JPH1178185A - Method and mechanism for detecting recording paper of recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote remarkable cost reduction and miniaturization and to detect the size of an arbitrary recording paper. SOLUTION: A recording paper sensor 3 for detecting existence of a recording paper P is interlocked with a printing head 2a and when the printing head 2a is positioned at a home position Xo, existence of the recording paper P is detected by the recording paper sensor 3 and the printing head 2a is moved in the main scanning direction Hm from the home position Xo and by obtaining the amt. of movement to a paper end detecting position Xs where the recording paper sensor 3 does not detect the recording paper P, the size of the recording paper P is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a method for detecting a recording sheet of a recording apparatus which sequentially prints one line at a time by moving the print head in the main scanning direction while intermittently moving the recording sheet in the sub-scanning direction. Regarding the mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an enlarged copying machine which reads an original of A4 size or the like by an image sensor, processes the read image data, enlarges the data to a large size such as A1 or A0 size, and prints it. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-137
394).

An enlarged copier of this type includes a serial print head in which a large number of print elements are arranged. During printing, the recording paper is intermittently moved in the sub-scanning direction and the print head is moved in the recording paper transfer direction. The printing paper is moved in the main scanning direction at a right angle to the printing paper, and is sequentially printed on recording paper line by line.
A plurality of print heads are arranged at regular intervals in the line direction, and each print head prints a length obtained by dividing the entire length of the line by the number of print heads.

[0004] By detecting at appropriate timing whether or not the recording paper is properly set in the magnifying copier or what size of the recording paper is set, it is necessary to directly contact the print head (thermal head). This is extremely important in preventing burning of the platen rubber due to the above, and in avoiding the harmful effects of the print head being caught on the edge of the small-sized recording paper and causing the recording paper to be torn or wrinkled.

For this reason, this type of enlarged copying machine (recording apparatus) is usually provided with a recording paper detecting mechanism for detecting the presence or absence and size of recording paper. FIG. 7 shows a conventional recording paper detecting mechanism 70. In the figure, reference numeral 71 denotes a shuttle unit which moves repeatedly in the main scanning direction Hm.
Is provided with three print heads 72a, 72b, 72c arranged at regular intervals for printing on the recording paper 73. For example, a first recording paper sensor 74 using a reflection type optical sensor or the like is disposed on one end side (the home position side of the shuttle unit 71) facing the recording paper 73 to detect the presence or absence of the recording paper 73. On the other side facing the recording paper 73, a second recording paper sensor 75, a third recording paper sensor 76, and a fourth recording paper sensor 77 similar to the first recording paper sensor 74 are sequentially disposed for recording. The size of the sheet 73 is detected.

In this case, the arrangement positions of the recording paper sensors 75, 76 and 77 are as follows. In FIG. 7, 73a indicated by virtual lines indicates the position of A2 size recording paper, 73b indicates the position of A1 size recording paper, 73c indicates the position of B1 size recording paper, and 73d indicates the position of A0 size recording paper. The second recording paper sensor 75 is between the end of the A2 size recording paper 73a and the end of the A1 size recording paper 73b, and the third recording paper sensor 76 is between the end of the A1 size recording paper 73b and the end of the B1 size recording paper 73c. The fourth recording paper sensor 77 is disposed between the end of the B1 size recording paper 73c and the end of the A0 size recording paper 73d. Thus, for example, when the first recording paper sensor 74 is in the detection state and the second recording paper sensor 75 is in the non-detection state, the A2 size recording paper 73a is set, and the second recording paper sensor 75 is In the detection state, and when the third recording paper sensor 76 is in the non-detection state, it can be detected that the A1 size recording paper 73b is set. A home position sensor 78 detects the home position of the shuttle 71.

[0007]

However, the above-described conventional recording paper detecting mechanism 70 has the following problems to be solved.

First, since the number of recording paper sensors 74, 75... According to the size of the recording paper 73 is required, the cost is greatly increased, and the recording paper sensors 74, 75. The occupied space becomes large, which is an obstacle in promoting the miniaturization of the recording apparatus.

Second, the size of the recording paper that can be detected is
Since only the predetermined size such as the A1 size or the B1 size is set, the size other than the specified size cannot be detected.

The present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and is capable of promoting drastic cost reduction and miniaturization, as well as having high flexibility in detecting an arbitrary recording paper size. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording paper detecting method and a detecting mechanism.

[0011]

The recording paper detecting method of the recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises the steps of: intermittently transporting the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Hs;
In a recording apparatus M that sequentially prints one line at a time by moving b and 2c in the main scanning direction Hm, a recording paper sensor 3 that detects the presence or absence of recording paper P in the print heads 2a.
Are linked, and the print heads 2a.
When the recording paper sensor 3 detects the presence or absence of the recording paper P, the print heads 2a are moved from the home position Xo in the main scanning direction Hm, and the recording paper sensor 3 detects that the recording paper P is not detected. The size of the recording paper P is detected by calculating the movement amount Ls to the paper end detection position Xs. in this case,
The size can be automatically detected in a mode other than the print mode, specifically, when the power of the recording apparatus M is turned on or when the recording paper is replaced.

The recording paper detecting mechanism 1 of the recording apparatus according to the present invention operates in conjunction with the print heads 2a, 2b, 2c, and detects whether or not the recording paper P exists when the print heads 2a are located at the home position Xo. Paper sensor 3 for detecting
.. Are moved from the home position Xo in the main scanning direction Hm, and the size of the recording paper P is detected by calculating the movement amount Ls to a position where the recording paper sensor 3 does not detect the recording paper P. Size detection processing unit 5
And characterized in that:

In this case, according to the preferred embodiment, the recording paper sensor 3 can be disposed near the print head 2c disposed at the forefront in the main scanning direction Hm and in front of the print head 2c. At the same time, a mechanical sensor 3m that detects the recording paper P based on the displacement of the detector 3d that contacts the recording paper P can be used as the recording paper sensor 3. At this time, a groove 7 through which the detector 3d passes in a non-contact manner is provided on the recording paper running surface 6 facing the recording paper sensor 3.

[0014]

Next, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the recording sheet detecting mechanism 1 according to the present embodiment
The schematic configuration of an enlarged copier Mp (recording apparatus M) having the following will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the enlarged copying machine Mp includes a cabinet 30 composed of an upper cabinet half 31 and a lower cabinet half 32, and the upper cabinet half 31 is a rear hinge portion 33 (see FIG. 2). Can open and close the front side up and down. The upper cabinet half 31 constitutes an opening / closing cover 4 that opens and closes when the recording paper is replaced. On the upper surface of the upper cabinet half 31, there is provided a concave document set table 34 and a document discharge tray 35, and a document reading section 37 covered with a scanner cover 36 is arranged between the document set table 34 and the document discharge tray 35. Set up. Reference numeral 38 denotes a document guide.

As shown in FIG. 2, a roll paper Pr on which a recording paper (thermal recording paper) P is wound is set rotatably inside the lower cabinet half 32, and the continuous recording paper fed out. P is transferred by a transfer mechanism 41 provided at the front of the cabinet 30 and is discharged outside. In this case, the transfer mechanism 41 is the upper cabinet half 31
Pinch roller 42u provided on the lower cabinet half 32
, And a feed roller 42d provided in the first position.

Further, a printing mechanism 10 is provided behind the transfer mechanism 41. Reference numeral 43 denotes a platen rubber, and the recording paper P passes over the upper surface of the platen rubber 43. On the other hand, the printing unit 11 is disposed above the platen rubber 43. As a result, the recording paper P is composed of the platen rubber 43 and the three print heads 2a, 2b, 2 provided in the print unit 11.
c, and is intermittently transported one line forward (sub-scanning direction Hs) by one line, and the print heads 2a... repeatedly move in a direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction Hs (main scanning direction Hm). Printing is performed sequentially line by line.

On the other hand, a print outlet 44 is provided between the upper cabinet half 31 and the lower cabinet half 32 on the front surface of the enlarged copying machine Mp. Thereby, the recording paper P in the cabinet 30 passes through the space between the print heads 2a, 2b, 2c and the platen rubber 43 and the space between the pinch roller 42u and the feed roller 42d, and is discharged to the outside from the print outlet 44. Reference numeral 45 denotes a cutter for cutting the recording paper P discharged by sliding left and right. Also,
Reference numeral 46 denotes an operation panel including a display unit disposed on the upper surface of the scanner cover 36, and includes a keyboard 47.

Next, the recording sheet detecting mechanism 1 according to the present embodiment
The configuration of the printing mechanism 10 including FIG.
This will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

Printing unit 11 provided in printing mechanism 10
Is a guide shaft 12 having both ends fixed to the upper cabinet half 31, and three rotating arms 13 and 14 having base ends slidably and rotationally displaceable in the axial direction of the guide shaft 12. , 15 and each rotating arm 1
The three print heads 2a, 2b, 2c supported at the tips of the three, four, and fifteen, and the relative positions in the axial direction of the rotary arms 13 are regulated at regular intervals. And a moving mechanism 17 for repeatedly moving the shuttle portion 16 in the axial direction.

The moving mechanism 17 includes a driving motor section 18, a driving pulley 19 rotated by the driving motor section 18, a driven pulley 20 separated from the driving pulley 19 in the axial direction of the guide shaft section 12, and a driving pulley 19. The endless timing belt 21 is stretched between the driven pulleys 20, and the endless timing belt 21 and the shuttle section 16 are connected by a joint section 22. In this case, the drive motor unit 18 includes a rotary encoder 23 that detects the number of rotations of the motor shaft.

On the other hand, the printing mechanism 10 is provided with the recording paper detecting mechanism 1. First, the shuttle section 16 has a bracket 2
4, a recording paper sensor 3 is provided. Thereby, the recording paper sensor 3 moves integrally with the print heads 2a, 2b, 2c, and in a broad sense, interlocks with the movement of the print heads 2a, 2b, 2c. The position where the recording paper sensor 3 is provided is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the print head 2c is located near the print head 2c located at the forefront in the main scanning direction Hm.
In front of you. By selecting this position, it is possible to reliably detect the size of the largest recording paper P that can be printed.

The recording paper sensor 3 uses a mechanical sensor 3m shown in FIG. As the recording paper sensor 3, a reflection type or transmission type optical sensor which can be detected in a non-contact manner can be used. However, the mechanical sensor 3m is excellent in that the detection is reliable and the cost is advantageous. The mechanical sensor 3m has an L-shaped detector 3d that comes into contact with the recording paper P, and can detect the recording paper P by vertical displacement of the detector 3d. That is, the detector 3d is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (1), one end is rotatably supported, and the other end is vertically movable as a free end. On the other hand, a detector 3d is provided on the recording paper running surface 6 facing the mechanical sensor 3m.
Are provided in the main scanning direction Hm.
Thereby, the detector 3d in the natural state enters the inside of the groove 7 like the detector 3ds indicated by a virtual line in FIG.
This state is a non-detection state. On the other hand, the recording paper running surface 6
When the recording paper P is loaded on the upper surface of the recording paper P as shown by a detector 3d shown by a solid line in FIG. It becomes the detection state to detect.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a size detection processing unit having a data processing function using a microprocessor or the like. A detection signal of the mechanical sensor 3m is provided to the input side of the size detection processing unit 5, and the rotary encoder 23
Is applied. On the other hand, the output signal of the size detection processing unit 5 is provided to the motor driver 25. This motor driver 25 drives the drive motor unit 18. Also,
An input / output signal of the power switch 26 and a detection signal of the cover sensor 27 for detecting that the upper cabinet half 31 is closed are provided to the input side of the size detection processing unit 5.

Next, the recording sheet detecting method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in a mode other than the print mode, that is, when the power switch 26 is turned on when the power is turned on, or when the upper cabinet half 31 (opening / closing cover 4) is closed by replacing the recording paper P, the automatic operation is performed. Performs a size detection process. Now, the recording paper P is replaced and the upper cabinet half 31 is replaced.
Is assumed (step S1). in this case,
Since the recording paper P is loaded on the recording paper traveling surface 6, the detector 3d of the mechanical sensor 3m is placed on the upper surface of the recording paper P as shown by a solid line in FIG.
Can be detected (step S2). That is, in this state, the presence or absence of the recording paper P can be detected by the recording paper sensor 3. At this time, although the roll paper Pr was set,
When the recording paper P is forgotten to be loaded on the recording paper traveling surface 6 or the like, since it is not set normally, an error process such as turning on an error lamp is executed (step S3).

On the other hand, since the shuttle section 16 is located at the home position Xo shown in FIG. 1, the size detection processing section 5 gives a drive command signal to the motor driver 25 and drives the drive motor section 18 to drive the shuttle section 16 ( Print head 2a
..) Is moved from the home position Xo in the main scanning direction Hm (step S4). Thereby, the detector 3d of the mechanical sensor 3m moves on the upper surface of the recording paper P.
When the detector 3d reaches the end of the recording paper P, it is separated from the recording paper P as shown by a virtual line in FIG. 3, and therefore, at the paper end detection position Xs shown in FIG. Is given to the size detection processing unit 5 (step S5). As a result, the size detection processing section 5 gives a stop command signal to the motor driver 25 to stop the shuttle section 16 (step S6).

Further, the size detection processing section 5 obtains a movement amount Ls from the home position Xo to the paper edge detection position Xs based on a detection signal given from the rotary encoder 23. Since the movement amount Ls corresponds to the size of the recording paper P, the size of the recording paper P is determined (detected) based on the movement amount Ls (step S7). At this time, the movement amount Ls
Does not correspond to the size of the recording paper P, the fact and the obtained absolute size can be displayed. Accordingly, the user can appropriately determine whether to perform printing or to change the recording paper P, and the flexibility and convenience are improved.

Thereafter, the size detection processing section 5 gives a return command signal to the motor driver 25, and returns the shuttle section 16 to the home position Xo (step S8). And
Thereafter, a printing process can be performed by a normal printing operation (step S9).

The embodiment has been described in detail above.
The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment,
The detailed configuration, shape, method, and the like can be arbitrarily changed, added, or deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, the case where the size detection is automatically performed when the power of the recording apparatus is turned on or when the opening / closing cover that opens and closes when the recording paper is replaced is shown, but may be detected at another timing other than the print mode. Alternatively, it may be performed manually if necessary. The presence or absence of the recording paper P is always detected during the printing mode, and when the recording paper P runs out, the printing mode is stopped or a paper out lamp or the like is turned on.

Further, in this embodiment, the size of the recording paper P which can be detected by the recording paper sensor 3 is larger than the position where the recording paper sensor 3 is provided, but the recording paper P smaller than this size is used. For a model, a recording paper sensor may be added. Further, the number of print heads 2a and the type (form) of the recording paper sensor are arbitrary.

[0034]

As described above, the recording paper detecting method and the detecting mechanism of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, in which the recording head sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the recording paper in the print head is linked, and the print head is located at the home position. At the same time, by detecting the presence or absence of recording paper by the recording paper sensor, moving the print head from the home position in the main scanning direction, and calculating the amount of movement from the home position to the position where the recording paper sensor does not detect the recording paper, Since the size of the recording paper is detected, the following remarkable effects are obtained.

Basically, only one recording paper sensor for detecting the presence or absence and size of the recording paper is sufficient, so that the cost can be significantly reduced and the recording device can be downsized by reducing the occupied space for disposing the recording paper sensor. Can be promoted.

Since any recording paper other than the specified size can be detected in the absolute size, it is excellent in flexibility and convenience.

According to the preferred embodiment, if a mechanical sensor for detecting the recording paper by the displacement of the detector contacting the recording paper is used as the recording paper sensor, the detection can be performed more reliably and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a printing mechanism including a recording paper detection mechanism according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic schematic side view of an enlarged copier including the recording paper detection mechanism.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a mechanical sensor provided in the recording sheet detection mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a recording sheet detection method according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper cabinet half of an enlargement copier having the recording paper detection mechanism is opened.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of an enlarged copier including the recording paper detection mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a recording paper detection mechanism according to a conventional technique;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 recording paper detection mechanism 2a print head 2b print head 2c print head 3 recording paper sensor 3d detector 3m mechanical sensor 4 opening / closing cover 5 size detection processing unit 6 recording paper running surface 7 groove P recording paper Hs sub-scanning direction Hm main scanning direction M Recording device Mp Enlargement copier Xo Home position Xs Paper edge detection position Ls Movement amount

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Komiyama 1163 Shimoizane, Inari-cho, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A recording sheet detection method for a recording apparatus, in which a recording head is moved intermittently in a sub-scanning direction while a printing head is moved in a main scanning direction to sequentially print one line at a time. A recording paper sensor for detecting the presence or absence of paper is interlocked, and when the print head is located at the home position, the presence or absence of the recording paper is detected by the recording paper sensor, and the print head is main-scanned from the home position. A recording paper sensor for detecting the size of the recording paper by calculating the amount of movement of the recording paper sensor to a paper edge detection position at which the recording paper is not detected. Method. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detection of the size is performed in a mode other than the print mode. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the size detection is automatically performed when the power of the recording apparatus is turned on or when the recording paper is replaced. 4. A recording paper detection mechanism of a recording apparatus for sequentially printing one line at a time by moving a print head in a main scanning direction while intermittently moving a recording paper in a sub-scanning direction. And a recording paper sensor for detecting the presence or absence of recording paper when the print head is at the home position, and moving the print head in the main scanning direction from the home position. A recording sheet detecting mechanism for a recording apparatus, comprising: a size detection processing unit that detects a size of the recording sheet by calculating an amount of movement to a sheet end detection position at which no detection is performed. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording paper sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the print head disposed at the forefront in the main scanning direction and in front of the print head. Recording paper detection mechanism. 6. The recording sheet detecting mechanism according to claim 4, wherein a mechanical sensor for detecting the recording sheet by a displacement of a detector contacting the recording sheet is used as the recording sheet sensor. 7. The recording paper detecting mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the recording paper traveling surface facing the recording paper sensor has a groove through which the detector passes without contact.