JPH02147268A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control a printing position at every fed paper and to simply control the printing position by operating the output of a detection means for detecting the side end position of paper and the set data of an input means inputting the set data of the printing position to the paper to drive a printing element. CONSTITUTION:A main controller 24 controls the output of the printing data outputted from a host computer 23 on the basis of the data from both of an edge sensor 22 and an operation part 26 and also controls the output of printing data of predetermined data quantity to a printing control part 27. A blank data memory part 25 stores the data quantity of right erasing data at the time of the feed of paper at a standard position as standard blank data. The main controller 24 inputs the data of shift quantity at the paper side end position of paper from the edge sensor 22 and subtracts the right erasing data when paper side end position data is shifted to the right and adds the right erasing data when said position data is shifted to the left to output the same to a shift register 30. A microshutter is driven on the basis of outputted data so as to become an open or closed state to perform the exposure of a photosensitive surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to printing devices such as liquid crystal printers, L-length D printers, and multi-stylus printers.

[Conventional technology]

Printing devices such as liquid crystal printers, LED printers, and multi-stylus printers are required to accurately print images on predetermined areas of paper.

In order to accurately print an image on a predetermined area of paper, the printing position must be aligned both in the paper feeding direction (hereinafter referred to as vertical direction) and in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction (hereinafter referred to as horizontal direction). must be controlled to an accurate position.

Conventionally, the printing position on paper in the vertical direction has been controlled by controlling the installation position of, for example, the print head that exposes the photoreceptor (image carrier), the paper transport mechanism that transports the paper, the transfer device that transfers the image onto the paper, etc. Fine adjustments are made to the paper feeding timing in order to maintain accuracy and to match the paper position with the previous image on the photoreceptor formed by exposure at the time of factory shipment.

In addition, the printing position on the paper in the horizontal direction is controlled by adjusting the side edge position of the paper being conveyed.
For example, when shipped from the factory, the installation position of the paper cassette that stores paper is shifted in the horizontal direction, and a guide rail for the paper cassette is provided at a corresponding position.

[Problems with conventional technology]

However, in the conventional printing position control as described above, (a) precision is required for the arrangement of each component such as the print head and paper transport mechanism, which results in strict component tolerances and increases the cost of the entire printing device. .

Furthermore, fine adjustment of the feeding timing and position setting of the guide rail require repeated test printing at the time of factory shipment, which takes time.

c) Furthermore, the shift in the conveyance position that occurs for each conveyed sheet cannot be dealt with by adjusting each printing device as described above.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device that enables printing position control for each sheet of paper being transported, allows easy printing position adjustment, and does not increase the cost of the device. With the goal.

[Key points of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a printing element facing an image carrier and arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction of the image carrier, a driving means for driving the printing element, a developing means, and a transfer means. A printing device comprising: a detection means for detecting a side edge position of a sheet fed within the printing device; an input means for inputting setting data of a printing position with respect to the sheet; and an output of the detection means and the The printing apparatus is characterized in that it includes a calculation means for calculating setting data of the input means, and the driving means drives the printing element based on the calculation result of the calculation means.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing device according to an embodiment. In the figure, the printing device is composed of an image forming section 1 that forms a toner image on paper, and a transport mechanism 3 that transports the paper from the paper cassette 2 and within the printing device.

The image forming section 1 is composed of a photoreceptor drum 4, a charger 5, a printing plate 6, a developer 7, a transfer device 8, and a cleaner 9, which are sequentially arranged near the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor drum 4.

The charger 5 applies an initial charging voltage to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 4 that rotates in the direction of arrow A, and charges rad 6 for printing.
is a device that exposes the photosensitive surface to light based on print data to be described later.The developing device 7 converts the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive surface by the above-mentioned exposure into a toner image, and the transfer device 1O converts this toner into a toner image. This is a device that transfers an image onto paper P that is conveyed in the direction of arrow B.

The print head 6 also includes a light source 6a and a liquid crystal shutter panel 6.
b. Drives opening and closing of a micro shutter formed in the liquid crystal shutter panel 6b, which is composed of an imaging lens array 6c, and is formed in the liquid crystal shutter panel 6b according to print data output from a control circuit to be described later;
The structure is such that the light from the light source 6a is imaged (exposed) on the photosensitive surface by the imaging lens 6c through the micro-shutter in the open state.On the other hand, the transport mechanism 3 transports the paper from the paper cassette 2 by rotating the paper feed roller lO. a guide plate 11a-1id for guiding the conveyance direction of the paper P; a slip roll 12;
- It is composed of a fit roll 13, a constant width roll 14, a standby switch 15, and an edge sensor 22.

The slip roll 12 is a roll that transports the paper P to the standby roll 13 with a weak transport force. The standby roll 13 temporarily stops conveyance of the paper P by bringing the leading edge of the paper into contact with it, rotates at a predetermined timing described later, and conveys the paper P between the photoreceptor drum 4 and the transfer device 8. The fixing roll 14 is a roll that fixes the unfixed toner transferred onto the paper P by the transfer device 8 onto the paper P, and also conveys the paper P to a paper discharge section (not shown).

The standby switch 15 is a switch whose actuator 15a is brought into contact with the leading edge of the paper to detect the leading edge of the paper.

Also, the photosensitive drum 4 from the exposure position a to the transfer device Hb
The relationship between the circumferential surface path 1111LI of This will be explained using Figure 4.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the edge sensor 22, and FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. Printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as PCB)
18, an imaging lens array 19 into which the light emitted from the LED 16 enters, and a light transmission rod 2 into which the light reflected by the paper enters.
0 and a phototransistor 21 that detects the light emitted from the light transmission rod 20. The LED 16 disposed on the PCBIO is composed of 16 LEDs 16a to 1Gp, which are arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the paper P (direction of arrow B). This LED16a-
16P is bonded to PCB1B and is sequentially turned on by a control signal from a control circuit to be described later. Further, the position of the guide plate flb that is irradiated with light by the imaging lens array 19 is painted black, for example, so that the portion where there is no paper does not reflect light.

The light transmission rod 20 is formed of a cylindrical rod whose inner peripheral surface totally reflects light, and is arranged parallel to the direction in which the LEDs 16a to 16p are arranged. Further, a mirror 20b that reflects light is disposed on the inner surface of one end of the optical transmission rod 20, and the other end faces the phototransistor 21 described above. In addition, a diffusion stripe 20a is formed on the opposing circular surface of the light transmission rod 20 on which the reflected light of the light irradiated via the imaging lens array 19 enters, and the reflected light from the paper P that has entered the light transmission rod 20. is scattered into the optical transmission rod 20,
The structure is such that scattered light is guided to a phototransistor 21 along a light transmission rod 20.

In the printing apparatus having the above configuration, a control circuit having the block configuration shown in FIG. 1 is provided on a substrate (not shown). However, the host computer 23 shown in the figure is an external Ja device that outputs print data to the printing device. The circuit inside the printing device includes a main controller 24, the above-mentioned edge sensor 22,
Standby clutch 1 for rotating the above-mentioned standby roll 13
3a, a margin data storage section 25, an operation section 26, and a print control section 27.

The main controller 24 has a built-in 110M (read-only memory) not shown, and controls the entire printing apparatus according to the program stored in this ROM.
The main controller 24 controls the output of print data (data 1) output from the post computer 23 using data from the edge sensor 22 and the operation unit 26, as will be described in detail later, and outputs a predetermined amount of print data (data 2). It also controls output to the print control section 27.

The margin data storage unit 25 is a circuit that stores, as standard margin data, the amount of right erasing data when the paper P is conveyed through the standard position.

The operation section 26 is composed of a 7-segment display section 28 with a two-digit configuration and print position setting keys 29a to 29d. When a print position setting key 29a to 29d is pressed, a corresponding key operation signal is output to the main controller 24.

The print control unit 27 includes a shift register 30 .
Data latch 31. Data selector 32, driver 33
The main controller 24 is connected to the shift register 30 in serial format.
Print data (data 2) is supplied from. The structure of the print data written to the shift register 3o is shown in FIG. right erase data are written. However, among this data, the print data that is actually supplied from the main controller 24 to the shift register 30 for each line is the actual data indicated by diagonal lines and the data for right erasing. As the left erasing data, the right erasing data of the print data one line before, which is output from the main controller 24, is used. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, serial data in which white dot data is added as right erasing data to the end of print data in the direction shown by arrow C is sequentially added to C when the next line of print data is input.
By shifting in the direction, the white dot data for right erasing one line before can be used as data for left erasing, as shown by arrow d, without particularly inputting the white dot data for left erasing data. In this way, in order to match the left erasing data with the right erasing data one line before, it is assumed that the number of left erasing data is smaller than the number of right erasing data.
In this embodiment, this control is performed by the main controller 24.

The print data written in the shift register 30 is output to the data selector 32 via the data latch 31 every l line. If the print data is white data (for example, data "0"), the data selector 32 outputs a close signal for driving the micro shutter to close to the liquid crystal shutter panel 6b via the driver 33, and if the print data is black data (for example, data "0") For example, if it is "l", an open signal for driving the micro shutter to open is sent to the liquid crystal shutter panel 6 via the driver 33.
Output to b. Each micro-shutter in the liquid crystal shutter panel 6b is set to the open or closed state by the above-mentioned open signal or close signal and a common signal applied to a common electrode (not shown) via the buffer 34, and as described above, the micro-shutters are set to the open or closed state. Transmit or block.

The printing apparatus having the above configuration executes printing processing at the timing shown in FIG. That is, first, when a start signal (11-signal) is output from the host computer to the main controller 24, the paper feed clutch is turned on, the paper feed roller IO is rotated once, and the paper P is carried out from the paper cassette 2. Thereafter, when the paper P is conveyed and the paper P turns on the standby switch 15, the host combinator 2 is sent from the main controller 24 after LL time after the standby switch 15 is turned on.
A vertical synchronizing signal (VSYNC) is output to the signal line 3, and a horizontal synchronizing signal (HSYNC) is output after a predetermined period of time.

The host computer 23 outputs print data (data 1) to the main controller 24 along with a valid signal (VALID) after a predetermined period of time after the horizontal synchronization signal is input.

The main controller 24 then performs the print position control described below. A flowchart in FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the print position control process in the main controller 24. That is, the main controller 24 determines whether or not the print position setting keys 29a to 29d of the operation section 26 are pressed and the corresponding key operation signal is not audible. First, it is determined based on a key operation signal whether the print position setting key (up movement key) 29a has been pressed (step (hereinafter referred to as S)).The up movement key 29a is a key for moving the print position on the paper upward. When this key is pressed (St is Y), the Tz timer in the main controller 24 set to the above-mentioned time L2 changes because the transfer position with respect to the paper changes if the paper refeed timing is delayed. Then, whether the print position setting key (up movement key) 29C has been pressed or not can be determined based on the corresponding key operation signal (S3), and if this key has been pressed, (S3 is Y), the above-mentioned time t2 is subtracted (S4), that is, the time t2 is the time from when the print head 6 is exposed to light as described above until the conveyance of the paper P is started. Therefore, by controlling as described above, the time to start transporting the paper P from the standby roll 13 can be adjusted to the above-mentioned mark.
It is possible to delay or advance the ilj time t2 and control the paper printing position in the vertical direction with respect to the paper P.

Next, the main controller 24 determines whether the print position movement key (right movement key) 29b has been pressed (S5), and if this key has been pressed (S5 is Y), the above-mentioned right erasing data (right margin data) subtract the output number of (S6),
That is, the number of standard right erasing data stored in the margin data storage section 25 is reduced, but the amount of right margin data when print data is output to the shift register 30 is not reduced. As a result, the amount of left erasing data created by the right erasing data one line before increases, and the actual data shifts to the right as a whole.

Next, it is determined in the same manner whether the print position movement key (left movement key) 29d is pressed (S7). If this key is pressed (S7 is Y), the output number of right erase data (right margin data) is added. Do (So).

In this case, conversely, the amount of data for right erasing increases and the amount of data for left erasing decreases, causing the actual data to shift to the left. By processing in this way, the actual data output to the shift register 30 can be shifted to the right or left.

Furthermore, the main controller 24 inputs data on the amount of deviation of the paper side edge position of the paper P from the edge sensor 22.

That is, by sequentially outputting lighting signals from the main controller 24 to the LEDs 16a to 16p in the edge sensor 22, the irradiated light from any of the LEDs 16a to 16p is reflected at the position where the paper P exists (the side edge of the paper P). Since the position data is detected by the photo sensor 1) 21 and outputted to the main controller 24 as paper side edge position data, the amount of deviation of the paper P can be detected. When the paper side edge position data is shifted to the right (So is Y), the print position must also be shifted to the right, so the above-mentioned right erasure data (right margin data) must be subtracted (310), and the paper side edge position When the data is shifted to the left (Sll is Y),
Add right erasure data (right margin data) (S12)
.

After processing as described above, the main controller 24 outputs print data to the shift register 30 (S13), in which the right erasing data (right margin data) obtained as a result of the calculation as described above is added to the actual data. Based on the print data output to the shift register 30, the micro shutter is driven to open or close as described above, and the photosensitive surface is exposed.

At this time, the exposure position on the photosensitive surface is set by the print position setting key 29b,
The printing position is iJ1 adjusted by 29d, and the printing is performed at a position where the conveyance deviation amount of the paper P is further corrected. Therefore, the horizontal printing position of the I/ner image transferred onto the paper P is the correct position. It will be held on.

In addition, after the main controller [1-ra 24 confirms the low level of the valid signal (S14), the above-mentioned process (Sl-3
In order to time up the T2 timer and turn on the standby clutch at the timer time t21 correctly adjusted by 4),
5 to 517), the printing position in the vertical direction of the paper P is also performed at the correct position.

For example, FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams specifically explaining the above-mentioned print position control. In the same figure (a), the upper margin I
! , 4. Left margin 12 shows a case where the alphabet letter "A" is printed on paper P in the image printing area (DxE) out of alignment with the frame of the format paper. In order to print the character "8", press the above-mentioned print position ff setting key 29c, subtract the above-mentioned time L2, make the rotation start time of the standby roll 13 earlier, and press the print position control 2F-29b. For example, if you press the button and subtract (m-α) the standard right erasing data "n", the same figure (
As shown in b), the upper margin is widened to Q1'', and the left margin is widened to Q2'' (m + α), allowing the letter "A" to be printed at an accurate position on the paper P.

In addition, in this embodiment, the edge sensor 22 corrects the horizontal deviation due to the individual conveyance of the paper P being conveyed in the printing device, but the amount of vertical deviation due to the individual conveyance of the paper P is further corrected. Therefore, edge sensors having a similar configuration may be arranged in parallel in the vertical direction.

Further, Lr':Dl within the edge cut degree 22 (the number of 3's is not limited to 16, of course.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail below, according to the present invention, the lengthwise and widthwise directions of the paper can be adjusted. III adjustment can be easily adjusted by pressing one print position setting key.

In addition, the edge sensor automatically corrects deviations in the paper position that occur each time the paper is conveyed, and printing can be performed at an accurate position on the paper without having to take into account the 811 degrees of the arrangement position of each member.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a control circuit block diagram of a printing device according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing device according to an embodiment, Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of an edge sensor, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of Fig. 3. 5 is a configuration diagram of print data written to the shift register, FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining the creation of left erasing data, and FIG. 7 is a time diagram explaining the operation of the printing device of this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the printing device of this embodiment, and FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams explaining the operation of the printing device of this embodiment. 1... Image forming unit, 3... Transport mechanism, 6... Print head, 13... Standby roll, 15... Standby switch, 22... Edge sensor, 23... Host computer, 24 ...Main controller, 25...Margin data storage section, 26...Operation section, 27...Print control section, 29a to 29d...Print position setting key Patent applicant
Casio Electronics Co., Ltd. Same as above Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Figure 4 Figure 6 TART Figure LB Figure (b)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A printing element facing an image carrier and arranged parallel to the main scanning direction of the image carrier, a driving means for driving the printing element,
A printing device including a developing device and a transfer device, a detection device for detecting a side edge position of a sheet fed through the printing device, an input device for inputting print position setting data for the sheet, and A printing device characterized in that it is provided with a calculating means for calculating the output of the means and the setting data of the input means, and the driving means drives the printing element based on the calculation result of the calculating means.