JPS63216779A - Paper width detecting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid printing outside the width of a paper, reduce or suppress breakage or abrasion of pins of a printing head and prolong the useful life of the head, by performing paper width connection by a paper presence/absence detecting mechanism capable of being moved in conjunction with the movement of a carrier of a printer. CONSTITUTION:A paper 9 is passed through a paper passage guided by a paper guide 7 and rollers 6 and 8, and is printed at a printing position at which a platen 1 and a printing head 2 come to proximity to each other. A micro switch 3 serving as a paper width detecting part disposed on the paper passage between the printing position and the roller 8 is moved on the passage in conjunction with the movement of a carrier 10, and outputs information on the presence or absence of the paper to a first controlling part 4. The controlling part 4 compares the paper presence/absence information with position information in the moving direction of the carrier, and outputs right end position information on the paper and left end position information on the paper to a second controlling part 5. The controlling part 5 takes positions between the right end position information and the left end position information as printable positions, collate the printable positions with printing information, and when the printing positions contained in the printing information are the printable positions, the part 5 sends the printing information to the printing head, thereby performing printing.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a paper width detection mechanism for a printer.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, printers did not have a paper width detection mechanism.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, conventional printers did not have a paper width detection mechanism and only detected the presence of paper, so if the presence of paper was confirmed by the paper presence detection mechanism, the printer could not print beyond the width of the paper. However, there is a drawback that the life of the print head is shortened due to breakage and wear of the pins of the print head.

[Means for solving problems]

In the paper width detection mechanism of the printer of the present invention, the paper width is detected using a paper presence/absence detection mechanism section that is installed so as to be able to move parallel to the moving direction of the carrier in conjunction with the movement of the carrier.

〔Example〕

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Paper 9 is printed through a paper path guided by paper guide 7 and paper rollers 6 and 8 at a printing position in close proximity to platen 1 and print head 2.

A microswitch 3 serving as a paper width detection unit is installed on the paper path between the printing position and the paper roller 8 so as to be able to move in conjunction with the movement of the carrier 10. It moves and outputs information on the presence or absence of paper to the first control section 4. The first control unit 4 compares the paper presence/absence information and the position information in the moving direction of the carrier, and transmits the rightmost position information of the paper and the leftmost position information of the paper to the second control unit 5.
Output to.

The second control unit 5 sets a position between the rightmost position information and the leftmost position information as a printable position, and compares it with print information.

If the print position included in the print information is a printable position, the second control unit 5 sends the print information to the print head and performs printing.

Further, in the second control unit 5, if there is printing information for a position where printing is not possible, printing is not performed at the position where printing is not possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the paper width can be simultaneously detected using the paper presence/absence detection unit that can move in conjunction with the movement of the carrier.

By comparing the information output from the paper presence/absence detection mechanism with the position information in the moving direction of the carrier, the width of the paper is detected, preventing printing beyond the paper width, and preventing damage and wear on the print head pins. This has the effect of extending the life of the print head.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. ]...Platen, 2...Print head, 3...Micro switch, 4...
Control units a, 5...Control units b1611111. Paper roller, 7...Paper guide, 8.
...Paper roller, 9...Paper, 1
0...Carrier, 11...Paper guide, 12...Paper roller guide. Agent: Susumu Uchihara, patent attorney

Claims (1)

[Claims] A paper detection mechanism characterized by having a paper presence/absence detection mechanism that can move in conjunction with movement of a carrier of a printer, and detecting paper width using this mechanism.