JPS6175765A - Sheet sensing method for recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sense occurrence of jam with recording sheets as well as current amount of remaining sheets with a single sensor by forming black bands at a certain spacing in the ending part of a roll sheet in such a way as oriented in the direction of roll winding, and by detecting them by a sheet sensor. CONSTITUTION:A recording sheet sensor 62 of optical type is installed on the exhaust side 24 of a recorder device 60, i.e. between a cutter 26 and an exhaust roller 28. Black bands 72 each having a length l are provided for a certain distance at a specific spacing in the ending part of roll sheet 70, oriented in the direction of roll winding. When the sheet 70 is being exhausted, it shell be judged as normally transported if the above sensor 62 gives a White signal for all three reference points; the exhaustion starting point, an advanced point by a distance L, and a further advanced point by DELTAL(<L). It shall be judged as in jamming if Black signals are given from all three points. Intermediate information with Black and White mixed should signify that little sheets remain.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a method for detecting recording paper used in a recording device such as a facsimile machine, and in particular to a method for detecting the remaining amount of recording paper and the occurrence of a jam. Concerning paper detection method.

[Technical background of the invention]

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a recording apparatus 10 showing a conventional recording paper detection method.

In this recording apparatus 10, a roll-shaped recording paper 16 is arranged in a recording paper case 14 disposed within an apparatus housing 12. This recording paper 16 is passed through a vapor guide 18 to a recording section 2 consisting of a platen roller 20 and a recording head 22.
4 and information is recorded by this recording section 24, the sheet is cut into a predetermined length by a cutter 26 and discharged onto a tray 30 via a discharge roller 28. Note that this tray 30 is formed on the surface of a lid 32 that is disposed on the top surface of the housing 12 so as to be openable and closable. - A recording paper remaining amount detection sensor 34 that detects the remaining amount of recording paper 16 and a recording paper jam detection sensor 36 that detects the occurrence of a paper jam are located between the recording paper case 14 and the recording section 24 and between the cutter and the recording paper case 14, respectively. 26
and the discharge roller 28 at a predetermined position within the apparatus main body.

Each of the above-mentioned sensors 34 and 36 is composed of an optical sensor such as a photosensor, and therefore, when the recording paper 16 is present in front of each detection sensor 34 and 36, it is detected that it is "1 white". and each sensor 34.
If the recording paper 16 is not present in front of the recording paper 36, or if the recording paper 16 is present but its surface is colored black, it is detected that it is black 1. Note that in FIG. 11, reference numeral 38 is a paper guide that guides the recording paper 16 from the cutter g26 to the discharge roller 28. Further, the platen roller 20 and the discharge row 228 are each driven by a pulse motor (not shown).

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus 10 described above will be explained, and a conventional recording paper detection method using the remaining amount detection sensor 34 and the paper jam detection sensor 36 will also be explained in detail.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control circuit that controls the operation of the recording apparatus 10.

The activation signal of the recording device 10 is sent to the CPU (central processing unit) 4.
0, a normal motor rotation signal is sent to the platen roller drive circuit 42, and based on this signal, the recording motor 44 that drives the platen row 220 of the recording section 24 shown in FIG. 11 rotates.

Also, at the same time as this recording motor 44 rotates, the CPU 4
A recording signal is sent from 0 to the recording control circuit 46, and the recording head 22 operates based on this signal to print (record) information on the recording paper 16. - The recording paper 16 on which information has been printed by the recording head 22 is conveyed by the platen roller 20 via the cutter 26 to the front of the paper jam detection sensor 36 after a predetermined period of time. At this time, a detection signal is sent from the CPU 40 to the recording paper jam detection drive circuit 48,
Based on this signal, the recording paper jam detection sensor 36 operates and determines whether or not the recording paper 16 is being conveyed normally. That is, if the recording paper [6] is conveyed normally, the recording paper 16 will reach the front of the paper jam detection sensor 36 after a predetermined time from the recording section 24, and therefore the paper jam detection sensor 36 will be "white". ” is detected, and it is determined that the recording paper 16 is being conveyed normally. - If a paper jam occurs, the recording paper 16 will be detected by the paper jam detection sensor 3 after a predetermined period of time.
6, the paper jam sensor 36 does not reach the front of the paper jam sensor 36.
Black 1 is detected and it is determined that a conveyance abnormality has occurred. Next, when the paper jam sensor 36 detects 1 white 1 and determines that the recording paper 16 is being conveyed and fed normally, the recording head 22 continues printing information on the recording paper 16. When the recording end signal is input to the CPU 40, the CPU 40 sends a recording stop signal to the recording control circuit 46 to stop the operation of the recording head 22. Subsequently, when the recording paper 1 and the like are conveyed to the recording paper cutting position by the platen roller 20, the CPU 4
A motor stop signal is sent from 0 to the platen roller drive circuit 42, and based on this signal, the recording motor 44 is stopped, and the rotation of the platen roller 20 is stopped. On the other hand, at the same time as the platen roller 20 stops rotating, the CPU 40 sends a power ivy drive signal to the cutter drive circuit 50, and the cutter 2
6 operates to cut the recording paper 16 into a predetermined length. When the recording paper 16 is cut to a predetermined length, the CPU 40 sends a forward rotation signal for the ejection motor to the ejection roller drive circuit 52, and based on that signal, the ejection motor 54 operates, and the ejection roller 28 rotates. Recording paper 16 cut to a predetermined length is conveyed to tray 30. Note that the rear end of the recording paper 16 cut into a predetermined length by the discharge row 228 passes in front of the paper jam detection sensor 36 after a predetermined time, but at this time, a detection signal is sent from the CPU 40 to the recording paper jam detection circuit 48. Based on this signal, the recording paper jam detection sensor 36 operates to determine whether or not the recording paper 1b is being conveyed normally.

That is, if the recording paper 16 is transported normally, it will pass in front of the jam detection sensor 36 after a predetermined period of time, and since it is not present in front of the sensor 36, 6 black 1 will be detected, and the recording paper 17 will be properly transported. It is determined that the vehicle is being transported. - If a paper jam occurs and the paper is not being conveyed normally, the recording paper 16 may still be detected at the jam detection sensor after a predetermined period of time. Therefore, the sensor 36 detects "White 1" and determines that a conveyance abnormality has occurred. If it is determined that this is the case, the discharge roller 28 continues to discharge the recording paper 16, and the discharge is completed.-If the cutter drive signal that operates the cutter 26 disappears, the CPU 40 sends a motor reversal signal to the platen roller drive circuit 42. Based on this signal, the recording motor 44 is reversely rotated to return the leading edge of the recording paper 16 to be printed next to a predetermined recording start position.

Thereafter, the above-described operations are repeated every time the activation signal is input to the CPU 40.

- 10,000, in the recording device 10 described above, the recording paper 16 is
A recording paper remaining amount detection sensor 34 is provided to prevent the paper from running out, and its operation will be described in detail below. Note that a continuous black band (not shown) of a predetermined width and length (for example, A4 size or more) is colored in the winding direction of the end portion of the roll-shaped recording paper 16. It goes without saying that this band is formed at a position passing in front of the remaining amount detection sensor 34.

The CPU 4 shown in FIG. 12 immediately before the recording section 24 shown in FIG. 11 starts recording on the recording paper 16 or after the recording ends.
When a detection signal is sent from 0 to the recording paper remaining amount detection drive circuit 56, the recording paper remaining amount detection sensor 34 is activated, and it is determined whether or not there is a sufficient amount of recording paper 16 remaining. That is,
When there is sufficient amount of recording paper 16 remaining, the black band formed on the recording paper 16 does not pass in front of the remaining recording paper amount detection sensor 34, so the remaining amount detection sensor 34 detects "white". It is determined that the remaining amount of recording paper 16 is sufficient. Further, when a black band formed on the recording paper 16 passes in front of the remaining amount detection sensor 34, the remaining amount detection sensor 34 detects "black 1" and determines that the remaining amount of the recording paper 16 is low.

[Problems with background technology]

However, according to the conventional recording paper detection method described above, independent detection sensors must be used to detect the occurrence of a recording paper jam and the amount of remaining recording paper.
The number of parts is large (and the structure is complex), which causes an increase in the cost of the recording device.

[Purpose of the invention]

In view of the above-mentioned problems, this invention is a recording paper detection method for a recording device that reduces the number of parts of the recording device and reduces costs by detecting the recording paper jam and the remaining amount of recording paper using one sensor. The purpose is to provide

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a recording paper detection sensor on the recording paper ejection side from the recording section of the recording device.
At the same time, a band colored black is formed at a predetermined interval in the winding direction of the end portion of the roll-shaped recording paper, and the recording paper is conveyed so that the band passes in front of the recording paper sensor. When this occurs, the recording paper detection sensor is operated intermittently, and a combination of the detected information is used to detect a recording paper jam and the remaining amount of recording paper.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the recording paper detection method according to the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are conceptual diagrams showing main parts of a recording device 60, which is a facsimile device to which the recording paper detection method according to the present invention is applied, and the main parts of a roll-shaped recording paper 7o used in this recording device 60. FIG. Note that in Figure 1,
The same parts as in the figure are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In this recording device 60, one recording paper detection sensor 62
However, the recording section 24 is also disposed on the discharge side of the recording paper 7o, that is, between the cutter 26 and the discharge roller 28. This recording paper detection sensor 62 is an optical detection sensor, and when the recording paper 70 is present in front of the detection sensor 62, it detects the information "6 white", and when the recording paper 70 is not present,
Alternatively, even if there is a black color on the surface of the recording paper 7o, if it is in front of the sensor 62, the information "black" is detected. - 10,000, the end portion of the roll-shaped recording paper 70 used in the recording device 60 is black at predetermined intervals (L) in the winding direction (one piece has a length L).
A colored band 72 is formed to a predetermined length. Note that this band 72 is formed on the recording paper 70 at a position passing in front of the recording paper sensor 62. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit for controlling the operation of the recording device 60, and the same parts as in FIG. 12 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In addition, in the recording device 60 according to the above embodiment, all operations other than jam detection of the recording paper 70 and remaining amount detection by the recording paper detection sensor 62 are performed (since the same operations are performed, the details of the operations are omitted, and the above-mentioned one The jam detection and remaining amount detection method using the recording paper detection sensor 62 will be described in detail.

4 to 9 each show one recording detection sensor 6.
8 is a conceptual perspective view of the main part of FIG. 1 showing a method of detecting a paper jam and a remaining amount of recording paper 700 according to No. 2.8 FIG. 4 shows a case where the recording paper 70 is being conveyed normally; When the recording paper 70 is normally conveyed from the recording unit 24 shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper 70 reaches the front of the detection sensor 62, that is, the point where the sensor 62 is arranged (point A) after a predetermined time. .

At this time, a detection signal is sent from the CPU 40 shown in FIG. 3 to the recording paper detection drive circuit 64, and the recording paper detection sensor 62 is activated based on this detection signal to detect 1 white 1.

After a predetermined period of time, a detection signal is again sent from the CPU 40 to the recording paper detection drive circuit 64 at a point (point B) where the recording paper 70 has advanced by "L#", and the detection sensor 62 is activated based on this detection signal. When activated, 6 white" is detected again. Furthermore, after a predetermined time, that is, △L(△L(
When the CPU 40 activates the detection sensor 62 at a point (B+ΔL) where the recording paper 70 has advanced by L), "white" is detected.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, points A, B, (
If all the information detected by the detection sensor 70 at point B+△L) is 1 white, it is assumed that the recording paper 70 is being conveyed normally, and printing by the recording unit 24 is continued. As shown in , when a paper jam occurs on the recording paper 70, the recording paper 70 does not reach the front of the detection sensor 62, so the aforementioned recording paper detection sensor 62 moves to the measurement points (point A, point B, B+). Since all "black" information is detected at point B), in this case, that is, point A, point B,
If the detection sensor 62 detects "1 black" at point B+ΔL, it is determined that a paper jam (abnormal conveyance) has occurred.

10,000, the remaining amount of the recording paper 70 is low (when the band 72 shown in FIG. 2 appears on the recording paper 70jC, in this case, as shown in FIG. Since the information for point 6 black 1 and point B is "white", in this case it is determined that the remaining amount of recording paper 70 is low.On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the case of remaining amount detection, "White" at point A, "white" at point B.
Since the detection sensor 62 may detect the information of black 1, in this case as well, it is determined that the remaining amount of the recording paper 70 is low.

In the case of remaining amount detection, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when point A and point B correspond to the black colored part of the band 72 and the non-black colored part, respectively, point A, Although it is possible to determine whether the remaining amount is detected by the difference in the detection information of the detection sensor 62 at point B, points 72, A, and B are different from the black colored part of the band 72 and the non-black colored part, respectively. In the case of a boundary area, the detection information of the detection sensor 62 at point A and point B is "white", "white 2", or "white 1".
This results in "black" and "1 black", making it difficult to distinguish from the case of paper jam detection described above. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, if the detection information of the detection sensor 62 at point A and point B is "black", 'black', "white", white, point B A point further advanced by Yu from
That is, the detection sensor 62 is activated again at the point (B+ΔL), and the detection information at that point is added to make a determination. That is,
In the case of FIG. 8, if there is 1 black at points A and B and 1 white at point (B+ΔL), it is determined that the remaining amount of recording paper 70 is low.
Also, as shown in Figure 9, at points A and B, "white 1, (B+
If the point ΔL) is "black", it is similarly determined that the remaining amount of the recording paper 70 is low.

The information detected by the recording paper detection sensor 62 is summarized in the table shown in FIG. 10.

That is, as the table in FIG. 10 shows, if the detection information of the recording paper detection sensor 62 at points A and B is the same, the detection sensor 62 is activated again at the point (B+ to L), and this Based on the detection information at the point (B+ΔL), it is sufficient to determine whether the remaining amount is detected or the paper jam is detected.

It should be noted that if the detection information of the detection sensor 62 at point A and point B is different, it will indicate a determination of remaining amount detection in either case.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the present invention, one recording paper detection sensor is arranged in the recording device, and a band colored black is formed at a predetermined interval in the winding direction of the end portion of the roll-shaped recording paper used, and the recording including this band is Since the paper jam and the remaining amount of paper are determined based on a combination of intermittent detection information from the recording paper detection sensor, the number of parts of the recording device can be reduced, and the cost of the recording device can be reduced. .

Also, since it is no longer necessary to provide a sensor between the recording unit of the recording device and the roll of recording paper, the roll of recording paper is installed by inserting the recording paper between the paper guide and the detection sensor as in the past. This makes it extremely easy to load the roll of recording paper into the recording device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a recording device to which the recording paper detection method according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the end portion of a roll of recording paper, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the recording device to which the present invention is applied. 4 to 9 are perspective views of main parts of a recording paper and a recording paper detection sensor showing the recording paper detection method of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control circuit that controls the recording paper of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a conventional recording apparatus, and FIG. 12 is a block 9 of a control circuit that controls the operation of the conventional recording apparatus shown in FIG. 11.

Claims (1)

[Claims] One optical recording paper detection sensor is interposed on the recording paper ejection side from the recording section of the recording device, and the end portion of the rolled recording paper used in this recording device is colored black at predetermined intervals in the winding direction. When the recording paper is conveyed so as to form a belt and pass the belt in front of the detection sensor, the detection sensor is operated intermittently, and the conveyance state of the recording paper is determined by the combination of the detection information. 1. A recording paper detection method for a recording device, characterized in that the method detects recording paper.