JPH07256988A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer, which automatically carries out the setting, execution and release of special mode. CONSTITUTION:A feeding roll 2 carries out paper P placed on a feed table. In paper passing course between the feeding roll 2 and stand-by rolls 5, a magnetic sensor 6 is provided so as to read colored, white or transparent magnetic ink code printed at a proper position, which does not overlap with the printed portion at the tip of a test paper P'. A controlling section executes special test printing action by controlling a photosensor drum 7, an electrifier 8, an LED head 9, a developer 10, a transfer roll 11 and an image fixing part 12 according to the special mode specified by the codes marked with magnetic ink. And, the rear end of the test paper P' with the magnetic sensor 6, the set special mode is released.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device that automatically switches printing modes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with respect to a printing apparatus, a setting mode is switched to a special operation mode before factory shipment to perform initial setting, test operation, test printing and the like. In addition, even in an installation location such as an office, the setting mode is switched to a special printing mode for maintenance and test printing is performed. The setting of these special modes is generally performed by performing a key input for switching to the setting mode from the operation panel of the printing device, and confirming this key input by lighting the LCD or the like. Also, there is a device in which a DIP switch or the like provided inside the device is operated to switch to a special mode.

However, switching the setting mode by these manual operations often causes an erroneous operation, which not only takes time for re-operation, but also requires frequent switching operation of the setting mode as in factory shipment. If necessary, it will be a factor that hinders the improvement of work efficiency and remains a problem.

To improve this, for example, FIG.
As shown in (a), prepare a plurality of mark sheet cards a in which predetermined printing or writing at predetermined writing positions is prepared in advance, and these are read by a sensor b such as a photo sensor or a laser sensor. It is known that In this case, the sensor b irradiates the mark sheet card a with light or laser, photoelectrically converts the reflected light, the discrimination device c discriminates the information of the mark sheet card a from the converted data, and the control is performed based on this discrimination. The section d switches the setting mode. Then, by the next operation, the operation of each part e of the printer is controlled based on the switched setting mode such as the test print mode.

[0005]

However, in the mark sheet card system, as shown in FIG. 7B, the card reader unit f (sensor b, discriminating device c) and the copying device unit g are used.
(Control unit d, each unit of the printer e) are arranged independently. Therefore, the mode setting (switching) work and the print operation start instruction work are performed independently of each other, which causes a problem of low work efficiency. In addition, the mark sheet card has specifications such as special functions that the user does not need to use such as test operations and settings that the user does not need to know.
You can easily know by visually recognizing the mark,
This also has the problem that it is difficult to keep confidential information for outsiders. Furthermore, since the card reader unit having an independent structure is included, the miniaturization of the entire printing apparatus is hindered, and there is a problem that the demand for the miniaturization of OA equipment cannot be met.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device that automatically sets a special mode to perform a special operation and automatically releases the special operation.

[0007]

The structure of the present invention will be described below. The printing device of the present invention includes a printing paper on which a marking including operation command information of the printing device is attached at a predetermined position, a transporting device for transporting the printing paper to a recording unit, and a transporting path of the transporting device. Then, it comprises a reading means for reading the operation command information contained in the marking when the printing paper is conveyed, and a print control means for controlling the printing operation according to the operation command information read by the reading means.

The marking and the reading means are composed of magnetic ink and a magnetic sensing element, respectively. Further, for example, as described in claim 3, each is constituted by an invisible light phosphor and an invisible light fluorescence sensing element.

The marking is formed in correspondence with the identification mark added with the visible ink on the printing paper as described in claim 4, for example.

[0010]

According to the present invention, when the printing paper is inserted into the printing device, the carrying means carries the inserted printing paper, the reading means reads the marking, and the printing control means gives an operation command included in the marking. Based on this, the printing operation is controlled.

As a result, the special mode can be automatically set, a special operation can be executed, and the special operation can be released automatically.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment, and shows an LED printer as an example. In the figure, the LED printer includes a paper feeding unit, an image forming unit, and an image fixing unit.

The paper feeding unit includes a paper feeding table 1, a paper feeding roll 2 for carrying out the paper P placed on the paper feeding table 1, and a paper P.
A separating member 3 that separates the sheets P, a guide plate 4 that guides the paper P in the transport direction, a standby roll 5 that transports the paper P discharged along the guide plate 4 to the image forming unit at a print timing, and this standby. It is composed of a magnetic detector 6 and the like, which is provided in a paper passage path between the roll 5 and the paper feed roll 2 and includes a magnetic sensor for detecting a mark added to the paper.

As the paper, a normal paper P is usually used, and a special printing paper P'is used when printing in the special mode. The paper P ′ is printed with colored, white or transparent magnetic ink formed by encoding predetermined setting contents at a position where it can be detected when passing under the magnetic detector 6.

Further, the image forming section is arranged in sequence in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 rotating clockwise in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. A charger 8 for applying an initial charge while removing the residual toner, and an LED for performing exposure based on image data on the photosensitive surface of the photoconductor drum 7 to which the initial charge is applied.
The head 9 includes a developing device 10 for converting the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 7 into a toner image by this exposure, a transfer roll 11 for transferring the toner image onto the sheet P, and the like.

Then, the image fixing section 12 discharges the fixed roll P for fixing the toner image of the developed sheet P sent from the image forming section onto the sheet by heat, and the fixed sheet P on the rear sheet discharge tray 13. It is composed of a paper discharge roll.

FIG. 2 shows the special printing paper P '(hereinafter,
The structure of the test paper P ') is shown. Test paper P '
Is unloaded from the paper feed table 1 in FIG. 1 and is transported leftward as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. The test paper P'has a magnetic ink print portion 14a at the leading end in the transport direction and a magnetic ink print portion 14b at the rear end. The central portion 14 of the test paper P'is a test print area.

The magnetic detector 6 reads the code printed with the magnetic ink at a position corresponding to the magnetic ink printing units 14a and 14b in the transport direction of the test paper P ', and the read code will be described later. Notify the control unit. Based on this notification, the control unit performs mode change, test pattern selection, etc. until the test paper P ′ is conveyed to the position of the standby roll 5. Then, in accordance with the timing at which the test paper P ′ is carried into the image forming unit by the standby roll 5, test printing or the like according to the test print pattern selected based on the above notification is performed.

Subsequently, the magnetic detector 6 reads the code of the magnetic ink printing section 14b at the trailing end of the test paper P'and notifies the control section of this code. Based on this notification, the control unit cancels (resets) the mode change and the test pattern setting.

FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship between the installation position of the magnetic detector 6 and the image transfer position (contact point between the photosensitive drum 7 and the transfer roll 11). In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the distance L2 from the magnetic detector 6 to the image transfer position is L2.
Is longer than the distance L1 from the exposure position (irradiation point of the exposure head 9) to the image transfer position, that is, the distance L1.
<Distance L2 is provided. This distance difference is
The moving time during this period is several tens μs (microsecond) to 1
The distance may be any distance corresponding to 00 μs. During this time difference, the code of the magnetic ink printing unit 14a is read, a special mode corresponding to this code is set, and exposure data such as test print data based on this special mode is transferred to the photoconductor drum 7.
Set to. As a result, when the exposure data becomes a toner image at the exposure position and reaches the image transfer position, printing to be performed on the test paper P ′ is executed at an appropriate timing.

Even if the distance L1 ≧ the distance L2, if the standby roll 5 is controlled to wait for the conveyance during the time difference, the printing is similarly executed at an appropriate timing. Since the code of the magnetic ink printing unit 14b is a code for canceling the setting mode, this process can be performed in an extremely short time. Therefore, it is sufficient to consider the above-mentioned time difference only in correspondence with the time when the process is started by reading the code of the magnetic ink printing unit 14a.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the control unit. As shown in the figure, the control unit 15 includes an amplifier AMP15-1 for amplifying an input voltage from the magnetic detector 6 which changes based on the sign of the magnetic ink printing unit 14a or 14b of the test paper P ', and this amplifier AMP15. The output voltage of -1 is compared with the reference voltage value and the digital signal (square wave,
In other words, a comparator CMP15 that shapes the waveform into a pulse wave)
2. One (1) chip CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 which inputs this digital signal to the input port Pi
5-3, output port P of this one-chip CPU 15-3
It comprises an output buffer 15-4 and the like connected to o.

The above-mentioned one-chip CPU 15-3 is a ROM
(Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory),
And EEPROM are built-in. One-chip CPU1
5-3 is a detection code (magnetic ink code) from a plurality of print test patterns stored in the built-in ROM area.
The print test pattern corresponding to is selected and the print test pattern (test image data) is output to the output port Po. The output buffer 15-4 outputs the test image data to the exposure head 9 at the exposure timing.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a signal input to the input port Pi of the one-chip CPU 15-3 and a special mode set corresponding to this signal. The waveform consisting of one pulse shown in FIG. 7A indicates the self-test mode. In this self-test mode, the printer itself determines the operating status of each part of the printer by performing a series of printing operations,
If there is an abnormality, the fact that there is an abnormality on the operation panel or the printing paper is output.

The waveform composed of two pulses shown in FIG. 3B shows the test print pattern A. The test print pattern A is for evaluating a print image, and is a print pattern for detecting uneven exposure of the exposure head 9, for example. Such a pattern is a one-chip C
It is stored in the ROM in the PU 15-3.

The waveform consisting of three pulses shown in FIG. 3C shows the test print pattern B. This test print pattern B is also for evaluating other print images and is also stored in the ROM in the one-chip CPU 15-3. In this way, a plurality of test print patterns are stored in the ROM, and a test print pattern designated by a code (pulse waveform) is selected from these and output to the exposure head 9.

Next, the waveform in which the "H" level is continuous for 3 bits shown in FIG. 3D shows the setting data changing mode. The setting data changed by this is the characteristics of the components of each part of the printer, the initial value of the standard, and the like, for example, the light amount setting of the exposure head, the tip position adjustment of the image area during printing, the toner density level, and the like.

Further, a 1-bit "H" shown in FIG.
A waveform consisting of a level and an "H" level which is continuous for 3 bits at a time indicates a program rewriting mode. This program rewrite mode is a one-chip CPU
Change part of the control program built into 15-3,
This mode is for changing the printer functions and specifications.
In this case, the ROM in the one-chip CPU 15-3 is
Electrically erasable and writable flash EEPROM
Use M etc.

The waveform of "H" level which continues for 5 bits shown in FIG. 7 (z) indicates cancellation (reset) of the test mode. This enables the one-chip CPU1
5-3 releases various special modes set by the magnetic code of the magnetic ink printing unit 14a of the test paper P '.

Next, FIG. 6 shows another example of the structure of the test paper P '. The test paper P'shown in the figure has a change program area 14c showing the contents of the change program between the magnetic ink print section 14a for setting the mode at the leading end and the magnetic ink print section 14b for releasing the mode at the rear end. Is equipped with. As a result, the program stored in the flash EEPROM or the like in the one-chip CPU 15-3 can be changed. The magnetic ink printed portion of the test paper P ′ is selected so as not to overlap the normal printed portion. Further, it is appropriate that the magnetic detector 6 is arranged at a position corresponding to a position where the right end or the left end of the maximum sheet passes. Since the magnetic force generated by the magnetic ink printing unit is weak, it can be considered that there is almost no influence on the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing process, that is, the output image.

If there is a possibility that the influence may occur, it is advisable to use a stealth bar code for detection by light. For example, a code code of a transparent infrared-emitting phosphor is printed on the detectable portion (the magnetic ink printing portions 14a and 14b described above) of the test paper P '. An infrared ray emitting diode irradiates this with infrared rays, and the reflected infrared rays are read by a photosensor (photodiode or phototransistor). Further, in this case, the arrangement of the photosensor for detecting the reflected infrared rays and the like are similar to those of the magnetic detector 6.

As described above, only by inserting the test paper P'into the printer, the special mode can be set, the printing can be executed, and the cancellation thereof can be automatically performed. Therefore, when performing various operation tests on completed printers in factories, etc.,
It is possible to execute a printing operation corresponding to the inspection content by preparing a dedicated test paper on which the conditions necessary for the inspection are printed in advance and passing it for each inspection. In this way, in the past, it was possible to save the number of operations that were required to input and set the setting conditions required for the operation test from the operation panel etc. and change the setting to the next inspection content when moving to the next inspection. Since the operation for changing the setting is not necessary, the work is speeded up, and the efficiency of the inspection work is significantly increased.

Further, if a command to print a form overlay of a predetermined format is printed on a sheet by, for example, a stealth bar code, the corresponding format is automatically printed on the form overlay by using this sheet. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of instructing the generation of the form from the host device. In this case, when the stealth barcode is read, the print controller of the printer analyzes and determines from the barcode that it is form overlay printing, recognizes which format is specified, and reads the specified format from the ROM. The data is read out, the read-out format is expanded in the frame memory, combined with the print data input from the host device, and printed out. According to this method
For example, content printing in a format such as a bill or a receipt can be easily performed using a blank paper.

In this case, the bar code may be written with information designating any one of the registration numbers of a plurality of formats stored in the ROM. Also, the user can create the desired form data by himself or read it from the file of the external device and pre-register it in the storage area of the ROM, and then select the paper on which the registration number is printed in the content of the barcode. Simply by doing so, desired form data can be designated and printed.

The identification mark corresponding to the format may be printed with visible ink at a predetermined position on the paper. By doing so, it is possible to immediately determine in which format the paper is to be used for composite printing, and even if the papers are scattered one by one, they can be used without fail.

As described above, by including various kinds of print instruction information in the barcode, it is possible to simply select and use the dedicated paper without performing any complicated specifying operation for executing these prints. With this, various printing can be freely performed.

[0037]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the desired operation can be performed by inserting the test sheet without performing the input operation such as the key input from the operation panel or the card input from the card reader. Since it is possible to automatically set the mode, execute printing on the test paper in that setting mode, and cancel the setting mode automatically, work time for initial settings, pattern selection from multiple test patterns, function change settings, etc. Is shortened, and erroneous setting operation at the time of work is reduced, and the work efficiency is improved as a whole.

Further, since the reading code is printed with invisible ink, special functions and specifications that the user does not need to use such as test operation and setting operation are not visually recognized by an external person, and therefore confidential. Easy to hold.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a test sheet.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a magnetic detector and an image transfer position (contact point between a photosensitive drum and a transfer roll).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control unit.

5 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), ... (z) are set corresponding to the signal input to the input port Pi of the one-chip CPU and this signal. It is a figure which shows the example of the special mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another configuration example of a test sheet.

7A is a diagram showing an example of reading information from a conventional mark sheet card, and FIG. 7B is a diagram explaining that a card reader section and a copying apparatus section are independently arranged.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Paper Feeding Table 2 Paper Feeding Roll 3 Separation Member 4 Guide Plate 5 Standby Roll 6 Magnetic Detector 7 Photosensitive Drum 8 Charger 9 LED Head 10 Developing Device 11 Transfer Roll 12 Image Fixing Section 13 Discharge Tray 14 Center Part 14a, 14b Magnetic ink printing section 14c Change program area 15 Control section 15-1 Amplifier AMP 15-2 Comparator CMP 15-3 One (1) chip CPU (Central Processin)
g Unit) 15-4 Output buffer P Paper P'Test paper L1 Distance from exposure position to image transfer position L2 Distance from magnetic detector to image transfer position Pi Input port Po Output port

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print sheet having a marking attached thereto at a predetermined position and including operation command information of the printing apparatus, a transport means for transporting the print sheet to a recording section, and a transport path disposed in the transport path of the transport means. A reading unit that reads the operation command information included in the marking when the printing paper is conveyed; and a print control unit that controls the printing operation according to the operation command information read by the reading unit. Printing device. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the marking is formed of magnetic ink, and the reading unit is formed of a magnetic sensing element. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the marking is formed of a non-visible light fluorescent substance, and the reading means is constituted by a non-visible light fluorescent sensing element. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the marking corresponds to an identification mark added with visible ink on the printing paper.