JPH06135077A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize normal printing even when a printing medium such as a card or the like is set and printed without any attention paid to whether the printing medium is directed with its front or back upward or the inserting direction of the medium to a printing part. CONSTITUTION:Even when a printing medium C regulated in the inserting direction to a printing part where a thermal head 3 is present or in the direction of the front and rear faces is inserted into the apparatus without any attention paid to the direction, etc., the inserting direction or the direction of the front and rear faces of the medium is detected by a detector 10. A printing content corresponding to the detected result is printed, whereby the printing content of a desired position and a desired direction is obtained. If the rear face of the medium is impossible to print, the transferring direction of the medium by a transferring means 18 is inverted and the medium is returned to a cassette case 2 of a lower stage as a second storing means of printing media without being printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device such as a card printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, prepaid cards in the pachinko industry, railway field, etc., use a thermoreversible material of a type in which a polymer and a low molecule are combined, which is called a rewrite card.
Printing media that allow rewriting of data are being used.

This thermoreversible material has a peculiarity that when heated to a predetermined temperature, the transparent state and the cloudy state reversibly change, and after the change, the two forms are maintained as they are even if the temperature is returned to room temperature. It has a property, and by utilizing such a property, the print content on a print medium such as a card can be rewritten many times by using heat. Printing on such cards can be performed by a printing device equipped with a thermal head, and the printed cards can be collected according to the intended purpose and can be recycled by changing the printing contents. , Is about to replace the existing disposable prepaid cards.

[0004]

However, the prepaid card as described above has a printing surface (front surface) on which various characters and the like are printed and a back surface on which it is not printed, or different printing contents on both sides of the card. When printing a card, the front and back sides should be reversed, as there is usually a relationship between the front and back sides of the card, and the characters that are printed on the print side have directionality to the card. If you insert the card into the printing device or reverse the insertion direction when inserting the card, the card will not be printed in the correct position, so put the card in the cassette case etc. of the paper feeding part of the printing device. This was troublesome because it was necessary to align the front and back sides of the card with the transport direction when setting.

In addition, when the cards are aligned, if the cards are turned upside down or turned around, the cards frequently rub against each other, and a large amount of static electricity accumulates on the cards, which causes conveyance failure during paper feeding. There was a fear of causing. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when performing predetermined printing on a print medium such as a card, without worrying about the front-back relation of the print medium and the insertion direction with respect to the print section. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can print in a regular position and posture even when set and printed.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stores a print medium in a piled state in a printing apparatus for printing on a single print medium whose insertion direction with respect to a print section is defined. A print medium accommodating unit, a conveying unit that conveys the print medium to the printing unit, a print medium insertion direction determining unit that determines the insertion direction of the print medium with respect to the printing unit, and a print content corresponding to the determination result of the determining unit. A print control unit that controls the print unit to print on the print medium is provided.

Further, in a printing apparatus for printing on a single print medium having a front and back relation with respect to the print section, a print medium storage means for storing the print medium in a piled state and a forward direction of the print medium toward the print section. And a reverse direction opposite to that, a print medium front and back discriminating means for discriminating the relationship between the front and back sides of the print medium with respect to the printing section, and a forward conveying direction of the conveying means according to the discrimination result of the discriminating means. It is preferable to provide a conveyance direction control means for controlling the reverse.

Further, in a printing apparatus for printing on a single-sheet printing medium whose insertion direction with respect to the printing section is defined,
A print medium storing means for storing the print medium in a piled state, a conveying means capable of conveying the print medium in a forward direction toward the printing section and a reverse direction opposite thereto, and an insertion direction of the print medium into the printing section are determined. A print medium insertion direction determining means and a transport direction control means for controlling the forward and reverse of the transport direction by the transport means according to the determination result of the determining means may be provided.

In the printing apparatus, the printing medium storage means is a first printing medium storage means, and a second printing medium storage means for storing the printing medium conveyed in the opposite direction by the conveying means in a piled state. It is effective if provided.
Then, in the printing apparatus, the first printing medium storage means and the second printing medium storage means are respectively configured by the same detachable and interchangeable cassette case, and each of the cassette cases is arranged on the front and back sides and the printing medium. It is more effective if the front end side and the rear end side in the sending direction are interchanged so that they can be mounted respectively.

[0010]

According to the printing apparatus having the above-described structure, even if a printing medium having a specified insertion direction with respect to the printing unit is inserted into the apparatus without worrying about the insertion direction, the inserted printing medium is The insertion direction is determined by the print medium insertion direction determination means, and the print content corresponding to the determination result is printed on the print medium by the print control means. Also, by performing printing corresponding to the direction, printing can be performed at a desired position and directionality.

Further, a conveying means capable of conveying the print medium to the printing portion in the forward direction and the opposite direction to the print portion, a print medium front / back discriminating means for discriminating the front / back relation of the print medium, and discrimination of the discriminating means. By providing a transport direction control unit that controls the forward and reverse of the transport direction by the transport unit according to the result, a print medium whose front-to-back relationship with the printing unit is specified can be inserted into the apparatus without aligning the front-to-back relationship. However, when the inserted print medium is inserted upside down in the opposite direction to the normal orientation, it is discriminated by the print medium front / back discriminating means, and the conveyance direction control means without printing there. Transported in a controlled transport direction.

Further, there are provided a print medium insertion direction discriminating means for discriminating the insertion direction of the print medium with respect to the printing portion, and a conveying direction control means for controlling forward and reverse of the conveying direction by the conveying means according to the discrimination result of the discriminating means. If it is provided, even if you insert a print medium that has a specified insertion direction with respect to the printing unit into the device without worrying about the insertion direction, if the insertion direction is opposite to the normal direction, The insertion direction is determined by the print medium insertion direction determination means, and the print medium is conveyed in the conveyance direction controlled by the conveyance direction control means without being printed on the discrimination result.

Also, the first storage of the print medium in a piled state
By providing the print medium storing means and the second print medium storing means for storing the print medium conveyed in the opposite direction by the conveying means in a piled state, the insertion direction with respect to the front and back or the printing portion is set to the specified direction. Therefore, the print media that are returned in the opposite direction because they are reversed can be sequentially stored in the second print medium storage means.

Further, the first and second print medium accommodating means are respectively constituted by the same detachable and interchangeable cassette case, and each of the cassette cases is arranged on the front and back sides and the front end side in the print medium feeding direction. If the rear end side is replaced with the other so as to be mountable, the print medium returned and stored in the cassette case of the second print medium storage means can be removed by removing the cassette case and the print medium can be reversed. If the leading end side and the trailing end side in the sending direction are interchanged and attached to the mounting position of the cassette case of the first print medium storage means, the print medium is supplied as it is without being taken out of the cassette and realigned. I can make paper.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

This printing apparatus prints on a printing medium C such as a single-leaf card by a thermal head 3 and a platen 4 which form a printing unit. The first printing medium stores the printing medium C in a piled state. A cassette case 1 that is a storage unit, a cassette case 2 that is a second print medium storage unit that is disposed immediately below the cassette case 1 and that is similar to the cassette case 1, and a forward direction in which the print medium C is directed to the printing unit and the opposite direction. A transporting means 18 including various rollers capable of transporting in the opposite direction is provided.

Further, as will be described in detail later, a print medium insertion direction discriminating means for discriminating the insertion direction of the print medium in which the insertion direction with respect to the printing unit is defined,
Print control means for controlling the print unit so that the print content corresponding to the determination result of the determination means is printed on the print medium;
A print medium front / back discriminating means for discriminating the front / back relation of the print medium in which the front / back relation with respect to the printing portion is defined, and the conveying direction of the conveying means 18 is the forward direction toward the print portion or it depending on the discrimination result of the discriminating means. And a conveyance direction control means for controlling the opposite direction.

The delivery of the print medium C from the cassette case 1 by this printing device is performed by moving the delivery roller 5 arranged in a portion of the cassette case 1 on the delivery side with the lower surface opened in the direction of arrow A in FIG. This is performed by rotating and the rotation causes the lower print medium C housed in the cassette case 1 to be sequentially sent to the left side in the drawing.

The fed print medium C is further conveyed to the left in the figure by the feed roller 6, and at the same time, is placed at the lowest position by the reverse roller 7 which is given a rotational force in the direction of arrow B. Excess print media C other than the ones positioned are returned to the cassette case 1 side opposite to the feeding direction, and separated one by one.

The reverse roller 7 constituting the separating / feeding mechanism is arranged on the upper side so as to face the feed roller 6, and in the arrow B direction opposite to the forward direction toward the printing portion up to a predetermined load. The rotational force from the drive system is transmitted via a clutch (torque limiter) not shown so as to rotate, and two or more print media C are provided between the drive roller and the feed roller 6.
When the sheet is sandwiched, the print medium on the side in contact with the reverse roller 7 is returned to the cassette case 1 side, and when there is one print medium with the feed roller 6, the rotational force of the feed roller 6 is the print medium. Reverse roller 7 through
When the clutch idles, the clutch rotates to follow the feed roller 6 and conveys the print medium toward the printing unit having the thermal head 3.

The print medium C separated and sent out as one sheet is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 8 and 9 which are paired in the vertical direction and are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction.
The sheet is conveyed through the conveying path 21 between the thermal head 3 and the platen 4 that form the printing section, where predetermined printing is performed, and when the printing is completed, the sheet is discharged to a tray (not shown) or the like and stacked.

The transfer path 21 merges with the branch transfer path 22 leading to the cassette case 2 on the lower side on the way, and a phantom line in FIG. 1 made of a hinge having a very weak spring force at the junction. 1 is provided with a reverse feeding guide plate 17 rotatable to a position shown in FIG. 1, and the front end side thereof is brought into contact with the upper conveyance guide plate 23 in FIG. The transport path toward the thermal head 3 is closed so that when the print medium C is transported in the forward direction, the print medium C itself is pushed open against the spring force.

A photodetector 16, which will be described in detail later, is provided on the downstream side of the reverse feeding guide plate 17 in the conveying direction, whereby the print medium C conveyed in the conveying path 21 is detected. A pair of conveying rollers 12 and 14 are provided at intervals in the branching conveyance path 22, and the printing medium C conveyed in the opposite direction is sequentially conveyed to the cassette case 2 through the branching conveyance path 22 and is then transferred. Store in a piled state.

The conveying roller pairs 12 and 14 and the conveying roller pairs 8 and 9 on the conveying path 21 are arranged at intervals according to the length of each conveying path and the length of the print medium used in the conveying direction. It is advisable to appropriately determine the number.

Next, the printing medium C used in this printing apparatus
An example will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Print medium C
As shown in FIG. 3, an example thereof is a rewritable print medium that uses a thermoreversible material of a type in which a high molecular weight compound and a low molecular weight compound are combined. The protective layer 25 is formed on the surface which is heated by, the recording layer 26 made of a thermoreversible material in which the above-mentioned polymer and low molecule are compounded is formed under the protective layer 25, and black paper or the like is further formed under the recording layer 26. The light reflection layer 27, the white polyester film (white PET) 28, the preprinted portion 29 to be printed, and the card mount portion 31 are sequentially laminated to form a laminated state.

The recording layer 26 is in a transparent state at room temperature before printing, and in the case of this print medium, the light reflection layer 27 located therebelow is black, so that all of the recording layers except the colored printing portion are printed. Since the light reflection layer 27 can be seen in the part, the whole part looks black. Then, when the print medium C is heated from the protective layer 25 side to the writing temperature of, for example, 105 ° C. or more by the thermal head 3 (FIG. 1), only the heated portion of the recording layer 26 becomes cloudy from the transparent state until then. Change to state.

Therefore, for example, as shown in the external appearance of the print medium C in FIG. 4, when the entire portion other than the bar code 32 and the amount display portion 33 is heated to make it cloudy, the barcode 32 and the amount display portion 33 are displayed. Only the part remains transparent, and those parts become the black color of the base and become visible.

On the print medium C, a printing section 34 in which a company name, a mark, etc. are colored in advance by printing or the like,
35 are provided. The printing units 34 and 35 are sufficiently visible from the outside even if the entire printing medium is heated to the above-described clouding writing temperature and becomes a cloudy state.

When the rewritable card type print medium C is heated to the above writing temperature and becomes a white turbid state, the white turbid state is maintained even if the temperature returns to room temperature, and the original state is restored there. It does not return to the transparent state unless an erasing temperature (for example, 76 ° C. to 96 ° C.) for returning to the transparent state is added. Therefore, when an erasing temperature is applied to the print medium C, the cloudiness that has been present is changed to a transparent state, but the transparent state is maintained as it is even if the temperature is subsequently returned to room temperature.

As described above, in the rewritable card type printing medium C using the thermoreversible material, the recording layer 26 changes from transparent to a cloudy state when a writing temperature is applied, and from the cloudy state when an erasing temperature is applied. Repeat the transition to a transparent state.
Therefore, in FIG. 1, if an erasing heater that heats the print medium to the above-mentioned erasing temperature is provided in the conveyance path from the feed roller 6 to the thermal head 3 and is heated, the print medium C reaches the printing portion. Print section 34,3 before
All print contents except 5 (Fig. 4) can be erased.

Even if the erasing heater is not provided,
If the collected print medium C is heated to the erasing temperature by another heating means such as a constant temperature bath, it is possible to erase them all at once. If the print medium C is a card that magnetically retains information, the light reflection layer 2 shown in FIG.
A magnetic layer may be provided between 7 and the white polyester film 28.

As described above, the print medium C is constructed so that writing of information (print content) can be repeatedly changed.
Since information can be written by heating from the side of the protective layer 25 on the surface, when printing is performed using the printing apparatus of FIG. 1, the print medium C faces the thermal head 3 with the protective layer 25 facing upward. It is necessary to have a front-back relation for inserting the device into the printer in the posture of turning on, and the inserting direction of the device with respect to the thermal head (printing unit) 3 is also the printing unit 3 shown in FIG.
It is necessary to orient the magnets 4, 35 so that they have a regular positional relationship with the bar code 32 or the amount display portion.

That is, the print medium C is placed on the backside mount portion 31.
Printing is not possible even if heated by the thermal head 3 from the side, and the print medium C ′ having a symmetrical structure with the mount portion 31 as the center.
When different print contents are printed on both sides with different pre-print parts (not shown), there is a relationship between the front side and the back side as a result, and there is the order of print data. If you make a mistake in which side is the print side first, the desired print content will not be obtained, and if the insertion direction into the printer is wrong unless the pre-print section 29 is vertically symmetrical, the desired print content (character Direction and position) cannot be obtained. Therefore, in this printing apparatus, as the detection unit for determining the relationship between the insertion direction of the print medium C with respect to the print unit and the front and back of the print medium C, as shown in FIG. It is arranged between the feed roller 6 and the thermal head 3.

Then, the detection signal from the photodetector 16 is binarized by the index detecting section 47 shown in FIG. 5, and from the signal, the insertion direction of the print medium C inserted into the printing apparatus with respect to the printing section and the front and back sides. The main controller 40 determines the relationship, and the print controller 41 causes the thermal head driver 4 to print the print content corresponding to the determination result of the insertion direction.
The thermal head 3 is print-controlled via 6 and the transport controller 42 responds to the determination result of the front and back sides via the transport motor driver 43 to the platen 4 and the transport roller pairs 8, 9, 1.
A platen drive motor 44 for rotating the rollers 2 and 14, and a paper feed motor 4 for driving the feed roller 5 and the feed roller 6.
5 is drive-controlled including the rotation direction.

That is, in this embodiment, the photodetector 16
The index detection unit 47 and the main control unit 40 function as a print medium insertion direction determination unit that determines the insertion direction of the print medium in which the insertion direction of the print unit is defined, and the print control unit 41. It functions as a print control unit that causes the print medium to print the print content corresponding to the determination result of the print medium insertion direction determination unit.

Further, the photodetector 16 and the index detecting section 47.
The main control unit 40 and the main control unit 40 function as a print medium front / back discriminating unit that discriminates the front / back relation of the print medium in which the front / back relation with the printing unit is defined, and the conveyance control unit 42 determines the discrimination result of the print medium front / back discriminating unit. Accordingly, it functions as a conveyance direction control unit that controls the conveyance direction of the conveyance unit 18 (FIG. 1) to the forward direction toward the printing unit or the opposite direction to the opposite direction.

The photodetector 16 uses, for example, a reflection type photosensor in which the light receiving section receives the light emitted from the light emitting section on the lower surface side of the print medium C conveyed through the conveying path 21 in FIG. A transmissive photosensor may be used in which the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged so as to face each other so as to straddle the path 21.

On the other hand, when a reflection type photosensor is used for the photodetector 16 for the print medium C, (a) of FIG.
, The eye detectors 37a to 37c for discriminating the front side and the back side of the print medium and the insertion direction are provided by printing by changing the reflected light amount of the light from the photo detector 16, or the photo detector 16 is of a transmissive type. When a photo sensor is used, as shown in FIG. 6B, a through hole 38a is formed.
.About.38c and the like are provided, and their positions are set on the mount portion 31 on the back surface of the print medium corresponding to the photodetector 16,
The photodetector 16 detects it.

The eye marks 37a to 37c provided on the back surface of the print medium C are, as shown in FIG. 6A, the tip side of the right edge portion of the mount portion 31 of the print medium C with respect to the conveying direction of the arrow E. One eye mark 37a is provided continuously on the rear end side of the left side edge portion with two eye marks 37b and 37c spaced apart.

Also, in the case of detection by the combination of the transmissive photosensor and the through hole, as shown in FIG. 6B, the through holes 38a to 38c are formed at the same positions as the eye marks 37a to 37c.
38c are provided respectively.

Photodetector 16 for detecting the eye mark
As shown in FIG. 5, is a reflection type photo sensor which is composed of a light emitting diode 16a and a phototransistor 16b which is a light receiving portion in this embodiment, and the light from the light emitting diode 16a serves as a detection object. The phototransistor 1 emits reflected light that illuminates the lower surface of one side edge, which varies depending on the insertion direction, and changes depending on the presence or absence of an eye mark.
6b receives the light, and the eye mark 37a or 37b, 37c is detected by the change of the output signal.

The light emitting diode 16a emits light when a current flows through the resistor R1 when a DC voltage of + 5V is applied, and when the light hits a portion other than the eye mark on the back surface of the print medium, the reflected light amount is large. The current I flowing through the phototransistor 16b which receives it is large, and the output voltage VSA which is an analog output signal appearing across the resistor R2 is large.

Further, when the light from the light emitting diode 16a hits any of the black eye marks 37a to 37c as the print medium is carried through the carrying path, the amount of reflected light is greatly reduced, and thus the phototransistor 16b receives the light. The amount suddenly decreases, the current I also decreases, and the output voltage VSA decreases.

This output voltage VSA is compared with a predetermined reference voltage VTH (binarization threshold value) by the index detection unit 47 and binarized (digitized) to form a sensor digital signal VSD, which is used for main control. It is sent to the section 40.

The main control section 40 catches the falling edge of the sensor digital signal VSD (the rising edge of the output voltage VSA), and from that time until the eye mark monitoring time t (determined by the transport speed and the position of the eye mark) elapses. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the relationship between the front side and the back side of the print medium C with the upper side facing the print side is normal due to the change in the signal, and the insertion direction with respect to the print portion is also a normal posture (pulse is 1
7), and the relationship between the front and back is normal as shown in FIG. 7B, but the insertion direction is opposite (two pulses).
When the relationship between the front and the back is reversed as shown in (c) of (No pulse is generated regardless of whether the insertion direction is forward or reverse as shown in the drawing), it can be determined respectively.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the print medium C
It is possible to discriminate between the front and back sides and the insertion direction with respect to the printing portion based on a signal from one photodetector 16. The main control unit 40 in FIG. 5 exchanges signals with the print control unit 41, and the print control unit 41 determines the insertion direction of the print medium sent from the main control unit 40 (see FIG. 7). Based on a or b), a signal for printing the print content on the print medium in the direction corresponding to the inserting direction into the apparatus is sent to the thermal head driver 46.

As shown in FIG. 8, the print control unit 41 has a memory (RAM) 51, print data analysis means 52,
Print image developing means 53 and print image sending means 5
4 from the print data supply means 55 to the memory 51.
From the print data sent to the print data analysis means 52
Performs command analysis, and the print image developing means 53 develops a print image into a bit map in an image buffer in the memory 51 based on the format and the image to be printed, and the print image sending means 54 matches the print image line by line with the print image. And sends it as image data to be actually printed to the thermal head driver section 46.

Next, using this printing apparatus, a large number of printing media C are arranged in advance so that the protective layer 25 (FIG. 3) on the printing surface side faces upward, and only the front and back are arranged. The case where the sheets are housed in the upper cassette case 1 shown in and the predetermined printing is sequentially performed will be described. As described above, when a large number of print media C are housed in the cassette case 1 with only the front and back sides aligned so that the print surface side faces upward and the paper feed is started, the delivery roller 5 shown in FIG. The print medium C rotates in the direction of arrow A and is fed from the cassette case 1 from the lower side to the left side in the figure in order.

The fed print medium C is separated into one sheet by the feed roller 6 and the reverse roller 7 and is conveyed leftward on the conveyance path 21, and when the leading end thereof reaches the reverse guide plate 17. Since the reverse feeding guide plate 17 is a hinge which is biased in the direction of closing the conveyance path 21 by a very weak spring force, it pushes it open with a load that does not hinder the conveyance and advances further.

The trailing edge of the printing medium C is the reverse feeding guide plate 1.
After passing through 7, the spring force returns it to its original position shown by the solid line in FIG. On the other hand, when the print medium C conveyed toward the printing unit reaches the photodetector 16, the detection is performed there, and either of the signals described in FIG. 7A or 7B is detected by the light. Since it is output from the device 16, it is automatically determined whether the print medium C passing therethrough is in the proper insertion direction.

By the way, when the result of the determination regarding the insertion direction of the print medium is output from the main control unit 40 based on the signal detected by the photodetector 16, the information to be printed on the print medium is still developed in the image buffer. If not, insert the information to write into the device by selecting either to develop the image at the regular position or simply rotate the image 180 ° from the regular position to develop the image. It is possible to print on the formed print medium in a correct positional relationship regardless of the insertion direction into the device.

However, in a general printing apparatus, it is usual to start the conveyance control of the print medium after the contents to be actually printed have been developed in the image buffer.
When the result of determining the insertion direction of the print medium into the device is displayed,
It has already been expanded in the image buffer.

Therefore, when the image development is always performed on the assumption that the print medium is inserted into the apparatus in the proper direction, the result of the determination of the inserting direction is the reverse direction. In some cases, it will be a time loss, but it is necessary to take a method such as re-expanding the image again or reading out the image data expanded in the image buffer from the reverse direction and transmitting the print image.

In the latter case, if the operation of reading an image from the reverse direction and sending it out does not extend the printing cycle for each line, it can be re-developed or printed if it is realized mainly by hardware. Since the speed is not reduced, it is possible to obtain the print according to the inserting direction of the print medium without reducing the throughput at all. By doing so, even when the print medium is inserted into the device in the reverse direction, the print content corresponding to the inserting direction can be printed on the print medium.

In the above description, the case where the print medium has a rectangular shape has been described as an example. Therefore, for the print medium inserted in the device in the opposite direction, the information to be written on the print surface is written. Although it was mentioned that the image data can be dealt with by rotating the image data by 180 ° when the image is developed, when the print medium is a square, the eye mark 48a shown in FIG. 9 for determining the insertion direction on the print medium side. If the indexes such as ~ 48d are provided so that they can be distinguished, the rotation amount of the image data is not 90 degrees but 90 degrees.
It can also be handled by rotating.

Further, trays (not shown) for accommodating the print media on which printing has been completed are provided in upper and lower stages so that the print media inserted in the apparatus in the normal direction and the print media inserted in the reverse direction are different from each other. If a mechanism for separately storing each tray (for example, a sorter mechanism used in copiers, etc.) is provided, the printing directions will be aligned for each tray and the print media will be stacked, further improving usability. Will get better.

Next, a case will be described in which the print medium is stored in the cassette case 1 in a state in which the relationship between the front and back sides is also ignored and sequentially fed. In this case, the print medium C shown in FIG.
If the back side (mounting part 31 side) is conveyed in a position facing the thermal head 3, it is necessary to stop the printing operation because printing cannot be performed on the mount part 31 side.

Therefore, in this printing apparatus, when the print medium C is stored in the cassette case 1 and the feeding is started in a storage state in which the above-mentioned relationship between the front and back is ignored, the relationship between the front and back and the insertion direction with respect to the printing portion are set. The print medium is conveyed in a normal posture (the state of FIG. 7A), and the posture in which the front and back sides are normal and the insertion direction with respect to the printing unit is opposite (the state of FIG. 7B). As described above, the information to be written at the regular position is image-developed on the conveyed print medium, or the development is rotated 180 ° from the regular position to be developed, and the print medium C is printed. Predetermined information is printed on the printing surface.

When it is determined that the print medium C is inserted in a posture in which printing cannot be performed because the front and back relations are opposite to the normal state regardless of the insertion direction with respect to the print portion, the print medium C is determined. When the photodetector 16 detects the rear end of C, the platen drive motor 44 (FIG. 5) is stopped at that time, and then the platen drive motor 44 is rotated in the reverse direction to convey the print medium C to the right in FIG.

At this time, the conveying path 21 is the guide plate 1 for reverse feeding.
Since it is blocked by 7, the reversely conveyed print medium C is guided to the branch conveyance path 22 side by the reverse conveyance guide plate 17, and is stored in the cassette case 2 on the lower stage side. As described above, when the printing apparatus determines that the print medium C is inserted on the opposite side with respect to the regular front-back relationship by the detection signal from the photodetector 16, the printing apparatus shown in FIG. The illustrated conveyance control unit 42 stops the platen drive motor 44 and the paper feed motor 45, and then controls the platen drive motor 44 to rotate in the reverse direction.

As a result, the print medium C inserted with the front and back opposite to each other is returned to the cassette case 2 and collected without being printed between the thermal head 3 and the platen 4. . If the next print medium is not yet ready to be fed at the time when the determination result of the front and back of the print medium is obtained, the paper feed motor 45 is stopped at that time. A paper feed motor 45
Will only maintain its suspension.

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the cassette case 1 on the upper side, which is the first printing medium storage means for storing the feeding printing medium in the piled state, and the transportation direction control means transport the printing medium. Transport means 18 with controlled direction
One of the features is that a cassette case 2 on the lower stage side, which is a second print medium storage means for storing the print medium conveyed in the reverse direction by the stacking state, is provided.

Then, the upper and lower cassette cases 1 and 2
Is a cassette case that has the same shape and is detachable with respect to the apparatus and can be exchanged with each other, and each of the cassette cases is illustrated on the front and back sides and the front end side and the rear end side in the print medium feeding direction. The left side and the right side are swapped with each other so that they can be attached to each device.

That is, the cassette case 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0, guide grooves 1b and 1c are vertically formed inside the both side surfaces of the cassette case body 1a at a predetermined depth along the upper edge and the lower edge, respectively, and both end portions of the guide grooves 1b and 1c are formed. Is slightly inclined to extend to the upper and lower ends of the front wall 1d and the rear wall 1e, respectively.

A pair of movable lids 10, 11 are movably engaged with the guide grooves 1b, 1b on both side surfaces thereof so as to be movable in the arrow F direction along the groove direction. 1c
Also, a pair of movable lids 13 and 15 similar to the movable lids 10 and 11
Are engaged so as to be movable in the F direction indicated by the arrow along the groove direction.

Since the movable lids 10, 11 and 13, 15 are all the same, the movable lid 10 is shown in FIG.
1, the movable lid 10 is composed of a flat plate portion 10a and a rotary portion 10b on the front end side, and the flat plate portion 10a and the rotary portion 10b are rotatably connected by a hinge portion 10c. .

Projecting plate portions 1 are provided on both side edges of the flat plate portion 10a.
0d and 10d are formed respectively, and the portions are slidably engaged with the guide grooves 1b and 1b of the cassette case body 1a. Further, the protruding pin portions 1e, 1e are slidably engaged with the guide grooves 1b, 1b on both side edges of the rotating portion 10b.

Then, the other movable lids 11, 13 and 1
Similarly, with respect to 5, the protruding plate portion of each flat plate portion and the protruding pin portion of the rotating portion are slidably engaged with the respective guide grooves, and the upper and lower movable lids 10 and 13 and 11 and 15 are vertically moved. And the left and right moving lids 10 and 11 and 13 and 15 are arranged symmetrically in the left-right direction.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, in the cassette case 1 and the cassette case 2, their movable lids 1 are arranged.
By moving 0, 13, 11, 15 as appropriate,
It can be used commonly in the upper and lower stages.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7C, the print medium C inserted in the apparatus with the front and back relations reversed.
In the state where they are returned to the lower cassette case 2 and piled up, since the front side and the back side are all in the state of being turned inside out, after all the returning of the print medium C to the cassette case 2 is completed. Then, remove the cassette case 2 from the device and turn it upside down (the print side faces up).
Then, if the upper cassette case 1 is pulled out and attached to the cassette case 1 and the movable lids 10, 13, 11, 15 are appropriately moved to the positions shown in the cassette case 1 of FIG. All the print media C sent out are conveyed with the print surface side facing upward (front).

Further, in the case of a printing apparatus in which only the front and back sides of the printing medium need to be aligned with each other when the printing medium is put in the cassette case 1, the printing medium insertion direction discriminating means as in the above-described embodiment is used. Even if the print control means for controlling the printing unit so as to print the print content corresponding to the determination result of No. 1 on the print medium is not provided, when it is determined that the determination result is the reverse insertion direction, the conveying means 18 is provided.
Drive the cartridge in the opposite direction to move the print medium to the lower cassette case 2
If all the return of the print medium to the cassette case 2 is completed, the cassette case 2 is removed from the apparatus and the front end side and the rear end side in the print medium feeding direction are exchanged (see FIG. 1). Then, by mounting it at the position of the upper cassette case, all the print media C sent out from the next cassette case 2 have the proper insertion direction with respect to the print section.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the front and back sides of the print medium are reversed (back side) and are inserted into the apparatus, they are automatically returned to the lower cassette case 2 and collected. Therefore, as seen in the conventional printing device, when the back side is detected on the printing side, the conveyance of the printing medium is stopped at that time and an alarm etc. is issued to notify the operator of the abnormality compared to the printing device. You can save time.

By the way, in the cassette case 1, the power supply section and the electrical equipment section are arranged below the transport path 21 of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the cassette case is installed with the printing apparatus in view of operability. Since it is better to place it away from the surface, it is placed at the position shown in the figure. Therefore,
In most cases, the space directly below the cassette case 1 is a so-called dead space, but in this embodiment, the space is effectively used to arrange the cassette case 2 there. There is no need to provide a new space for 2 and increase the size.

As in the case where the printing device according to this embodiment is used as a device for simply aligning the front and back of a card or the like, the printing medium does not have a printing part such as a preprinting part and the directionality of insertion with respect to the printing part is small. If it does not exist, it suffices if the print medium can be simply discriminated from the front and back sides. In this case, the eye marks 37a and 37 shown in FIG.
Indices such as b are set to 1 on both side edges in the transport direction.
If each of them is provided, for example, at a diagonal position, it can be discriminated.

That is, as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the sensor digital signal V is displayed when the print surface is inserted upward (front insertion) and when the print surface is reversed (back insertion).
Since SD (abbreviated as VSD signal in FIGS. 12 to 14) is different, the relationship between the front and back can be discriminated.

Further, when using a print medium in which the inserting direction with respect to the print unit is specified, when the print medium is a device which is stored in a cassette case with the front and back relationships aligned in advance, As shown in (a) of FIG. 13, only one index 37a is provided only on one side edge side with respect to the transport direction of the print medium C. As shown in (b) of FIG. Since the sensor digital signal VSD is different at the time of insertion, it is possible to determine the insertion direction.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, since only one photodetector 16 is provided, the insertion direction of the print medium with respect to the printing portion and the relationship between the front and back sides of the print medium are determined. It was necessary to devise the position and the number of indices such as eye marks provided in FIG. 1 as shown in FIG. 14, but as shown in FIG.
If two 6'are provided at positions symmetrical to the print medium C, one index 3 is provided on one side edge of the print medium C.
Only by providing 7a, the sensor digital signal V can be discriminated between the insertion direction of the print medium C and the front and back as shown in FIG.
It can be determined by the difference in SD.

As described above, the number of photodetectors to be used, or the position and number of indices are appropriately determined according to the conditions of use. Further, in this embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the case where the print medium conveying means has two motors, that is, the platen drive motor 44 and the paper feeding motor 45 as the drive sources, has been described. Only one platen drive motor 44 is provided without separately providing 45 and the delivery roller 5
If an electromagnetic clutch is attached to the drive shaft of each roller such as the feed roller 6 and the like, and the rotational force from the platen drive motor 44 is transmitted through the electromagnetic clutch, the delivery roller 5, the feed roller 6, etc. When the sheet is stopped for feeding at a predetermined interval, the driving force from the platen drive motor may be shut off by the electromagnetic clutch, so that the number of transport motors can be reduced.

The printing medium has been described by taking the special printing medium called the rewrite card described in FIG. 3 as an example. However, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the rewriting card and is generally used for business cards and postcards. The present invention can be similarly applied to a printing apparatus that prints on a single-sheet printing medium using a thermal transfer ribbon.

Further, in the above embodiment, an index such as an eye mark is provided on the print medium side, and the index is detected by the photodetector to determine the insertion direction of the print medium with respect to the printing portion and the relationship between the front and back sides. However, it is also possible to configure the printing apparatus by providing a required number of dedicated sensors that can determine the pre-printed portion where the insertion direction can be identified without providing an index on the printing medium and dedicated sensors that can determine the relationship between the front and back sides,
The present invention also includes the one provided with such a dedicated sensor as the discrimination means.

[0081]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a print medium in which the insertion direction with respect to the printing unit is defined is inserted into the apparatus without being aligned in the insertion direction and is fed, When the insertion direction is reversed, the print content corresponding to that is printed on the print medium, so there is no need for troublesome work such as aligning the print medium insertion direction. It is possible to greatly improve the workability in the case where the print content is rewritten and used again, and it is also possible to prevent a paper feed failure due to a large amount of static electricity that tends to occur when the print media are aligned in the same direction.

Further, since it is not necessary to align the directions of the print media, there is no need to take any special measures for removing static electricity, and the operation of the apparatus can be performed when the print media is inserted in the opposite direction, which has been conventionally performed. Since the operator does not have to operate the device each time the alarm is issued, the operator does not have to operate the device each time the alarm is issued, and the work load is reduced and the device is operated continuously. Because it is possible, there is no loss of time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if a print medium having a front-back relation with respect to the printing portion is inserted into the device and fed without aligning the front-back relation,
What is inserted on the non-printable side is automatically discriminated and conveyed without being printed on it, which saves the trouble of arranging the front and back sides of the print media and also tends to generate static electricity during the alignment. It is possible to prevent the paper feed failure due to, and the burden on the operator is reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if a print medium having a specified insertion direction with respect to the printing portion is inserted into the apparatus and fed without aligning the insertion direction, the insertion direction is reversed. In some cases, it is automatically discriminated and conveyed without being printed on it, so there is no need to align the insertion direction of the print media, and the static electricity that tends to occur when performing the alignment Feeding defects can be prevented and the burden on the operator is reduced.

In the printing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the print medium whose front and back relations and insertion directions are reversed is conveyed in the reverse direction without interruption of the printing operation and automatically stored in the second print medium. Since the printing medium is stored in a stack state in the means, and the print media whose front-back relationship and insertion direction are regular are printed sequentially, time loss can be eliminated because the operation of the device is not temporarily stopped. At the same time, it is possible to minimize the trouble of the operator.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first and second print medium accommodating means are formed of the same removable and interchangeable cassette case, and the cassette cases are used for the front and back sides and the print medium. Since the front end side and the rear end side in the sending direction can be interchanged and mounted, respectively, the relationship between the front and back sides and the inserting direction are opposite, so that they are returned to the second print medium storage means and stored in the piled state. The print medium is removed from the apparatus together with the cassette case, and it is turned upside down, or the front end side and the rear end side in the print medium feeding direction are exchanged to the cassette case insertion position on the side of the first print medium storing means. With a simple operation of just mounting, it is possible to re-feed the print medium in the cassette case in a proper posture without reinserting the print medium. Further, by making the cassette cases of the first and second print medium storage means have the same shape, the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a print medium used in the printing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the print medium.

5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1 and its related configuration.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining each index of an eye mark and a through hole formed on the print medium of FIG.

7 is an explanatory diagram showing different sensor digital signals VSD when the printing medium of FIG. 1 is all inserted in the normal state, when only the insertion direction is reversed, and when the back side is inserted.

8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a print control unit provided in the control system of FIG. 5 and its related configuration.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining an example of an index provided when the print medium is a square.

10 is a perspective view showing a cassette case 1 provided in the printer of FIG.

11 is a perspective view showing a movable lid 10 slidably attached to the cassette case 1 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an index formed on a print medium that does not have insertion directionality with respect to the print unit, together with a sensor digital signal VSD.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 12, showing an example of an index formed on the print medium when the print medium is used in a manner that only the front and back sides of the print medium are aligned in advance together with the sensor digital signal VSD.

FIG. 14 shows an example of an index formed on a print medium when two photodetectors for detecting an index are provided, which is a sensor digital signal VSD.
13 is an explanatory view similar to FIG. 12 shown together with FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 cassette case (1st printing medium storage means) 2 cassette case (2nd printing medium storage means) 3 thermal head 4 platen 16 photodetector 18 conveyance means 37a-37c, 48a-48d eye mark 40 main control part 41 Print control unit (print control unit) 42 Conveyance control unit (conveyance direction control unit) C Print medium

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 21, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0003

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

This heat-reversible material reversibly changes between a transparent state and a cloudy state when heated to a predetermined temperature, and at room temperature.
Also has a unique property that the two forms are maintained as they are, and by utilizing such properties, it is possible to rewrite the print content on a print medium such as a card many times by using heat. it can. Printing on such cards etc. can be performed by a printing device equipped with a thermal head, and the printed cards can be collected according to the intended purpose and can be recycled by changing the printing contents. , Is about to replace the existing disposable prepaid cards.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The recording layer 26 is in a transparent state at room temperature before printing, and in the case of this print medium, the light reflection layer 27 located therebelow is black, so that all of the recording layers except the colored printing portion are printed. Since the light reflection layer 27 can be seen in the part, the whole part looks black. Then, when the print medium C is heated from the protective layer 25 side to the writing temperature of, for example, 105 ° C. or more by the thermal head 3 (FIG. 1), only the heated portion of the recording layer 26 is between the transparent state and the cloudy state. Change to a state, it
When it is cooled to room temperature, it becomes cloudy.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0029

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Then, the rewritable card type print medium C is heated to the above writing temperature and then kept at room temperature.
However, it does not return to the transparent state unless an erasing temperature (for example, 76 ° C. to 96 ° C.) for restoring the original transparent state is added thereto. Therefore, when an erasing temperature is applied to the print medium C, the cloudiness that has been present is changed to a transparent state, but the transparent state is maintained as it is even if the temperature is subsequently returned to room temperature.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0030

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As described above, the rewritable card type printing medium C using the thermoreversible material is cooled to room temperature.
The recording layer 26 repeatedly changes from a transparent state to a cloudy state when a writing temperature is applied, and reversely from a cloudy state to a transparent state when an erasing temperature is applied. Therefore, in FIG. 1, if an erasing heater that heats the print medium to the above-mentioned erasing temperature is provided in the conveyance path from the feed roller 6 to the thermal head 3 and is heated, the print medium C reaches the printing portion. It is possible to erase all the print contents except the printing units 34 and 35 (FIG. 4) before.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for printing on a single-sheet print medium, the insertion direction of which is defined with respect to the print section, and a print medium storing means for storing the print medium in a piled state, and conveying the print medium to the print section. Transporting means, a print medium insertion direction discriminating means for discriminating an inserting direction of the print medium with respect to the printing portion, and the printing portion so that the print content corresponding to the discrimination result of the discriminating means is printed on the print medium. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing control unit for controlling. 2. A printing device for printing on a single print medium having a front and back relation with respect to the print section, and a print medium storing means for storing the print medium in a piled state, and the print medium directed to the print section. Conveying means capable of conveying in a forward direction and a reverse direction opposite to that, a print medium front / back discriminating means for discriminating the front / back relation of the print medium with respect to the printing portion, and the conveying means according to the discrimination result of the discriminating means. And a conveyance direction control unit for controlling forward and reverse of the conveyance direction by the printer. 3. A printing apparatus for printing on a single-sheet print medium, the insertion direction of which is defined with respect to the print section, and a print medium storage means for storing the print medium in a piled state, and the print medium directed to the print section. Conveying means capable of conveying in a forward direction and a reverse direction opposite thereto, a print medium inserting direction discriminating means for discriminating an inserting direction of the print medium with respect to the printing portion, and the conveying means according to a discrimination result of the discriminating means. And a conveyance direction control unit for controlling forward and reverse of the conveyance direction by the printer. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print medium storing means is a first print medium storing means, and the print medium conveyed in the opposite direction by the conveying means is stored in a piled state. 2. A printing apparatus, characterized in that the printing medium housing means (2) is provided. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first print medium storage means and the second print medium storage means are respectively formed of the same detachable and interchangeable cassette case, and A printing device characterized in that each cassette case can be mounted by replacing the front and back sides and the front end side and the rear end side in the print medium feeding direction with each other.