JPH1044512A - Printer and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a function for reading out an exposure condition setting data from a paper by reading out a bar code using an optical sensor for detecting the paper end disposed in a paper feed path thereby reading out the bar code while feeding the paper. SOLUTION: A print paper 1 is drawn out from a paper cassette 15 through a pickup roller 21. A paper feed mechanism 23 feeds the print paper 1 from a paper feed path 22 to a holding path 24. While feeding the paper again to the opposite side through the paper feed mechanism 23, an image is exposed by means of a print head 27. The exposed print paper 1 is discharged through a discharge port 14 to the outside by means of a paper discharge roller 29. An infrared paper sensor 26 is disposed above the paper feed path 22 in front of the paper feed mechanism 23. The paper sensor 26 detects the end of the print paper 1 using infrared rays reflected therefrom and reads out a bar code provided on the print paper 1. The print paper 1 is fed upside down and the rear side faces the paper sensor 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper detecting mechanism of a printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus using an optical sensor and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some printing apparatuses which perform color printing using photosensitive printing paper allow a user to manually set conditions such as an exposure time in accordance with the sensitivity of the printing paper. Examples of the photosensitive paper capable of color printing include, for example, a printing material (media) using a multilayer emulsion coloring method in which red, green, and blue sensitive layers are laminated as photosensitive materials on the surface, and a myriad of materials containing coloring materials. And a color medium having a layer of a photosensitive material having microcapsules.

[0003]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a composite type cycolor medium in which a support film and a photosensitive film, which have been recently developed and are planned to be marketed, are integrated. This cycolor medium 1 is a medium in which a layer 9 of a photosensitive material containing a myriad of microcapsules called thyris is formed on a film (support film) 2 of thin polyester or the like. In addition to the cyan, magenta, and yellow color-forming substances, the irises 3a, 3b, and 3c, each of which can produce three primary colors, are irradiated with light of a specific wavelength. A photo-initiator that inactivates the reaction is sealed, and each of the thyris 3a to 3c is inactivated by the photo-initiator when the light of the complementary color is irradiated. After the image is exposed by such a method, the activated thyris 3a to 3c are crushed by applying a high pressure, and formed by a transparent polyester or the like called a receiver 4 coated on the upper surface of the thyris 3a to 3c. An image is developed by a chemical reaction with the image receiving layer. Since the response of the photoinitiator to light is not digital but continuous, a color development of each thyrist corresponding to the amount of light irradiated at the time of exposure can be obtained. Therefore, by controlling the amount of light at the time of exposure, an arbitrary gradation can be expressed, and a full-color print can be realized using a cyclo-color medium.

As described above, even in the case of the Cycolor media capable of expressing an arbitrary gradation, tolerances in a manufacturing process such as a difference in thickness of a receiver occur in a manufacturing process, and a delicate material such as a photoinitiator and a receiver is required. Variations in sensitivity occur for each medium due to differences in performance. Therefore, in order to print an image having a uniform color tone and color intensity using printing papers having different sensitivities, it is necessary to adjust the exposure conditions of the printing apparatus for each printing paper or each paper package. For this reason, information for setting exposure conditions is attached to the back side of the printing paper in the form of a bar code, or a data sheet is inserted into the paper package, and the printing device side such as a printer or a facsimile automatically detects the variation in sensitivity. It has been studied to acquire data so that exposure conditions can be set according to the sensitivity of printing paper.

Not only data for setting exposure conditions, but also data for identifying printing paper on which a specific format has been printed in advance for each application is converted into a bar code, and the printing apparatus automatically determines the data. Multifunctional printers can also be developed. However, printers are required to be further downsized as devices such as personal computers are downsized. On the other hand, if a barcode reading function or the like as described above is newly added, the printer can be downsized. It becomes difficult. In addition, the performance of devices such as personal computers has been improving and the price has been decreasing.
In addition to multifunction printers, inexpensive printers are required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a small and inexpensive printing apparatus having a function of reading data for setting exposure conditions from paper guided to the printing apparatus, and a control method therefor. I have. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus which can automatically read exposure conditions and adjust settings of an exposure head and the like, and can print a substantially uniform image even on printing paper having different sensitivities, and a control method therefor.

[0007]

Therefore, in the present invention, an optical sensor for detecting a paper edge (paper end) provided in a paper feed path of a printing apparatus can be used for reading a bar code, Further, by reading the barcode while feeding the paper, a printing apparatus capable of reading the barcode without separately providing a mechanism dedicated to the barcode is realized. That is, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a print head that prints an image on print paper, a paper feed path that guides the print paper to the print head, and a paper feed unit that feeds the print paper in the paper feed path. Detecting means for optically detecting the introduced paper introduced into the paper feeding path,
It is characterized by comprising a paper end identifying means for judging the end of the introduction paper by the detection means, and a code reading means for reading a barcode attached to the introduction paper by the detection means.

[0008] In the printing apparatus of the present invention, optical detection means provided in the paper feed path for guiding the print paper to the print head detects input paper such as print paper and data sheets guided to the paper feed path. At least one end (paper edge) of the leading end or the end (end) can be determined, and before and after determining the end of the printing paper, a bar is detected from the introduced paper fed in the paper feeding path using the detecting means. The code can be read. In the printing apparatus of the present invention, since the detecting means is also used for identifying the paper edge and for reading the barcode, the number of hardware components such as the detecting means can be reduced, and the dedicated means for reading the barcode can be used. A barcode reading function can be added without adding hardware. Therefore, it is possible to provide a small and inexpensive printing apparatus having a barcode reading function. Further, since the barcode can be read while feeding the paper to the detecting means, a mechanism for moving the detecting means which is usually required for reading the barcode is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the size of a printing apparatus having a barcode reading function and to provide the printing apparatus at low cost. In addition, by enabling the barcode to be read while the paper is being fed, a large amount of data can be provided along the paper feeding direction of the printing paper or data sheet. It is possible to provide a printing device and a control method capable of reading.

Although it is possible to transmit the read barcode data to a host such as a personal computer, if the printing paper is a photosensitive printing paper on which an image is exposed by a printing head, variations in sensitivity may occur. Accordingly, data for setting the exposure conditions can be included in the barcode. In order to use the barcode data on the printing apparatus side like the data for setting the exposure condition, it is desirable to provide a decoding means for decoding the barcode read from the introduction sheet. Further, by providing an exposure control means for setting an exposure condition of the print head based on the information decoded by the decoding means,
An image can be exposed under conditions that match the sensitivity of the target printing paper. For this reason, the printing apparatus of the present invention can perform printing with stable color tone and color development intensity.

Further, by including information such as whether the data is a data sheet in the bar-coded data, the paper guided to the paper feed path based on the information decoded by the decoding means is the printing paper. It is also possible to determine whether or not the data sheet is to be ejected without printing in the case of a data sheet.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an example of a printer according to the present invention capable of printing a photosensitive medium, for example, the above-mentioned cycolor medium. Printer 1 of this example
0 is housed in a thin and substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 11 and a paper cassette 1
5 and a discharge port 14 for discharging a printed medium (print paper) 1 are provided vertically. The printer 10 according to the present embodiment is integrated in the same 5-inch file bay size as a CD-ROM drive device or a 5-inch floppy disk drive device, and can be built in the personal computer body like these drive devices. I have. When the printer 10 is stored in the personal computer, a front panel 12 of the printer appears on the front of the personal computer, a paper cassette 15 can be set from the front panel 12, and a front-in / front-out front in which printed paper can be discharged from the front. It is a loading type printer.

The paper cassette 15 of this embodiment has a fixed paper package 6 in which a plurality of printing papers 1 are packaged.
, And all eight walls are formed of light-shielding plastic. The paper cassette 15 is provided with a shutter 15a which can be opened and closed on the side to be inserted into the mounting opening 13 of the printer 10, and the medium (print paper) 1 is transferred from the paper cassette 15 into the printer 10 through the shutter 15a. It can be supplied. The printing paper 1 is supplied as one set in which a plurality of sheets are stacked one on top of the other, and this set is packaged by a packaging material 5 made of a light-shielding thin film and supplied to a user. ing. Therefore, the user can purchase the paper package 6
Is set in the paper cassette 15 and the paper cassette 15 is mounted on the printer 10 to print on the photosensitive printing paper 1.

[0013] In the printer 10 of the present embodiment, a standard photosensitive printing paper packaged into about several tens of sheets can be used, so that the user can purchase the necessary amount at any time. It is possible to Therefore, using the printer 10 of the present embodiment,
Inexpensive printing using photosensitive printing paper can be performed. For example, by using Saicolor media that can be printed with the printer of this example, it is possible to perform a glossy and beautiful print such as a photograph, and furthermore, there is no need for lamination etc. for storage and durability High printing can be performed.
In addition, photosensitive printing paper does not require a toner or an ink ribbon, and thus requires less consumables, and is excellent in resource saving and environmental protection.

As shown in FIG. 3, in one example of a paper package 6 that can be used in the printer 10 of the present embodiment, a paper bundle 8 in which a plurality of print papers 1 are bundled, Are stacked and housed in a light-shielding thin film packaging material 5 such as black polypropylene.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the paper package 6 is set in the paper cassette and set in the printer 10, the data sheet 7 is first picked up and fed to the inside of the printer 10. Has been inserted. The data sheet 7 includes a barcode 31 including first information indicating that the data sheet 7 is the data sheet 7 along the sheet feeding direction X, and a variation in sensitivity of a sheet bundle bundled with the exterior material 5. A barcode 30 having the indicated second information is formed. The barcodes 30 and 31 of this example are constituted by a plurality of openings (apertures) 32 arranged along the direction in which the paper is fed, like the aperture card, so that the barcode can be read inside the printer 10. Has become. The information included in the barcode 30 and indicating the variation in the sensitivity of the printing paper 1 is determined for each lot in the final process of manufacturing the printing paper 1 at the factory. Therefore, the printing apparatus 10 can adjust the exposure conditions by reading the barcode 30, set an exposure amount suitable for the sensitivity of each printing paper 1, and set the exposure amount for the printing papers 1 having different sensitivities. It is also possible to print a uniform image having the same color tone and the same color development degree.

The schematic configuration of the printer 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the layout diagrams of FIGS. 5 and 6 which are shown from the side. The printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes a pickup roller 21 that picks up printing papers 1 one by one from a paper cassette 15 mounted on the front panel 12 and supplies the printing papers 1 to the inside of the housing 11.
A paper feed path 22 for guiding the printing paper 1 pulled out by the above to a paper feed mechanism 23 located substantially at the upper center of the housing 11 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the paper feed mechanism 23 once feeds the printing paper 1 supplied from the paper feed path 22 into the holding path 24 behind the housing 11.
Then, as shown in FIG.
The direction is changed by 180 degrees, and the image is exposed on the front surface 1a of the printing paper 1 facing downward by the print head 27 while the paper is again fed to the opposite side by the paper feeding mechanism 23.
The exposed printing paper 1 is guided to a paper discharge path 28 provided above the paper supply path 22, and further discharged to a paper discharge roller 29.
Is discharged from the discharge port 14 to the outside of the printer 10.

In the printer 10 of the present embodiment, a paper sensor 26 using infrared rays is installed above a paper feed path 22 in front of a paper feed mechanism 23. This paper sensor 26
Irradiates infrared light and detects the end (paper edge) of the printing paper 1 in the paper feed path 22 using the light reflected from the printing paper 1. Further, in the printer 10 of the present embodiment, the barcodes 30 and 31 provided on the printing paper 1 and the data sheet 7 in the paper feeding path 22 can be read using the paper sensor 26. As will be described later, the printer 10 of this example
Is designed so that a bar code printed on the back surface of the printing paper 1 can also be read. In the printer of this embodiment, since the print head 27 is provided below the holding path 24, the printing paper 1 is fed with the front surface 1a facing downward. For this reason, the paper sensor 26 is provided above the paper feed path 22 facing the back surface 1 b of the printing paper 1. Further, in the printer 10 of the present embodiment, a paper sensor 26 is provided at a branch portion between the paper feed path 22 and the paper discharge path 28, and the printing paper sent to the printed paper discharge path 28 by the paper sensor 26 is printed. The end of 1 is detected, and the control of the paper discharge roller 29 and the timing of shifting from the paper discharge operation to the paper feed operation can be performed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the printer 10 of the present embodiment. The control system of the printer 10 of the present embodiment includes a storage unit 4 such as a ROM.
9 mainly includes a main control unit 41 using a microprocessor or the like that performs processing according to a microprogram stored in the main program 9. The main control unit 41 of the present example includes a communication control function 41a that controls communication with a host such as a personal computer, receives image data to be printed and other commands from the host via an external interface 42,
The status of the printer 10 can be transmitted to the host. The main controller 41 further includes a function 41b for controlling a paper feed mechanism such as the pickup roller 21, the paper feed mechanism 23, and the paper discharge roller 29 of the printer 10, and collectively controls these rollers 21, 23, and 29. The paper feed control unit 45 of the driven paper feed motor can be controlled. The main control unit 41 also has a function 41c for sending image data received from the host to the print head 27 and setting conditions for the print head 27. The print control unit 43 that controls the print head 27 has a function 41c. It can be instructed.

In addition to these functions, the main control unit 41 of the present embodiment uses a paper sensor 26 provided in the paper feed path to feed paper (introduced paper) introduced into the paper feed path 22 such as printing paper and data sheets. ) And a function 41e for reading barcodes 30 and 31 provided on an introduction sheet such as a printing sheet or a data sheet using the same sheet sensor 26. The printer 10 of this example includes a decoding unit 44 for decoding the read barcodes 30 and 31. The main control unit 41 decodes the barcode read using the decoding unit 44, and decodes the barcode. Print control unit 43 based on the received information.
Is provided with a data processing function 41f for setting the exposure conditions of the print head 27. This processing mechanism 41f determines whether or not the paper fed to the paper feed path 21 is printing paper based on the presence or absence of the barcode 31, in addition to the function as exposure control means for setting exposure conditions. In addition to the above, for example, a function of discharging a sheet without performing exposure when it is determined that the data sheet 7 is provided.

The control operation of the printer 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 51, when an instruction to start paper feeding is sent from the host side, the main control unit 41 starts paper feeding using the paper feeding control unit 45. In step 52, the paper sensor 26 determines whether or not an introduction sheet such as a printing sheet or a data sheet has been sent to the sheet feeding path 22. FIG.
As shown in the figure, in the paper sensor 26 provided in the paper feed path 22, when the introduced paper appears inside the paper feed path 22, the infrared light is reflected by the introduced paper. Can be determined. Therefore, the paper end (paper edge or the end of the paper) of the introduction paper, in this case, the top 7a of the introduction paper
Can be detected. Paper sensor 2 within a predetermined time
If no paper is detected by step 6, it is determined in step 53 that there is no paper or a paper jam has occurred.
A predetermined signal such as an error status is returned to the host, and the process ends.

On the other hand, when the introduction paper is detected in step 52, the bar code is detected using the paper sensor 26 in step 54. As shown in FIG. 10, when the data sheet 7 is fed to the paper feed path 22, the barcodes 31 and 30 cross the front of the paper sensor 26. The barcodes 31 and 30 of this example are
Apertures (openings) 32 arranged along the direction of paper feed
Bar codes 31 and 3
When 0 crosses in front of the paper sensor 26, the paper sensor 26
The intensity of the infrared light detected by the detector fluctuates. Therefore, the barcodes 31 and 30 can be read by the paper sensor 26. At this time, since the data sheet 7 (similarly for the printing paper 1) is fed at a substantially constant speed by the paper feeding mechanism 23, the barcodes 31 and 30 provided along the paper feeding direction are provided by a paper sensor. 26 moves at a predetermined speed suitable for reading. Therefore, the paper sensor 26
By subjecting the signal indicating the variation in the intensity of the infrared light obtained as described above to appropriate processing, the contents of the barcodes 31 and 30 can be reliably read. Further, by forming the barcodes 31 and 30 along the paper feed direction, the amount of data included in the barcodes 31 and 30 can be set freely. Of course, the information is not limited to the information for identifying the data sheet and the information for setting the exposure conditions, but various information such as information for identifying a format provided in advance on the printing paper may be bar-coded and provided to the printer 10. it can. The barcode is not limited to the aperture, and may be provided on the data sheet 7 using a wavelength-selective thin film or the like so as to reflect or absorb infrared rays. Further, as will be described later, the barcode is not limited to the data sheet 7 but may be provided on the back surface of each printing paper 1 or the like, and the barcode provided on the printing paper 1 can be read in the same manner. it can.

When the bar code is detected in step 54, the bar code read by the decoding unit 44 is decoded in step 55. Next, step 5
In step 6, it is determined whether or not the first information barcode 31 indicating the data sheet 7 is detected. If the first information barcode 31 is detected, the paper is fed in step 57. It is set that the introduced paper is a data sheet. Further, in step 58, the exposure condition of the print control unit 43 is set based on the read information of the barcode 30, and preparation is made for exposing the image under the condition suitable for the printing paper to be fed next.
In the paper package 6 of the present example, packaged printing papers are of the same lot and are manufactured under substantially the same conditions. Therefore, data sheet 7 for each package
Can be supplied to the printer 10 for setting exposure conditions suitable for the sensitivity of the packaged printing paper. For this reason, the printer 1 of this example
In the case of 0, the exposure condition suitable for the printing paper can be set by reading the barcode, decoding the information, and controlling the print control unit 43. By adopting such a method, a substantially uniform image can be exposed even to printing papers having different sensitivities, and even if the printing paper is supplied little by little for the convenience of general users, no burden is imposed on the user. Printing can be performed to satisfy the user. Further, in the printer 10 of the present embodiment, the exposure conditions can be automatically read and set by the above steps.
Problems such as trouble of the user and incorrect data input can also be prevented.

The detection of the barcode in step 54 is continued until the data sensor 7 detects the end (end) 7b of the printing paper by the paper sensor 26 in step 59. If the printing paper 1 is fed after the data sheet 7 or not in the data sheet 7, the bar code is not detected in step 54, and the paper is fed until the paper end is detected in step 59. As shown in FIG. 11, when the data sheet 7 or the printing paper is fed and passed by the paper sensor 26, the infrared light is not reflected by the data sheet 7 or the printing paper. The intensity decreases. Therefore, the data sheet 7 or the paper edge of the printing paper, in this case, the end 7b of the paper can be determined from the change in the intensity of the infrared light.

When the paper end 7b is detected in step 59, the fed paper is fed for a predetermined time until it is temporarily stored in the holding path 24. Next, in step 61, the paper feed direction is changed by 180 degrees with respect to the print paper 1 and an image is exposed by the print head 27. When the exposure is completed, step 62
The printing paper 1 is discharged from the printer 10 at.
In the exposure step of step 61, when an image is exposed by the print head 27 for a medium that requires pressure development such as a cycolor medium, the medium is subsequently applied by a developing device such as a roller or a ball. Pressure is applied and development is performed.

On the other hand, if the paper introduced into the paper feed path 22 is other than the printing paper, and in this example is the data sheet 7,
Before performing exposure in step 61, it is determined in step 60 whether the fed paper is other than printing paper. In the case of the data sheet 7, the exposure process is bypassed in step 61 and no exposure is performed. In step 62, the sheet is discharged from the printer 10. Since such processing is performed, it is possible to read a plurality of data sheets into the printer 10 of the present embodiment. Can be inserted into the package,
Further, a large amount of information can be supplied to the printer 10. Such information is not limited to information used for various settings of the printer 10, and it is of course possible to include information sent to a host such as a personal computer via the printer 10.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the paper package 6.
Instead of inserting a data sheet into the
2 shows an example in which a barcode 30 having information for controlling the exposure condition is attached to the back surface 1b of FIG. This paper package 6
In FIG. 1, a bar code 30 is provided on each printing sheet 1 of the sheet bundle 8 stored in the exterior material 5, and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the printer 10 is set and fed the paper, the printer 10 can read the barcode 30 provided on each printing paper 1. Such a paper package 6 can also be used in the printer 10 described above. In step 54 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the barcode 30 attached to each printing paper 1 is detected, and the information is decoded. Then, exposure conditions are set. Further, since the first information indicating the data sheet is not identified, step 6
In 1, each printing sheet is discharged after being exposed. At this time, since the print control unit is set to the exposure condition suitable for each printing paper in step 58, the image is exposed to the exposure condition adjusted for each printing paper. Therefore, it is possible to print a color image with a substantially uniform color tone and color intensity even on printing paper having different sensitivities due to differences in manufacturing conditions and the like.

As described above, the printer 10 of the present embodiment applies the paper sensor 26 for detecting the paper edge provided in the paper feed path 22 to the data sheet 7 or the print paper 1 fed to the paper feed path 22. It is also used for reading the bar code. Further, the barcode provided on the data sheet 7 and the printing paper 1 can be reliably read while feeding the paper. Therefore, the printer 10 of this example
In, the bar code can be read without providing a dedicated sensor for reading the bar code, a mechanism for moving the sensor along the bar code, or dedicated hardware for moving the optical system along the bar code. Can be read. For this reason, the printer 10 of this example
In this case, hardware for reading bar codes, components for assembling the hardware, and an assembling process are not required, so that a printer having a capability of reading bar codes can be reduced in size and provided at low cost. further,
Since the number of parts can be reduced, the reliability is also improved, and a multifunctional, compact and highly reliable printer can be provided.

Further, the printer 10 of the present embodiment can receive information on the sensitivity variation of the data sheet or the printing paper due to the difference in manufacturing conditions or the difference in the photosensitive material, so that the exposure condition is automatically adjusted according to the printing paper. Can be set dynamically. Therefore, it is possible to provide a printer capable of printing a uniform image without imposing a burden on the user even if printing papers having different sensitivities are packaged for each paper package. Of course, as described above, not only the exposure conditions and information for identifying the data sheet, but also various other information to the printer side or the host side through the printer by the barcode provided on the data sheet or the printing paper. The present invention can be applied to a printer other than a photosensitive paper printer, for example, a dot printer or an inkjet printer. Therefore, according to the present invention, a user can use a small versatile printer to perform printing adapted to the sensitivity of each paper package or printing paper or printing adapted to printing paper in a format corresponding to an application. And printing customized for that purpose.

[0028]

As described above, the printing apparatus of the present invention has a function of reading a bar code of a data sheet inserted into a printing sheet or a sheet package.
Further, the barcode can be read by using an optical detecting means for detecting the end of the printing paper.
For this reason, a printing apparatus having a function of reading a barcode can be reduced in size and provided at a low cost. In particular, by using a barcode, it is possible to supply information for controlling the exposure condition of the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus side in accordance with the variation in sensitivity of the photosensitive printing paper, and to print based on this information. The apparatus can automatically set the exposure conditions. As a result, a color image can be printed clearly with a uniform color tone and color intensity even on printing papers having different sensitivities, and a small-sized printing apparatus with beautiful and stable image colors can be provided. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cycolor medium as an example of photosensitive printing paper.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a printer that performs color printing using the printing paper illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of packaging the printing paper shown in FIG. 1 together with a data sheet.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a data sheet is fed from the paper package shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a layout diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printer illustrated in FIG. 2, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which printing paper is fed.

6 is a layout diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printer illustrated in FIG. 2, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which printing paper is discharged.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration related to control of the printer illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the head of a data sheet is detected by a paper sensor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how a barcode is detected by a paper sensor.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the end of a data sheet is detected by a paper sensor.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a different example of packaging the printing paper shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which printing paper is fed from the paper package illustrated in FIG. 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Media (printing paper) 2. Media support layer 3. Siris (microcapsule) 4. Receiver 5. Packaging material (exterior material) 6. Paper package 7. Data sheet 8. Paper bundle 9, Photosensitive material layer 10, Printer 11, Housing 12, Front panel 13, Paper cassette loading port 14, Printing paper discharge port 15, Paper cassette 21, Pickup roller 22, Paper feed path 23 Paper feed mechanism 24 Hold path 26 Paper sensor 27 Print head (exposure head) 28 Paper discharge path 29 Paper discharge rollers 30, 31 Bar code 41 · Main control unit 42 · · Interface 43 · · · Print control unit 44 · · · Decode unit 45 · · · Paper feed control unit 49 · · · Storage unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] A print head that prints an image on a print sheet; a paper feed path that guides the print sheet to the print head;
A printing device having a paper feeding means for feeding the printing paper in the paper feeding path, a detecting means capable of optically detecting an introduced paper guided to the paper feeding path; A printing apparatus, comprising: a sheet edge identifying unit that determines an end of a sheet; and a code reading unit that reads a barcode attached to the introduction sheet by the detecting unit. 2. The printing paper according to claim 1, wherein the printing paper is photosensitive printing paper on which an image is exposed by the printing head, and decoding means for decoding the barcode read from the introduction paper. An exposure control unit for setting an exposure condition of the print head based on information decoded by the unit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: decoding means for decoding the bar code; and means for judging whether or not the introduction sheet is the printing sheet based on information decoded by the decoding means. A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. A first step of judging the end of the paper introduced into the paper feed path by optical detection means provided in a paper feed path for guiding the print paper to the print head; A second step of reading a barcode attached to the introduction sheet by the detection means. 5. The printing paper according to claim 4, wherein the printing paper is a photosensitive printing paper on which an image is exposed by the printing head, and a step of decoding the barcode read from the introduction paper. Setting an exposure condition of the print head based on the information. 6. The printing method according to claim 4, wherein the step of decoding the barcode read from the introduction sheet, and determining whether the introduction sheet is the printing sheet based on the decoded information, Discharging the introduced paper other than the paper without performing printing.