JP2008229894A - Printing device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain high cutting precision in cutting a rolled paper after printing in a printing device using a cartridge constituted by integrating an ink ribbon and the rolled paper. <P>SOLUTION: The printing device on which the cartridge having the rolled paper and the ink ribbon is detachably loaded has a thermal transfer means thermally transferring by superposing the ink ribbon on the rolled paper, a first feeding means feeding the rolled paper while controlling the feeding distance so as to be printed in a predetermined range, a cutting means cutting the printed rolled paper, and a second feeding means discharging the printed rolled paper, the first feeding means feeding the rolled paper while controlling the feeding length so as to be able to cut the rolled paper in a predetermined length after printing, and the second feeding means stops feeding after predetermined time passes after the feeding by the first feeding means stops. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints image data and a control method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printing apparatuses that take in image data acquired by an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera and print it on a recording medium such as photographic paper have been widely used in general households.

  In such a domestic printing device, if an ink ribbon and photographic paper are set in advance, the image data can be captured and a high-quality photo can be printed simply by giving a print instruction. Can do. For this reason, recently, an increasing number of people enjoy photo printing at home.

  In such a domestic printing apparatus, it is required to simplify the preparatory work (setting an ink ribbon, photographic paper, capturing image data, etc.) as much as possible. Proposals have been made for improvement.

As an example, there is a printing apparatus including a cartridge in which an ink ribbon and photographic paper are integrated. If the cartridge is used, the two operations, ink setting and photographic paper setting, which have been performed so far, need only be one operation of cartridge mounting operation, and the preparation operation can be simplified.
JP 2000-108442 A

  Here, until now, the cartridge integrated as described above generally uses cut paper as photographic paper. However, the photographic paper disposed in the cartridge is not limited to cut paper, and roll paper obtained by winding a belt-like photographic paper around a roller may be used.

  This is because when roll paper is used as the photographic paper, a large amount of photographic paper can be held in a space-saving cartridge, and the conveyance mechanism can be shared for cartridges having different print sizes.

  When printing is performed using cut paper, a cut paper having a size larger than the print area is prepared in order to hold the paper during printing. For this reason, the user has to cut a part larger than the print area for holding the paper after printing by himself / herself. On the other hand, in the case of roll paper, a printing paper cutting cutter is provided in the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus cuts the printing paper, so that only the printing area can be cut out and provided to the user.

  In the case of conventional cut paper, since it is cut into a predetermined size, it is only necessary to perform a discharge process after printing, whereas in the case of roll paper, a desired length after printing. It is necessary to perform the cutting process.

  At this time, there are the following problems in cutting the roll paper. Even if a roller is provided before and after the cutter unit for cutting the roll paper and the roll paper is stretched between the transfer rollers to cut the roll paper, it may be cut accurately due to the bending of the roll paper. Can not. In particular, since the roll paper has a curl due to the influence of being wound around the roller, the roll paper is likely to be bent.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that a printing apparatus using a cartridge in which roll paper is stored can stably and accurately cut the roll paper after printing.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A printing apparatus that prints an image by transferring ink applied to an ink ribbon onto a roll paper,
A mounting portion for mounting a cartridge in which the roll paper is stored;
A thermal head that prints an image by transferring the ink applied to the ink ribbon to a roll paper drawn from the cartridge; and
First conveying means for conveying the roll paper;
Cutting means for cutting the roll paper;
The cutting means conveys the roll paper provided on the paper discharge side of the roll paper conveyance path on the side facing the first conveyance means across the cutting position where the roll paper is cut. A second conveying means for
Control means for controlling the conveyance of the roll paper by the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means, and the cutting of the roll paper by the cutting means,
The control unit stops conveyance of the roll paper by the first conveyance unit, stops conveyance of the roll paper by the second conveyance unit, and then cuts the roll paper by the cutting unit. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus using a cartridge in which roll paper is stored, it is possible to stably cut the roll paper after printing with high accuracy.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, “printing” refers to a series of overall operations from printing, printing to a predetermined size, and discharging according to a print instruction from the user. Further, “printing” refers to an operation of thermally transferring an ink ribbon to a roll paper among printing operations.

[First Embodiment]
1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of a printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment and a cartridge 110 used in the printing apparatus 100.

  The printing apparatus includes a mounting portion for mounting the cartridge, and includes a housing 101 for opening and closing the side surface and attaching / detaching (mounting / removing) the cartridge 110 in the direction of the arrow 120 as shown in FIG. A display unit 102 and an operation unit 103 are disposed on the upper portion of the housing 101.

  The display unit 102 includes a display screen such as an LCD, and displays image data to be printed and a menu for inputting setting data necessary for printing.

  The operation unit 103 includes a power switch 104 that instructs to turn on / off the power of the printing apparatus, and a selection switch 105 for selecting various menus displayed on the display unit 102. Further, a left / right key 106 and an up / down key 107 for moving the cursor displayed on the display unit 102 to a desired position are arranged around the selection switch 105.

  The cartridge 110 contains an ink ribbon to which ink is applied and roll paper (a belt-like recording medium wound around a roller) as photographic paper. Further, in a state before the cartridge 110 is mounted on the printing apparatus 100, the roll paper is hermetically sealed by the housing 111, and the user does not directly touch the roll paper. At the time of printing, the roll paper is pulled out from the cartridge 110, and the ink applied to the ink ribbon is transferred to the roll paper by the thermal head of the printing apparatus, and printing is performed.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes a rotation shaft of a roller around which roll paper is wound. When the cartridge 110 is mounted on the printing apparatus 100, the rotation axis is coupled to a rotation mechanism of a paper feed motor included in the printing apparatus 100 and is rotated by the printing apparatus 100. Be controlled.

  Reference numerals 113 and 114 denote rotation axes of the ink ribbon supply roller and the take-up roller, respectively. When the cartridge 110 is mounted on the printing apparatus 100, the take-up roller rotation shaft 114 is coupled to the rotation mechanism of the ink ribbon winding motor included in the printing apparatus 100, and the rotation is controlled by the printing apparatus 100.

2. Functional block diagram 2 of the printing apparatus is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the printing apparatus 100. A main controller 201 controls the entire printing apparatus 100.

  A ROM 202 is connected to the main controller 201 and stores a control program and the like. The main controller 201 operates according to the control program stored in the ROM 202. The RAM 203 is used as a work memory for arithmetic processing of the main controller, and various setting data inputted through the operation unit 103 are also temporarily stored.

  Reference numerals 224Y, 224M, and 224C denote image buffers for storing image data received via the image data input unit 229. 224Y is a yellow image buffer that temporarily stores yellow image data, and 224M and 224C are image buffers that temporarily store magenta and cyan image data, respectively.

  Reference numeral 227 denotes a thermal head. When the built-in heating element generates heat, the ink applied to the ink ribbon is sublimated and printed on the roll paper.

  Reference numeral 226 denotes a head drive circuit that drives a heating element (not shown) built in the thermal head 227. Printing is performed by the driver controller 225 connected to the main controller 201 controlling the head driving circuit 226 using the image data recorded in the bitmap format in the image buffers 224Y to 224C.

  Reference numeral 211 denotes a roll paper transport motor driver for driving the drive motors 212 and 213. The drive motors 212 and 213 are coupled to a decurling roller, a grip roller, a paper discharge roller, a paper discharge kick roller, and the like, which will be described later, via a rotation mechanism, and convey these roll papers by driving these rollers. .

  Reference numeral 214 denotes a paper feed motor driver that controls the rotation of the paper feed motor 215. In a state where the cartridge 110 is mounted, the paper feed motor 215 is coupled with a roller that is wound around roll paper and is a rotating shaft of the roll paper unit via a rotation mechanism, and is rotated by the paper feed motor driver 214. Drive is controlled.

  An ink ribbon winding motor driver 216 controls the rotation of the ink ribbon winding motor 217. When the cartridge 110 is mounted, the ink ribbon take-up roller and the ink ribbon take-up motor 217 are coupled to each other via a rotation mechanism, so that the ink ribbon take-up motor driver 216 controls the take-up and take-up of the ink ribbon. The

  Reference numeral 218 denotes a head up / down motor driver. The driver 218 controls the rotation of the head up / down motor 219 that moves the thermal head 227 up and down, thereby operating the thermal head 227 between the printing position and the retracted position.

  Reference numeral 220 denotes a cutter motor driver. The cutter motor driver 220 controls the cutter blades constituting the cutter unit and the cutter motor 221 that drives the cutter receiving blade to cut the roll paper.

  Reference numeral 204 denotes an end detection sensor, which detects when the roll paper wound around the roller is consumed and the remaining amount of roll paper wound around the roller becomes less than one roll. When the end is detected, the display unit 102 displays a message indicating that the remaining amount of roll paper is low.

  Reference numeral 205 denotes a roll paper detection sensor, which detects that the roll paper disposed in the cartridge 110 has been pushed out and the leading end has been discharged from the cartridge outlet. The roll paper detection sensor is provided in the vicinity of the cartridge outlet in the width direction of the roll paper, and detects the right and left ends in the width direction of the roll paper discharged from the cartridge outlet. Due to the difference in detection timing of the roll paper detection sensor 205, the printing apparatus 100 can recognize the inclination in the width direction of the roll paper pushed out from the cartridge outlet.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes a roll paper cueing sensor, which is arranged behind a platen roller provided to face the thermal head 227, and the leading end of the roll paper pulled out from the cartridge 110 has passed behind the platen roller at the start of printing. Detect that.

  Reference numeral 207 denotes a ribbon cueing sensor that detects an identification band applied to the tip of each color of the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon winding operation by the ink ribbon winding motor 217 is controlled based on the detection result of the ribbon cueing sensor 207.

  An environmental temperature sensor 208 detects the ambient temperature of the environment where the printing apparatus 100 is placed. The input energy input to the thermal head 227 by the head drive circuit 226 is controlled based on the detection result of the environmental temperature sensor 208.

  A head pressure detection sensor 209 detects the head pressure when the thermal head 227 is lowered to the printing position and presses the ink ribbon and the roll paper with the platen roller during printing.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes a printing range identification sensor, which is arranged in the vicinity of the cutter unit and identifies a printed range.

  A display control unit 222 controls the display unit 102 to display a menu for inputting image data to be printed and setting data necessary for printing.

  An IC read / write unit 230 reads information from a cartridge information chip (IC) arranged in the cartridge 110 and writes information to the IC. Information read from the IC includes, for example, roll paper size (width, thickness, length), roll paper characteristics, roller diameter, ink ribbon manufacturing information, ink ribbon characteristic information, and ink ribbon take-up roller. And the diameter of the ink ribbon supply roller. Examples of information written in the IC include information on the number of printed sheets, information on the number of printed sheets, information on cause of printing errors, and the like.

3. Detailed Configuration of Cartridge Next , the detailed configuration of the cartridge 110 will be described. FIG. 3 is a view showing the appearance of the cartridge 110.

  As described above, when the cartridge 110 is detached from the printing apparatus 100, the roll paper is stored in the housing 111 so that the user cannot directly touch the roll paper from the outside. With such a configuration, mixing of foreign matters and the like into the cartridge 110 is avoided.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a contact for transmitting the output of the end detection sensor 204 arranged in the roller to the printing apparatus 100. When the cartridge 110 is mounted on the printing apparatus 100, it is combined with a contact (not shown) on the printing apparatus 100 side, and the output of the end detection sensor 204 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 100.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the cartridge 110. The internal configuration of the cartridge 110 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes an upper housing that covers the upper part of the ink ribbon unit 402. An ink ribbon unit 402 includes a supply roller 402-2 around which the ink ribbon 402-1 before use is wound, and a take-up roller 402-3 around which the used ink ribbon 402-1 is wound up. The supply roller 402-2 and the winding roller 402-3 are rotatably supported by the housing 111.

  Reference numeral 403 denotes a guide roller that defines a transport path of the ink ribbon 402-1 when the take-up roller 402-3 winds the used ink ribbon 402-1. The guide roller 403 is rotatably supported by the housing 111.

  Reference numeral 404 denotes a roll paper unit that includes a roller 404-1 and a roll paper 404-2 wound around the roller 404-1. The roller 404-1 is rotatably supported by the side housing 405 and the housing 111.

  The side housing 405 covers the side surface of the roll paper unit 404 and pivotally supports the roller 404-1. Moreover, the separation member 406 for peeling off the front-end | tip part of the roll paper 404-2 wound by the roller 404-1 from the wound part is provided.

4). Diagram 5 of the interior of the printing apparatus in a state in which the cartridge is set, the state in which the cartridge 110 is mounted on the printing apparatus 100 is a cross-sectional view when viewed from the side of the printing unit 100. The configuration of each unit that operates when the printing apparatus 100 performs print processing will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In the above description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the components already described, and the description is omitted here.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a drawing path through which the roll paper 404-2 included in the cartridge 110 passes when being drawn to the printing position 511 during printing. Reference numeral 502 denotes a cartridge outlet. The roll paper 404-2 that has been wound around the roller 404-1 is peeled off by the separation member 406, passes through the drawing path 501, and is drawn out of the cartridge 110 from the cartridge outlet 502.

  Reference numerals 503-1 and 503-2 denote a decurling roller and a decurling driven roller, which correct the curl of the roll paper 404-2. Reference numerals 504-1 and 504-2 denote a grip roller and a pinch roller, which are arranged at positions facing each other via the roll paper 404-2 and sandwich the front and back surfaces of the roll paper 404-2. When the pair of rollers rotate forward (the grip roller 504-1 rotates counterclockwise toward the paper surface), the roll paper 404-2 drawn from the cartridge 110 moves toward the print position 511. Be transported.

  A platen roller 505 maintains a state where the ink ribbon 402-1 and the roll paper 404-2 are overlapped with the thermal head 227 at the printing position 511.

  A paper discharge roller 506 conveys the roll paper 404-2 in the paper discharge direction (discharge side). Reference numeral 507 denotes a paper discharge kick roller, which has a concavo-convex portion and kicks the printed and cut roll paper 404-2 into a paper discharge box (not shown). The paper discharge roller 506 and the paper discharge kick roller 507 are arranged at positions facing each other via the roll paper 404-2, and sandwich the front and back surfaces of the roll paper 404-2.

  A gear train 508 transmits the operation of the cutter motor 221 to the cutter unit. Reference numerals 509 and 510 denote a cutter blade and a cutter receiving blade constituting the cutter unit, which are arranged at positions facing each other across the conveyance path of the roll paper 404-2. The cutter blade 509 and the cutter receiving blade 510 are driven by a gear train 508, and the upper and lower blades are rubbed in a scissors shape to cut the roll paper 404-2.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in a state where the cartridge 110 is mounted on the printing apparatus 100, the leading end portion of the roll paper 404-2 is peeled off by the separation member 406 and remains in the pull-out path 501. Yes.

  Further, the housing of the cartridge 110 covering the ink ribbon 402-1 at a position corresponding to the print position 511 is removed, and the ink ribbon 402-1 is exposed to the outside of the cartridge 110.

5). Overall Flow of Printing Process Next, the overall printing process flow in the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the overall printing process in the printing apparatus 100. After the cartridge 110 is mounted on the printing apparatus 100 and the power is turned on, the reading of the information of the IC arranged in the cartridge 110 is completed, and the loading of the image data to be printed is completed, the processing shown in FIG. Is started.

  In step S <b> 601, information regarding image data selected as a print target by the user via the operation unit 103 is received from the image data displayed on the display unit 102. Note that the number of image data that can be selected as a print target is not limited to one, and may be plural.

  In step S <b> 602, it is determined whether there is a print instruction from the user via the operation unit 103. If it is determined in step S602 that there is a print instruction, the process proceeds to step S603.

  In step S603, it is determined whether printing is possible. Here, it is determined based on the remaining amount of roll paper 404-2 whether or not all the image data selected in step S601 can be printed. It is assumed that the remaining amount of roll paper 404-2 is calculated based on the detection result of the end detection sensor 204.

  If it is determined in step S603 that printing is not possible, a message indicating that printing is not possible is displayed on the display unit 102, and the process proceeds to step S609.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S603 that printing is possible, the process proceeds to step S604, and print data (drawing data) for each color is generated based on the selected image data.

  In step S605, printing processing is performed using the generated print data. Details of the printing process will be described later.

  In step S606, it is determined whether there is next image data selected as a printing target. If it is determined in step S606 that there is the next image data selected as a print target, the process returns to step S603 and the above processing is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S606 that there is no next image data selected as a print target, or if it is determined in step S603 that printing is not possible, the process proceeds to step S607.

  In step S607, end processing is performed to return to the state of FIG. Specifically, the thermal head 227 is returned to the retracted position, and the roll paper 404-2 is wound up so that the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 returns to the drawing path 501.

6). Operation at the time of print processing Next , the operation of the printing apparatus 100 at the time of print processing at step S605 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

6.1 Pulling out Roll Paper In the state shown in FIG. 5, when the roller 404-1 that rotates integrally with the roll paper 404-2 is driven (clockwise counterclockwise), the roll paper 404-2 is rotated. When the roll paper 404-2 is rotated, the roll paper 404-2 wound around the roller 404-1 is peeled off one after another by the separation member 406 and pushed out to the drawing path 501. As a result, the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 is discharged from the cartridge outlet 502.

  In the vicinity of the cartridge outlet 502, there is a roll paper detection sensor 205 (not shown in FIG. 5), which is provided facing the width of the roll paper 404-2 with a sufficient distance.

  Thus, when the roll paper 404-2 is discharged from the cartridge outlet 502, it is determined how much the roll paper 404-2 is discharged based on the difference in detection timing of the roll paper detection sensor 205. it can.

  Here, if the determined inclination is equal to or larger than the allowable amount, the pulling-out operation is stopped and a warning is displayed on the display unit 102. When the roll paper 404-2 is drawn obliquely, the inclination at that time is promoted while being conveyed through the inside of the printing apparatus 100. As a result, accurate printing cannot be performed, and in the worst case, there is a possibility of deviating from the transportable width of the roll paper 404-2 allowed in the printing apparatus 100.

6.2 Roll paper 404-2 pulled out from the roll paper decurling cartridge outlet 502 is guided to a curl removing roller 503-1 to be decurled.

  The curl removing roller 503-1 is made of soft rubber, and presses against a hard curl driven roller 503-2 disposed at an opposing position to deform the roll paper 404-2, whereby the roll paper 404- Bend the direction of travel of 2 by about 90 degrees.

  With such a configuration, the winding wrinkles generated by being wound around the roller 404-1 are eliminated by squeezing on the side opposite to the winding direction around the roller 404-1. Needless to say, curl removal is not realized only by such a configuration, but may be realized by other configurations. For example, the curling may be performed by passing a hard wall-shaped member, or the curling may be performed by passing a plurality of curling rollers through a zigzag.

  The curl removing roller 503-1 is detached when the roll paper 404-2 is pulled out. The roll paper 404-2 is pressed against the curl driven roller 503-2 at the timing when the roll paper 404-2 is pulled out to the position of the curl removal roller 503-1, and the roll paper 404-2 is sandwiched.

6.3 The roll paper 404-2 after the curling of the roll paper is carried out is conveyed by the curl removing roller 503-1 and reaches the grip roller section.

  The grip roller unit includes a grip roller 504-1 and a pinch roller 504-2. The grip roller 504-1 is separated from the pinch roller 504-2 until the roll paper 404-2 reaches the grip roller portion. Then, at the timing when the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed to the position of the grip roller section, the roll paper 404-2 is pressed against the pinch roller 504-2, and the roll paper 404-2 is sandwiched.

  Fine protrusion-like claws are formed on the surface of the grip roller 504-1, and the roll paper 404-2 is gripped by biting into the back surface of the roll paper 404-2.

  The roll paper 404-2 gripped by the grip roller section is further conveyed and passes between the thermal head 227 and the platen roller 505 disposed to face the thermal head 227 (see FIG. 7).

  A roll paper cueing sensor 206 (not shown in FIG. 7) is disposed behind the platen roller 505. When the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 passes between the thermal head 227 and the platen roller 505, the roll paper cueing sensor 206 is disposed. The paper cueing sensor 206 is turned on.

  When the main controller 201 receives the ON signal of the roll paper cueing sensor 206, the main controller 201 calculates how far the roll paper 404-2 should be conveyed. The roll paper 404-2 is transported by the grip roller 504-1 controlled based on the calculation result, and stops when reaching a predetermined position (printing start position) (completion of the roll paper 404-2 is completed).

6.4 Printing Operation 6.4.1 Head Down When the cueing of the roll paper 404-2 is completed, the ink ribbon 402-1 stored in the cartridge 110 is wound up. The ink ribbon 402-1 is wound up via a ribbon winding motor 217 provided in the printing apparatus 100 and a gear train connected to the motor.

  An identification band is applied in a band shape in the width direction of the ink ribbon 402-1 at the cueing position of each surface of the Y, M, C, and overcoat layers on the ink ribbon 402-1. In particular, an identification band of a different color is applied to the leading portion of the first Y surface that is a reference for printing.

  In the present embodiment, two identification bands are applied to the leading portion of the Y surface, which is distinguished from the fact that there is one identification band for the leading portion of the other color. These distinctions are identified by the ribbon cue sensor 207, and the identification result is transmitted to the main controller 201 so that the main controller 201 can recognize that it is the first surface of the print.

  When the ribbon cueing sensor 207 recognizes that two identification bands are applied, the main controller 201 stops the ink ribbon winding motor 217. At the same time, a head up / down motor 219 that moves the thermal head 227 up and down is driven to rotate the thermal head 227 to the printing position 511.

  The thermal head 227 is rotatably disposed on the base of the printing apparatus 100 via a head lever 512, and a head up / down motor 219 drives the head lever 512 to rotate the thermal head 227 to a predetermined printing position 511. (See FIG. 8).

  The base of the printing apparatus 100 includes a rotation center of the head lever 512, a rotation center of the grip roller unit, and a support unit that supports the rotation center of the platen roller 505. These parts are configured as a unit. . The correlation between the dimensions of these parts greatly affects the printing performance. By configuring the parts as described above, the head touch is stabilized as compared with the case where these parts are configured separately.

6.4.2 Curling removal OFF
When the thermal head 227 rotates to a predetermined printing position 511, the curl removing roller 503-1 is detached and curl removal is turned off. This is to prevent an excessive load from being applied to the roll paper 404-2 during the printing operation.

6.4.3 Printing When the thermal head 227 reaches the printing position 511, reciprocal conveyance of the roll paper is started by the grip roller 504-1.

  Here, when the roll paper 404-2 wound around the roller 404-1 is conveyed in the opposite direction by the grip roller 504-1, the roll paper 404-2 returns to the inside of the cartridge 110. At this time, the paper feed motor 215 operates to rotate the roller 404-1 in a direction opposite to the rotation direction when the roll paper 404-2 is pushed out before the start of printing. As a result, the roll paper 404-2 is rewound onto the roller 404-1 without any excess.

  The paper feed motor 215 has a clutch mechanism having a sliding torque. When operating in the direction of pulling out the roll paper 404-2 with such a configuration, all the force from the paper feed motor 215 is transmitted, and when operating in the rewinding direction, it operates with a predetermined slip torque.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the roll paper 404-2 is rewound during the printing operation, it is possible to rewind the portion pulled out by the grip roller portion without applying excessive stress.

  The winding length of the ink ribbon 402-1 at the time of printing, the unwinding length of the roll paper 404-2, and the transport distance of the roll paper 404-2 by the grip roller unit were applied to the ink ribbon 402-1. The detection timing of the identification band is controlled as a print start reference.

  For example, when the postcard size cartridge 110 is mounted, about 150 mm, and when the L size cartridge 110 is mounted, about 127 mm is printed. Control. As a result, printing is performed in a range corresponding to the size.

  Note that the type of the mounted cartridge can be recognized by the IC read / write unit 230 reading information on the IC arranged in the cartridge 110.

6.4.4 Improving image quality for writing During printing operation, the energy applied to the thermal head 227 is adjusted using manufacturing information (for example, density information) of the ink ribbon 402-1 read from the IC arranged in the cartridge 110. .

  Further, the main controller 201 obtains the ambient temperature of the usage environment from the ambient temperature sensor 208 provided in the printing apparatus 100, and the optimum input energy is obtained from the ambient temperature and the manufacturing information of the ink ribbon 402-1. calculate. Then, the energy applied to the thermal head 227 is adjusted based on the calculation result.

  More specifically, when the ambient temperature is low, the thermal head 227 does not sufficiently increase the temperature of the thermal head 227 particularly immediately after the start of printing, and therefore, in the vicinity of the printing start position on the roll paper 404-2. There is a tendency that the printing result becomes thin. For this reason, the image quality of the roll paper 404-2 immediately after the start of printing becomes non-uniform in the vicinity of the end (the end on the side cut by the cutter unit).

  In order to avoid such a situation, in the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, an operation of storing the residual heat immediately before the start of printing is performed, or thermal energy is input in consideration of temperature characteristic information of the ink ribbon 402-1. Thus, the image quality in the vicinity of the cut surface is improved.

6.4.5 Print end operation In the print operation, immediately after the print end (that is, the leading end of the roll paper 404-2) passes through the heating element of the thermal head 227, the print operation (heating operation) continues. Resulting in.

  For this reason, if the thermal head 227 falls from the tip of the roll paper 404-2 together with the head lever 512 and contacts the platen roller 505 that is a rubber member, the platen roller 505 may be deformed or melted.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the thermal head 227 is configured not to move more than the thickness of the roll paper 404-2 in the pressing direction of the platen roller 505. However, the method for avoiding the deformation of the platen roller 505 is not limited to this. For example, the head pressure detection sensor 209 is configured to stop the input of energy to the thermal head 227 by detecting a pressure change that occurs when the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 is removed from the thermal head 227. Also good.

6.4.5 Printing Completion When the printing operation is executed for a predetermined length from the printing start reference, the winding operation of the ink ribbon 402-1 and the rewinding operation of the roll paper 404-2 are stopped, and the grip roller The conveyance of the roll paper 404-2 by 504-1 is stopped.

6.4.5 Feeding in the paper discharge direction When printing on the roll paper 404-2 is completed, the head up / down motor 219 is driven to rotate the head lever 512, and is fixed integrally with the head lever 512. The thermal head 227 is retracted to a predetermined retract position. At this time, the ink ribbon 402-1 is wound up by a minute amount to take up the slack of the ink ribbon 402-1.

  Next, the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed to the printing start position. The conveyance at this time is performed for the conveyance distance at the time of printing.

  When the print start position is reached, the same print operation is started for M ink. Further, after the printing operation for M ink, the same processing is performed for C ink and overcoat. That is, one complete image is generated by four reciprocating conveyances of Y, M, C, and overcoat.

6.5 Cut and paper discharge operation 6.5.1 Conveyance to cutting position When the overcoat process is completed, the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed to the cutting position. Here, the operation from the completion of the overcoat processing until the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed to the cutting position will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of each unit of the printing apparatus 100 from when the overcoat process is completed to when the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed to the cutting position. It is the figure which showed typically operation | movement.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in step S901, it is determined whether or not the printing process on the roll paper 404-2 has been completed. If it is determined that all of Y, M, C, and overcoat processing have been completed, the process proceeds to step S902. In the printing apparatus 100, when it is determined that the overcoat processing is completed, the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 is located at the position of the grip roller 504-1 as shown in FIG. And

  In step S902, the rotation of the roller 404-1 and the grip roller 504-1 is started, and the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed in the paper discharge direction. Further, in step S903, the rotation angle of the grip roller 504-1 after the rotation is started in step S902 is monitored, and measurement of the transport distance of the roll paper 404-2 is started.

  FIG. 10B shows the state of the roll paper 404-2 immediately after the rotation of the roller 404-1 and the grip roller 504-1 is started and the measurement of the transport distance is started.

  The roll paper 404-2 is curled due to the influence of being wound around the roller 404-1, and after curl removal is executed by the curl removing roller 503-1, some curl is actually left. Yes.

  In step S904, it is determined whether or not the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 has reached the position of the paper discharge roller 506. If it is determined in step S904 that the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 has reached the position of the paper discharge roller 506, the process proceeds to step S905, where the paper discharge roller 506 is gripped by the roll paper 404-2, and The rotation of the paper discharge roller 506 is started.

  FIG. 10C shows a state in which the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 has reached the position of the paper discharge roller 506 (showing the state before the paper discharge roller 506 grips the roll paper 404-2. ) FIG. 10D shows a state where the paper discharge roller 506 grips the roll paper 404-2 and starts rotating.

  In step S906, it is determined whether the measured transport distance has reached a specified amount. In the case of the present embodiment, the specified amount is the sum of the print size (S) to be printed by the mounted cartridge 110 to the distance (L) from the grip roller 504-1 to the cutting position 1001. Value, which is a predetermined length before printing.

  If it is determined in step S906 that the measured transport distance has reached the specified amount, the process proceeds to step S907. In step S907, the rotation of the roller 404-1 and the grip roller 504-1 is stopped. As a result, the grip roller 504-1 has started to rotate in step S905 and then has conveyed the roll paper 404-2 by a specified amount in the paper discharge direction.

  FIG. 11A shows a state in which the roller 404-1 and the grip roller 504-1 have stopped rotating. As shown in FIG. 11A, the roll paper 404-2 stretched between the grip roller 504-1 and the paper discharge roller 506 is bent due to the above-described curl.

  That is, even if the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed by the specified amount (L + S) by the grip roller 504-1, the bending of the roll paper 404-2 causes the cutting position 1001 to the leading end of the roll paper 404-2. Is not equal to the print size (S).

  Therefore, in step S908, it is determined whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed after the rollers 404-1 and grip rollers 504-1 have stopped rotating. Stop.

  FIG. 11B shows a state where a certain time has elapsed and the rotation of the paper discharge roller 506 has stopped. As shown in FIG. 11B, the roll between the grip roller 504-1 and the paper discharge roller 506 is stopped by stopping the paper discharge roller 506 after a certain period of time has elapsed since the grip roller 504-1 was stopped. The bending of the paper 404-2 is eliminated. As a result, the distance from the cutting position 1001 to the leading edge of the roll paper 404-2 is equal to the print size (S).

  In the example of FIG. 11A, an error of ΔS has occurred due to the bending between the grip roller 504-1 and the paper discharge roller 506 (the length from the cutting position 1001 to the tip of the roll paper 404-2 is printed. It was shorter than size S by ΔS). However, by performing the process shown in FIG. 9, the error ΔS is eliminated, and the cutting can be performed with high cutting accuracy.

  In S908 and S909, the paper discharge roller is stopped after a predetermined time regardless of the size of the roll paper or the cut size. However, the larger the roll paper or cutting size, the larger the error ΔS. Therefore, the time from when the paper discharge roller and grip roller are stopped to when the paper discharge roller is stopped is the roll paper or cutting size. It may be made variable accordingly.

6.5.2 Cutting Process Next, the cutting process after the error ΔS is eliminated will be described with reference to FIG. In addition to the cutter blade 509, a cutter motor 221 having a gear train 508 that drives the cutter blade 509 and a cutter receiving blade 510 disposed to face the cutter blade 509 are integrally configured in the cutter unit. The cutter unit is configured to be detachable from the printing apparatus 100 from the outside.

  This is because the cutter unit 509 may lack the cutter blade 509 due to its structure, and the replacement work may occur. Therefore, the replacement work can be easily performed.

  When the cutter motor 221 of the cutter unit is driven, the roll paper 404-2 is cut. In the present embodiment, the cutting method using the cutter blade 509 has been described with respect to a method in which the upper and lower blades are scissored and sequentially cut in the width direction of the roll paper 404-2. It is not a thing. For example, a cutting method of traveling while rotating a circular rotary blade may be used, or a method of cutting at a stroke by moving the cutter blade vertically in the vertical direction may be used.

6.5.3 Paper Discharge The remainder of the roll paper 404-2 whose tip has been cut by the cutting process is gripped by the paper discharge roller 506.

  From this state, the paper discharge roller 506 is driven, and the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed in the paper discharge direction. Here, the paper discharge roller 506 is provided with a paper discharge kick roller 507 at an opposing position. When the printed roll paper 404-2 is conveyed in the paper discharge direction, the paper discharge kick roller 507 is provided. The end portion of the printed roll paper 404-2 is engaged with the uneven portion. As a result, the printed roll paper 404-2 is kicked to a paper discharge box (not shown).

  At this time, the kick-out auxiliary lever arranged coaxially with the rotation shaft of the paper discharge roller 506 urges the printed roll paper 404-2 toward the paper discharge box in the direction of the paper discharge box. The printed roll paper can be securely stored in the paper discharge box. The paper discharge roller 506 stops after being driven for a predetermined time.

  With the above operation, the printing process (step S705) is completed.

  As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, after the printing process is completed, when the roll paper is conveyed to the cutting position, the rotation of the grip roller is stopped, and the discharge roller The rotation was stopped.

  As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the cutting accuracy is lowered due to the bending of the roll paper between the grip roller and the paper discharge roller due to the roll paper curl.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, in a printing apparatus using a cartridge in which an ink ribbon and roll paper are integrated, high cutting accuracy can be realized in cutting roll paper after printing.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the tip of the roll paper 404-2 is located at the position of the grip roller 504-1 (FIG. 10A) when it is determined that the overcoat process is completed. Did. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tip portion does not need to be at the position of the grip roller 504-1.

  However, in that case, the transport distance (specified amount) to be transported by the grip roller 504-1 when transporting to the cutting position 1001 is different.

  In the first embodiment, since the leading end of the roll paper 404-2 is located at the position of the grip roller 504-1, the distance (L) is the distance from the grip roller 504-1 to the cutting position 1001. However, when the tip is not at the position of the grip roller 504-1, the prescribed amount is obtained by setting the distance from the tip to the cutting position 1001 as L, not the distance from the grip roller 504-1 to the cutting position 1001. It will be.

[Other Embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). You may apply.

  Needless to say, the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a system or apparatus with a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. In this case, the above functions are realized by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. For example, an OS (operating system) running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. Needless to say, it is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized. Is also included. That is, after the program code is written in the memory, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and is realized by the processing. This is also included.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of a printing apparatus 100 and a cartridge 110 used in the printing apparatus 100. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing apparatus 100. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a cartridge 110. 3 is an exploded view of the cartridge 110. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the state in which the cartridge 110 is mounted on the printing apparatus 100 as viewed from the side of the printing apparatus 100. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an overall flow of a printing process in the printing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 100 during a printing process. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 100 during a printing process. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of operations of each unit of the printing apparatus 100 from when the overcoat process is completed until the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed to the cutting position. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of each part of the printing apparatus 100 from when the overcoat process is completed until the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed to the cutting position. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of each part of the printing apparatus 100 from when the overcoat process is completed until the roll paper 404-2 is conveyed to the cutting position. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 100 during a printing process.

Claims (13)

A printing device that prints an image by transferring ink applied to an ink ribbon onto a roll paper,
A mounting portion for mounting a cartridge in which the roll paper is stored;
A thermal head for printing an image by transferring the ink applied to the ink ribbon onto a roll paper drawn from the cartridge;
First conveying means for conveying the roll paper;
Cutting means for cutting the roll paper;
Transporting the roll paper provided on the discharge side of the roll paper transport path on the side facing the first transport means across the cutting position where the cutting means cuts the roll paper A second conveying means for
Control means for controlling the conveyance of the roll paper by the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means, and the cutting of the roll paper by the cutting means,
The control unit stops conveyance of the roll paper by the first conveyance unit, stops conveyance of the roll paper by the second conveyance unit, and then cuts the roll paper by the cutting unit. A printing apparatus characterized by the above.   The said control means stops the conveyance of the roll paper by the said 2nd conveyance means, after predetermined time passes after stopping the conveyance of the roll paper by the said 1st conveyance means. The printing apparatus according to 1.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time is a time corresponding to a size of the roll paper to be cut.   The print position for printing an image by the thermal head is between the position where the first transport unit transports and the cutting position of the cutting unit, and the first transport unit performs printing by the thermal head. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roll paper is conveyed in a direction opposite to the cutting position. The first conveying means includes
It is composed of a pair of rollers for sandwiching the roll paper,
The control means includes
By controlling the rotation angle of the roller, the conveyance distance of the roll paper is controlled, the conveyance of the roll paper by the first conveyance means is stopped according to the conveyance distance, and the roll by the first conveyance means 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the conveyance of the paper is stopped, the conveyance of the roll paper by the second conveyance unit is stopped, and then the roll paper is cut by the cutting unit. The second conveying means includes
The roll paper is composed of a pair of rollers for sandwiching the roll paper, and after the roll paper conveyed by the first conveying means passes through the position where the pair of rollers is arranged, the roll paper is transferred to the pair of rollers. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is sandwiched between rollers. And a thermal head that prints an image by transferring the ink applied to the ink ribbon onto the roll paper drawn from the cartridge. A control method,
A first conveying means for conveying the roll paper, a first conveying step;
A cutting step for cutting the roll paper;
A second conveying means provided on a side opposite to the first conveying means across a cutting position where the cutting means cuts the roll paper, provided on a paper discharge side of the conveying path of the roll paper; A second transport step for transporting the roll paper;
A control step of controlling the conveyance of the roll paper by the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means, and the cutting of the roll paper by the cutting means,
In the control step, after the conveyance of the roll paper by the first conveyance unit is stopped, the conveyance of the roll paper by the second conveyance unit is stopped, and then the roll paper is cut by the cutting unit. A control method characterized by the above.   The control step of stopping the conveyance of the roll paper by the second conveyance means after a predetermined time has elapsed after stopping the conveyance of the roll paper by the first conveyance means. 8. The control method according to 7.   The control method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined time is a time corresponding to a size of the roll paper to be cut.   The print position for printing an image by the thermal head is between the position where the first transport unit transports and the cutting position of the cutting unit, and the first transport step includes printing of the thermal head. The control method according to claim 7, wherein the roll paper is conveyed in a direction opposite to the cutting position. The first conveying means includes
It is composed of a pair of rollers for sandwiching the roll paper,
The control step includes
By controlling the rotation angle of the roller, the transport distance of the roll paper is controlled, the transport of the roll paper by the first transport means is stopped according to the transport distance, and the roll paper by the first transport means is stopped. The control method according to claim 7, wherein the transport of the roll paper by the second transport unit is stopped after the transport of the paper is stopped, and then the roll paper is cut by the cutting unit. The second conveying means includes
It is composed of a pair of rollers that sandwich the roll paper,
The second conveying step includes
The roll paper transported by the first transport means passes through the position where the pair of rollers is disposed, and then the roll paper is sandwiched between the pair of rollers. The control method described. A control program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to any one of claims 7 to 12.

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