 is energized (step S604) to excite the stepping motor 404. In step S604, the current level is lower than the current level of the stepping motor 404 required for transporting the recording medium, and the stepping motor 404 is weakly excited. In addition, counting of the elapsed time from the start of weak excitation is started.

Then, based on the output of the jam sensor 305, it is determined whether or not there is a recording medium at the detection position after the cutting operation (step S605). If it is determined in step S605 that there is no recording medium at the detection position (step S605: No), the energization of the stepping motor 404 is stopped (step S606), and a series of processes is completed.

On the other hand, in step S605, when it is determined that the recording medium is at the detection position (step S605: Yes), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of weak excitation (step S607). In step S607, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of weak excitation, based on the count value of the elapsed time since the start of weak excitation.

Then, in step S607, when it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the start of weak excitation (step S607: No), the process returns to step S605 to determine whether or not there is a recording medium at the detection position. On the other hand, in step S607, when it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of weak excitation (step S607: Yes), the process proceeds to step S606 to stop energization of the stepping motor 404 (step S606). Ends a series of processes.

As described above, the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention conveys the recording medium by rotating the platen 302b that realizes the conveying member by the driving force of the stepping motor 404, and transfers the recording medium with respect to the conveyed recording medium. The recording operation is performed, and the recording medium is partially cut at the cutting position on the downstream side of the recording position in the sub-scanning direction.

Then, the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention has a cutting operation by the cutter unit 303 based on the output of the jam sensor 305 that detects the presence or absence of the recording medium at the detection position downstream of the cutting position in the sub-scanning direction. When the recording medium is still detected, the stepping motor 404 is energized with the rotation of the stepping motor 404 stopped. On the other hand, when the recording medium is not detected after the cutting operation by the cutter unit 303, the energization of the stepping motor 404 is stopped.

According to the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the recording operation and the cutting operation are performed by energizing the stepping motor 404 in a state where the rotation of the stepping motor 404 is stopped after the recording operation and the cutting operation are performed. The input pulse and stepping to the stepping motor 404 even when the recording medium, which is partially connected to the unrecorded recording medium after being performed, is pulled to the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction when it is collected. It is possible to prevent step-out, so-called phase shift, in which synchronization with the rotation of the motor 404 is lost. As a result, it is possible to prevent deterioration of recording quality due to disturbance of the start position of the recording operation with respect to the recording medium in the subsequent recording operation.

Further, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, when the partially cut recording medium is recovered, the power consumption is reduced while suppressing the phase shift by stopping the energization of the stepping motor 404. It can be suppressed. As a result, unnecessary power consumption due to energization for suppressing phase shift assuming that the recording medium is recovered can be suppressed, and unnecessary heat generation of the stepping motor 404 due to the energization can be suppressed.

As described above, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the recording quality is deteriorated even in the printer 100 that performs the cutting operation of cutting the recording medium with a part connected to the unrecorded recording medium. It is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary heat generation.

Further, the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention is energized at a current level lower than the current level of the stepping motor 404 required for transporting the recording medium in a state where the rotation of the stepping motor 404 is stopped. It is characterized by.

According to the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the generation of phase shift is prevented by energizing at a current level lower than the current level of the stepping motor 404 required for transporting the recording medium, so that the phase shift is prevented except during the recording operation. Compared with the case where the current level equivalent to the current level required for the rotation of the stepping motor 404 is energized, the electric power required for energizing the stepping motor 404 other than during the recording operation can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to prevent deterioration of recording quality and effectively suppress unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary heat generation.

Further, the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention stops energizing the stepping motor 404 regardless of the output of the jam sensor 305 after a predetermined time has elapsed after the cutting operation by the cutter unit 303 is completed. It is characterized by having done it.

According to the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the stepping motor 404 is energized with the rotation of the stepping motor 404 stopped only for a predetermined time from the completion of the cutting operation, so that the stepping motor 404 is unrecorded. It is possible to suppress power consumption when it is assumed that the recording medium in a state where a part of the recording medium is connected is not collected.

As a result, it is possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption due to energization for suppressing phase shift assuming that the recording medium that is not recovered is to be recovered, and to suppress unnecessary heat generation of the stepping motor 404 due to the energization.

Further, the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention is characterized in that the presence or absence of the recording medium at the detection position is detected based on the output of the jam sensor 305 that detects the transport state of the recording medium at the detection position. ..

According to the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the presence / absence of the recording medium at the detection position is detected by detecting the presence / absence of the recording medium at the detection position based on the output of the jam sensor 305 normally provided in the printer 100. It is possible to prevent deterioration of recording quality and suppress unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary heat generation without providing a dedicated sensor for the purpose.

As a result, according to the printer 100 of the embodiment according to the present invention, the number of parts constituting the printer 100 is suppressed, the number of manufacturing steps and the manufacturing cost of the printer 100 are suppressed, and deterioration of recording quality is prevented. Unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary heat generation can be suppressed.

As described above, the printer according to the present invention is useful for a printer that performs partial cutting, and is particularly suitable for a printer having a cutter near the cutting position of the recording medium.

100 Printer 302 Print part 302a Thermal head 302b Platen 303 Cutter part 303a Fixed blade member 303b Movable blade member 305 Jam sensor 404 Stepping motor 501 Transport part 502 Recording part 503 Cutting part 504 Detection part 505 Control part

Claims (4)

A transport means that transports a recording medium along a sub-scanning direction by rotating a transport member that can rotate around an axis parallel to the main scanning direction by a driving force of a stepping motor.
A recording means that performs a recording operation on a recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, and
A cutting means that performs a cutting operation for cutting the recording medium in a state where a part of the recording medium is connected at a cutting position on the downstream side of the recording position by the recording means in the sub-scanning direction.
A detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the recording medium at a detection position downstream of the cutting position in the sub-scanning direction.
After the cutting operation by the cutting means, when the detecting means detects the recording medium, the stepping motor is energized with the rotation of the stepping motor stopped, and the detecting means detects the recording medium. When not, the control means to stop the energization of the stepping motor and
A printer characterized by being equipped with. The control means has a current level lower than the current level of the stepping motor required for transporting the recording medium in a state where the rotation of the stepping motor is stopped while the detection means is detecting the recording medium. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is energized. The control means 1 or 2 is characterized in that, after the cutting operation by the cutting means is completed and a predetermined time has elapsed, the energization of the stepping motor is stopped regardless of the detection result by the detecting means. The printer described in. Claims 1 to 1, wherein the detection means detects the presence or absence of the recording medium at the detection position based on the output of a jam sensor that detects the transport state of the recording medium by the transport means at the detection position. The printer according to any one of 3.

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