JP4227631B2 - Printer and printer printing medium mounting determination method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that performs thermal printing using a pair of thermal heads on a thermal printing medium that can print on both sides or only one side, and a printing medium mounting determination method for the printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printers that perform thermal printing using thermal heads individually on both sides of a thermal printing medium are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Such a printer has an advantage that the thermal print medium can be used effectively because the print data can be printed separately on both sides of the thermal print medium.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-286147

  By the way, in such a printer, versatility can be improved by mounting a thermal printing medium capable of printing only on one side and performing thermal printing using one thermal head.

  In this case, when printing is performed on a thermal printing medium that can be printed only on one side using a thermal head that prints on one side of the thermal printing medium, the thermal printing medium has its printing side on one side. If it is not attached like this, printing will not be possible. In such a case, it is necessary to determine a mounting abnormality and prompt the user to replace the thermal printing medium.

  Therefore, the present invention performs printing on a thermal printing medium capable of printing only on one side using the first thermal head that performs thermal printing on one side of the thermal printing medium and the second thermal head that performs thermal printing on the other side. In this case, a printer capable of determining whether a thermal print medium is mounted normally or abnormally and a printing medium mounting determination method for the printer are provided.

In the printer according to the first aspect, either the first thermal printing medium capable of printing on both sides or the second thermal printing medium capable of printing only on one side and having a mark on the non-printing side is mounted. A sheet feeding unit, a medium conveying unit that conveys a thermal printing medium mounted on the sheet feeding unit, a first thermal head that performs thermal printing on one surface side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying unit, A second thermal head for performing thermal printing on the other side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying unit; and the other side provided corresponding to the other side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying unit be judged a sensor for detecting the mark when the mark resides on the side, or by using one of the first and second thermal heads to print in any of the first and second thermal print media Comprising a determining means. The determination means uses the first thermal head and the second thermal head to print on both sides of the first thermal printing medium, and uses the first thermal head to Pattern determining means for determining whether a pattern to be printed on the second thermal printing medium or a pattern to be printed on the second thermal printing medium using the second thermal head is set, and the pattern determining means Determines the pattern setting for printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head, and if the sensor detects the mark, the thermal sensitivity to the paper feed unit and determining mounting normalcy determination means mounted in the print medium is normal, putter said pattern determining means using said first thermal head for printing to the second thermal print media When the determined setting, if the sensor is not detecting the mark, and determines the mounting abnormality determining means wearing the abnormality of thermal print media to the paper feed unit, the pattern determination unit and the second When the setting of the pattern for performing printing on the second thermal printing medium using the thermal head is determined, if the sensor does not detect the mark, the thermal printing medium is mounted on the paper feeding unit. The sensor detects the mark when the mounting normality determining means for determining normal and the pattern determining means determine a pattern for printing on the second thermal print medium using the second thermal head. If so, a mounting abnormality determining unit that determines that the mounting of the thermal printing medium to the paper feeding unit is abnormal is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining whether or not a print medium is mounted on a printer. A sheet feeding unit to which one of the two is mounted, a medium conveying unit that conveys the thermal printing medium loaded in the sheet feeding unit, and a first thermal printing on one side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying unit. And a second thermal head that performs thermal printing on the other side of the thermal printing medium that is conveyed by the medium conveying unit, in addition to the thermal printing medium that is conveyed by the medium conveying unit. Detecting by a sensor whether or not the mark is present on the surface side, and printing on both surfaces of the first thermal printing medium using the first thermal head and the second thermal head A pattern to be printed on the second thermal print medium using the first thermal head, and a pattern to be printed on the second thermal print medium using the second thermal head. The mark is detected by the sensor when the step of determining whether or not the setting of the pattern for performing printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head is determined. For example, it is determined that the thermal printing medium is normally mounted on the paper feed unit, and the setting of a pattern for performing printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head is determined. If the mark is not detected by the sensor, the step of determining that the thermal print medium is not properly attached to the paper feed unit, and using the second thermal head When the setting of the pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium is determined, if the mark is not detected by the sensor, the step of determining that the thermal printing medium is normally mounted on the paper feeding unit If the mark is detected by the sensor when the pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium is determined using the second thermal head, the thermal sensitivity to the paper feeding unit is determined. Determining that the mounting of the print medium is abnormal.

  According to the present invention, printing is performed on a thermal printing medium capable of printing only on one side by using the first thermal head that performs thermal printing on one side of the thermal printing medium and the second thermal head that performs thermal printing on the other side. In this case, it is possible to provide a printer capable of determining whether the thermal print medium is mounted normally or abnormally, and a printing medium mounting determination method for the printer.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer. A roll paper 12 in which a double-sided thermal paper 11 that is a thermal printing medium capable of printing on both sides is wound in a roll shape is mounted on a paper feed unit 13. The thermal paper 11 is sent out.

  The double-sided thermal paper 11 has a heat-sensitive layer formed on both sides of a base paper, and the heat-sensitive layer is made of a material that develops a desired color such as black or red when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher.

  A first thermal head 14 in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line and a second thermal in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line in the middle of the conveyance path of the double-sided thermal paper 11 delivered from the paper supply unit 13. A head 15 is arranged. The first thermal head 14 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance path, and is disposed in a state in which each heating element is in contact with the heat-sensitive layer on one surface side of the double-sided thermal paper 11, and both surfaces facing the first thermal head 14. A first platen roller 16 is disposed on the opposite side of the thermal paper 11.

  The second thermal head 15 is disposed on the upstream side of the conveyance path, and is disposed in a state in which each heating element is in contact with the heat-sensitive layer on the other surface side of the double-sided thermal paper 11, and faces the second thermal head 15. A second platen roller 17 is disposed on the opposite side of the double-sided thermal paper 11.

  When the double-sided thermal paper 11 is printed on one side by the first thermal head 14 and printed on the other side by the second thermal head 15, it is provided downstream of the first thermal head 14. It is configured to be cut by the provided cutter 18 and discharged to the outside.

  In this printer, instead of the double-sided thermal paper 11, a single-sided thermal paper that is a thermal printing medium capable of printing on only one side can be used. In this case, the roll paper of the single-sided thermal paper is replaced with the roll paper 12. It is attached to the paper feeding unit 13.

Single-sided thermal paper consists of a printable surface capable of thermal printing and a non-printable surface not capable of thermal printing, and a black mark for determining normal or abnormal paper loading, described later, is constant near one side of the non-printed surface. Are printed at intervals.
A sensor 19 for detecting the black mark is disposed above the other surface in the vicinity of the sheet feeding unit side of the transport path of the thermal paper 11. As the sensor 19, a reflective sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged side by side is used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the printer system. This printer system is composed of a printer 20 and a host device 40 connected externally. In the printer 20, reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) constituting the control unit main body, and reference numeral 22 denotes a ROM (read-only) storing a table in which program data for controlling each part by the CPU 21 and a reference energization time for the heating elements are set. (Memory) 23 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) provided with a memory used for data processing, calculation, temporary storage of data, and the like.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes a motor drive circuit that drives a paper feed motor 25 that feeds and conveys the thermal paper 11 from the paper supply unit 13, 26 denotes a motor drive circuit that drives a cutter motor 27 that operates the cutter 18, and 28 denotes the first. A head driving circuit for driving the thermal head 14, 29 a head driving circuit for driving the second thermal head 15, and 30 an I / O port for connecting the sensor 19 and taking in a detection signal from the sensor 19, A communication I / F (interface) 31 is connected to the host device 40 via a communication cable 41 and communicates with the host device 40.

  In the printer 20, the CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, motor drive circuits 24 and 26, head drive circuits 28 and 29, I / O port 30 and communication I / F 31 are electrically connected to each other by a bus line 32.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each of the thermal heads 14 and 15 includes a head portion 35 in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line, an energization control circuit 36 that controls energization of each heating element of the head portion 35, It is constituted by a latch circuit 37 which takes in and latches print data for one line from the head drive circuits 28 and 29 and outputs the print data to the energization control circuit 36. The print data is taken into the latch circuit 37 by a strobe signal STB from the head drive circuits 28 and 29, and the energization control of each heating element of the head portion 35 by the energization control circuit 36 is performed by the head drive circuit 28, 29. This is performed by an enable signal ENB from 29.

  The energization control circuit 36 controls energization to each heat generating element of the head unit 35 based on the print data from the latch circuit 37, and the print density is adjusted by controlling the energization time by the enable signal ENB. ing.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a single-sided thermal paper 51 used for printing by the first thermal head 14 instead of the double-sided thermal paper 11. A black mark 52 is printed near one side of the non-printing surface of the single-sided thermal paper 51. The black mark 52 is detected by a sensor 19 disposed in the middle of the conveyance path.

  As a setting pattern for printing on the paper, a setting pattern for printing on the double-sided thermal paper 11 using the first thermal head 14 and the second thermal head 15, and a single-sided thermal paper 51 using the first thermal head 14. And a setting pattern for printing on another single-sided thermal paper (not shown) using the second thermal head 15.

  The CPU 21 of the printer 20 performs the setting pattern determination process shown in FIG. 5 before starting the printing operation when the thermal paper roll is loaded in the paper supply unit 13. In this determination process, in S1, it is determined whether or not the printing is performed on the single-sided thermal paper using only the first thermal head 14, and if the printing is on the single-sided thermal paper, then in S2 , Perform black mark check. In S3, it is determined whether the sensor 19 has detected the black mark 52 or not.

  If the sensor 19 detects the black mark 52, it is determined whether or not the roll paper of the single-sided thermal paper 51 having the printing surface facing the first thermal head 14 is attached to the paper supply unit 13. . If the sensor 19 does not detect the black mark 52, the printing surface of the single-sided thermal paper faces the second thermal head 15 in S4, that is, another roll of single-sided thermal paper is fed. A mounting abnormality that is mounted on the paper unit 13, that is, an error determination is performed. In this case, it is notified that the wrong single-sided thermal paper is loaded by some means such as a lamp or an alarm.

  If it is determined in S1 that the set pattern is not printing on the single-sided thermal paper 51 using only the first thermal head 14, then only the second thermal head 15 is used in S5. It is then determined whether or not printing is performed on another single-sided thermal paper. Then, if printing on another single-sided thermal paper, a black mark check is subsequently performed in S6. In S7, it is determined whether or not the sensor 19 has detected a black mark.

  If the sensor 19 has not detected a black mark, it is determined whether the roll paper of another single-sided thermal paper whose printing surface faces the second thermal head 15 is attached to the paper feed unit 13. . If the sensor 19 detects the black mark 52, the printing surface of the single-sided thermal paper faces the first thermal head 14 in S8, that is, the roll paper of the single-sided thermal paper 51 is supplied. A mounting abnormality that is mounted on the paper unit 13, that is, an error determination is performed. In this case, it is notified that the wrong single-sided thermal paper is loaded by some means such as a lamp or an alarm.

  If it is determined in S5 that printing is not performed on another single-sided thermal paper using only the second thermal head 15, double-sided thermal paper using the first and second thermal heads 14 and 15 is used. 11 is determined.

  In such a configuration, when the roll paper of the double-sided thermal paper 11 is mounted on the paper supply unit 13, both sides are printing surfaces, and double-sided printing using the first and second thermal heads 14 and 15 is performed. . In duplex printing, the printer 20 receives print data from the host device 40 via the communication I / F 30 and divides the print data into data to be printed by the first thermal head 14 and data to be printed by the second thermal head 15. After the conversion into bitmap data, the thermal heads 14 and 15 are individually driven, printing is performed on one side of the thermal paper 11 by the first thermal head 14, and the thermal paper 11 is performed by the second thermal head 15. Print on the other side. When a series of printing is completed, the thermal paper 11 is cut by the cutter 17 and discharged to the outside.

  In this way, by using the first thermal head 14 and the second thermal head 15 to divide and print the print data on one side and the other side of the double-sided thermal paper 11, the amount of thermal paper used can be reduced. Save money.

  Further, when a roll sheet of single-sided thermal paper 51 for single-sided printing by the first thermal head 14 is attached to the paper supply unit 13, whether or not the sensor 19 detects the black mark 52 is normal or abnormal. Determine. That is, if the sensor 19 detects the black mark 52, it is determined whether the roll paper of the single-sided thermal paper 51 is correctly attached to the paper supply unit 13. However, if the sensor 19 does not detect the black mark 52, it is erroneously determined that another single-sided thermal paper for the second thermal head 15 is loaded. In this way, it is possible to reliably mount the single-sided thermal paper 51 when printing on the single-sided thermal paper 51 using the first thermal head 14.

  In addition, when another roll of single-sided thermal paper for single-sided printing by the second thermal head 15 is mounted on the paper supply unit 13, normal mounting is determined depending on whether the sensor 19 detects the black mark 52 or not. Determine the abnormality. That is, if the sensor 19 does not detect the black mark 52, it is determined whether or not the roll paper of another single-sided thermal paper for the second thermal head 15 is correctly attached to the paper supply unit 13. However, when the sensor 19 detects the black mark 52, it is erroneously determined that the single-sided thermal paper 51 for the first thermal head 14 is loaded. In this way, when the second thermal head 15 is used to perform printing on another single-sided thermal paper, the single-sided thermal paper can be reliably attached.

  In addition, although the double-sided thermal paper was used as a thermal printing medium, it is not necessarily limited to this, The thermal printing medium which consists of a film-form synthetic resin material may be sufficient.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the printer system according to the embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the thermal head in the embodiment. The elements on larger scale which show the relationship between the black mark and sensor of single-sided thermal paper in the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing setting pattern determination processing by the CPU of the printer in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11,51 ... Thermal paper (thermal printing medium), 13 ... Paper feed part, 14 ... 1st thermal head, 15 ... 2nd thermal head, 19 ... Sensor, 20 ... Printer, 21 ... CPU (central processing unit) 52 ... Black mark.

Claims (4)

A first thermal printing medium capable of printing on both sides and a paper feeding unit on which either one of the second thermal printing medium capable of printing only on one side and having a mark on the non-printing surface side is mounted;
Medium transport means for transporting the thermal printing medium mounted on the paper feed unit;
A first thermal head for performing thermal printing on one side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying means;
A second thermal head for performing thermal printing on the other side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying means;
A sensor that is provided corresponding to the other surface side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying means, and detects the mark when the mark exists on the other surface side;
A determination means for determining which of the first and second thermal print media is used to print on the first and second thermal print media;
With
The determination means includes
A pattern for printing on both sides of the first thermal printing medium using the first thermal head and the second thermal head, and printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head Pattern determining means for determining which of the pattern to be printed and the pattern to be printed on the second thermal printing medium using the second thermal head is set;
When the pattern determination means determines the setting of the pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head, if the sensor detects the mark, the paper feed Mounting normality determining means for determining that the thermal printing medium is normally mounted on the part;
When the pattern determination means determines the setting of a pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head, the paper feed is performed if the sensor does not detect the mark. A mounting abnormality determining means for determining that mounting of the thermal printing medium on the part is abnormal;
When the pattern determination means determines the setting of a pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium using the second thermal head, if the sensor does not detect the mark, the paper feed Mounting normality determining means for determining that the thermal printing medium is normally mounted on the part;
If the sensor detects the mark when the pattern determination unit determines a pattern for printing on the second thermal print medium using the second thermal head, the pattern determination unit determines that the mark is detected. A mounting abnormality determining means for determining that the mounting of the thermal printing medium is abnormal;
Having
A printer characterized by that.   The printer according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying that the mounting of the thermal printing medium to the paper feeding unit is abnormal. A first thermal printing medium capable of printing on both sides and a paper feeding unit on which either one of the second thermal printing medium capable of printing only on one side and having a mark on the non-printing surface side is mounted;
Medium transport means for transporting the thermal printing medium mounted on the paper feed unit;
A first thermal head for performing thermal printing on one side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying means;
A second thermal head for performing thermal printing on the other side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying means;
In the printer with
Detecting by a sensor whether or not there is the mark on the other side of the thermal printing medium conveyed by the medium conveying means;
A pattern for printing on both sides of the first thermal printing medium using the first thermal head and the second thermal head, and printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head Determining which one of the pattern to be printed and the pattern to be printed on the second thermal printing medium using the second thermal head is set;
If the mark is detected by the sensor when the setting of the pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head is determined, the thermal sensitivity to the paper feeding unit is detected. Determining that the print medium is properly mounted;
When the setting of the pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium using the first thermal head is determined, if the mark is not detected by the sensor, the thermal sensitivity to the paper feeding unit is determined. A step of determining that the mounting of the print medium is abnormal;
When the setting of the pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium using the second thermal head is determined, if the mark is not detected by the sensor, the thermal sensitivity to the paper feeding unit is determined. Determining that the print medium is properly mounted;
If the mark is detected by the sensor when a pattern for printing on the second thermal printing medium is determined using the second thermal head, the thermal printing medium on the paper feeding unit is detected. A step of determining that the wearing of the device is abnormal;
A method for determining whether or not a print medium is mounted on a printer.   The method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of notifying when it is determined that mounting of the thermal printing medium on the paper feeding unit is abnormal.

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