JPH0336072A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize an inexpensive serial type apparatus taking no large space and to enhance the reliability in detection by bringing the operating member of a recording sheet detection sensor into contact with a recording sheet to perform the detection of the end part of the recording sheet in its feed direction and that of the end part of said recording sheet in its lateral direction in common by one sheet detection sensor. CONSTITUTION:A lever 10 is the operating member of a paper detection sensor 8. When the paper detection sensor 8 is present above recoding paper 3 in such a state that the recording paper 3 is present within a paper path, the lever 10 is brought into contact with the recording paper 3 to be inclined and the paper detection sensor 8 is turned OFF. When the lever 10 gets out of the recording paper 3, the paper detection sensor 8 is turned ON. The left end of the recording paper 3 is detected by the change of the output of the paper detection sensor 8 from an ON-state to an OFF-state and the right end thereof is detected by the change of the output of said sensor from an ON-state to an OFF-state. When the recording paper 3 is sent in an A-direction and the output signal of the paper detection sensor changes from an ON-state to an OFF-state, the leading end of the recording paper 3 is detected and the rear end thereof is detected by the change of the sensor output from an OFF-state to an ON- state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field 1] The present invention relates to a recording device, and particularly to a recording device that feeds a recording sheet in a predetermined direction and moves a recording head relative to the sheet in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. The present invention relates to a serial type recording device that performs recording in parallel.

[Prior Art] In recent years, the demand for printers as recording/output devices for office computers, personal computers, word processors, etc. has been increasing rapidly, and among these, serial printers account for a large proportion as low-cost printers. The recording paper of the recording sheet is fed by a feed roller, and the carriage carrying the recording head is moved in the paper width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording paper to perform recording/non-recording operations. In order to reliably record on the recording paper without waste at this time, it is important to detect the leading and trailing edges of the recording paper in the feeding direction and to detect the width of the recording paper (detecting both the left and right ends of the recording paper).

In conventional serial printers, the leading edge of the recording paper,
In order to detect the trailing edge, a reflective photosensor is installed facing the recording paper transport path, and the method reads the reflected light from the recording paper surface.
Alternatively, a method has been adopted in which a movable lever is provided in the recording paper conveyance path so as to come into contact with the recording paper and is displaced, and the displacement of the lever as the recording paper passes is detected by a photo sensor or a microswitch.

Regarding the detection of the recording paper width, detection by a sensor is often omitted by limiting the set position of the recording paper in the width direction in advance, or specifying the number of printable digits using a switch or a command.

However, in high-priced devices, a reflective photosensor may be mounted on the carriage to detect the recording paper width.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if the user makes an incorrect operation regarding the above-mentioned recording paper setting position or the number of printable digits, recording will be made on a part other than the recording paper, and the recording paper will be wasted. Although there are differences depending on the printer type, there are inconveniences such as staining the platen with ink. 6 Therefore, recording paper width detection is necessary.

However, if sensors are provided to detect the leading and trailing edges of the recording paper, and a separate sensor is provided to detect the paper width, it will be costly and will require space, which will hinder the miniaturization of the printer.

Furthermore, in any detection, when a reflective photosensor is used, erroneous detection may occur in the case of dark recording paper or recording paper on which dark marks or the like are printed in advance.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to detect the edges of a recording sheet in the feeding direction and the widthwise direction of the recording sheet using a structure that can be implemented easily and inexpensively in this type of recording apparatus and does not take up much space. The goal is to be able to do it accurately.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, a recording sheet is fed in a predetermined direction, and a recording head is moved relative to the sheet in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. In the recording apparatus that performs recording, a sheet detection sensor is provided, which has an operating member movable in at least the sheet feeding direction and the sheet width direction, and detects the recording sheet when the operating member comes into contact with the recording sheet and is displaced. , by feeding the recording sheet and moving the sensor in the sheet width direction, the operating member of the sensor is brought into contact with the recording sheet to detect an end in the sheet feeding direction and an end in the sheet width direction of the recording sheet. The configuration was adopted.

[Function] According to such a configuration, one sheet detection sensor can commonly detect the end of the recording sheet in the sheet feeding direction and the end in the sheet width direction. In addition, since the recording sheet is mechanically detected by the operation member of the sheet detection sensor being displaced in contact with the recording sheet, there is no possibility of erroneous detection due to the color of the recording sheet, etc., and detection can be performed accurately.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

1 to 6 illustrate a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

First, FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a recording mechanism section and a recording paper conveying section, which are important parts related to the present invention of the printer of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a frame of the printer, which is a curved paper guide surface 1 that guides the recording paper 3 of the recording sheet.
A platen (not shown) is provided on an upwardly extending surface of the eight-paper guide surface 1a having a diameter of 1.a. In addition, in the area of the paper guide surface 1a facing the paper detection sensor 8, which will be described later, there is a space for preventing the lever lO of the paper detection sensor 8 from hitting the area.
b is formed.

Furthermore, on the upstream side of the paper guide surface 1a in the forward feeding direction (six directions) of the recording paper 3, there are a paper feed roller 2 for feeding the recording paper 3, and a pinch roller 26 for pressing the recording paper 3 against the roller 2. is provided. As shown in the figure, with the recording paper 3 sandwiched between the paper feed roller 2 and the pinch roller 26, the paper feed roller 2 is rotated clockwise in the figure by the drive of a paper feed motor (not shown), so that the recording paper 3 is It is designed to be sent in the six directions indicated by the arrows. This is recording paper 3
It is also possible to reversely feed the recording paper 3 by rotating the zero paper feed roller 2 counterclockwise, which is the forward feeding direction.

On the other hand, guide shafts 6.7 are installed on the frame 1 in parallel to the six directions perpendicular to the paper feeding direction. A carriage 4 is supported on a guide shaft 6.7, and is provided to be slidable in directions B and B' perpendicular to six directions, and is equipped with a recording head 5 consisting of a head of a carriage motor (not shown) or the like. There is.

With this configuration, during recording, the carriage 4 travels in the B direction and the recording head 5 is driven, thereby recording one line on the recording paper 3. - When the recording of the line is completed, the carriage 4 moves in the direction B' and a carriage return is performed.

Further, by driving the paper feed roller 2, the recording paper 3 is fed by a predetermined amount in six directions, and a line feed is performed. By repeating this process, recording is performed line by line.

By the way, a paper detection sensor 8 is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 4 in order to detect the leading and trailing ends of the recording paper 3 in the feeding direction (six directions) and the left and right ends in the paper width direction (B, B' directions).

The structure of the paper detection sensor 8 is as shown in FIG.
1 and a sensor housing 12.

The lever 10 is an operating member for the paper detection sensor 8, and has a spherical upper end 10a, and a mirror 9 is attached to the top of the upper end 10a. The upper end 10a of the lever IO is slidably fitted into holes formed in the bottom plate 12a of the sensor housing 12 and the plate-shaped holding member 12b provided inside the housing 12, so that the lever IO 10 is held rotatably in all directions of 360 degrees using the upper end portion IQa as a fulcrum. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the lever IO can also be rotated in directions a and a' corresponding to the six directions and the opposite directions, and in directions a and b' corresponding to directions B and B'.
It is also possible to rotate in any direction.

When no external force is applied to the lever 10, the lever 10 becomes vertical due to its own weight. Also, depending on the position of the carriage 4, the lower end of the lever 10 faces the area of the conveyance path for the recording paper 3 (hereinafter referred to as a paper bus), so that the lower end of the lever 10 faces the area of the transport path for the recording paper 3 (hereinafter referred to as a paper bus).
When the lever 10 comes into contact with the recording paper 3, the lever 10 rotates and tilts.

On the other hand, the reflective photosensor 11 is held within the sensor housing 12 by a plate-shaped holding member 12c, and although not shown in detail, a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor are exposed. The reflective photosensor 11 is disposed such that its front end face directly faces the upper end 10a of the lever 10.

When the lever lO is vertical, the mirror 9 directly faces the reflective photosensor 11 as shown in FIG. The photosensor 11 is turned on.

Furthermore, when the lever 10 rotates and tilts, the mirror 9 tilts one position relative to the reflective photosensor 11, and the light emitted from the light emitting element of the photosensor 11 is reflected by the mirror 9 onto the light receiving element of the same sensor 11. No light is received and the photo sensor 1
1 is in the off state. Note that the output signal of the paper detection sensor 8 is input to a CPU of a control section of the printer, which will be described later.

Such a paper detection sensor 8 can detect the left and right ends of the recording paper 3 in the paper width direction as shown in FIG. 3(A), thereby detecting the paper width of the recording paper 3. That is, in this case, Fig. 3 (A)
The carriage 4 is moved in the direction B with the recording paper 3 in the paper bus as shown in FIG. When the paper detection sensor 8 is on the recording paper 3 due to the position of the carriage 4, the lever 10 contacts the recording paper 3 and is tilted, and the paper detection sensor 8 is turned off.

Further, when the lever IO is removed from the recording paper 3, the lever IO becomes vertical and the paper detection sensor 8 is turned on.

Move the carriage 4 in direction B (to the right).

The left end of the recording paper 3 is detected when the output of the paper detection sensor 8 changes from on to off, and the right end is detected when the sensor output changes from off to on.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3(B), by feeding the recording paper 3 in six directions with the lever 10 of the paper detection sensor 8 facing the paper bus, the leading and trailing edges of the recording paper 3 in the feeding direction are detected. can. That is, the leading edge is detected when the recording paper 3 is fed in six directions and the output signal of the paper detection sensor changes from on to off, and the trailing edge is detected when the sensor output changes from off to on.

Next, the structure of the control system of the printer related to recording paper detection by the paper detection sensor 8 as described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 30 is a control unit that controls the entire printer, and includes a CPU consisting of a microprocessor element.
(Central processing unit) 31. ROM (read only memory) 32 and RAM (random access memory) 33
It consists of a microcomputer consisting of. ROM
32 stores a control program for the CPU 31 and various other fixed data necessary for control. Also, RAM33 is C
It is used as a working area for the PU 31 and a buffer for recording data.

An interface circuit 34 consisting of input/output port elements and the like is connected to the control section 30. Interface circuit 3
4 is a carriage motor 38 for driving the recording head 5 and the carriage 4. Drivers 35 to 37 for driving respective paper feed motors 39 for feeding the recording paper 3 are connected.

The carriage motor 38 and paper feed motor 39 are stepping motors. Further, the paper detection sensor 8 mentioned earlier is connected to the interface circuit 34, and the output signal of the four paper detection sensors 8 is sent to the CPU 31 via the interface circuit 34.
It is now entered into

With this configuration, the CPU 31 of the control unit 30 performs control processing according to the control program, and controls the recording head 5,
The carriage motor 38 and paper feed motor 39 are driven and controlled to perform the recording operation as described above. The CPU 31 receives a recording command from a host device (not shown) and detects the leading edge, left edge, and right edge of the recording paper 3 before starting the recording operation.The operation is as follows according to the control processing procedure shown in FIG. It is done as follows. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the flows are connected between the parts indicated by the symbol C and between the parts indicated by the symbols. In addition, in the initial state before inputting the recording command, the carriage 4 has been moved to the home position at the end of its movement area in the B° direction in FIG. It is assumed that the paper detection sensor 8 is off.

When the recording command is input, the CPU 31 of the control section 30 starts the process shown in FIG. 5, and first, in step S2, the carriage 4 is driven in the direction B in FIG. 1 to move to a predetermined position on the paper bus. That is, the lever 10 of the paper detection sensor 8 is moved to a position where it can come into contact with the recording paper 3 within the paper bus.

Next, in step S2, it is checked whether the paper detection sensor 8 is on. If the paper detection sensor 8 is off, it means that the recording paper 3 used for the previous recording is present on the paper bus, so in step S3 the paper feed motor 39 is driven to discharge the recording paper. Let's do it.

On the other hand, if the paper detection sensor 8 is on and the recording paper 3 is not within the paper path, step S4. Through the loop of S5, the paper feed motor 39 is driven in the forward feeding direction until the paper detection sensor 8 is turned off, and a new recording paper is fed. The leading edge of the new recording paper 3 is connected to the paper feed roller 2 and the pinch roller 26.
It is assumed that it is inserted in between. And step S4
By driving the paper feed motor 39, the recording paper 3 is fed in the direction shown in FIG.

Then, in step S5, when the output of the paper detection sensor 8 turns from on to off, that is, when the leading edge of the recording paper 3 is detected,
From that point on, in step S6, the paper feed motor 39 is further driven by a predetermined number of steps to feed the recording paper 3 by a predetermined amount in the angular direction, thereby performing what is called the beginning of the recording paper.

When the cueing is completed, move the carriage 4 to B' in step S7.
The paper detection sensor 8 is turned on at this time when the carriage 4 is moved out of the paper bus by performing a carriage return.

Next, step S8. Through the loop of S9, the carriage 4 is driven in the direction B until the paper detection sensor 8 is turned off again.

When the paper detection sensor 8 is turned off in step S9, that is, when the left edge of the recording paper 3 is detected, the carriage position at that time is stored as the position of the left edge of the recording paper 3 (step 5IO).

Subsequently, the carriage 4 is further moved in the direction B through a loop of step S11.312 until the paper detection sensor 8 is turned on. When the paper detection sensor 8 is turned on, that is, when the right edge of the recording paper 3 is detected, the detected position at that time is stored as the position of the right edge of the recording paper 3. (Step 513).

Next, in step S14, the carriage 4 is driven in the B' direction, a carriage return is performed, and the carriage 4 is moved to the home position. At this time, the output of the paper detection sensor 8 changes from on to off and then on again.

After the above processing, a recording range is set from the left and right end positions of the recording paper 3 stored in steps 5IO and S13, and recording is started in step S15.

Note that at the time of line feed and when feeding the recording paper 3 after the end of recording, the carriage 4 is moved to move the paper detection sensor 8 into the paper bus. When the paper is fed in this state and the output of the paper detection sensor 8 changes from off to on, the trailing edge of the recording paper 3 is detected.

According to this embodiment as described above, one paper detection sensor 8
This allows detection of the leading edge and trailing edge of the recording paper 3 as well as detection of the left edge and right edge (detection of paper width) in common, and both detections can be performed with an inexpensive and space-saving configuration. In addition, since the paper detection sensor 8 mechanically detects whether the lever 10 comes into contact with the recording paper 3, there is no risk of false detection due to preprints such as colors or marks on the recording paper 3, and accurate detection is possible. I can do it.

In addition, with the above configuration, the upper end 1 of the lever IO of the paper detection sensor 8
In 0a, the portion other than the top portion may be made of a mirror so that the reflectance of the top portion is low. In this case, the output signal of the paper detection sensor 8 will be opposite to the above. Further, the mirror 9 may be located on the side surface of the upper end 10a of the lever 10 instead of at the top.

In this case, the position of the reflective photosensor 11 is also changed corresponding to the position of the mirror 9.

Further, although the full section 1b of the frame l shown in FIG. 1 has an arcuate cross section and a uniformly wide width in the angular direction, it may also be shaped as shown in FIG. 6, in which case the grooves ib are B, B'. It has a linear shape that is elongated along the direction, and the width in the angular direction increases at a predetermined portion in the middle. When detecting the leading edge and trailing edge of the recording paper 3, as shown in FIG. good.

By the way, the structure of the paper detection sensor 8 is not limited to the one described above.
This will be explained below.

4 to 1 member E FIG. 7 shows the structure of a paper detection sensor according to the second embodiment.

In this case, the lever lO, which is operated by contacting the recording paper, is formed into a bar shape with a uniform thickness, and a mirror 9 is provided on the upper end surface of the lever lO.
is pasted. The lever IO is fixed to an arm 16, and the arm 16 is rotatably supported on a rectangular support frame 17 by bins 16a and 16b in directions a and a'. The support frame 17 is supported by a carriage (not shown) with the bins 17a and 17b as supporting points.
It is provided so as to be rotatable in the ' direction.

With this structure, the lever IO is provided so as to be rotatable in the a, a' directions and in the a, b' force directions as in the case of the first embodiment, and when it is not in contact with the recording paper, it rotates vertically as shown in the figure. become. In this state, the reflective photosensor 11 is placed at a position directly facing the mirror 9.

The sensor 11 is turned on when the lever 10 is vertical, and when the lever IO comes into contact with the recording paper and tilts, the sensor 11 is turned off, allowing detection to be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a paper detection sensor according to a third embodiment.

In this case, a mirror 9 is attached to the upper end surface of the lever 10 facing the 0-reflection photosensor 11 in which the lever 10 and the reflection photosensor 11 are connected by a coil spring 19. The reflective photosensor 11 is then fixed to a carriage (not shown).

With this structure, the lever 10 is elastically movably held by the coil spring 19, and can be rotated in all directions including the a, a' directions and the a, b' force directions using the upper end side as a fulcrum. When the lever IO is not in contact with the recording paper, the lever 10 is held in line with the reflective photosensor 11 as shown in the figure by the spring force of the coil spring 19.
Mirror 9 directly faces sensor 11, and sensor 11 is turned on. Furthermore, when the lever IO comes into contact with the recording paper, it rotates and tilts, turning off the sensor 11.

According to this embodiment as well, detection can be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In the case of this embodiment, the lever lO is held in a straight line with respect to the anti-IT type sensor 11 by the spring force of the coil spring 19 when the recording paper is not in contact with the lever 10, so the mounting direction of the paper detection sensor is There is an advantage that the paper detection sensor does not have to be installed in a vertical direction, and a degree of freedom can be obtained regarding the mounting direction of the paper detection sensor.

Next, FIGS. 9 and 10 (A) and (B) illustrate the structure and operation of the paper detection sensor according to the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the paper detection sensor of this embodiment performs detection using a switch mechanism consisting of wire-like contacts 20 and 21. The contacts 20 and 21 are made of conductive metal and are connected between A predetermined voltage is applied. The contact 20 has a bent ring-shaped tip. Contactor 21 is contactor 2
It is formed in the shape of a circular fence with a diameter larger than 0. The contact 20 is arranged within the contact 21 with a gap.

A lever lO is provided below the contactor 20.21. The lever IO has a spherical intermediate portion lOb near the upper end, and the intermediate portion lOb is shown in Fig. 1O (A), (
It is slidably fitted into the hole 27a of the support member 27 shown in B). Thereby, the lever lO is provided so as to be rotatable in all directions with the intermediate portion lOb as a fulcrum. and lever l
The upper end 10a of the contact 20 is arranged so as to face the inside of the contact 20.

Under such a structure, as shown in FIG. 10(A), when the lever lO is not in contact with the recording paper 3, the lever 10
is vertical due to its own weight, its upper end 10a is not in contact with the contact 20, and the contacts 20 and 21 are not in contact with each other, and are in an OFF state.

From this state, as shown in FIG. 10(B), when the lever 10 comes into contact with the recording paper 3, it rotates and tilts, the upper end 10a presses the contact 20, and the contacts 20 and 21 come into contact with each other.
Turns on. In this way, the recording paper 3 can be detected.

11(A) and 11(B) illustrate the structure and operation of the paper detection sensor according to the fifth embodiment.

The paper detection sensor of this embodiment has two leaf spring contacts 24 and 25 arranged in parallel on the lever IO to form a switch mechanism. A contact 2 is located in the center of one leaf spring contactor 24.
4a is provided protrudingly.

The lever 10 is formed into a spherical shape with an upper end cut into a 0-shape, and is rotatably provided around the upper end 10a as a fulcrum.

With this structure, as shown in FIG. 11(A), when the lever lO is not in contact with the recording paper 3, the lever lO is vertical and does not contact the lower contact 24,
．． 25 are not in contact with each other and are in an off state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11(B), when the lever IO comes into contact with the recording paper 3 and rotates and tilts, the upper end 1 of the lever 10
The corner of 0a pushes up the lower contactor 24, and the contactor 24
The contact 24a of the first contact 24a comes into pressure contact with the other contact 25, and is turned on. Detection can be performed in this manner as well.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a recording sheet is fed in a predetermined direction, and recording is performed by moving the recording head relative to the sheet in the sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. In the recording apparatus, a sheet detection sensor is provided, which has an operation member movable in at least the sheet feeding direction and the sheet width direction, and detects the recording sheet when the operation member comes into contact with the recording sheet and is displaced. and the movement of the sensor in the sheet width direction to bring an operating member of the sensor into contact with the recording sheet to detect an end of the recording sheet in the sheet feeding direction and an end in the sheet width direction. Therefore, one sheet detection sensor can commonly detect the edge of the recording sheet in the sheet feeding direction and the edge in the sheet width direction, and rain detection can be performed with an inexpensive and space-saving configuration. Furthermore, excellent effects such as being able to perform the above-mentioned detection accurately regardless of the color of the recording sheet and improving the reliability of detection can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a perspective view showing the structure of the main parts of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view showing the structure of the paper detection sensor in FIG. 1, and FIG. (B) is an explanatory diagram of the paper detection operation by the same paper detection sensor, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the same embodiment, and FIG. 5 is C in FIG.
A flowchart of the control processing procedure related to filter paper detection by PU, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modification of the groove of the frame in FIG. 1, and FIGS.
A perspective view showing the structure of the paper detection sensor of the third and fourth embodiments,
Figures 10 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams of the detection operation of the paper detection sensor of the fourth embodiment, and Figures 11 (A) and (B) are the structure and detection operation of the paper detection sensor according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. l...-Frame 2-...Paper feed roller 3...
- Recording paper 4... Carriage 5... Recording head 6.7... Guide shaft 8... Paper detection sensor 9... - Mirror IO... - Lever 11... Reflective photo sensor 16...・Arm 17...Support frame 19...
Coil spring 20.21--Wire contact 24.25--Plate spring contact 11 Lord 4's BU 07 Old Figure 4 Figure 3 屓Gen-Prefecture, 昌閤 海ぐ Tomoe V Flow 7,- ) - Section 5 Figure 11 Fyatoji〉'wa' (No. 115vi!A 117rl-τ) Dimension 10 +

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A recording apparatus that performs recording by feeding a recording sheet in a predetermined direction and moving a recording head relative to the sheet in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, at least in the sheet feeding direction. and a sheet detection sensor having an operating member movable in the sheet width direction and detecting the recording sheet when the operating member comes into contact with the recording sheet and is displaced;
Detecting an end in the sheet feeding direction and an end in the sheet width direction of the recording sheet by bringing the operating member of the sensor into contact with the recording sheet by feeding the recording sheet and moving the sensor in the sheet width direction. A recording device characterized by: 2) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet detection sensor detects the recording sheet by detecting the displacement of the operating member with a photo sensor. 3) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet detection sensor detects the recording sheet by detecting displacement of the operating member using a switch mechanism.