JP6872873B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of appropriately determining the degree of deterioration of a transport mechanism.

Conventionally, a printing device that prints an image while transporting paper by a transport mechanism is known.

The transport mechanism includes a rotary shaft, a bearing that receives the rotary shaft, a roller portion fixed to the rotary shaft, a transport roller, a motor that rotates the transport roller, and other gears that transmit motor drive.

If this transfer mechanism is used for a long period of time, the transfer roller may be worn or the motor may be deteriorated, so that the paper cannot be transferred properly, and the image position shifts due to the deviation of the paper transfer timing. May occur and the print quality may deteriorate.

Further, if the transport roller is worn or the motor is further deteriorated, paper jam may occur and the paper may not be transported.

In Patent Document 1, the number of rotations of the charging roller in contact with the photosensitive drum is integrated and compared with the reference value, and the application time of the charging bias to the charging roller is integrated and compared with the reference value. A technique relating to a charging device for indicating that the charging roller has reached the end of its life or has reached the end of its life is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-211931

There are various types and sizes of paper transported by the transport mechanism, and the load due to the transport of the transport mechanism differs depending on the type and size, so that the degree of deterioration also differs.

For example, when transporting thick paper than thin paper, the load applied to the transport mechanism is larger, and the load of idle rotation of the transport roller is smaller, but the load of actually transporting the paper is larger, so the paper The larger the size, the larger the load on the transport mechanism.

The technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique of a charging device that indicates that the charging roller has reached the end of its life or has reached the end of its life based on the rotation speed of the charging roller and the application time of the charging bias. It is not assumed that the paper will be transported, and the type and size of the paper are not taken into consideration in determining the life.

Therefore, even if the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a transport mechanism for transporting paper, it may not be possible to appropriately determine the degree of deterioration of the transport mechanism.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of appropriately determining the degree of deterioration of a transport mechanism.

In order to achieve the above object, the first feature of the printing apparatus according to the present invention is
A transport mechanism that transports paper nipped in the transport roller by rotating the transport roller driven by a motor, and a transport mechanism.
A printing means for printing an image on paper transported by the transport mechanism, and
An acquisition means for acquiring paper information regarding the conveyed paper, and
It is provided with a calculation means for calculating the degree of deterioration of the transfer mechanism based on the paper information acquired by the acquisition means and the rotation speed during the transfer of the paper by the transfer roller. ..

The second feature of the printing apparatus according to the present invention is
When the degree of deterioration calculated by the calculation means exceeds a predetermined threshold value, maintenance of the transport mechanism can be called for, and either maintenance execution of the transport mechanism or restricted printing execution by the printing means can be selected. It is further provided with a selection display means for displaying.

The third feature of the printing apparatus according to the present invention is
The calculation means is to calculate the degree of deterioration based on the type and size of the paper included in the paper information.

According to the first feature of the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the degree of deterioration of the transport mechanism is calculated based on the paper information acquired by the acquisition means and the rotation speed during transport of the paper by the transport roller. To do.

Deterioration of the transport mechanism is affected by the rotation speed of the transport roller during paper transport, but it is not simply deteriorated only by the rotation speed, but the transport load differs depending on the paper to be transported. Therefore, the deterioration of the transport mechanism can be appropriately determined by calculating the degree of deterioration of the transport mechanism based on the paper information.

According to the second feature of the printing apparatus according to the present invention, when the degree of deterioration calculated by the calculation means exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the maintenance of the transport mechanism is called for, and the maintenance of the transport mechanism is performed or the printing means is used. Display one of the restricted print executions in a selectable manner.

As a result, the user can recognize that the maintenance time has been reached for the printing device, and can immediately call a service person to perform maintenance.

On the other hand, the user can continue the printing operation with restrictions if he / she wants to print immediately even if the printing speed is slowed down.

According to the third feature of the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the calculation means calculates the degree of deterioration based on the type and size of the paper included in the paper information.

Deterioration of the transport mechanism is affected by the rotation speed of the transport roller during paper transport, but it is not simply deteriorated by the rotation speed alone, but the paper type and paper size of the paper P to be transported. The transport load differs depending on the type. Therefore, the calculation means can more appropriately determine the deterioration of the transport mechanism by calculating the degree of deterioration based on the type and size of the paper included in the paper information.

It is a schematic block diagram of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which showed an example of the correction coefficient table stored in the HDD provided in the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation at the time of printing in the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed an example of the maintenance recommendation screen displayed on the operation panel part of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent parts and components are designated by the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and differ from the actual ones. In addition, it goes without saying that the drawings include parts having different dimensional relationships and ratios from each other.

Further, the embodiments shown below exemplify an apparatus or the like for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention describes the arrangement of each component and the like as follows. It is not specific to. The technical idea of the present invention can be modified in various ways within the scope of claims.

<Configuration of printing device>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the printing device shown in FIG. In the following description, the front direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1 in which the user is located is defined as the front. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the vertical and horizontal directions are defined as the vertical and horizontal directions when viewed from the user.

The path shown by the thick line in FIG. 1 is the transfer path through which the paper, which is the printing medium, is conveyed. Of the transport routes, the route indicated by the solid line is the normal route RC, the route indicated by the alternate long and short dash line is the inverted route RR, the route indicated by the broken line is the upper paper discharge route RD1, the straight output discharge route RD2, and the route indicated by the alternate long and short dash line is the paper feed. Route RS. A circulation path is composed of a normal path RC and an inversion path RR. Upstream and downstream in the following description mean upstream and downstream in the transport path.

The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment prints based on image data input from the personal computer via a personal computer (not shown) and a communication network.

The personal computer is a general information processing terminal in which a printer driver program developed for the printing device 1 is installed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus 1 has each transport unit (paper feed unit 2, vertical transport unit 3, print transport unit 4, and upper surface) for transporting the paper P along the transport path. The transport unit 6, the straight paper discharge transport unit 13, the straight paper discharge base 14, the upper paper discharge transport unit 7, the upper paper discharge base 8, the reversing unit 9), the inkjet head unit 5, and the operation panel unit. The 10 and the control unit 11, a paper sensor provided at a plurality of locations on the transport path and acquiring transport information of the paper P transported by the transport unit, and a housing 12 for accommodating or holding each unit are provided.

The paper feed unit 2 holds the paper P and feeds paper. The paper feed unit 2 is provided on the most upstream side of the transport path, and includes a side paper feed tray 21, a side paper feed roller 22, a side paper feed motor 51, a plurality of internal paper feed trays 23, and a plurality of internal paper feed units. A paper roller 24 and an internal paper feed motor 52 are provided.

The side paper feed tray 21 is for loading paper P, and is partially exposed to the outside of the housing 12 of the printing apparatus 1 and installed.

The side paper feed roller 22 is provided on the upper side of the side paper feed table 21, and one sheet of paper P is taken out from the side paper feed table 21 and conveyed along the paper feed path RS toward the resist roller 31, which will be described later. To do. The side paper feed roller 22 is rotationally driven by the side paper feed motor 51.

The internal paper feed tray 23 is provided inside the housing 12 and is loaded with the paper P. The internal paper feed roller 24 is arranged between the downstream end of the plurality of internal paper feed trays 23 and the vertical paper feed roller along any of the plurality of paper feed paths RS, and is arranged inside any of the paper feed paths RS. The paper P stacked on the paper feed tray 23 is conveyed to the vertical transfer unit 3. The internal paper feed roller 24 is rotationally driven by the internal paper feed motor 52.

The vertical transport unit 3 includes a plurality of pairs of vertical transport rollers 25, a merging paper feed roller 28, a merging paper feed motor 53, and paper sensors 27a to 27e, and feeds the paper P fed from the internal paper feed table 23. It is conveyed along the paper feed path RS.

The vertical transport roller 25 is arranged along the paper feed path RS, and transports the paper P toward the merged paper feed roller 28, which will be described later. The most downstream vertical transport roller 25 is configured to be rotationally driveable by a side paper feed motor 51 that rotationally drives the side paper feed roller 22. The other vertical transport roller 25 is configured to be rotationally driveable by an internal paper feed motor 52 that rotationally drives the internal paper feed roller 24. The combination of the side paper feed roller 22, the most downstream vertical transport roller 25, and the side feed motor 51 is called the first transport mechanism, and the internal paper feed roller 24, the other vertical transport rollers 25, and the internal feed are supplied. The combination with the paper motor 52 is called a second transport mechanism.

The merging paper feed roller 28 is arranged on the paper feed path RS between the vertical transport roller 25 and the resist roller 31 of the print transport unit 4, and the paper P conveyed from the vertical transport roller 25 is printed on the print transport unit 4. Feed to. The combined paper feed roller 28 is rotationally driven by the combined paper feed motor 53. The combination of the merging paper feed roller 28 and the merging paper feed motor 53 is called a third transport mechanism.

The paper sensors 27a to 27e are arranged near the downstream side of each vertical transport roller 25. Further, an optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is applied to the paper sensors 27a to 27e, and the paper P to be conveyed along the paper feed path RS is detected to acquire the conveyed information. The transport information is information indicating the transport state of the paper P on the transport path, and includes the presence / absence of passage, the transport speed, and the like.

The print transport unit 4 is arranged on the downstream side of the paper feed unit 2, and prints an image while transporting the paper P. The print transfer unit 4 includes a resist roller 31, a resist motor 54, a belt transfer unit 32, a belt motor 55, and paper sensors 33a to 33d. The paper P conveyed from the reversing section 9 is conveyed to the upper surface conveying section 6.

The resist roller 31 supplies the paper P fed from the paper feed unit 2 to the belt transport unit 32, and refeeds the paper P transported from the reversing unit 9 to the belt transport unit 32. The resist roller 31 is arranged on the normal path RC in the upstream portion of the print transport unit 4. In other words, the resist roller 31 is arranged near the confluence of the paper feed path RS and the reverse path RR.

The resist roller 31 is rotationally driven by the resist motor 54. At this time, the resist roller 31 temporarily stops the paper P conveyed from the side paper feed table 21, the internal paper feed table 23, and the reversing unit 9 under the control of the resist motor 54, performs skew correction, and then performs skew correction. It is sent out to the belt transport unit 32. The combination of the resist roller 31 and the resist motor 54 is referred to as a fourth transfer mechanism.

The belt transport unit 32 is arranged on the downstream side of the normal path RC from the resist roller 31, and transports the paper P to the downstream side while sucking the lower surface of the paper P conveyed from the resist roller 31 by the endless belt. To do. The belt transport unit 32 drives the belt by rotationally driving the belt motor 55 to transport the paper P.

A suction fan 39 is provided inside the belt transport portion 32. A large number of ventilation holes are formed on the surface of the endless belt forming the belt transport portion 32, and the paper P is attracted to the endless belt and conveyed by the suction force generated by the rotation of the suction fan 39. The suction fan 39 is rotationally driven by the suction motor 50.

The paper sensors 33a to 33d detect the paper P to be conveyed along the normal path RC, detect the floating of the conveyed paper P, and acquire the conveyed information. The paper sensor 33a is arranged near the upstream side of the resist roller 31. The paper sensor 33b is arranged near the downstream side of the resist roller 31. The paper sensor 33c is arranged on the downstream side of the paper sensor 33b and on the upstream portion of the belt transport portion 32. The paper sensor 33d is arranged on the downstream side of the inkjet head unit 5. As the paper sensors 33a to 33d, an optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element and a contact sensor for detecting the floating of the paper are applied.

Further, the print transfer unit 4 includes an encoder 44a that acquires transfer information such as a rotation angle measure of a roller 44 that rotates the belt transfer unit 32. Although not shown, a belt HP sensor that detects one reference mark provided on one circumference of the belt and outputs a belt home position signal, and a roller that detects one circumference of the roller 44 and outputs a roller home position signal. It also has an HP. The combination of the roller 44 and the belt motor 55 is called a fifth transport mechanism.

The inkjet head unit 5 is a printing unit that prints on the paper P transported by each transport unit, is arranged above the belt transport unit 32, and has a plurality of nozzles in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. It has a plurality of line-type inkjet heads (not shown) arranged. The inkjet head unit 5 prints an image by ejecting ink (recording material) from the inkjet head onto the paper P transported along the normal path RC by the belt transport unit 32.

The upper surface transporting unit 6 conveys the paper P conveyed by the belt conveying unit 32 upward, and also conveys the paper P so as to make a U-turn from the right direction to the left direction. The top surface transport unit 6 includes a plurality of pairs of top surface transfer rollers 35, paper sensors 36a to 36c, and a top surface motor 58 that rotationally drives a plurality of pairs of top surface transfer rollers 35.

The upper surface transfer roller 35 is arranged along the normal path RC between the print transfer unit 4 and the upper paper discharge transfer unit 7, and conveys the paper P by niping it. All top surface transport rollers 35 are rotationally driven by one top surface motor 58. The combination of all the upper surface transfer rollers 35 and one upper surface motor 58 is called a sixth transfer mechanism.

An optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is applied to the paper sensors 36a and 36b, and the paper P to be conveyed along the normal path RC is detected to acquire the conveyed information. The paper sensor 36a is arranged near the upstream side of the uppermost transport roller 35 on the most upstream side. The paper sensor 36b is arranged between two adjacent upper surface transfer rollers 35 in a horizontal portion in the downstream region of the normal path RC. The paper sensor 36c is arranged near the upstream side of the uppermost transport roller 35 on the most downstream side, and detects the paper P transported along the upstream portion of the reversing path RR.

The straight paper ejection transport unit 13 does not convey the paper P conveyed by the belt transport unit 32 to the upper surface transport unit 6, but advances the paper P horizontally from the belt transport unit 32 and conveys it to the straight paper discharge table 14. Discharge the paper. The straight-forward paper discharge transport unit 13 includes a switching unit 34, a paper discharge roller 37, a paper sensor 38, a solenoid 61 for driving the switching unit 34, and a straight-line paper discharge motor 56 for rotationally driving the paper discharge roller 37. .. The combination of the paper ejection roller 37 and the straight-ahead paper ejection motor 56 is referred to as a seventh transport mechanism.

The switching unit 34 is arranged at a branch point between the straight-ahead paper ejection path RD2 and the normal path RC, and switches the paper P transport path between the straight-ahead paper ejection path RD2 and the normal path RC. The switching unit 34 is driven by the solenoid 61. Here, the straight-ahead paper ejection path RD2 is a path extending from the downstream side of the belt transport portion 32 of the normal path RC toward the straight-ahead paper ejection table 14.

The paper ejection roller 37 is arranged between the switching unit 34 and the straight-ahead paper ejection stand 14, and conveys the paper P conveyed by the print conveying unit 4 along the straight-ahead paper ejection path RD2 to carry out straight-ahead paper ejection. Paper is discharged to the table 14. The paper ejection roller 37 is rotationally driven by a straight-ahead paper ejection motor 56.

An optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is applied to the paper sensor 38, and the paper P to be conveyed along the straight-ahead paper ejection path RD2 is detected to acquire the conveyed information. The paper sensor 38 is arranged between the paper ejection roller 37 and the straight-ahead paper ejection table 14.

The straight-ahead paper ejection table 14 has a tray shape protruding from the housing 12, and is installed at an angle. Then, the printed paper P transported by the straight-ahead paper ejection transport unit 13 is loaded.

The upper paper discharge transport unit 7 transports the printed paper P to the upper paper discharge base 8 and discharges the printed paper P. The upper paper discharge transport unit 7 includes a switching unit 41, a paper discharge roller 42, a paper sensor 43, a solenoid 61 for driving the switching unit 41, and an upper paper discharge motor 57 for rotating the paper discharge roller 42. .. The combination of the paper ejection roller 42 and the upper paper ejection motor 57 is referred to as an eighth transport mechanism.

The switching unit 41 is arranged at a branch point between the upper paper ejection path RD1 and the reversing path RR, and switches the paper P transport path between the upper paper ejection path RD1 and the reversing path RR. The upper paper ejection path RD1 is a path extending from the downstream end of the normal path RC toward the upper paper ejection table 8. The switching unit 41 is driven by the solenoid 61.

The paper ejection roller 42 is arranged between the switching portion 41 and the upper paper ejection base 8, and conveys the paper P conveyed by the upper surface conveying portion 6 along the upper paper ejection path RD1 to perform upper paper ejection. Paper is discharged to the table 8. The paper ejection roller 42 is rotationally driven by the upper paper ejection motor 57.

An optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is applied to the paper sensor 43, and the paper P to be conveyed along the upper paper ejection path RD1 is detected to acquire the conveyed information. The paper sensor 43 is arranged between the paper ejection roller 42 and the upper paper ejection table 8.

The upper paper ejection table 8 is arranged at the downstream end of the upper paper ejection path RD1, and the printed paper P conveyed by the upper paper ejection transport unit 7 is loaded. The upper paper output stand 8 has a tray shape protruding from the housing 12, and is installed at an angle.

At the time of double-sided printing, the reversing unit 9 reverses the single-sided printed paper P and re-feeds it to the print transport unit 4. The reversing section 9 includes a reversing roller 45, a reversing motor 59, a switchback section 46, a refeeding roller 47, a refeeding motor 60, a switching gate 48, and paper sensors 49a and 49b.

The reversing roller 45 is arranged on the reversing path RR between the uppermost transport roller 35 on the most downstream side and the carry-in inlet of the switchback portion 46. Then, the reversing roller 45 temporarily carries the paper P conveyed by the upper surface conveying unit 6 into the switchback unit 46, then carries it out, and conveys it to the re-feeding roller 47. The reversing roller 45 is rotationally driven by the reversing motor 59 in the forward rotation direction (at the time of loading) and the reversing direction (at the time of carrying out). The combination of the reversing roller 45 and the reversing motor 59 is called a ninth transfer mechanism.

The switchback portion 46 is a space for the reversing roller 45 to temporarily carry in the paper P. The switchback portion 46 is formed in the lower part of the upper paper ejection table 8, and the vicinity of the reversing roller 45 is opened for carrying in the paper P.

The re-feeding roller 47 is arranged on the reversing path RR between the reversing roller 45 and the resist roller 31, and conveys the paper P conveyed by the reversing roller 45 to the resist roller 31. The re-feeding roller 47 is rotationally driven by the re-feeding motor 60. The combination of the re-feeding roller 47 and the re-feeding motor 60 is referred to as a tenth transfer mechanism.

The switching gate 48 is arranged near the center of gravity of the uppermost transport roller 35, the reversing roller 45, and the refeeding roller 47 on the most downstream side. Then, the switching gate 48 guides the paper P conveyed by the upper surface transfer roller 35 to the reversing roller 45. Further, the switching gate 48 guides the paper P carried out from the switchback portion 46 by the reversing roller 45 to the re-feeding roller 47.

An optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is applied to the paper sensors 49a and 49b, and the paper P transported along the inversion path RR is detected to acquire the conveyed information. The paper sensor 49a is arranged between the reversing roller 45 and the switchback portion 46, and the paper sensor 49b is arranged near the downstream side of the refeeding roller 47.

The operation panel unit 10 has operation buttons, a touch panel, and the like, receives input operations by the user, and displays various screens and the like.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the functional configuration of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 11 performs central control of the printing device 1. That is, the control unit 11 includes a paper feed unit 2, a vertical paper transfer unit 3, a print transfer unit 4, an inkjet head unit 5, a top surface transfer unit 6, a straight paper discharge transfer unit 13, and an upper paper discharge transfer unit. 7, the reversing unit 9, the operation panel unit 10, and the control unit 11 are controlled. The control unit 11 stores a CPU 100 that executes various programs, a RAM 111 that temporarily stores each information, a ROM 112 that stores basic programs and the like, a printing program, a paper feeding program, and the like. The HDD 113 is provided with a connection unit 114 for input / output.

The HDD 113 stores a correction coefficient table showing correction coefficients for calculating the number of deterioration effects that determine how much the first transfer mechanism affects the deterioration of the tenth transfer mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a correction coefficient table stored in the HDD 113.

As shown in FIG. 3, the correction coefficient is stored for each paper type and paper size of the paper to be conveyed.

The paper type here indicates the thickness of the paper P, and the thicker the paper P to be conveyed, the heavier the load on the conveying mechanism, and the larger the correction coefficient is stored. Further, since the load on the transport mechanism increases as the paper size increases, the correction coefficient is stored so as to increase.

As will be described later, by multiplying the rotation speed of each transfer roller by this correction coefficient, the number of deterioration effects that determines how much the deterioration is affected by each of the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism is calculated. be able to.

Further, the HDD 113 stores the degree of deterioration of the printing apparatus 1 in the initial state (usually, it is “zero” because it is new), and integrates the number of deterioration effects for each of the first to tenth transport mechanisms. Every time the degree of deterioration is calculated, the degree of deterioration is stored for each of the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism. This degree of deterioration is not overwritten, but is used as effective data in the analysis of abnormal events by storing it as a history of the degree of deterioration in association with the calculated time, for example.

The connection unit 114 electrically connects the control unit 11 with the motors and sensors of each unit. The connection unit 114 receives the detection signal detected by the paper sensor of each unit and inputs it to the CPU 110. Further, the connection unit 114 receives the control signal generated by the CPU 110 and inputs it to the motors of each unit. As a result, the motors of each part are rotationally driven, and ink is ejected from the inkjet head part 5.

The CPU 100 is equipped with an image processing unit 101, a transfer control unit 102, an acquisition unit 103, a calculation unit 104, and a selection display unit 105.

The image processing unit 101 is an arithmetic processing device that performs digital signal processing specialized in image processing, and is a module that performs processing for developing image data to be printed on paper P and executes printing. The image processing unit 101 has an image formation control function and a color conversion circuit function. The color conversion circuit function is a circuit that converts an RGB print image into a CMYK print image, and causes an image formation control function to execute printing based on the print image for each color. The image formation control function is a module that controls the drive of the ink heads of each color and the operation of the drive unit of the transport path to control the entire image formation process, and forms an image at the timing and printing speed according to the scheduling. .. The signal related to the transfer drive is transmitted to the transfer control unit 102.

The transport control unit 102 is a module that controls the operation of each unit (paper feed unit 2, each transport unit, and each paper discharge unit) provided in each path in the printing apparatus, and is determined by the image processing unit 101. Each part is driven according to the schedule, and the paper P is conveyed along the transfer path.

The acquisition unit 103 acquires the paper information regarding the paper to be conveyed from the received print job.

The calculation unit 104 calculates the degree of deterioration of the transfer mechanism for each of the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism based on the paper information acquired by the acquisition unit 103. Specifically, first, the calculation unit 104 multiplies the rotation speed of each transfer roller by the corresponding correction coefficient of the correction coefficient table stored in the HDD 113 for each of the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism. , Calculate the number of deterioration influences that determine how much it affects the deterioration of each of the first to tenth transport mechanisms.

For example, it is assumed that the paper type of the paper P to be conveyed is "thick paper" and the paper size is "A4". At this time, referring to the correction coefficient table, the correction coefficient corresponding to "thick paper" and "A4" is "1.2". Therefore, for example, when calculating the deterioration influence number for the fourth transport mechanism, the calculation unit 104 adds a correction coefficient “1.2” to the rotation speed of the resist roller 31 while the paper P is conveyed by the resist roller 31. The number of deterioration effects of the fourth transport mechanism is calculated by multiplying by. The rotation speed of the resist roller 31 may be calculated as the rotation speed required for the resist roller 31 to convey the paper P based on the paper size, or may be calculated based on the detection result of the paper P by the paper sensors 33a to 33c. Based on this, the number of rotations of the resist roller 31 while actually transporting the paper P may be counted.

Further, when the calculation unit 104 calculates the deterioration coefficient of the transport mechanism for each of the first transport mechanism to the tenth transport mechanism, the calculated deterioration influence number is integrated for each of the first transport mechanism to the tenth transport mechanism. The degree of deterioration for each of the first transport mechanism to the tenth transport mechanism is calculated. The degree of deterioration is calculated by accumulating the number of effects of deterioration each time the paper P is actually transported by the transport mechanism, and is reset to zero when maintenance is performed.

Deterioration of the transport mechanism is affected by the rotation speed of the transport roller during transport of the paper P, but it does not simply deteriorate uniformly only by the rotation speed, but the paper type (thickness) of the paper P to be transported. The load of transportation varies depending on the paper size. Therefore, as described above, by referring to the correction coefficient table and correcting the rotation speed of the transport roller with a correction coefficient according to the paper type (thickness) and paper size, it is calculated as the number of effects of deterioration, and this deterioration The degree of deterioration is calculated by accumulating the number of effects until maintenance is performed, and the deterioration of the transport mechanism is determined more appropriately by determining whether or not the transport mechanism is deteriorated based on the calculated degree of deterioration. can do.

The selection display unit 105 determines whether or not the degree of deterioration calculated by the calculation unit 104 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Here, the predetermined threshold value indicates the degree of deterioration at the limit that can guarantee the print quality when printing is performed under the current printing conditions (printing speed).

If it is determined that the degree of deterioration calculated by the calculation unit 104 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the current printing conditions (printing speed) exceed the limit for guaranteeing print quality. Therefore, maintenance of the transport mechanism must be performed. It is necessary to perform printing or change the current printing conditions (printing speed) to perform printing with restrictions.

Therefore, the selection display unit 105 calls for maintenance of the transport mechanism, and causes the operation panel unit 10 to display a maintenance recommendation screen so that the user can select either maintenance execution of the transport mechanism or restricted printing execution. Here, the degree of deterioration is calculated for each of the first to tenth transport mechanisms, but if it is determined that the degree of deterioration of any one of the transport mechanisms exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the transport of the paper P is hindered. Is displayed on the operation panel unit 10 on the maintenance recommendation screen.

Here, the limited printing means that the printing process is performed in the printing mode in which the printing conditions (here, the printing speed) are limited.

For example, when the printing speed in the normal printing process is set to 100 (%), it is set to, for example, 70 (%) in the limited printing. As a result, since the printing speed is slow, the load on the transport mechanism during transport of the paper P can be reduced, so that even if the transport mechanism is deteriorated, the paper P can be transported appropriately. , Image quality can be guaranteed.

In this way, the calculation unit 104 calculates the degree of deterioration of the transfer mechanism for each of the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism based on the paper information acquired by the acquisition unit 103, and the selection display unit 105 determines the calculation unit 104. When it is determined that the degree of deterioration calculated by the above method exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the maintenance of the transport mechanism is called for, and the user can select either maintenance execution of the transport mechanism or restricted printing execution. Since it is displayed on the panel unit 10, the degree of deterioration of the transport mechanism can be appropriately determined, and the user can select a response according to the degree of deterioration.

Here, when the degree of deterioration calculated by the calculation unit 104 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it is possible to select restricted printing in which the printing speed is 70 (%) of the normal printing speed, but the present invention is not limited to this. , May be set in multiple stages. For example, when the degree of deterioration exceeds the first threshold value, the printing speed is set to 70 (%), and when the degree of deterioration exceeds the second threshold value higher than the first threshold value, the printing speed is set to 50 (%). The printing speed may be changed accordingly.

<Operation of printing device>
Next, the operation of the printing device 1 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation at the time of printing in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a print job is input to the printing device 1 (step S101), the acquisition unit 103 acquires information on the paper size and the paper type from the input print job (step S103). ..

Then, when printing is started (step S105; YES) based on the print job, the calculation unit 104 determines whether or not any of the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism is conveying the paper P (step S107). ).

When it is determined that the investment is being transported (step S107; YES), the number of deterioration effects is calculated for each of the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism (step S109), and the number of deterioration effects is calculated from the first transfer mechanism to the first transfer mechanism. By integrating for each tenth transport mechanism, the degree of deterioration for each of the first transport mechanism to the tenth transport mechanism is calculated (step S111). The calculated degree of deterioration is stored in the HDD 113 (step S112).

Then, the selection display unit 105 determines whether or not any of the deterioration degrees of each of the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism calculated by the calculation unit 104 exceeds a predetermined threshold value (step S113). ..

When it is determined that there is a transport mechanism whose degree of deterioration exceeds a predetermined threshold value (step S113; YES), a maintenance recommendation screen is displayed on the operation panel unit 10 (step S115).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance recommendation screen displayed on the operation panel unit 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, on the maintenance recommendation screen 10a displayed on the operation panel unit 10, for example, a message display field 10b for displaying a message "Maintenance time has come. Please call a serviceman." A button 10c for limiting the function and continuing printing, and a button 10d for suspending printing for maintenance are provided.

As a result, the user can recognize that the printing device 1 has reached the maintenance time, immediately calls a serviceman, and when he / she wants to perform maintenance, presses the button 10d.

On the other hand, when the user wants to print immediately even if the printing speed is slowed down, the user can limit the function, that is, continue the printing operation with the limitation by pressing the button 10c.

When the button 10c is pressed (step S117; NO), the selection display unit 105 sets the constrained print mode and executes printing in the constrained print mode (step S119). Specifically, when the printing speed in limited printing is set to 70 (%), the image processing unit 101 and the transfer control unit 102 transfer the paper P in the first transfer mechanism to the tenth transfer mechanism. Is set to 70 (%) of the normal speed, and printing is executed.

On the other hand, when the button 10d is pressed (step S117; YES), printing is temporarily suspended for maintenance (step S121).

Then, the user contacts the serviceman, and the serviceman performs the maintenance work of the printing apparatus 1 and then recovers (step S123). Specifically, the serviceman replaces the transport mechanism, which is presumed to be deteriorated, and restores printability.

Then, the image processing unit 101 and the transport control unit 102 execute normal printing processing, that is, printing at a printing speed of 100 (%) (step S129).

As described above, according to the printing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the paper information acquired by the calculation unit 104 by the acquisition unit 103 and the number of rotations while the paper is being conveyed by the transfer roller Since the degree of deterioration of the transport mechanism is calculated for each of the first transport mechanism to the tenth transport mechanism based on the above, the degree of deterioration of the transport mechanism can be appropriately determined.

When the selection display unit 105 determines that the degree of deterioration calculated by the calculation unit 104 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the selection display unit 105 prompts the user for maintenance of the transport mechanism and executes maintenance of the transport mechanism or limited printing. Since the maintenance recommendation screen is displayed on the operation panel unit 10 so that either one can be selected, the user can select the response according to the degree of deterioration.

In the example of the maintenance recommendation screen shown in FIG. 5, the message "Maintenance time has come. Please call a serviceman." Is displayed in the message display field 10b, but the degree of deterioration further sets the threshold value. The location and name of the exceeding transport mechanism may be displayed.

Further, in the present embodiment, there are a plurality of transport mechanisms of the first transport mechanism to the tenth transport mechanism, and the degree of deterioration of each of the first transport mechanism to the tenth transport mechanism exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Whether or not it was determined, but not limited to this, it can of course be applied to a printing device having one transport mechanism.

1 Printing device 2 Paper feeding unit 3 Vertical transport unit 4 Printing transport unit 5 Inkjet head unit 6 Top surface transport unit 7 Upper paper discharge transport unit 8 Upper paper discharge stand 9 Reversing unit 10 Operation panel unit 11 Control unit 12 Housing 13 Straight discharge Paper transport section 14 Straight paper ejection stand 21 Side feed table 22 Side feed roller 23 Internal feed stand 24 Internal feed roller 25 Vertical transport rollers 27a to 27e Paper sensor 28 Combined paper feed roller 31 Resist roller 32 Belt transport unit 33a ~ 33d Paper sensor 34 Switching part 35 Top transfer roller 36a ~ 36c Paper sensor 37 Paper discharge roller 38 Paper sensor 39 Suction fan 41 Switching part 42 Paper discharge roller 43 Paper sensor 44 Roller 44a Encoder 45 Reversing roller 46 Switchback part 47 Refeeding Paper Roller 48 Switching Gates 49a to 49b Paper Sensor 50 Suction Motor 51 Side Paper Feed Motor 52 Internal Paper Feed Motor 53 Combined Paper Feed Motor 54 Resist Motor 55 Belt Motor 56 Straight Paper Discharge Motor 57 Top Paper Discharge Motor 58 Top Motor 59 Reversing Motor 60 Refeeding motor 61 Solvent 101 Image processing unit 102 Transport control unit 103 Acquisition unit 104 Calculation unit 105 Selection display unit 114 Connection unit

Claims (2)

A transport mechanism that transports paper nipped in the transport roller by rotating the transport roller driven by a motor, and a transport mechanism.
A printing means for printing an image on paper transported by the transport mechanism, and
An acquisition means for acquiring paper information regarding the paper type and paper size of the paper to be conveyed, and
A calculation means for calculating the degree of deterioration of the transfer mechanism based on the paper information acquired by the acquisition means and the number of rotations during the transfer of the paper by the transfer roller.
When the degree of deterioration calculated by the calculation means exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the maintenance of the transport mechanism is urged, and the user is subjected to the maintenance of the transport mechanism or the printing speed is set in multiple stages according to the degree of deterioration. A printing device characterized in that any of the restricted print executions that is reduced is displayed in a selectable manner. Further, a storage means for storing the correction coefficient according to the load during transportation of the transfer roller as a correction coefficient table for each paper type and paper size of the paper is provided.
The calculation means is
Based on the paper information acquired by the acquisition means and the correction coefficient table, the correction coefficient corresponding to the paper type and the paper size included in the paper information is extracted, and the paper is conveyed by the transfer roller. By multiplying the number of rotations during the operation by the correction coefficient, the number of deterioration effects that determine how much the effect is on deterioration is calculated, and by integrating the number of effects of deterioration, the degree of deterioration of the transport mechanism is calculated. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is calculated.

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