JPH11311502A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a printer capable of accurately detecting the end of a sheet without wasting the sheet. When a label sheet is used, a traveling position of the label sheet is detected according to an output of a transmission sensor, and when a tag sheet is used, the traveling position of the tag sheet is detected according to an output of a reflection sensor. To detect. Regarding the end of the label sheet and the tag sheet, see the transmission type sensor 2
In addition to detecting based on the relationship between the output of No. 1 and the output of the reflective sensor 22, the amount of light emitted from the reflective sensor 22 is increased when the label sheet is used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer that travels on a label sheet or tag sheet and prints characters and bar codes on the traveling sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A label sheet in which a peelable label is affixed to a translucent band-shaped paper (mount) at predetermined intervals, and an index for specifying a position (for example, a black mark) are added to the band-shaped paper (mount) at predetermined intervals. There is a printer that travels on any of the (printed) tag sheets and prints characters or barcodes on the running label sheet or tag sheet. this is,
Generally, it is often called a label printer.

This printer is provided with a transmission type sensor for detecting the traveling position of the label sheet and a reflection type sensor for detecting the traveling position of the tag sheet.

[0004] The transmission type sensor irradiates a running sheet with light and detects the amount of light transmitted through the sheet. That is,
In the case of a label sheet, a large amount of light passes through the band-shaped paper portion, so that the level of the sensor output voltage becomes higher than the set value,
In the label portion, a point where the level of the sensor output voltage is less than the set value without capturing light is captured to detect the traveling position, that is, the label position. If the level of the sensor output voltage continues at or above the set value, it is determined that the label sheet has ended.

[0005] The reflection type sensor irradiates a running sheet with light and detects the amount of light reflected from the sheet. That is,
In the case of a tag sheet, since the light reflectance of the index is lower than the light reflectance of the strip-shaped paper, the voltage level of the sensor output is lower than the set value for the index, and the voltage level of the sensor output is higher than the set value for the strip-shaped paper. And detect the traveling position, that is, the tag position. If the level of the sensor output voltage continues to be less than the set value, it is determined that the tag sheet has ended.

[0006]

As described above, when the end of the sheet is determined based on the continuation of the level of the sensor output voltage, the sheet is fed by a length corresponding to the duration of the determination element. Required. For this reason, the sheet is wasted.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that can accurately detect the end of a sheet without wasting the sheet.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A printer according to the present invention runs on a label sheet in which a peelable label is affixed to a strip of paper at predetermined intervals or a tag sheet in which an index for position designation is added to the strip of paper at predetermined intervals. In a printer that prints on the running sheet, a transmission type sensor that irradiates the sheet with light and detects the amount of light transmitted through the sheet,
A reflective sensor that irradiates the sheet with light to detect the amount of reflected light from the sheet; a detecting means for detecting the travel position of the label sheet according to the output of the transmissive sensor when using the label sheet; and a tag. When the sheet is used, a detecting means for detecting the traveling position of the tag sheet according to the output of the reflection type sensor, and the end of the label sheet and the tag sheet by the output of the transmission type sensor and the output of the reflection type sensor. Detecting means for detecting based on the relationship, when using the label sheet, control means for increasing the light emission amount of the reflective sensor,
Is provided.

That is, when the label sheet is used, the traveling position of the label sheet is detected according to the output of the transmission type sensor. When the tag sheet is used, the traveling position of the tag sheet is detected according to the output of the reflection type sensor. To detect. In addition, the end of the label sheet and the tag sheet is detected based on the relationship between the output of the transmission sensor and the output of the reflection sensor, and the amount of light emitted from the reflection sensor is increased when the label sheet is used.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, a CPU as a main control unit
1, a ROM 2 which fixedly stores a control program, a RAM 3 and a non-volatile memory 4 for temporarily storing print data and the like, a keyboard controller 5, a display controller 6, and a head driver 7 are connected. The keyboard 8 is used for the keyboard controller 5, the display 9 is used for the display controller 6, and the thermal head 10 is used for the head driver 7.
Are respectively connected. The head driver 7 and the thermal head 10 print a character or a barcode on a label sheet and a tag sheet described later via an ink ribbon.

Further, the CPU 1 has a sensor control circuit 1
1, motor driver 12, and communication interface 1
3 are connected. The transmission sensor 21 and the reflection sensor 22 and the motor driver 1
2, a feed motor 23 and a ribbon motor 24 are respectively connected. The communication interface 13 is connected to a host computer 30 of a higher model via a communication line.

The sensor control circuit 11 includes a transmission type sensor 21
And the operation of the reflection type sensor 22 is controlled.

The transmission sensor 21 irradiates a traveling sheet (a label sheet or a tag sheet described later) with light, and detects the amount of light transmitted through the sheet.

The reflection type sensor 22 irradiates the running sheet with light and detects the amount of light reflected from the sheet.

The feed motor 23 feeds a label sheet or a tag sheet set by an attendant to the thermal head 10. By this feeding, the label sheet and the tag sheet travel.

The label sheet is a sheet in which a releasable label is affixed at predetermined intervals (equal intervals) to a translucent strip of paper (backing paper). The tag sheet is obtained by adding (printing) an index (for example, a black mark) for specifying a position to a band-shaped sheet (mount) at predetermined intervals.

The CPU 1 has the following main functions [1] to [6].

[1] First detecting means for detecting the running position of the label sheet according to the output of the transmission sensor 21 when the label sheet is used.

[2] First control means for controlling the running and printing operation of the label sheet according to the detection result of the first detection means when the label sheet is used.

[3] Second detecting means for detecting the running position of the tag sheet according to the output of the reflection type sensor 22 when the tag sheet is used.

[4] Second control means for controlling the running and printing of the tag sheet according to the detection result of the second detecting means when the tag sheet is used.

[5] Third detection means for detecting the end of the label sheet and the tag sheet based on the relationship between the output of the transmission sensor 21 and the output of the reflection sensor 22.

[6] Third control means for increasing the light emission amount of the reflection type sensor 21 when using the label sheet.

Next, a specific configuration of the sensor control circuit 11, the transmission type sensor 21, and the reflection type sensor 22 is shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 40 denotes an input / output (I / O) port for inputting and outputting data to and from the CPU 1, and input data (digital data) from the CPU 1 is supplied to the input / output port 40 via a D / A (digital / analog) converter. 41.

The D / A (digital / analog) converter 41 receives input data (transmission sensor light emission amount designation data).
Is output from the channel ch1. This output voltage is applied between the base and the emitter of the NPN transistor 43 via the operational amplifier 42.

The transmission sensor 21 includes a light emitting element such as a photodiode 21a and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor 21b. A DC voltage Vcc is applied to the photodiode 21a of the transmission type sensor 21 between the collector and the emitter of the transistor 43 and via the resistor 44. Further, a DC voltage Vcc is applied to the resistor 45 via the collector and the emitter of the phototransistor 21b of the transmission sensor 21, and the voltage generated at the resistor 45 is used as an output of the transmission sensor 21 as an A / D (analog / digital) converter. It is supplied to 50 channels ch1.

That is, the higher the output voltage level of the channel ch1 in the D / A converter 41, the higher the conductivity between the collector and the emitter of the transistor 43. When the degree of continuity increases, the current flowing through the photodiode 21a increases, and the light emission amount of the photodiode 21a increases. Accordingly, the phototransistor 21b
And the current flowing through the resistor 45 increases, and the level of the voltage (hereinafter, referred to as a sensor output voltage) generated at the resistor 45 increases.

The A / D converter 50 has a channel ch.
It converts the level of the input voltage (sensor output voltage) to 1 into a digital signal and outputs it as transmission sensor output data. This output is output to the CP via the input / output port 40.
It is supplied to U1.

The D / A converter 41 outputs a signal of a voltage level corresponding to the input data (reflection sensor light emission amount designation data) from the channel ch2. This output voltage is supplied to an NPN transistor 47 via an operational amplifier 46.
Is applied between the base and the emitter.

The reflection sensor 22 includes a light emitting element such as a photodiode 22a and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor 22b. A DC voltage Vcc is applied to the photodiode 22a of the reflection type sensor 22 between the collector and the emitter of the transistor 47 and via the resistor. Further, a DC voltage Vcc is applied to the resistor 49 via the collector and the emitter of the phototransistor 22b of the reflection type sensor 22, and the voltage generated at the resistor 49 is output from the reflection type sensor 22 to the channel ch2 of the A / D converter 50. Supplied to

That is, the higher the output voltage level of the channel ch2 in the D / A converter 41, the higher the conductivity between the collector and the emitter of the transistor 47. When the degree of continuity increases, the current flowing through the photodiode 22a increases, and the light emission amount of the photodiode 22a increases. Accordingly, the phototransistor 22b
, The current flowing through the resistor 48 increases, and the level of a voltage (hereinafter, referred to as a sensor output voltage) generated at the resistor 48 increases.

The A / D converter 50 has a channel ch.
2 converts the level of the input voltage (sensor output voltage) into a digital signal and outputs it as reflection-type sensor output data. This output is output to the CP via the input / output port 40.
It is supplied to U1.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

By the printing start operation by the attendant, a feed command and a printing command are issued from the CPU 1, and the sensor control circuit 11 and the motor driver 12 operate to start the running (feed) of the sheet and the printing process.

In this case, if the use of the label sheet is selected by the attendant, the transmission type sensor 21 is designated as a sensor for controlling the traveling position. Based on this designation, the transmission sensor 21 operates with a predetermined light emission amount. The reflection sensor 22 also operates to detect the end of the label sheet together with the transmission sensor 21.
Is operated with an increased light emission amount than usual.

Light emitted from the transmissive sensor 21 is applied to a running label sheet. The irradiated light is transmitted through the mount (band-shaped paper) portion of the label sheet and is reflected at the level portion. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the sensor output voltage of the transmission sensor 21 is equal to or higher than the set value (= 4 V) in the mount portion and lower than the set value in the label portion. The travel position of the label sheet is detected based on the sensor output voltage.

Light emitted from the reflection type sensor 22 is also applied to the label sheet. The emitted light is reflected on both the mount and the level portion of the label sheet, but the amount of reflected light is larger than usual since the amount of light emission is increased more than usual. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the sensor output voltage of the reflection sensor 22 is equal to or higher than the set value (= 1 V) in both the mount portion and the level portion, even if the mount portion of the label sheet has low reflectance. Become.

When the label sheet ends, the sensor output voltage of the transmission sensor 21 becomes equal to or higher than the set value, and the sensor output voltage of the reflection sensor 22 becomes lower than the set value. The end of the label sheet is detected based on the correlation between the sensor output voltages.

If the light emission amount of the reflection type sensor 22 is normal, the backing portion of the label sheet has a low reflectance. Therefore, as shown by a broken line in FIG. Is smaller than the set value in both the mount portion and the end portion, and an error occurs in the end detection. However, such a problem is solved by increasing the light emission amount of the reflective sensor 22 so that the accurate end detection is always performed. ing.

Furthermore, since the end can be accurately detected based on the correlation between the output voltages of the two sensors, unnecessary sheet feeding as in the related art is not required.

On the other hand, when the use of the tag sheet is selected by the attendant, the reflection type sensor 22 is designated as a sensor for controlling the traveling position. Based on this designation, the reflection sensor 22 operates at a predetermined normal light emission amount. Also,
In order to detect the end of the tag sheet together with the reflection type sensor 22, the transmission type sensor 21 operates with a prescribed light emission amount.

The light emitted from the reflection type sensor 22 is applied to the tag sheet. The irradiated light is largely reflected by the mount portion of the tag sheet, and is slightly reflected by the index portion. Therefore, the sensor output voltage of the reflective sensor 22 is equal to or higher than the set value (= 1 V) in the mount portion and lower than the set value in the index portion. The travel position of the tag sheet is detected based on the sensor output voltage.

Light emitted from the transmission sensor 21 is also applied to the tag sheet. The irradiated light does not pass through both the mount portion and the index portion of the tag sheet, so that the sensor output voltage of the transmission sensor 21 becomes lower than the set value.

When the tag sheet ends, the reflection type sensor 2
2, the sensor output voltage of the transmission type sensor 21 becomes lower than the set value. The end of the tag sheet is detected based on the correlation between the sensor output voltages.

When the type of the sheet to be used is not specified by the attendant (no specification), the light emission amount of the reflection sensor 22 is increased as in the case where the use of the label sheet is specified. In this case, if the sheet used is a tag sheet, there is a concern that the detection of the index may be adversely affected.However, even if the amount of light emission increases, the amount of reflected light from the index portion is not so large. Therefore, the sensor output voltage of the reflection type sensor 22 is kept below the set value as usual in the index portion, and the above-described adverse effect does not occur.

It is conceivable that the amount of light emitted from the reflective sensor 22 is always increased regardless of the type of sheet used and whether or not the sheet is specified. However, this will shorten the life of the reflective sensor 22. Because
That is not desirable.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a label sheet is used, the traveling position of the label sheet is detected according to the output of the transmission type sensor, and when the tag sheet is used, the travel position of the tag sheet is detected. The running position is detected in accordance with the output of the reflection type sensor, and the end of the label sheet and the tag sheet is detected based on the relationship between the output of the transmission type sensor and the output of the reflection type sensor. Since the configuration is such that the amount of light emitted from the pattern sensor is increased, it is possible to provide a printer that can accurately detect the end of a sheet without wasting the sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sensor control circuit, a transmission sensor, and a reflection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an overall control circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an output signal waveform of each sensor of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU 11 ... Sensor control circuit 21 ... Transmission type sensor 21a ... Photodiode 21b ... Phototransistor 22 ... Reflection type sensor 22a ... Photodiode 22b ... Phototransistor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A label sheet having releasable labels affixed to a strip of paper at predetermined intervals or a tag sheet having a position designation index added to the strip of paper at predetermined intervals is run and printed on the running sheet. In the printer performing, a transmission sensor that irradiates the sheet with light and detects the amount of light transmitted through the sheet, and a reflection sensor that irradiates the sheet with light and detects the amount of light reflected from the sheet Detecting means for detecting the travel position of the label sheet according to the output of the transmission sensor when the label sheet is used; and outputting the travel position of the tag sheet to the output of the reflection sensor when the tag sheet is used. Detecting means for detecting the end of the label sheet and the tag sheet based on the relationship between the output of the transmission sensor and the output of the reflection sensor. Means and the label during use of the sheet, the printer characterized by comprising a control means for increasing the light emission amount of the reflective sensor.