JPH09186817A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a device small in size and low cost by adding an optical sensor which inputs an image to a carriage including a print head which moves perpendicular to the conveyance direction of a document. SOLUTION: The optical sensor 3 which fetches an image on a document in, the carriage 4 which includes the print head 1, a ribbon cassette 2, and optical sensor 3 and is movable on the document, etc., are included. Then the document is conveyer by a conveyance roller 7 until a print position or image input position in the conveyance direction and then the document is stopped. While carriage 4 is moved to a print position or image input position perpendicular to the conveyance direction on the document, the optical sensor 3 prints or takes the image in. Further, if there is a place where printing or image input is performed on another line on the document, the document is conveyed to the line and stopped, and the printing or image input is performed while the carriage 4 is moved. Thus, printing or image input can be performed at all desired places on the document.

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 printer that prints on a form.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional printing apparatus.

Conventionally, a printing apparatus having an image capturing function includes a print head 21 for printing on a form 20, a ribbon cassette 22 for supplying ink via a ribbon, a print head 21 and a ribbon cassette 22 on a form. A carriage 23 that is movable, a motor (not shown) that drives the carriage 23, an optical sensor 24 that is arranged at a position a certain distance from the print position, and that captures an image on the form; It was composed of a transporting means for transporting.

[0004]

However, in the printing apparatus of the above-mentioned conventional example, when capturing an image of the entire form width, the optical sensor must have a dimension larger than the form width, and the mounting device is large. And the cost will increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus which solves the above problems and contributes to downsizing of the apparatus and cost reduction.

[0006]

Therefore, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, an optical sensor for capturing an image is added to a carriage including a print head that moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which a form is conveyed. It is possible to reduce the size of the optical sensor, which required a dimension larger than the form width.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carriage portion showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the printing apparatus includes a print head 1 for printing on a form, a ribbon cassette 2 for supplying ink via a ribbon, an optical sensor 3 for capturing an image on the form, and the print head. A carriage 4 including a ribbon cassette 1, a ribbon cassette 2, and an optical sensor 3 and movable on a document.
A carriage shaft 5 for guiding the movement of the carriage 4, a platen 6 arranged to face the print head 1 and driven to rotate, and a conveyance roller 7 for conveying a form.
A sheet guide 8 for guiding the conveyance of the form, and a motor 9 for driving the carriage 4.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus having the above structure will be described.

The conveyance roller 7 conveys the form to a printing position or an image capturing position in the conveyance direction on the form and stops the form. After that, up to the print position or image capture position in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction on the form,
Printing or image capture is performed while moving the carriage 4. Further, if there is a place to print or capture an image in another line on the form, the form is conveyed to that line, the form is stopped, and the carriage 4 is moved to print or capture an image.

In this way, printing or image capturing can be performed at all desired locations on the form.

Next, the configuration and operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The configuration of this embodiment has a recognition unit in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention described above, in which a character is cut out from the image data of the optical sensor 3 for capturing an image on a form and recognized.

The conveyance roller 7 conveys the form to a print position in the conveyance direction on the form or a position for character recognition, and stops the form. After that, printing or character recognition is performed while moving the carriage 4 to a printing position or a position where character recognition is performed on the form in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Further, if there is a place for printing or character recognition on another line on the form, the form is conveyed to that line, the form is stopped, and printing or character recognition is performed while moving the carriage 4.

In this way, printing or character recognition can be performed at all desired locations on the form.

Next, the configuration and operation of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the printing apparatus according to this embodiment.

The conveyance roller 7 conveys the sheet to the print position in the sheet conveyance direction and stops. The carriage 4 is moved so that the optical sensor 3 detects the right side or the left side of the form. Printing can be performed while moving the carriage 4 to the printing position with reference to the right side or the left side of the detected form.

Next, the configuration and operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The configuration of this embodiment is the same as the configurations of the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the printing apparatus according to this embodiment.

The carrying roller 7 carries the paper to the print position in the paper carrying direction and stops. The carriage 4 is moved so that the optical sensor 3 detects the print frame, and the center position of the print frame is determined. By the deviation from the center position, the form can be conveyed or reversely conveyed by the conveying roller 7 in the conveying direction, and the amount of movement of the carriage 4 can be corrected in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction to perform printing.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, by adding an optical sensor for capturing an image to a carriage including a print head that moves in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of a form, it is possible to increase the width of the form more than the conventional form. It is possible to reduce the size of the optical sensor, which had to be dimensioned, which contributes to downsizing of the device and cost reduction.

In the other printing apparatus of the present invention, the recognition unit for recognizing characters from the image of the optical sensor is provided, so that desired characters or the like are printed on the form based on the result of character recognition on the form. It becomes possible to do. Further, the characters printed by the printing means are captured by the optical sensor, and the recognition unit performs character recognition, so that it is possible to immediately confirm whether or not the characters are correctly printed or the characters are correctly recognized.

Since the sensor for capturing an image and the print head are moved in the width direction of the form by the same mechanism, the conventional example in which the sensor for capturing the image and the print head are moved separately in the width direction of the form. Compared to this, it can be realized at a smaller size and lower price.

In still another printing apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate horizontal deviation of printing due to a form skew. Further, since the sides of the form are detected at the same point on the conveyance path, more accurate correction can be made, which is effective in preventing print misalignment.

In still another printing apparatus of the present invention, even if the form is skewed or meandered, the printing can be put in the printing frame.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carriage unit showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional printing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Print Head 2 Ribbon Cassette 3 Optical Sensor 4 Carriage 5 Carriage Shaft 6 Platen 7 Conveyor Roller 8 Sheet Guide 9 Motor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing means for printing on a form; (b) an optical sensor for capturing an image on the form; and (c) a printing means and the optical sensor, which are movably arranged on the form. A printing apparatus comprising: an installed carriage; (d) a drive source for driving the carriage; and (e) a transporting unit for transporting a form. 2. A printing means for printing on a form; (b) an optical sensor for capturing an image on the form; and (c) a printing means and the optical sensor, which are movably arranged on the form. A carriage provided, (d) a drive source for driving the carriage, (e) a conveying unit for conveying a form, and (f) a recognition unit for recognizing a character cut out from the image data of the optical sensor. A printing device characterized in that 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the right side or the left side of the form is detected by an optical sensor, and the printing position is printed based on the right side or the left side of the form. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing frame on the form is detected by an optical sensor, and the printing position is corrected so that the printing is printed in the printing frame and printing is performed.