JP2012236384A - Recording apparatus, device and method for presenting information of cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that can present information on a cuttable recording medium according to features and attributions of variable recording media based on wear of a cutter blade, and to provide a device and a method for presenting information.SOLUTION: A recording apparatus estimates the current wear amount of the cutter blade, determines whether the current cutter blade can cut a recording medium based on the estimated wear amount for each of the plural kinds of recording media, and presents the determination result through an information presenting means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus including a cutting unit that enables cutting of a recording medium using an exchangeable cutter blade, an information presentation apparatus for a cutting apparatus provided in the recording apparatus, and an information presentation method for the cutting apparatus.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus in which a recording medium wound up in a roll is loaded, an image is recorded on the recording medium, then cut by a cutting mechanism and discharged. Currently known cutting mechanisms are mainly composed of a cutter unit and a drive unit. The cutter unit uses a knife-shaped fixed blade to push the recording medium and a rotary blade. There is a type that sandwiches the recording medium.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with such a cutter mechanism, cutting of the recording medium is performed as a final step in the production of recorded matter. Therefore, if the recording medium is not properly cut in this final process, the value of the recorded matter obtained may be greatly reduced no matter how high quality images are formed. Further, if the recording operation is required again, problems such as a decrease in productivity and an increase in running cost may occur. Further, defective cutting often generates chips, which may reduce the reliability of the apparatus.

  Therefore, as a technique for preventing cutting failure, it has been proposed to prevent cutting failure due to wear of the cutter blade. For example, in Patent Document 1, any one of cutting time, number of cuttings, cumulative cutting time, load current, temperature, and the like is measured, and the measurement result is compared with a threshold value to determine whether or not replacement is necessary. Judging the degree of sex is disclosed. Furthermore, in the same document, when it is determined that the cutter needs to be replaced according to the determination result, a notification such as a display or a warning sound is given to prompt the user to replace the cutter. Is disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 detects a change in sharpness associated with cutting of a cutter and a sliding load of the cutter holder by utilizing the change in the load of the motor, and the cutter holder cannot be driven. A technique for prompting the user to replace the cutter has been disclosed.

JP 2001-088384 A JP 2009-234176 A

  In the ink jet recording apparatus, various types of recording media having different materials, thicknesses, basis weights, and the like are used. For example, a recording medium made of a film or the like is used in addition to a commonly used paper medium. When the recording medium to be used has a high cutting resistance or is hard, the cutter blade may wear faster than when a paper medium is used, and the cutter blade life may be further shortened. If the cutter blade is worn when a recording medium having a high cutting resistance is used, a cutting failure such that cutting is not performed properly or cutting becomes impossible. However, even if the cutter blade is somewhat worn, if the recording medium used is soft and has a low cutting resistance, it can be cut properly.

  However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 urge the replacement warning when the measured value measured during the recording operation exceeds a predetermined threshold regardless of the type of the recording medium, The apparatus is configured to stop the operation of the apparatus. For this reason, even if the cutter blade is in a wearable state that can be cut if it is another recording medium, if the currently mounted recording medium cannot be cut, the user determines that the life has reached the end of the new cutter. It is customary to replace the blade. In other words, in the conventional recording apparatus, the life of the cutter blade is not used effectively, which is one of the factors that increase the running cost.

  The present invention can effectively use the life of a cutter blade by presenting information on a recording medium that can be cut or cannot be cut among a plurality of recordable recording media according to the amount of wear of the cutter blade. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible recording device, information presentation device, and information presentation method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording unit that enables recording on each of a plurality of types of recording media, and a recording unit that includes a cutting unit that cuts the recording medium using a replaceable cutter blade. A wearer capable of cutting the recording medium with the cutter blade, the storage means storing corresponding to each of the plurality of recording media, and the cutting means currently provided Estimating means for estimating the wear amount of the cutter blade, and for each of the plurality of recording media, the wear amount estimated by the estimating means and the limit value of the wear amount corresponding to each recording medium stored in the storage means And a determination means for determining whether or not each of the recording media can be cut by the current cutter blade, and a recording medium determined to be cut by the determination means or a recording determined not to be cut Medium And information presentation means for presenting at least one, characterized by comprising a.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information presentation apparatus for a cutting apparatus comprising a cutting means for cutting a plurality of types of recording media used in the recording apparatus using an exchangeable cutter blade, wherein the cutter blade includes the cutting blade. A storage means in which the limit value of the wear amount that can be cut by the storage means is stored corresponding to each of the plurality of recording media, an estimation means for estimating the wear amount of the current cutter blade provided in the cutting means, For each of a plurality of recording media, the wear amount estimated by the estimating means is compared with the limit value of the wear amount corresponding to each recording medium stored in the storage means, and each recording medium is compared with the current cutter blade. Determining means for determining whether or not the recording medium can be disconnected, and information presenting means for presenting at least one of the recording medium determined to be disconnectable by the determining means or the recording medium determined to be uncuttable, And said that there were pictures.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information presentation method for a cutting apparatus including a cutting unit that uses a replaceable cutter blade to cut a plurality of types of recording media used in the recording apparatus. An estimation step of estimating the amount of wear of the current cutter blade provided in the apparatus, and each of the plurality of recording media can be cut or not cut with the cutter blade of the wear amount estimated by the estimation means. A determination step for determining whether or not a recording medium determined to be severable by the determination unit or a recording medium determined to be uncut by the information presentation unit is provided. And

  According to the present invention, a recording medium that can be cut or cannot be cut with the current cutter blade can be confirmed among a plurality of types of recording media, so that even when some of the recording media become uncut, cutting is possible. It is possible to use a simple recording medium. For this reason, it becomes possible to effectively use the life of the cutter blade, and it becomes possible to reduce the running cost and the occurrence of inappropriate cutting.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the cutter apparatus periphery in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the threshold value of the abrasion amount of the cutter blade set corresponding to each of the multiple types of recording media used in this embodiment, and the moving speed of the cutter unit. It is a figure which shows the structure of the operation panel provided in the recording device in this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the recording apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The recording apparatus in the present embodiment will be described by taking an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a recording apparatus) that performs recording by discharging ink.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the controller (control means) 113 of the printing apparatus and the internal configuration of the printing apparatus according to this embodiment. The controller 113 includes an internal bus 101, a host interface (host I / F) 102, a CPU (central processing unit) 104, a storage unit 105, an engine interface (engine I / F) 106, a panel interface (panel I / F) 107, and the like. Is provided. The controller 113 also receives recording data for recording an image from a personal computer (PC) 112 as an external device connected to the external network 103.

  The CPU 104 performs various operations such as calculation, control, and determination in accordance with a recording mode set by the panel device 111 and a command (command) from the external device 112 according to a program stored in advance in the storage unit 105. Controls each part of the recording device and the cutting device. Further, the CPU 104 analyzes the recording data stored in the storage unit 105 and analyzes the recording job data and the recording apparatus control command. In the present embodiment, the CPU 104 functions as an estimation unit that estimates a wear amount of a cutter blade described later.

  The storage unit 105 is configured by a storage device that can store the setting contents of the recording mode from the panel device 111, recording job data, and the like. The recording mode referred to here means a form relating to the operation of the recording apparatus, such as a cutting method for automatically cutting the recording medium or a maintenance method for the recording head. The storage unit 105 may be a mass storage device such as an HDD. The engine I / F 106 communicates commands and statuses and recording data with the recording head 110, and communicates commands with the cutter device (cutting means) 109 and communication of measurement data with the load measuring device 108. Control interface module to perform.

  The recording head 110 is an ink jet recording head having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink. In this embodiment, the recording medium extends in a direction (A direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (B direction) of the recording medium. A plurality of nozzles are arranged on the surface of the recording head 110 facing the recording medium conveyance path over a range that is equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium (the length in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction). ing. Disposed within each nozzle is an ejection energy generating element for ejecting ink supplied from an ink tank (not shown) toward the conveyance path of the recording medium. The ejection energy generating element is driven based on the recording data from the external device 112, and records an image by ejecting ink onto a continuously conveyed recording medium.

  As described above, the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is a so-called full-line type recording apparatus that fixes the recording head and moves only the recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to a full-line type recording apparatus. That is, the present invention also relates to a so-called serial type recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink while intermittently transporting the recording medium and scanning the recording head in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium. Applicable.

  In the present embodiment, recording is performed on a recording medium that is continuously fed out from a recording medium supply source that is mounted in a roll shape. A cutter device (cutting device) 109 records an image with a recording head on a strip-shaped recording medium fed out in a direction B in FIG. 2 from a roll-shaped recording medium supply source, and then performs cutting at a predetermined position. Examples of the cutter blade attached to the cutter device 109 include a fixed blade and a rotary blade. The load measuring device 108 measures the load applied to the cutter blade when the cutter device 109 cuts the recording medium.

  The panel I / F 107 is an interface that communicates commands and status with the panel device 111. The panel device 111 has a display function for displaying the recording mode setting by the operator and the current state of the recording device. The host I / F 102 is an interface that communicates with the external device 112. Generally, a network, USB, 1394, Centronics interface, or the like is used.

  When the controller 113 receives character information, image information, or the like from the external device 112, the controller 113 analyzes the received information and causes the storage unit 105 to store recording data for each page of the recording medium. Thereafter, the CPU 104 sends the recording data read from the storage unit 105 to the recording head 110, and the recording head 110 ejects ink onto the recording medium based on the recording data. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording medium. When the image is recorded, the recording medium is conveyed to a predetermined position, cut by the cutter device 109 at a predetermined scheduled cutting position, and then discharged.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the load measuring device 108 and the cutter device 109. The cutter device 109 includes a cutter unit 200, a drive motor 210, a drive motor 210, and a transmission mechanism 230. The cutter unit 200 holds a cutter blade in a replaceable manner. The transmission mechanism 230 includes a pair of pulleys 230 a and 230 b that rotate by the rotational force of the rotating shaft 210 a of the drive motor 210 and a belt 230 c that is stretched around the pulleys 230 a and 230 b, and the belt 230 c moves by the rotational force of the drive motor 210. . The cutter unit 200 is fixed to the belt 230c, and the cutter unit 200 moves along the width direction A of the recording medium P as the belt 230c moves. The cutter blade 200 a cuts the recording medium 220 by the movement of the cutter unit 200. The cutter blade 200a provided in the cutter unit 200 may be a fixed blade or a rotary blade.

  The load measuring device 108 includes a rotary encoder 240 connected to the rotating shaft 210 a of the drive motor 210. The rotary encoder 240 generates a number of pulses corresponding to the number of rotations of the rotating shaft 210a. Therefore, the rotational speed of the rotary shaft 210a can be measured based on the number of pulses and the drive time of the drive motor 210, and the moving speed of the cutter unit 200 can be measured based on the rotational speed of the rotary shaft 210a. . The load measuring device 108 can measure the cutting speed measured based on the pulse from the rotary encoder 240 as a load equivalent amount corresponding to the load that the cutter blade 200a receives from the recording medium P when the recording medium P is cut. . That is, it can be determined that the load at the time of cutting the recording medium is larger as the measured cutting speed of the cutter unit 200 is lower, and conversely, the load at the time of cutting the recording medium is smaller as the cutting speed of the cutter unit 200 is higher. Judgment can be made. The load measuring device may measure the driving current of the cutter driving motor 210 and measure the load based on the driving current value.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the wear amount threshold value of the cutter blade 200a and the maximum cutting speed and the minimum cutting speed as load parameters, which are predetermined for each of a plurality of types of recording media usable in the recording apparatus. . In FIG. 3, the wear amount threshold value indicates a limit value (limit wear amount) of the wear amount of the cutter blade 200 a that enables proper cutting with respect to the corresponding recording medium. In addition, proper cutting means cutting that is performed without causing problems such as a decrease in the value of the recording medium due to disruption of the cutting portion, generation of chips, and inability to cut. Further, the minimum cutting speed indicates a cutting speed when the corresponding recording medium is cut in a state where the cutter blade 200a is at the wear amount threshold value. The maximum cutting speed indicates a cutting speed when the corresponding recording medium is cut in a state where the cutter blade 200a is not worn (a state where the cutter blade 200a is replaced with an unused cutter blade). The storage means 105 stores the maximum cutting speed and the minimum cutting speed as cutting load parameters, and stores a wear amount threshold value corresponding to each recording medium.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the operation panel 301 provided in the panel device described above. The illustrated operation panel 301 has a function as an input unit for inputting various instructions and data, and a function as an information presentation unit for presenting information on a recording medium and a cutter blade. A liquid crystal display 302 is provided as information presentation means. As input means, a selection button 304 for selecting a desired instruction by the user and an instruction determination button 303 for determining execution of the selected instruction are provided. The liquid crystal display 302 can present information about a recording medium that cannot be cut by the cutter device 109, a message notifying that the recording medium cannot be cut, and the like. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a POP board and an image material (canvas) are displayed as recording media that cannot be cut. If the user cannot cut the set recording medium, the user uses the selection button 304 to select whether or not to set the manual cut mode, and the selected mode is determined by the determination button 303.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the CPU 104 of the recording apparatus according to a program stored in the storage unit 105.
Prior to image recording, the operator selects a recording medium setting operation from among various operations displayed on the liquid crystal display using the selection button 304 and presses the decision button 303. By this button operation, the CPU 104 causes the liquid crystal display 302 to display a plurality of predetermined recordable recording media. Next, the operator operates the selection button 304 to select a recording medium on which an image is to be recorded from the displayed recording media, and presses the command determination button 303. Thereby, the recording medium on which the image is to be recorded is recognized by the CPU 104 (step S101).

  Next, the CPU 102 searches a plurality of predetermined recording media (see FIG. 3) for recording media that cannot be cut with the current cutter blade 200a (uncuttable media). This search for the non-cuttable medium is performed by comparing the current estimated wear amount of the cutter blade 200a held in the storage means 105 with the wear amount threshold values corresponding to each of the plurality of recording media shown in FIG. . That is, the recording medium corresponding to the wear amount threshold value smaller than the estimated wear amount of the cutter blade 200a is searched, and the corresponding recording medium is listed. For example, when the wear amount estimated value of the current cutter blade held in the storage unit 105 is 0.1 mm, the wear amount estimated value is compared with the wear amount threshold value shown in FIG. The recording medium is a POP board and an art material (canvas). Therefore, these two recording media are listed. Note that the current estimated amount of the cutter blade 200a is a value calculated by the CPU 104 by a calculation process described later based on the cutting operation performed before the recording operation to be performed, and the storage unit 105 for each cutting operation. It is held in an updated state.

  Next, the CPU 104 determines whether or not the recording medium set by the user corresponds to a non-cuttable medium (step S103). If it is determined that the medium is not severable, the process proceeds to step S104. If it is determined that the medium is severable (cuttable medium), the process proceeds to step S107. In step S104, the CPU 104 causes the liquid crystal display 302 to display at least one of a non-cuttable medium or a cuttable medium, and in step S105, displays a confirmation message as to whether or not to select a manual cutting mode for manually cutting the recording medium. . FIG. 3 shows an example of this confirmation message. Next, the CPU 104 determines whether or not the operator has selected the manual cutting mode (step S105). When the manual cutting mode is selected, the CPU 104 proceeds to step S108 to execute the recording operation (step S108). If the manual cutting mode is not selected, a message for prompting replacement of the cutter blade 200a is displayed (step S106), and the process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S103 described above that the recording medium on which an image is to be recorded is a detachable medium, the CPU 104 displays a message notifying that there is a recording medium that cannot be disconnected at present on the liquid crystal display 302, A recording operation is executed (step S108). Thereafter, the CPU 104 determines whether or not the recording medium on which the image is recorded is a non-cuttable medium, and ends the process if the non-cuttable medium. Note that, when it is determined in step S109 that the recording medium is a non-cuttable medium, a cutting auxiliary line for manually cutting the recording medium may be recorded. According to this, manual cutting can be performed easily and appropriately.

If it is determined in step S109 that the recording medium is a cuttable medium, the CPU 104 drives the motor 210 and moves the cutter unit 200 to cut the recording medium. At the same time, the load measuring device 108 measures the cutting speed of the recording medium as a load equivalent amount based on the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 210. Furthermore, in step S111, based on the speed measured by the load measuring device 108, the CPU 104 estimates the wear amount of the cutter blade. The estimation of the wear amount can be calculated by, for example, the following calculation.
You may calculate as w_i = Wmax_i * (S_i-Smax_i) / (Smin_i-Smax_i).

  Here, w_i is an estimated wear amount, S_i is a cutting speed [inch / s] when cutting the recording medium i, and Smax_i is a maximum cutting speed [inch / s] of the recording medium i. Smin_i represents the minimum cutting speed [inch / s] of the recording medium i, and Wmax_i represents the wear amount threshold value [mm] of the cutter blade when cutting the recording medium i.

  Thereafter, in step S111, the CPU 104 updates the estimated wear amount of the cutter blade obtained in step S110, holds it in the storage means 105, and ends the recording operation.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible not only to determine whether the recording medium to be recorded can be cut with the current cutting state of the cutter blade, but also to cut with the current cutter blade among a plurality of types of recording media. The presence or absence of a simple recording medium is determined and the information is also presented. Accordingly, even if it is determined that the recording medium to be recorded is not cuttable, if there is a severable recording medium among the other recording media, the other recording medium can be replaced without replacing the cutter blade 200a. Recording and cutting can be performed using the. For this reason, it becomes possible to utilize effectively the cutting capability of the cutter blade 200a, and the lifetime of the cutter blade 200a can be used effectively. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the cost required for the cutter blade 200a while suppressing the occurrence of inappropriate cutting.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the load equivalent amount corresponding to the load when cutting the recording medium is calculated based on the cutting speed of the cutter unit. However, the load equivalent amount corresponding to the cutting load of the recording medium is calculated as the cutting speed. It is also possible to calculate based on other values. For example, it is also possible to calculate the estimated wear amount of the cutter part based on the cumulative value of the number of cuttings of the cutter part. In this case, the wear amount can be estimated with higher accuracy by multiplying the number of times of cutting of the cutter portion by a weighting coefficient set in accordance with the type of cutting of the recording medium.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when it is determined that the recording medium on which an image is to be recorded cannot be cut with the current cutter blade, a message for prompting replacement of the cutter blade is displayed. However, a message for prompting replacement of the recording medium may be displayed together with a message for prompting replacement of the cutter blade, or instead of a message for prompting replacement of the cutter blade.

  Further, if the estimated wear amount of the cutter blade used in the past is stored in the storage means, and the cutter blade of the estimated wear amount applicable to the recording medium to be used can be searched, the cutter blade used in the past can be searched. Can be used again. For example, an ID code is assigned to the cutter blade to be used, and the estimated wear amount of the cutter blade is stored in the storage means corresponding to the ID code. When it is determined that the recording medium cannot be cut with the cutter blade currently used, the cutter blade having an estimated wear amount smaller than the wear amount threshold value of the recording medium among the estimated wear amounts of the cutter blade used in the past. If the corresponding cutter blade exists, its ID is displayed. In this way, even once the cutter blade has been removed, if it is stored, it can be used again for cutting other recording media, and the life of the cutter blade can be used more effectively. become.

104 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 105 Memory | storage means 108 Load measuring apparatus 109 Cutter apparatus 110 Recording head 111 Panel apparatus 112 External apparatus 113 Controller 200 Cutter part 200a Cutter blade 210 Drive motor 210 Rotary encoder 301 Operation panel 302 Liquid crystal display P Recording medium

Claims (7)

A recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit that enables recording on each of a plurality of types of recording media; and a cutting unit that cuts the recording medium using a replaceable cutter blade,
Storage means for storing a limit value of the amount of wear that can cut the recording medium by the cutter blade, corresponding to each of the plurality of recording media;
Estimating means for estimating the wear amount of the current cutter blade provided in the cutting means;
For each of the plurality of recording media, the wear amount estimated by the estimating means is compared with the limit value of the wear amount corresponding to each recording medium stored in the storage means, and each of the recording media is recorded by the current cutter blade. Determining means for determining whether the medium can be cut;
Information presenting means for presenting at least one of the recording medium determined to be cut by the determining means or the recording medium determined to be uncut;
A recording apparatus comprising: A measuring unit for measuring a load equivalent amount when the recording medium is cut by the cutting unit;
The storage means stores a limit value of the amount of wear that can be cut, and a cutting load parameter corresponding to each of the plurality of types of recording media,
The estimating means determines the amount of wear of the cutter blade based on the load equivalent amount measured by the measuring means, the cutting load parameter corresponding to the recording medium cut by the cutting means, and the limit wear amount. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein estimation is performed. The cutting load parameter includes a cutting speed when the recording medium is cut by the cutter blade when the wear amount is minimum, and a cutting when the recording medium is cut by the cutter blade when the wear amount is maximum. Speed,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load equivalent amount is a cutting speed of the recording medium by the cutter blade. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising information presenting means for presenting information for prompting replacement of the cutter blade.   The control unit records an image corresponding to the recording data and a cutting auxiliary line different from the image on the recording medium when the determination unit determines that the recording medium to be recorded by the recording unit is not cuttable. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is controlled. An information presentation device for a cutting device comprising a cutting means for cutting a plurality of types of recording media used in the recording device, using an exchangeable cutter blade,
Storage means in which a limit value of the amount of wear that can be cut by the cutter blade is stored corresponding to each of the plurality of recording media;
Estimating means for estimating the wear amount of the current cutter blade provided in the cutting means;
For each of the plurality of recording media, the wear amount estimated by the estimating means is compared with the limit value of the wear amount corresponding to each recording medium stored in the storage means, and each of the recording media is recorded by the current cutter blade. Determining means for determining whether the medium can be cut;
Information presenting means for presenting at least one of the recording medium determined to be cut by the determining means or the recording medium determined to be uncut;
An information presentation device for a cutting device, comprising: An information presentation method for a cutting apparatus provided with a cutting means for cutting a plurality of types of recording media used in the recording apparatus using an exchangeable cutter blade,
An estimation step of estimating the wear amount of the current cutter blade provided in the cutting means;
For each of the plurality of recording media, a determination step of determining whether or not cutting is possible with a cutter blade having a wear amount estimated by the estimation unit; and
An information presenting step for causing the information presenting means to present at least one of the recording medium determined to be cleavable by the determining means or the recording medium determined not to be cleavable;
An information presentation method for a cutting apparatus, comprising:

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