KR20160097929A - Photo printer and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a photo printer and a method of controlling the same. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a photo printer comprises: a loading unit which loads paper, forming at least one through-hole which opens a bottom and a top thereof vertically; a pickup roller which transfers the paper loaded on the loading unit; a separation unit of which a portion protrudes upwards through the through-hole or retracts downwards based on a size of the paper loaded on the loading unit; and a control unit which determines a size of the paper loaded on the loading unit based on whether the separation unit protrudes or not, creating a printing data corresponding to a determined size of paper, thus enabling to load various paper sizes through one loading unit.

Description

[0001] PHOTO PRINTER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME [0002]

The present invention relates to a printer and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a portable photo printer and a control method thereof.

With the development of digital technology, miniaturized cameras have been installed in various mobile devices including mobile terminals. Thus, the user can easily take a picture regardless of place and time. Furthermore, a portable printer has been developed that adopts a printing system that is simple in structure and can be miniaturized, in accordance with a demand of a user who wants to output a photographed image immediately from anywhere.

In the dye sublimation method, heat is applied to the print head to dissolve the thermosensitive ink ribbon, and the ink ribbon is transferred to print a predetermined shape on the paper. The dye sublimation method may include a space for mounting the ink ribbon in the photo printer and a separate means for driving the ink ribbon.

On the contrary, since the thermal printing method using a thermal paper, which is a special paper that expresses a predetermined color in response to heat, ink of different colors is already laminated on the thermal paper, the ink ribbon is not necessary. The disadvantages can be solved.

In order to miniaturize the photo printer adopting such a thermal method, the stacking unit, the conveying unit, and the image forming unit are arranged side by side along the feeding direction.

On the other hand, in the photo printer of the above-described structure, the loading section on which the paper is loaded is designed so as to accommodate only a standardized single size paper. Accordingly, when the user inserts a sheet smaller than the standard size into the loading unit, there is a high possibility that the photo printer can not recognize the sheet fed into the loading unit. In addition, even if the photo printer recognizes the paper, it is impossible to determine the size of the paper. Therefore, various errors may occur in the transfer process by the transfer unit or the printing process by the image forming unit, have.

In order to solve such a problem, it is possible to consider a method of changing the loading section of the photo printer according to the size of the paper, but there is a need for the user to directly attach and detach the loading section. In addition, when the loading section is integrally provided in the photo printer, it may not be possible to change the existing loading section to another loading section itself.

On the other hand, a method of reducing only the ratio of images to be formed without replacing the stacking portion can be considered. However, in this case, a portion of the sheet on which no image is formed must be cut off, which causes a problem that the sheet is unnecessarily wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a photo printer and a method of controlling the same which are capable of placing various sizes of paper through a single loading unit according to the present invention. .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus comprising: a loading section on which a sheet is placed and on which at least one through hole for vertically opening up and down is formed; A size of the paper that is seated on the stacking unit in accordance with the size of the paper stacked on the stacking unit, the size of the paper stacked on the stacking unit in accordance with whether or not the stacking unit is protruded upward or downward through the through- And a control unit for generating print data corresponding to the determined size.

Effects of the photo printer and the control method according to the present invention will be described as follows.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, printing can be performed on two or more paper sheets having different sizes without changing the loading unit. As a result, the time and effort required for attaching and detaching the loading section are reduced, so that the portability of the photo printer can be increased.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, even if a sheet of a size smaller than the standardized size is seated on the loading section, it can be stably received while minimizing the flow in the forward, backward, leftward, .

Further, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, by automatically changing (e.g., reducing or rotating) the print data in accordance with the size of the loaded paper, the user can individually change the set value every time the paper size is changed You do not need to do that.

In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, when a sheet of a size having a width smaller than the width of the standardized size is placed on the stacking portion, by turning off some heat generating resistors, The power consumption can be reduced.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

1 is a block diagram for explaining a photo printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an exploded perspective view of a photo printer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view of the photo printer related to the present invention as viewed from the outside.
4 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which the sheet is cut along the line AB shown in FIG. 3 (a) to explain the sheet feeding process of the photo printer according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an exemplary view for explaining a process of forming an image on a sheet of paper according to the present invention.
6A and 6B are a perspective view and a plan view illustrating an example of a structure of a photo printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
And FIG. 6B is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing a state of being cut along the CD line shown in FIG. 6A.
FIG. 7 is an exemplary view for explaining an operation when a paper having a standardized size is loaded on the loading unit shown in FIG. 6B.
FIG. 8 is an exemplary view for explaining an operation in the case where a sheet having a size smaller than a standardized size is seated in the loading unit shown in FIG. 6B.
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a structure of a separator of a photo printer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
10 is a plan view for explaining another example of the structure of a photo printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a photo printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate identical or similar elements, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of related arts will be omitted when it is determined that the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein may be blurred. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. , ≪ / RTI > equivalents, and alternatives.

Terms including ordinals, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited to these terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the present application, the terms "comprises", "having", and the like are used to specify that a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

1 is a block diagram for explaining a photo printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, a photo printer 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a communication unit 110, an operation unit 120, an output unit 130, a sensing unit 140, a memory 150, a power unit 160, A transfer unit 170, an image forming unit 180, and a control unit 190. [

The communication unit 110 connects the photo printer 100 to an external device through a wired / wireless network. Here, the external device is not limited to a portable electronic device such as a smart phone, but may be a fixed electronic device such as a desktop, and is not particularly limited as long as the device can communicate with the photo printer 100. The communication unit 110 is connected to an external device and can transmit / receive various information including image data (e.g., photographed photo file) from an external device. To this end, the communication unit 110 may include at least one module that enables wired communication or wireless communication. Specifically, the communication unit 110 may include a short-range communication module 111 and a wired communication module 112.

The near field communication module 111 supports contactless communication with an external device. The short-range communication module 111 may be at least one of Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), ZigBee, Near Field Communication (NFC), and Wi-Fi It is possible to receive image data and various commands or information related to the operation of the photo printer 100 from an external apparatus by supporting short-range communication using one.

The wired communication module 112 supports contact communication with an external device. The wired communication module 112 may include a memory card port, a USB port, and the like, and is directly connected to an external device to support transmission and reception of various information including image data, as in the case of the near field communication module 111.

The operation unit 120 includes at least one operation module operatively associated with the operation of the photo printer 100. [ For example, the operation unit 120 may include a first operation module 121 and a second operation module 122. [ The first operation module 121 can be interlocked with the power on / off function of the photo printer 100. The first operation module 121 can operate power on / off of the photo printer 100 in a physical manner such as a slide switch method or a button method. For example, the user can move the first operation module 121 to the left side to turn the power of the photo printer 100 on or move the power to the right side to turn off the power. The second operation module 122 may be a reset button.

The memory 150 stores data supporting various functions of the photo printer 100. [ The memory 150 may store application programs necessary for driving the photo printer 100, data for performing various operations related to image printing, and image data received through the communication unit 110 together with instructions. At least some of these applications may be stored in the memory 150 from the time of shipment. Alternatively, at least a part of the application program may be transmitted from an external server or an external device via the communication unit 110. An application program stored in the memory 150 may be installed in the photo printer 100 under the control of the control unit 190. [

The sensing unit 140 may sense various information generated inside or outside the photo printer 100. The sensing unit 140 may include a paper detection sensor 141, a temperature sensor 142, an opening and closing sensor 143, a horizontal sensor 144, and a mark recognition sensor. First, the paper detection sensor 141 is disposed in the paper conveyance path, and detects the presence or absence of the paper in the conveyance path. For example, the paper detecting sensor 141 may be disposed at a position adjacent to the loading unit 165 on which the paper is loaded. It is determined whether the illuminance value, which varies as the paper is covered by the paper, is less than a predetermined value, Can be detected. Alternatively, the paper detecting sensor 141 may include a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion. The paper detecting sensor 141 may detect whether or not the paper is seated in the loading portion according to the distance or time that light emitted through the light emitting portion is reflected and returned to the light receiving portion have. If the control unit 190 receives the print command for the predetermined image data in a state in which the paper is not detected through the paper detection sensor 141, the control unit 190 can guide the user to the absence of paper through the output unit 130 . The temperature sensor 142 detects whether the battery or the motor is operating at a temperature within the normal range.

The temperature sensor 142 transmits a corresponding signal to the control unit 190 when the battery or the motor is operating at a temperature outside the normal range (i.e., low temperature or superheat), and the control unit 190 controls the output unit 130, The information corresponding to the signal input from the temperature sensor 142 can be output in a form recognizable to the user.

The horizontal sensor 144 detects whether the photo printer 100 is placed horizontally with respect to the ground. The controller 190 detects the angle of the gravitational direction with respect to the main body of the photo printer 100 based on the information provided from the horizontal sensor 144, It can be judged whether or not it is horizontally seated on the ground. When the control unit 190 determines that the photoprinter 100 is not horizontally mounted on the ground, the predetermined information is output through the output unit 130 so that the user can select the inclination of the photoprinter 100 You can be guided to change your posture.

The opening / closing sensor 143 senses whether or not the first case 101A and the second case 101B, which will be described later, are fastened together. The control unit 190 can stop the operation of the image forming unit 180 when it senses that the first case 101A and the second case 101B are not engaged with each other through the opening and closing sensor 143. [

A mark recognition sensor (not shown) reads the mark displayed on the paper and recognizes information about the paper. For example, on the bottom surface of the paper, information related to the characteristics of the paper may be displayed in a barcode format. The mark recognition sensor sequentially reads the barcode information of the paper along the paper feed direction. The image forming unit 180 is controlled in accordance with the detected barcode information, so that an image can be printed with an optimum image quality suited to the sheet.

The output unit 130 outputs information on the status of the photo printer 100 to the outside. The output unit 130 may include a light emitting module 131, a display module 132, a haptic module 133, a sound module 134, and the like.

The light emitting module 131 may flicker or change color at different periods according to the state of the photo printer 100. A plurality of such light emitting modules 131 may be provided.

The display module 132 displays various information processed by the photo printer 100. For example, the display module 132 may display print progress, failure information, remaining battery power, battery information, a preview image of an image to be formed, and the like. The display module 132 may be coupled to the photo printer 100 so that the display module 132 can be tilted along one axis of the main body of the photo printer 100.

The sound module 134 outputs sound corresponding to the state of the photo printer 100 (e.g., completion of charging, paper jam, no paper, printing completion, and the like).

The vibration module 212 generates vibration having a predetermined intensity or pattern according to a predetermined condition or input. The intensity or pattern of the vibration generated by the vibration module 212 may be different for each state of the photo printer 100. [ For example, when the image data is transmitted from the external device through the communication unit 110, the vibration module 212 may vibrate once to the first intensity, and may vibrate twice to the second intensity when printing according to the received image data is completed .

The power supply unit 160 receives an external power supply or an internal power supply under the control of the controller 190 and supplies power required for operation of each component. The power supply unit 160 may include a battery. The battery may be an internal battery configured to be rechargeable, and may be detachably coupled to the case and replaced with another battery. In addition, the power supply unit 160 may include a charging port 161 connected to an external power source for charging the battery. For example, the charging port may be a micro USB type port. The charging port can be connected to a wired cable in addition to the power supply, and can have a function of transmitting and receiving data.

The transfer unit 170 includes at least one motor 171 and a pickup roller 172. The pick-up roller 172 rotates in the forward direction (direction in which the paper is fed along the paper feed direction) through the driving force transmitted from the motor 171 and moves along the paper feed direction from the front end to the rear end of the paper, Transfer. The motor 171 may be driven or stopped under the control of the controller 190, or the rotational speed of the pickup roller 172 may be increased or decreased by varying the driving force.

The image forming unit 180 forms an image on a sheet conveyed by the conveying unit 170. [ The image forming unit 180 converts electrical energy supplied from the power supply unit 160 into heat energy through a plurality of heat generating resistors, and applies the heat energy to the paper. The paper is gradually conveyed along the paper feeding direction through the conveying unit 170 and at the same time, different colors are developed according to the size and time of the heat applied from the image forming unit 180, so that the images from the front end to the rear end are formed do.

The control unit 190 controls the overall operation of the photo printer 100. The control unit 190 processes signals, data, information, and the like input or output through the above-described components or drives an application program stored in the memory 150 so that an image corresponding to the image data can be properly formed on the paper . The control unit 190 generates print data that can be processed by the image forming unit 180 based on the image data transmitted from the external device. The control unit 190 may control the power supply unit 160 to supply appropriate power to the respective heating resistors of the thermal head 181 according to the print data.

1 are not essential to the implementation of the photo printer 100, so that the photo printer 100 described herein may have more or fewer components than the components listed above, Lt; / RTI >

2 is an exploded perspective view of a photo printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, various components may be mounted inside the case while forming the appearance of the photo printer 100, and some components may be partially exposed to the outside through the outer surface of the case. Such a case may include a first case 101A and a second case 101B. The first case 101A and the second case 101B are provided on the outermost side of the photo printer 100 to support internal components and function as a buffer.

The first case 101A separates the various components disposed therein from the ground by a predetermined distance. The second case 101B may be formed to be engageable with the first case 101A. For example, one end of the second case 101B may be hinged to one end of the first case 101A. In addition, the other end of the second case 101B may be formed in a structure detachable from the other end of the first case 101A. All or a part of each of the components described above with reference to Fig. 1 may be disposed in the inner space formed by the first case 101A and the second case 101B.

Specifically, the loading unit 165, the transfer unit 170, the guide unit 210, and the image forming unit 180 may be disposed in the inner space of the first case 101A. That is, since the stacking unit 165, the transferring unit 170, and the image forming unit 180 are arranged in parallel along one row, the total size of the photo printer 100 can be reduced.

The paper is seated in the loading section 165. Since the paper size may have a predetermined error, the loading unit 165 may be formed to have a predetermined value larger than the predetermined paper size so that the clearance can be provided. The mounting portion 165 may be formed with a stepped portion having a predetermined height downwardly from the upper end of the first case 101A. The left end, the right end, and the rear end of a plurality of sheets are supported by such a step, and can be stably stowed on the stacking unit 165. The height of the step can be designed variously according to the number of sheets which can be set at one time.

The transfer unit 170 may be disposed in parallel with the front end of the loading unit 165 along the paper feeding direction. The conveyance unit 170 may include a motor 171, a pickup roller 172 and a gear assembly (not shown). The conveyance unit 170 may convey the paper, which is placed on the loading unit 165, And can be transferred to the image forming unit 180. The pickup roller 172 can be disposed adjacent to the front end of the loading section 165 so that the paper loaded in the loading section 165 can be transported in the paper feeding direction.

At this time, the length of the stacking unit 165 may be shorter than the length of the sheet, so that a part of the front end of the sheet placed on the stacking unit 165 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the pickup roller 172 along the width direction, 172, respectively. When the motor 171 is driven under the control of the control unit 190, the driving force of the motor 171 is transmitted to the pick-up roller 172, Can be fed in the feeding direction.

The gear assembly is interposed between the motor 171 and the pickup roller 172 and includes at least one gear for transmitting the driving force of the motor 171 to the pickup roller 172. On the other hand, when the pickup roller 172 is disposed at a position where it can directly receive the driving force of the motor 171, all or a part of the gear assembly may be omitted.

At this time, the first paper detecting sensor 141A may be disposed at a position substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the pickup roller 172 in the upper surface of the conveying path. Further, the second paper detecting sensor 141B may be disposed at a position adjacent to the image forming unit 180. [ In this case, the control unit 190 determines whether or not to start printing on the print data in accordance with whether or not the paper is detected by the first paper detecting sensor 141A. When the paper is detected by the second paper detecting sensor 141B, It is possible to judge whether or not a paper jam has occurred in the path.

The pressing portion 200 can be mounted on the lower surface of the second case 101B, that is, the surface facing the upper surface of the first case 101A. The pressing portion 200 may include a pressing plate 201 and an elastic member 202. The rear end of the pressure play portion can be hinged to one side of the rear end of the second case 101B. The elastic member 202 is interposed between one side of the front end of the pressing plate 201 and the second case 101B to elastically support the pressing plate 201. [ Such an elastic member 202 may be, for example, a coil spring, but is not limited thereto. The pressing portion 200 may further include a stopper 203 for limiting a range in which the elastic member 202 is deformed between the lower end of the second case 101B and the pressing plate 201. [ One end and the other end of the stopper 203 are rotatably coupled to the pressure plate 201 and the second case 101B respectively so that the stopper 203 is pushed by the auxiliary member 202 so that the elastic member 202 does not extend beyond a certain range. can do.

The guide unit 210 guides the front end of the sheet conveyed through the conveying unit 170 to the image forming unit 180. The paper conveyed through the conveying unit 170 is spaced apart from the conveying unit 170 by a gap formed between the guide unit 210 and the conveying unit 170, To the image forming unit 180 through the intermediary of the image forming unit.

On the other hand, the paper on which the image is formed in the photo printer 100 according to the present invention may be a thermal paper having dye-based color ink including cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow have. In this paper, a heat-meltable protective member can be laminated together with the color ink layer. The image forming unit 180 is configured to apply heat to the paper so that the ink layer stacked on the paper can react and form an image. The image forming unit 180 includes a thermal head 181, a heating member, And a roller 182.

Specifically, the heat radiating member 183 may include first to fourth heat radiating members 183A, 183B, 183C and 183D as shown in FIG. First, the first heat discharging body 183A abuts on the upper surface of the thermal head 181 directly or through a heat insulating body, so that the heat radiated from the thermal head 181 can be absorbed quickly. A portion of the upper surface of the first heat discharging body 183A is fixed to the first case 101B by a bracket 184 and a portion of the upper surface of the first heat discharging body 183A The second heat discharging body 183B and the third heat discharging body 183C may be sequentially stacked. At this time, the bracket 184 may serve to fix the first heat discharging body 183A and to maintain the pressing strength of the thermal head 181 against the paper to a predetermined level or higher. The second heat discharging body 183B and the third heat discharging body 183C may be made of a silicone material. In this case, the contact area with the first heat discharging body 183A The heat emitted from the thermal head 181 can be transmitted to the outside more effectively. The fourth heat discharging body 183D may be disposed above the third heat radiating body 183C and the heat transmitted through the first to third heat radiating bodies 183A, 183B and 183C Diffuse outward. For this, the fourth heat discharging body 183D may be formed to have a wider area than the first to third heat discharging bodies 183A, 183B and 183C. However, the first to fourth heat sinks 183A, 183B, 183C and 183D are not essential components, and some of them may be omitted. For example, the second heat discharging body 183B and the third heat radiating body 183C may be integrally manufactured or may not include any one of the second heat radiating body 183B and the third heat radiating body 183C.

A more detailed structure of the image forming unit 180 will be further described below with reference to FIG. 4 and the like.

The outlet (H) may be formed in the first case (101A) or the second case (101B). The paper can be discharged from the front end through which the image forming unit 180 prints (that is, image formation) is completed first through the outlet H and out of the case.

3 is a perspective view of the photo printer 100 according to the present invention viewed from the outside.

3 (a) is an exemplary view for explaining a state in which the first case 101A and the rear end of the second case 101B are engaged (that is, the state in which the cover is closed), and FIG. 3 Fig. 11 is an exemplary view for explaining a state in which one case 101A and the rear end of the second case 101B are separated (i.e., the cover is opened).

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second case 101B can function as a cover of the photo printer 100. In the cover fixing state, when the paper is separated or foreign matter (for example, dust, ) Can be blocked.

When the first case 101A and the second case 101B are hinged to each other, the first case 101A and the second case 101B are fixed to the other end with a locking ring 102 One or more fixing grooves 103 may be formed. Also, a fixing release button 104 connected to the fixing ring 102 may be disposed outside the first case 101A. When the release button 104 is pressed, the engagement between the retainer ring 102 and the fixing groove 103 is released so that the other end of the second case 101B can be separated from the other end of the first case 101A. In a state in which the engagement of the first case 101A and the second case 101B is released, the user can insert the paper into the loading section 165. [ 3 shows the first case 101A in which the fixing ring 102 and the fixing release button 104 are formed and is formed in the fixing groove 103 in the second case 101B, It goes without saying that the fixing ring 103 may be formed in the case 101A and the fixing ring 102 may be formed in the second case 101B.

The first case 101A and the second case 101B may each have receiving grooves 105 and insertion protrusions 106 and an opening and closing sensor 143 may be provided inside the receiving grooves 105 . When the other end of the first case 101A is engaged with the other end of the second case 101B, the insertion protrusion 106 formed in the second case 101B is formed in the first case 101A, do. When the insertion protrusion 106 is inserted into the receiving groove 105 and the opening and closing sensor 143 provided inside the receiving groove 105 is pressed downward, the opening and closing sensor 143 detects that the first case 101A The control unit 190 can transmit a signal indicating that the two cases 101B are closed.

At least one light emitting module 131 may be disposed on one side of the first case 101A. When the light emitting module 131 is disposed on the upper surface of the first case 101A, a through hole 107 is formed in the second case 101B at a position facing the light emitting module 131 of the first case 101A . The light emitted from the light emitting module 131 of the first case 101A is transmitted through the through holes of the second case 101B regardless of whether the second case 101B is opened or closed with respect to the first case 101A 107). ≪ / RTI >

The first light emitting module 131A emits light when the image is printed under the control of the controller 190, and can terminate the emission of light when the image is printed. That is, the first light emitting module 131A can emit light until the printing of the image data is completed through the outlet H from the start of printing of the predetermined image data. The second light emitting module 131B can blink or change the color depending on the battery remaining amount or the battery temperature of the power supply unit 160 in conjunction with the power supply unit 160. [ For example, the second light emitting module 131B emits light of a first color when the battery is fully charged, and emits light of a second color different from the first color when the battery temperature exceeds the normal range can do. The third light emitting module 131C may blink a predetermined number of times when an error occurs in the printing process. However, it is merely an example, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that each light emitting module can output the information about the state of the photo printer or the printing process through light in various other ways. The light emitting module 131 may be an LED, an LCD, or the like, but is not limited thereto. The light emitting module 131 is not particularly limited as long as the light can be blinked or the color of light can be changed under the control of the controller 190.

The first operation module 121, the second operation module 122, and the power supply port 161 may be disposed on one side of the first case 101A. The user can turn on or off the photo printer 100 by operating the first operation module 121 and can reset the photo printer 100 by operating the second operation module 122. [ The power port 161 may be connected to an external power source through a USB cable or the like to function as a connection path for charging the battery or supplying power to each component.

4 is a cross-sectional side view taken along the line A-B shown in FIG. 3 (a) to explain the sheet feeding process of the photo printer 100 related to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of sheets can be seated on the upper surface of the stacking unit 165. Specifically, the loading section 165 may have a top surface on which the paper is loaded, and side walls that support the left, right, and rear ends of the paper placed on the top surface. At this time, the length of the loading section 165 may be shorter than the length of the paper, and thus, a part of the front end of the paper loaded on the loading section 165 may be a pickup roller, And the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring 172. That is, the pickup roller 172 may partially take charge of the function of the loading unit 165 in a state in which printing is not in progress.

When the rear end of the second case 101B is fastened to the rear end of the first case 101A (i.e., the cover is in the closed state), the front end of the pressurizing plate 201 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction, And one side of the outer peripheral surface of the pickup roller 172 can be pressed downward along the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the pickup roller 172 through the elastic force of the elastic member 202. [ The paper positioned between the pressing plate 201 and the pickup roller 172 can be pressed downward by the elastic force of the elastic member 202 and fixed to the upper surface of the loading section 165. [ For example, even when the user wiggles or tilts the photo printer 100, the sheet can be stably held in the loading unit 165 by the pressing force of the pressing unit 200. [

The paper P1 directly contacting the pick-up roller 172 among the plurality of sheets vertically seated on the upper surface of the stacking unit 165 is guided by the pickup roller 172, And is conveyed to the image forming portion 180 along the guide of the guide portion 210 by a frictional force generated between the guide portion 210 and the image forming portion 180. [

As shown in Fig. 4, the image forming unit 180 includes a thermal head 181 disposed on the upper side of the paper feeding path and a platen roller 182 disposed on the lower side. The sheet P1 conveyed to the image forming unit 180 through the guide unit 210 is interposed between the thermal head 181 and the platen roller 182 as shown in FIG. An image is formed while being applied with the heat radiated from the thermal head 181.

Specifically, the thermal head 181 applies heat to the sheet P1 conveyed through the guide portion 210, discolors the heat applied portion, and forms an image on the sheet P1. The thermal head 181 can be formed by laminating a heat generating resistor on a substrate. The plurality of heat generating resistors may be arranged in parallel along a line orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction. Each of the heat generating resistors is connected to an electrode formed on the substrate. The controller 190 adjusts the electric power supplied to each electrode according to a color to be formed on the sheet through the heat generating resistors, . The control unit 190 may calculate the heat to be generated through each heat generating resistor based on the print data and may control the power supply unit 160 to transmit the power corresponding to the calculated heat to each heat generating resistor.

The heat radiating member 183 is configured to radiate heat generated in the thermal head 181 to the outside as described above. At least a part of the heat radiating member 183 may be formed in a concavo-convex shape in order to increase the contact area with air.

The platen roller 182 may be spaced apart from the lower portion of the thermal head 181. That is, the platen roller 182 and the heat generating resistor may be arranged to face each other up and down along a line orthogonal to the feeding direction. The platen roller 182 supports the lower surface of the paper and also presses the paper toward the thermal head 181 upward. Accordingly, the heat released from the heat generating resistor of the thermal head 181 can be applied to the paper interposed between the thermal head 181 and the plastic pick-up roller 172. [

At this time, the platen roller 182 rotates at a predetermined speed to discharge the printed paper P1 through the discharge port H to the outside of the photo printer 100. The rotation of the platen roller 182 may be caused by a rotational force transmitted from a motor or may be caused by a frictional force generated by contact with a sheet conveyed along the sheet feeding direction. At this time, the rotational speed of the platen roller 182 may be a speed corresponding to the printing speed of the paper by the thermal head 181. [

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view for explaining a process of forming an image on a sheet of paper by the photo printer 100 according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the control unit 190 can calculate the amount of heat generated for each of the plurality of heat generating resistors S included in the thermal head 181 based on the image data.

Specifically, the control unit 190 can generate print data of m rows and n columns by sampling image data having a predetermined resolution.

For example, assuming that n heat generating resistors S are provided in the thermal head 181, the print data is written in the column a (n? A? 1) during printing for the row b (m? B? 1) Information about how much heat is to be generated for the a-th heat generating resistor S corresponding to the heat generating resistor S, that is, information about the heat generation amount of each heat generating resistor S.

A pickup roller 172 is disposed below the thermal head 181 at a position opposite to the paper feed direction to feed the paper. At this time, as described above, the first paper detecting sensor 141 is disposed at a position close to the pickup roller 172, so that the presence or absence of paper on the paper feeding path can be detected.

In this structure, when the image formation for the first to n-th rows of the b-th row (m? B? 1) is completed, the control unit 190 causes the motor to drive the platen roller 182 at a distance So as to control the thermal head 181 to form an image of the portion corresponding to the next row (i.e., row b + 1) of the print data on the sheet. The control unit 190 repeats the above-described process from the first row to the mth row, and can print an image corresponding to the image data on the sheet.

On the other hand, the control unit 190 can generate different print data according to the feeding speed (or the printing speed) even if the same image data is used.

6A and 6B are a perspective view and a plan view illustrating an example of a structure of a photo printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, at least one through hole O is formed in the mounting portion 165. The through-hole (O) opens the upper and lower surfaces of the loading portion vertically.

The through-holes O may be formed in parallel to either the longitudinal direction or the width direction at a position spaced from the edge of the stacking unit 165 by a predetermined distance.

At least a part of the separating part 220 may protrude upward from the upper surface of the loading part 165 through the through hole O, And can be pulled downward to a height equal to or higher than the upper surface of the loading section 165.

The protrusion or pull-in of the separating part 220 through the through-hole O can be determined depending on the presence or absence of the paper. More specifically, at least a part of the separating unit 220 is projected upward through the through-hole O when no sheet is placed on the stacking unit 165.

If at least one sheet of paper is seated on the top of the through hole O in the upper surface of the stacking unit 165, the separating unit 220 protruding upward through the through hole O may be provided with a load It can be pulled down to the height below the upper surface of the stacking unit 165. As shown in FIG.

When the through-holes O are formed along the width direction of the stacking unit 165 as shown in FIG. 6A, the separating unit 220 is protruded or drawn along the length of the sheet. Specifically, when a sheet having a length that can be seated in the first area K1, which is defined by the separating unit 220, is inserted, the separating unit 220 is not drawn downward through the through hole O , And the protruded state is maintained. If the length of the sheet is longer than the length of the sheet to be seated in the first area K1, the separating part 220 is lowered through the through-hole O as the sheet is pressed by the load of the sheet .

On the other hand, those skilled in the art will readily understand that when the through-holes O are formed along the longitudinal direction of the stacking unit 165, the separating unit 220 can protrude or be pulled in accordance with the width of the sheet.

6A, a first paper detecting sensor 141A is disposed on one side of the front end of the loading section 165 and outputs different signals to the control section (not shown) depending on whether the paper is loaded on the loading section 165 190).

And FIG. 6B is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing a state of incision along the line C-D shown in FIG. 6A.

6B, there is no load acting on the upper portion of the through-hole O formed in the stacking unit 165 in a state in which no sheet is placed on the stacking unit 165, At least a part of the slider 221, that is, the slider 221, may protrude higher than the upper surface of the loading portion 165 through the through-hole O. [

In order for the slider 221 to freely move up or down, the size of the through-hole O should be larger than the size of the slider 221. At this time, the height at which the slider 221 ascends through the through-hole O may be limited between a predetermined lower limit value and an upper limit value. The lower limit value may be a height capable of supporting the rear end of one sheet of paper having a size that can be seated in the first area K1. The upper limit value may be a height corresponding to the level difference of the loading section 165, that is, the height of the edge of the loading section 165.

The photo printer 100 may include a current sensor 145 for sensing the state of the separator 220 and outputting a specific signal to the controller 190. The function of the current detection sensor 145 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view for explaining an operation when a paper having a standardized size is loaded on the loading unit shown in FIG. 6B.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a slider 221 protruding upward by a predetermined height as the sheet P1 having a standardized size of a predetermined length L is seated on the loading section 165, (P1).

As the upper end of the slider 221 is lowered to the upper surface of the stacking unit 165, the sheet P1 is stably stacked on the upper surface of the stacking unit 165 and at the same time, And comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pickup roller 172 along the width direction.

7 (a), when a print command for predetermined image data is received through the communication unit 110, the control unit 190 drives the motor to rotate the pickup roller 172, Is conveyed to the image forming unit 180 as shown in FIG. 7 (b) by the frictional force resulting from the rotation of the pickup roller 172. [

More specifically, the paper P1 is interposed between the thermal head 181 and the platen roller 182 from the front end of the paper P1 in accordance with the rotation of the pickup roller 172, The ink layer stacked on the ink layer is reacted to form a predetermined image.

On the other hand, when the rear end of the sheet P1 is removed from the through hole O as the sheet P1 is conveyed along the sheet feeding direction, the slider 221, which has been pulled downward due to the load of the sheet, O) of the stacking unit 165. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view for explaining an operation in the case where a sheet having a size smaller than a standardized size is seated in the loading unit shown in FIG. 6B.

8, the paper P2 having a length (for example, L / 2) shorter than the paper P1 shown in Fig. 7 is attached to the first area of the loading section 165 'K1'), the slider 221 continuously maintains the state of being protruded upward by a predetermined height without being pressed by the load of the paper P2.

At this time, the slider 221 protruding upward supports the rear end of the lock paper P2 without the paper P2, which is seated in the first area, moves to the rear end of the stacking unit 165. [ Thus, even if the paper of a size smaller than the standardized paper is seated on the loading section 165, it can be stably loaded.

On the other hand, when the slider 221, which varies according to the size of the paper, moves up or down, internal deformation of the separating unit 220 occurs and different signals can be recognized and processed by the control unit 190 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a structure of a separating portion of the photo printer 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The separating portion 220 may include a slider 221, an elastic body 222, a first contact portion 223, and a second contact portion 224. It is of course possible to further include a housing 225 for supporting the slider 221, the elastic body 222, the first contact portion 223 and the second contact portion 224.

The slider 221 is supported by the elastic body 222 and at least partly rises above the upper surface of the stacking portion 165 where the sheet is not seated through the elastic force provided from the elastic body 222. [

The elastic body 222 is connected to one side of the slide 221. The elastic body 222 is not particularly limited as long as it can support the slide 221 through elastic force such as coil splicing or rubber dome .

The first contact portion 223 moves together with the vertical movement of the slider 221. For example, the first contact portion 223 may be formed at a lower portion of the slider 221, and may be formed of a conductive material through which a current can flow when the second contact portion 224 contacts with the second contact portion 224. [

The second contact portion 224 flows or is interrupted according to the contact state of the first contact portion 223, which is changed according to the rising or falling of the first contact portion 223. The second contact portion 224 may also be formed of a conductive material as in the first contact portion 223. For example, it may be formed of a metal such as carbon, gold or silver, or a non-metallic material such as carbon or conductive silicon.

Accordingly, the first contact portion 223 and the second contact portion 224 can function as switches that are turned on and off depending on whether the slider 221 is lifted or not.

The housing 225 serves to receive and fix the slider 221, the elastic body 222, the first contact portion 223, and the second contact portion 224 therein.

9 (a) illustrates a case where the elastic body 222 is a coil spring. One end of the coil spring 222 may be connected to one side of the slider 221 and the other end may be connected to one side of the housing 225. The first contact portion 223 may be connected to the lower portion of the slider 221. The first contact portion 223 may be lifted or lowered together with the slider 221 due to contraction or extension of the coil spring 222 And can be brought into contact with or separated from the second contact portion 224 disposed on the lower surface of the housing 225.

9 (b) illustrates a case where the elastic body 222 is a rubber dome. The rubber dome 222 has a dome or an arch shape in which the narrow end of the rubber dome 222 is connected to the slider 221 and the wide bottom end of the rubber dome 222 is connected to the upper surface of the housing 225 Lt; / RTI > When the slide 221 is pushed downward by the load of the paper, the rubber dome 222 connected thereto is also pressed downward so that the first contact portion 223 and the second contact portion 224 are brought into contact with each other as shown in the drawing, If there is no sheet at the top of the sphere O, the contact between the first contact portion 223 and the second contact portion 224 can be released as the slide 221 moves vertically upward.

On the other hand, the elastic body 222 can provide an elastic force to the slider 221 smaller than a force capable of withstanding a load of one sheet of paper. The slider 221 is pulled downward so that the first contact portion 223 moving downward together with the slider 221 is pulled downward in the second direction So that current can flow through the contact portion 224. It can be determined through experimentation to what degree of elasticity the resilient body 222 provides the resilient force to the slider 221 protruding upward.

The sensing unit 140 may include a current sensing sensor 145. The current sensing sensor 145 senses a current change due to the contact between the first contact unit 223 and the second contact unit 224, Whether or not current flows).

The control unit 190 can determine the size of the paper loaded on the loading unit 165 based on the signal provided from the current detection sensor 145. [ For example, when a signal having a value of '0' (for example, current OFF) is provided from the current sensor 145, the control unit 190 determines that the sheet placed on the loading unit 165 is a sheet having a standardized size can do. Conversely, if a signal having a value of '1' (for example, current ON) is provided from the current sensor 145, the control unit 190 determines that the paper loaded on the loading unit 165 is smaller than the standardized size It can be determined that the sheet is a sheet having

The control unit 190 is connected to the first contact unit 223 or the second contact unit 224 via a cable or the like so that the first contact unit 223 is connected to the first contact unit 223 or the second contact unit 224, And the second contact part 224 may be directly sensed.

Meanwhile, the above-described embodiment with reference to FIG. 9 relates to a part of various structures that the separating unit 220 can have, and is not limited to the scope of the present invention. For example, the separator 220 may have the same or similar structure as that of the electronic or mechanical keyboard.

10 is a plan view for explaining another example of the structure of the photo printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6A, a through hole O may be formed along the longitudinal direction of the loading unit 165, not in the width direction. In this case, It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the position at which the separating portion 220 is disposed so as to be protruded or drawn through the through hole O may be changed to correspond to the position of the through hole O. [

Accordingly, the narrower paper than the standardized paper that is seated over the entire area of the loading section 165 can be seated in the second area K2.

The slider 221 is protruded upward so that the first contact portion 223 and the second contact portion 224 are separated from each other, It can be determined that the sheet placed on the loading section 165 is smaller than the standardized sheet (i.e., the size corresponding to the second area K2).

Thus, the control unit 190 can generate print data corresponding to the second area K2 based on the image data received through the communication unit 110. [ 10A, it is possible to turn off the heat generating resistor S (the dotted line area) out of the width of the second area K2 of the plurality of heat generating resistors S provided in the thermal head 181 have. More specifically, the print data is data including information on the heat generation amount of each heat generating resistor S, and the control unit 190 calculates the heat amount of the heat generating resistor S (dotted line area) which does not correspond to the width of the second area K2 The power supply to the heat generating resistor S (dotted line area) can be cut off until the printing on the sheet settled in the second area K2 is completed.

Referring to FIG. 10 (b), two through holes O1 and O2 may be formed along the width direction and the length direction of the stacking unit 165. As shown in FIG. The first slider 221A is located at a position corresponding to the first through hole O1 and the second through hole O2 is located at a position corresponding to the first through hole O1. The second slider 221B may be positioned at a position corresponding to the second slider 221B. Accordingly, the paper having a narrower width and a shorter length than the standardized paper that is seated over the entire area of the loading section 165 can be seated in the third area K3.

The first slider 221A and the second slider 221B are both protruded upward so that the first contact portion 223 of each of the two separating portions 220 is in contact with the second slider 221B, And the second contact portion 224 are separated from each other so that the control portion 190 can control the size of the sheet placed on the stacking portion 165 to be smaller than the size of the standardized sheet (i.e., the size corresponding to the third region K3) It can be judged that the paper is a paper.

Accordingly, the control unit 190 can generate print data corresponding to the third area K3 based on the image data received through the communication unit 110. [ The heat generating resistor S (the dotted line region) which is out of the width of the third region K3 among the plurality of heat generating resistors S included in the thermal head 181 can be turned off as shown in FIG. 10 (b) Is as described above.

11 is a flowchart showing a control method of the photo printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6A and 6B, a control method of the photo printer 100 having a structure in which only one through hole O is formed in the mounting portion 165 will be described.

First, the control unit 190 receives a print command through the communication unit 110 (S1110). The print command may include image data as well as a signal indicating the start of printing. In addition, the print command may additionally include various setting information (e.g., reduction ratio, amount of rotation, visual effect, etc.) for image data.

Then, the control unit 190 detects the presence or absence of a sheet placed on the loading unit 165 (S1120). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 10B, the first paper detecting sensor 141 is disposed at a position on the upper surface of the front end of the loading section 165 (for example, at a position in parallel with the pickup roller 172) And the control unit 190 can determine the presence or absence of the sheet placed on the loading unit 165 based on a signal provided from the sheet detecting sensor 141. [ If no paper is detected by the paper detection sensor 141, the control unit 190 outputs a predetermined warning signal to the outside through the output unit 130 (S1125) An alarm signal can be transmitted to the device that has transmitted the print command.

If it is determined in step S1125 that the sheet stacked on the stacking unit 165 is detected, the controller 190 determines whether the slider 221 of the separating unit 220 has been lowered (S1135). For example, as described above, since the current may change according to the contact state of the first contact portion 223 and the second contact portion 224 of the separator 220, It is possible to judge whether the protrusion 221 is protruded through the through-hole O or in a state of being drawn.

If it is determined in step S1130 that the slider 221 is in the lowered state, that is, the lowered state, the controller 190 converts the image data received in step S1110 through sampling processing, And generates print data for the size (S1140). Here, the first size may be a standardized size.

Conversely, if it is determined in step S1130 that the slider 221 is in the raised state, that is, the protruded state is upward, the controller 190 converts the image data received in step S1110 to obtain the print data for the second size (S1150). The second size is a width or length smaller than the first size. For example, when the photo printer 100 has the structure shown in Fig. 6A, the second size may be a size corresponding to the first area K1. At this time, the control unit 190 rotates the pickup roller 172 in the reverse direction by a predetermined rotation amount (for example, 1/4 rotation), and the rear end of the sheet corresponding to the second size rotates the slider The side surface of the body 221 can be aligned.

Meanwhile, the control unit 190 may output information on the size of the paper through the output unit 130. [ For example, when it is determined that the sheet is of the first size, the control unit 190 controls the light emitting module 131 to flicker in the first period, and if the second size is determined, the light emitting module 131 flickers in the second period Can be controlled.

Next, the control unit 190 controls the conveying unit 170 and the image forming unit 180 according to the print data to form a predetermined image on the sheet (S1160).

Specifically, the control unit 190 can calculate the rotation amount of the pickup roller 172 based on the size of the paper. For example, when the sheet is of the first size (e.g., length 'L', see FIG. 7), the control unit 190 controls the pickup roller 172 to rotate by the length corresponding to the length 'L' 8), the control unit 190 can control the rotation of the pickup roller 172 by the length corresponding to the length 'L / 2'.

In addition, when the width of the second size is shorter than the first size, the controller 190 can set the heat generation amount of a part of the heat generating resistor S to '0'. Thus, it is possible not only to cut off the driving of the heat generating resistor, which is unnecessary for image formation on the sheet of the second size, to reduce the power consumption but also to reduce the power consumption of the other heat generating resistor (i.e., the heat generating resistor corresponding to the width of the second size) The interference phenomenon can be eliminated.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for the purpose of illustration, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The above-described method of controlling a photo printer according to the present invention can be implemented as a computer-readable code on a medium on which a program is recorded. The computer readable medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer readable medium include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state disk (SSD), a silicon disk drive (SDD), a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, , And may also be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (e.g., transmission over the Internet). Also, the computer may include a control unit 180 of the terminal. Accordingly, the above description should not be construed in a limiting sense in all respects and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the scope of equivalents of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

100: Photo printer 101A: First case
101B: first case 110:
111: Local area communication module 112: Wired communication module
120: Operation part 121: First operation module
122: second operation module 130: output section
131: light emitting module 132: display module
133: Haptic module 134: Acoustic module
140: sensing unit 141: paper detection sensor
142: temperature sensor 143: opening / closing sensor
144: Horizontal sensor 150: Memory
160: power supply unit 165:
170:
171: Motor 172: Pickup roller
180: Image forming unit 181: Thermal head
182: Platen roller 183: Heat dissipating member
190: control unit 200:
201: pressing plate 202: elastic member
203: stopper 210: guide portion
211: sloped surface 220:
221: Slider 222: Elastic body
223: first contact part 224: second contact part
H: Outlet S: Heat generating resistor
O: Through hole

Claims (14)

At least one through-hole through which the paper is seated and vertically opens vertically;
A pick-up roller for conveying the sheet placed on the stacking unit;
A separating part protruding upward through the through-hole according to a size of a sheet to be loaded on the stacking part, or being pulled downward; And
A control unit for determining the size of the paper placed on the loading unit according to whether the separating unit is protruding or not and generating print data corresponding to the determined size;
. The method according to claim 1,
The separator may include:
A slider protruding or coming in through the through-hole;
An elastic body for elastically supporting the slider;
A first contact part provided at a lower end of the slider;
A second contact part contacting the first contact part as the slider is pressed downward by a load of the paper;
Wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises: 3. The method of claim 2,
The elastic body may be,
A coil spring, and a rubber dam. 3. The method of claim 2,
A sensing unit for outputting different signals according to protrusion or retraction of the separation unit;
Further comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium. 5. The method of claim 4,
The sensing unit includes:
And detects a change in current due to the contact between the first contact portion and the second contact portion. The method according to claim 1,
The separator may include:
And at least one of a rear end, a left end, and a right end of the paper is supported while being projected upward through the through-hole. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the stacking portion is formed with at least two penetrating portions,
The separator may include:
A first separator protruding or coming in through one of the through-holes in accordance with the length of the sheet; And
A second separator protruding or coming in through another one of the through-holes in accordance with the width of the paper;
Wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises: The method according to claim 1,
The pick-
Wherein the separating portion is rotated in a reverse direction by a predetermined distance when the separating portion is projected upward through the through-hole. The method according to claim 1,
An output unit for outputting information on the determined size;
Further comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And adjusts the rotation amount of the pick-up roller with respect to the sheet feeding direction based on the determined size. The method according to claim 1,
An image forming unit that forms an image by applying heat to a sheet conveyed along a sheet feeding direction by rotation of the pickup roller;
Further comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium. 12. The method of claim 11,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A thermal head having a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged along a line orthogonal to the feeding direction; And
A platen roller for pressing the paper toward the thermal head;
. 13. The method of claim 12,
The print data includes:
And heat generation amount information for each of the plurality of heat generating resistors. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein,
And cut off power supply to the heat generating resistors not corresponding to the determined size among the plurality of heat generating resistors when the width of the determined size is smaller than the width of the reference size.

Images