JP4599338B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that prints, for example, different colors on the same paper surface by repeating printing on the recording paper a plurality of times by reciprocating a roll-shaped recording paper with respect to a head.

  In a printer that performs multicolor printing such as color printing, printing is performed in four colors including three primary colors (yellow, magenta, cyan) or black. As such a multi-color printer, a printer that prints different colors on the same sheet by repeating printing a plurality of times while reciprocating a roll-shaped recording sheet is known (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

  In the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to print on the recording paper fed from the supply roller by the head, the recording paper printed by one color head is stored in the recording paper storage unit, and the next color is printed. In some cases, the recording paper stored in the recording paper storage unit is rewound and then printed again through the next color head, and the printed recording paper is stored in the recording paper storage unit. In this way, each time printing is performed for each color, the recording paper is taken in and out of the recording paper storage unit.

  In normal printing operations, the status of the ink ribbon and recording paper is checked with various sensors. If an abnormality is detected, the printing operation is stopped and an error is displayed, and error maintenance is required for the maintenance personnel. Tell them that there is. The maintenance person performs necessary recovery work according to the error contents displayed in the error display, and returns the printer to a printable state.

On the other hand, when the power supply is interrupted due to a power failure or the like during the printing operation, the printing operation is stopped during the printing. When the printer is turned on again after the printing operation is stopped, the printer performs various initial operations to return to a printable state. However, this power cut-off is performed regardless of whether or not a printing operation is performed. If the power cut-off is performed during printing, the recording paper being printed remains in the printer without being discharged. It becomes the state of. Further, the printer does not have information on whether or not the recording paper being printed is left in the printer.
JP-A-8-67041

  In the above-described printer, when the power is turned off after the power is cut off during the printing operation, printing can be performed while the paper being printed is left inside the printer. If printing is performed in this state, the printer performs printing on the premise that printing has not been performed on the printing surface of the paper, so that printing is performed on the printing surface during the previous printing.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a printing state by a conventional printer. FIG. 8A shows a state where printing is stopped halfway, and FIGS. 8B and 8C show the printing state after the power is turned on again. In FIG. 8, the recording paper 10 is wound around and held by the roll paper holder 2, and the film-like ink ribbon ink held in the ink ribbon cassette 4 is applied to the recording paper 10 pulled out from the roll paper holder 2 by the head 3. Printing is carried out by adhering with.

  In this printer, when printing is stopped halfway due to a power failure or the like, the recording paper 10 in the middle of printing is not ejected, and the print area 10a by the previous printing is printed on the recording paper 10 on the recording surface. (FIG. 8A).

  When the power is turned on again, printing is performed by attaching ink on the ink ribbon by the head 3 while the recording paper 10 is rewound onto the roll paper holder 2 (FIG. 8B). As a result of this printing, the printing area 10b of the current printing is overlaid on the recording surface of the recording paper 10 on the printing area 10a of the previous printing. As described above, the printed matter that has been subjected to multiple printing is unsuitable as a commercial product and should be avoided.

  Further, when printing is performed in the same print area, the ribbons overlap in the same print area, so that the ribbon of this time may cause an error of ribbon peeling failure due to the previous ribbon. Therefore, after printing has stopped halfway due to a power failure, etc., if the maintenance person checks the paper status of the printer before turning it on again and restarting printing, and there is paper that is still printing inside the printer, This requires work to remove the paper.

  Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-described problem, and in a printer that repeatedly prints by reciprocating a roll-shaped recording sheet, when resuming printing from a state in which the recording sheet that is being printed remains, The purpose is to remove the recording paper.

  It is another object of the present invention to automatically set the length of a recording sheet to be removed according to the size of a print area to be printed on the recording sheet when the recording sheet is being printed.

  One form of the printer according to the present invention is a printer that prints on a roll-shaped recording sheet with an ink ribbon, cuts out the printed recording sheet into a predetermined length, and discharges the printed sheet from a state where the previous printing is incomplete. In the cutting and removal of the recording paper performed when resuming, the length of the recording paper to be cut is determined according to the effective length of the ink ribbon. By determining the recording paper to be cut according to the effective length of the ink ribbon, the length of the recording paper to be removed can be automatically set according to the size of the print area to be printed on the recording paper.

  In addition, in the configuration in which the ink ribbon used for this printing can be selected from ink ribbons having different effective lengths, the effective length of the ink ribbon is required for one printing of the ink ribbon selected and attached. It can be a length. According to this, it is possible to determine the length of the recording paper to be removed in accordance with the length of one printing of the ink ribbon used for printing.

  In another embodiment of the printer of the present invention, when printing is started by turning on the power, it is determined whether or not printing is in progress at the previous stop, and if printing is in progress, the printer is set to that printer. The maximum print length for the printing condition is acquired, and the roll-shaped paper is sent out and cut by this maximum print length.

  As a technique to prevent the previous print area and the current print area from overlapping when recording paper is still being printed, the recording paper is fed by a predetermined length when the power is turned on again. It is conceivable to avoid overlapping print areas.

  On the other hand, there are various sizes of the printing area to be printed by the printer, such as L size, 2L size, or long size such as A5 size. On the other hand, a printer does not always correspond to the total media size of these various printed materials (hereinafter, the printed material is referred to as a medium, and the printed size of the printed material is referred to as a media size). Only print. This is because the media size to be printed depends on the ink ribbon used for printing. In order to perform printing with different media sizes, the printer needs to be replaced with an ink ribbon corresponding to the media size.

  Therefore, in order to avoid overlap of print areas, (a) check whether or not there is a need to avoid overlap of print areas, and (b) print if there is a need to avoid overlap of print areas. In order to remove the overlapping portion of the region without excess or deficiency, it is necessary to feed the paper with the optimum length. When the amount of paper feed is small, overlapping of print areas cannot be avoided, and when the amount of paper feed is large, the recording paper is cut out and removed, so that the printer can print. It is necessary to feed the paper by the length corresponding to the maximum media size.

  Therefore, the present invention determines whether or not there is a need to avoid overlapping print areas by determining whether or not printing was in progress at the previous stop, and if the printer is in the middle of printing, The maximum print length for the set printing conditions is acquired, and the roll paper is fed by this maximum print length and cut to remove the recording paper in the middle of printing, and the length of the recording paper to be removed. Is automatically set according to the size of the print area to be printed on the recording paper.

  The printer of the present invention is a printer that prints on a roll-shaped recording sheet, and cuts out the printed recording sheet into a predetermined length and discharges the recording sheet. The printer includes a storage unit that stores a printing status. The previous printing status is referred to based on the printing status stored in, and if the previous printing is in an incomplete state, the recording paper is discharged by the maximum printing length and cut.

  In addition, the printer of the present invention is configured to realize the above functions, a roll paper driving unit that feeds the roll-shaped recording paper, a recording paper cutting unit that cuts the roll-shaped recording paper on the discharge path, and printing. A printing status storage unit that constantly updates the status and stores the latest printing status, and a control unit that controls at least the roll paper drive unit and the recording paper cutting unit.

  The control unit reads the printing status stored in the printing status storage unit when switching from the printing stopped state to the printing state. When the read printing status is printing, the roll paper drive unit is controlled to feed the recording paper on the discharge path by the maximum print length and eject it, and the recording paper cutting unit is controlled to roll The recording paper discharged by the paper driving unit is cut.

  Also, media size information corresponding to the size of the print area can be recorded on an RF-ID recording medium. The control unit of the printer reads the media size information, obtains a length corresponding to the maximum print length for paper feeding from the read media size information, and based on the obtained length for the maximum print length, Controls the paper discharge operation.

  Further, the control unit of the printer of the present invention reads the printing status stored in the printing status storage unit based on the power-on signal, and reads the RF-ID when the read printing status is during the printing operation. The roll paper drive unit is instructed to discharge paper, and the recording paper cutting unit is instructed to cut, using the maximum print length acquired based on the media size information read by the printer as the paper discharge amount.

An RF-ID tag, which is a recording medium for storing media size information, can be provided in an ink ribbon cassette that supports an ink ribbon. The printer of the present invention includes an RF-ID reading unit, and reads media size information from an RF-ID tag provided on an ink ribbon set in an ink ribbon cassette.

  In the RF-ID, the size information of the medium to be printed with the ink ribbon is recorded. Further, since the ink ribbon is set in the ink ribbon cassette and used, if the ink ribbon cassette is attached to the printer, The RF-ID reading unit can read the RF-ID provided on the ink ribbon, and can acquire the size information of the medium on which printing is performed using the ink ribbon.

  According to the printer of the present invention, when resuming printing from a state in which recording paper in the middle of printing remains, the recording paper in the middle of printing can be removed.

  Further, when removing a recording sheet in the middle of printing, the length of the recording sheet to be removed can be automatically set according to the size of the print area to be printed on the recording sheet.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the printer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a printer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, only the part necessary for the description of the present invention is shown in each component provided in the printer 1, and other components are omitted.

  The printer 1 holds a roll-shaped recording paper 10 in a roll paper holder 2 and performs printing on the recording surface of the recording paper 10 rewound from the roll paper holder 2. In order to hold the roll-shaped recording paper 10 in the roll paper holder 2, for example, it can be performed by rotatably supporting the central axis of the roll-shaped recording paper 10 by the roll paper holder 2. The recording paper 10 can be rotatably stored in the roll paper holder 2.

  Printing is performed, for example, by recording ink at a predetermined position by the head 3 while bringing the ink ribbon 4 a held in the ink ribbon cassette 4 into contact with the recording surface of the recording paper 10. In this printing, when multicolor printing such as color printing is performed, a plurality of ink portions such as yellow, magenta, and cyan corresponding to the color to be printed on the ink ribbon 4a are arranged along the winding direction of the ink ribbon 4a. The operation of passing the ink portion through the head 3 while winding up the ink ribbon 4a is repeated for each color. At this time, the recording paper 10 is reciprocated so that printing of each color is performed in the same printing area of the recording paper 10. The reciprocating motion of the recording paper 10 can be performed by changing the rotation direction of the roll paper holder 2 and repeatedly unwinding and rewinding the roll paper.

  Thus, the recording paper 10 is reciprocated with respect to the head 3, and printing is repeated a plurality of times on the same print area of the recording paper 10.

  The ink ribbon includes an overcoat layer in addition to the color portions such as yellow, magenta, and cyan, and the print surface can be protected by covering the print surface on which printing of all colors has been completed with this overcoat layer. it can.

  The recording paper 10 for which printing has been completed passes through the head 3 portion, passes through the discharge path 13, and is then discharged from the discharge port 6 provided in the housing 7 of the printer 1 to the outside of the printer.

  In the printing of each color, the recording paper 10 is passed through the position of the head 3 and is fed according to the length to be printed, and then reversed and wound up. The head 3 performs printing in the process of rewinding the recording paper 10. At this time, the recording paper 10 that has passed through the head 3 is temporarily retracted inside the printer 1.

  In the configuration of the printer 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral portion of the roll paper holder 2 is used as a recording paper storage unit 12 and used as a storage space 20 for temporarily retracting the recording paper. In FIG. 1, the recording paper storage unit 12 is indicated by hatching. The recording paper storage unit 12 uses a space in the outer peripheral portion of the roll paper holder 2 and forms a storage space by a gap formed between the inside of the printer and at least a part of the entire outer periphery. Normally, the outer peripheral portion of the roll paper holder is provided with a space portion for storing the roll paper and unwinding and feeding the roll paper. The outer diameter of the roll paper holder is usually set to a diameter with a margin so that the outer peripheral portion of the roll paper does not come into contact with the inner wall surface of the printer even when the diameter of the roll paper is the maximum diameter. Therefore, a marginal space is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the roll paper holder. Further, after unwinding the roll paper wound around the roll paper holder, at least a space portion where the roll paper is wound becomes an idle space.

  As a result, the outer peripheral portion of the roll paper has a sufficient space for storing at least the recording paper unwound from the roll paper and sent out.

  A switching guide portion 11 is provided downstream of the head 3 and upstream of the recording paper storage portion 12 and the discharge path 13. The switching guide unit 11 switches whether the leading end of the recording paper 10 that has passed through the head 3 is sent toward the recording paper storage unit 12 or the discharge path 13, and the recording paper 10 is switched in the switching direction. For example, it can be constituted by a flapper plate.

  Further, the printer 1 includes a recording paper cutting unit 5 on the discharge path 13 and at a position immediately before the discharge port 6. The recording paper cutting unit 5 cuts the portion of the recording paper 10 that passes through the discharge path 13 and is sent to the outside from the discharge port 6 at a position in front of the discharge port 6. The recording paper cutting unit 5 takes out the cut recording paper 10 from the discharge port 6 by cutting a predetermined position behind the recording surface of the recording paper 10 in a state where the recording paper 10 protrudes outside from the discharge port 6. In addition, the recording paper 10 can be cut short by cutting the recording paper 10 at a plurality of locations before the recording paper 10 protrudes from the discharge port 6.

  A cut piece storage section 14 is provided below the recording paper cutting section 5 so that the cut pieces cut by the recording paper cutting section 5 can be stored. By storing the cut piece in the cut piece storage portion 14, it is possible to prevent the cut piece from leaking outside the printer 1.

  According to the configuration of FIG. 1, since the cut piece storage portion 14 is provided at a position adjacent to the roll paper holder 2, the other side of the recording paper storage portion 12 formed by the outer peripheral portion of the roll paper holder 2 described above. The boundaries will be determined. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which a part of the boundary of the recording paper storage unit 12 is formed by the wall surface of the cut piece storage unit 14, the boundary of the recording paper storage unit 12 is formed together with the outer periphery of the roll paper holder 2. The surface is not limited to the wall surface of the cut piece storage portion 14, and a wall portion of a component member disposed at a position facing the outer peripheral portion of the roll paper holder 2 in the printer 1 can be used.

  The printer 1 includes a drive unit (roll paper drive unit 32 and head drive unit 33) that drives each of the above-described components, or a control unit (control unit 30, switching control unit 31, and cutting control unit 35) that performs control. -An ID reading unit 34 is provided.

  The roll paper drive unit 32 drives the roll paper stored in the roll paper holder 2. The roll paper drive unit 32 can reverse the driving direction, and feeds the recording paper 10 by rotationally driving the roll paper in an unwinding direction, and rotationally drives the roll paper in a direction to reverse the driving direction and rewind the roll paper. As a result, the fed recording paper 10 is returned to its original state. Here, when the sent recording sheet 10 is returned to its original state, printing is performed on the recording sheet 10.

  The head driving unit 33 drives the head based on the image data, and prints a predetermined image or print on the recording paper 10. The head can use a mechanism corresponding to various printing methods such as a sublimation type printer and a thermal transfer type printer. In addition, an ink ribbon driving unit (not shown in FIG. 1) for driving the ink ribbon 4 is provided, and the ink ribbon 4 is moved relative to the head in synchronization with the driving of the head to perform printing on the recording paper 10.

  When printing is performed using an ink ribbon, the printing length printed on the recording paper 10 depends on the length of each color of the ink ribbon. For example, when printing corresponding to the photographs of the L plate and the 2L plate, the ink ribbon has a size corresponding to the dimensions of the L plate and the 2L plate. For example, the ink ribbon is moved by the length in the horizontal direction. Print.

  Therefore, the drive amount of the roll paper drive unit 32 and the ink ribbon drive unit (not shown) needs to be determined according to the type of the ink ribbon 4 a installed in the printer 1. Therefore, a chip-shaped storage element (not shown) such as an RF-ID tag in which the type data of the ink ribbon 4 a is recorded is attached to the ink ribbon cassette 4, and this storage element is detected by the ID-RF reading unit 34. .

  The type data of the ink ribbon 4a includes information related to the size of the printed matter to be printed on the recording paper. Here, this printed material is referred to as a medium, and the print size of the printed material is referred to as a media size. The media size to be printed depends on the ink ribbon used for printing. In order to perform printing with different media sizes, the printer exchanges ink ribbons corresponding to the media sizes.

  The printer of the present invention performs a printing process using media size information recorded in a chip-shaped storage element such as an RF-ID tag, and also discharges a recording sheet stopped during printing when the power is turned on. The maximum print length is obtained based on the media size information written in the ID, and the recording paper 10 is sent out by the maximum print length and cut, so that a plurality of images are printed at the same location. prevent. Details of this configuration and operation will be described later.

  The control unit 30 acquires the type of ink ribbon from the detected data, and controls the drive amount of the roll paper drive unit 32 and the ink ribbon drive unit (not shown) based on the acquired type of ink ribbon.

  In addition, the switching control unit 31 controls the switching guide unit 11 to switch the direction of the recording paper 10 toward the recording paper storage unit 12 side or the discharge path 13 side. For example, during the printing, the front end of the recording paper 10 is switched to the recording paper storage unit 12 side during printing, and the recording paper 10 is temporarily retracted. Switching to the discharge path 13 side, the recording paper 10 is discharged from the discharge port 6 to the outside.

  The recording paper cutting control unit 35 controls the recording paper cutting unit 5 to cut the rear end of the recording portion of the recording paper 10 when the recording paper 10 is discharged from the discharge port 6 via the discharge path 13. In addition to a mode in which the recording paper 10 is cut one by one, a mode in which the recording paper 10 is cut short for disposal or the like can be employed.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions of the control unit 30 provided in the printer 1 of the present invention. Here, in order to explain the functions of the control unit 30, each function is shown as a block. However, these functions perform data calculation by a CPU, a memory for storing a processing program and processing data, and program processing. In the configuration of the processing unit or the like, a configuration in which processing is performed by software according to an instruction from the CPU, or a configuration in which each function is processed by hardware by a DSP, a logic circuit, or the like may be employed.

  The control unit 30 includes an image data input unit 30A that inputs image data to be printed, a print control unit 30B that controls printing of the image data by controlling the head drive unit 33, a roll paper drive unit 32, and a cutting control unit 35. A roll paper control unit 30C for controlling driving and a storage unit 30D are provided. The storage unit 30D includes an image data storage unit 30a that stores the image data input by the image data input unit 30A, a print status storage unit 30b that captures and stores the print status data from the print control unit 30B, and media size information and recording paper. It has media size information-discharge amount storage unit 30c for storing the relationship with the discharge amount. The printing status storage unit 30b and the media size information-discharge amount storage unit 30c are configured by a nonvolatile memory, so that the stored contents are retained even when the power is off, and the roll paper control is performed after the power is turned on again. It can be read out to the part 3C.

Although not shown, the storage unit 30D stores a program for controlling print processing by the print control unit 30B, a program for controlling the entire printer, and the like in addition to the above-described storage units 30a to 30c. The description here is omitted.

  Hereinafter, with respect to the operation of removing the recording paper during printing by the printer of the present invention, the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the timing chart shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, the diagram for explaining the operation example shown in FIG. The relationship between the media size information shown and the maximum print length will be described with reference to the drawing.

  How to avoid overlap between the print area of the previous print and the print area of the current print when the power is turned on again while the printing is stopped and the printing part in the middle of printing remains on the recording paper (A) Confirm whether or not it is necessary to avoid overlap of the print areas, and (b) If it is necessary to avoid overlap of the print areas, paper feeding of the optimum length is performed, It is necessary to remove the printed matter.

  Therefore, the printer of the present invention stores the print status in the print status storage unit 30b, and determines whether or not printing has been in progress at the previous stop based on the print status, thereby overlapping the print areas. Check for the need for avoidance. This process can be performed by the roll paper control unit 30C and the printing status storage unit 30b.

  In the above-described determination, when it is determined that the printing operation is stopped in the middle of printing, the maximum print length under the print conditions set for the printer is acquired, and the length of the maximum print length is acquired. Depending on the length, the roll paper is fed and cut to remove the recording paper in the middle of printing, and the length of the recording paper to be removed is automatically set according to the size of the print area to be printed on the recording paper. Set.

  This processing is performed by the roll paper control unit 30C, the RF-ID reading unit 34, and the media size information-discharge amount storage unit 30. The roll paper control unit 30C acquires the media size information read from the RF-ID reading unit 34, reads the discharge amount corresponding to the media size information from the media size information-discharge amount storage unit 30c, and maximizes the discharge amount. The roll paper drive unit 32 is driven and controlled as the printing length to send out the roll paper, and the fed roll paper is cut by the cutting control unit 35.

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 shows the operation from power-on to power-off of the printer, and it is assumed that the printing status before this power-on is stored in the printing status storage unit 30b. Here, for example, the printing status stored in the printing status storage unit 30b is stored as “in operation” when printing is in progress, and is stored as “printing completion” when printing is completed. .

  First, the operation of storing the printing status in the printing status storage unit 30b in the previous printing operation will be described. 4 shows a case where the power is turned off after the printing process is completed in the previous printing operation, and FIG. 5 is a case where the power is turned off before the printing process is finished in the previous printing operation. Is shown.

  4 and 5, when a print start command is issued in a state where the power is on (a in FIG. 4A, a in FIG. 5A) (FIG. 4B). B), b) in FIG. 5 (b), the printing process is started (c in FIG. 4 (c), c in FIG. 5 (c)), and “in operation” is stored in the printing status storage unit b. (D in FIG. 4 (d), d in FIG. 5 (d)).

In FIG. 4, when the printing process is completed with the power turned on (e in FIG. 4C), the discharge process is subsequently performed to discharge the recording paper on which the printing has been completed (f in FIG. 4C). ), and stores the "print end" instead of "during operation" in the print status storing unit 30 b g (FIG. 4 (d)).

On the other hand, in FIG. 5, when the power is turned off in the middle of the printing process (h in FIG. 5A), the printing process ends in the middle state, and ends without performing the paper discharge process. Therefore, when the power OFF state during the printing process, the print status storing unit 30 b remains "in operation" is stored.

  As described above, when the printing process and the paper discharge are completed in the previous printing process, “printing end” is stored in the printing status storage unit 30b as the printing status (a to g in FIG. 4). On the other hand, when the printing process and the paper discharge are not completed, “in operation” is stored as the printing status in the printing status storage unit 30b.

  Next, after the power is turned off in the previous printing (h in FIG. 4A, h in FIG. 5A), the power is turned on again (i in FIG. 4A, FIG. 5). The operation of i) in (a) will be described.

  When the power SW 36 of the printer is turned on and the power is turned on, the control unit 30 starts a startup process (S1). Although FIG. 2 does not describe a configuration for performing the printer activation process, the activation process can be a normal activation process performed by the printer.

  The roll paper control unit 30C is activated based on an ON signal of the power supply SW 36 or a predetermined signal issued during the activation process, and is stored in the RF-ID tag (not shown) from the RF-ID reading unit 34. The media size information is read (k in FIG. 4 (f), k in FIG. 5 (f)) (S2), and the printing status stored in the printing status storage unit 30b is read (j in FIG. 4 (e)). FIG. 5 (e) j) (S3).

  The roll paper control unit 30 </ b> C determines what kind of printing status was present at the end of the previous operation based on the read printing status. When the printing status read from the printing status storage unit 30b is “printing completed”, it can be determined that the previous printing has ended normally, and there is no part of printing on the recording paper in the printer. it can. On the other hand, if the printing status read from the printing status storage unit 30b is “in operation”, the previous printing is not completed normally, and there is a part in the middle of printing on the recording paper in the printer. It can be determined (l in FIG. 4 (e), l in FIG. 5 (e)) (S4).

  In the determination step of (S4), when the printing status is “in operation”, it is necessary to discharge the recording paper having the remaining printing. Therefore, the roll paper control unit 30C obtains the maximum print length in this printing based on the previously read media size information, acquires the discharge amount of the recording paper (S5), and performs the discharge process (FIG. 5). (E) o). As a result, the recording paper remaining without being discharged in the previous printing is discharged (p, q in FIG. 5C) (S6), and the roll paper control unit 30C sets the printing status storage unit 30b to “in operation”. Is changed to “printing completed” (r in FIG. 5E) (S8), and a print waiting state is entered (s in FIG. 5E).

  On the other hand, in the determination step of (S4), when the printing status is “printing completed”, there is no recording paper having the remaining printing, and therefore no discharge processing is necessary.

  After the determination process (l in FIG. 4E), the roll paper control unit 30C keeps the printing status storage unit 30b “printing complete” and maintains the print waiting state (m in FIG. 4E). (S7).

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the recording paper having the portion printed by the previous printing is discharged and printing is performed on the recording paper by the operation of the printer of the present invention.

  FIG. 6A shows a state where printing is stopped halfway, and FIGS. 6B to 6D show states after the power is turned on again. In FIG. 6, the recording paper 10 is wound around and held by the roll paper holder 2, and the film-like ink ribbon ink held in the ink ribbon cassette 4 is applied to the recording paper 10 pulled out from the roll paper holder 2 by the head 3. Printing is carried out by adhering with.

  In the printer of the present invention, when printing is stopped halfway due to a power failure or the like, the recording sheet 10 in the middle of printing is not discharged, and the printing area 10a by the previous printing is printed on the recording sheet 10 on the recording surface. The state is left as it is (FIG. 6A).

  In the above state, when the power is turned on again, the recording paper 10 is discharged with the maximum print length acquired based on the media size information recorded in the RF-ID as the discharge amount (FIG. 6B). Then, it is cut by the recording paper cutting unit 5 (FIG. 6C). By cutting the recording paper 10 having the printed portion, the recording paper held in the roll paper holder 2 is set to an initial state, and thereafter printing is performed by a normal printing process (FIG. 6D). ).

  FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the media size information and the maximum print length. FIG. 7A shows the relationship between the media size information A and the maximum printing length La, and FIG. 7B shows the relationship between the media size information B and the maximum printing length Lb. The size relationship between the maximum print lengths La and Lb determined by the media size information A and B shown here does not represent an actual ratio.

  The ink ribbon used for printing includes yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) color portions and an overcoat layer (OC), and covers the printed surface on which all colors have been printed with the overcoat layer. This completes the entire printing process. The lengths of the yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) color portions are substantially the same, and the length of the overcoat layer (OC) is the same as the length of each color portion. Length or slightly longer is set.

  Therefore, the length of the printing area formed by one printing process is the length of each of the yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) color portions, and the length of the overcoat layer (OC). The longest length is the maximum printing length L. Therefore, the maximum print length depends on the size of the print area, and this print area is determined by the media size such as L size, 2L size, or 5A size. In FIG. 7A, La is determined as the maximum print length corresponding to the media size information A, and in FIG. 7A, Lb is determined as the maximum print length corresponding to the media size information B. By determining the discharge amount based on the maximum print length and discharging and removing the printed recording paper according to the length of the discharge amount, overlapping of printing can be prevented.

  Media size information is recorded on a recording medium such as an RF-ID, attached to an ink ribbon cassette in which an ink ribbon is set, and read by an RF-ID reading unit provided in the printer body, thereby synchronizing with the replacement of the ink ribbon. Can be acquired automatically, and the discharge amount can be obtained from the media size information.

  Note that the above-described configuration examples are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these examples, and includes various modifications.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a printer according to the invention. It is a functional block diagram for demonstrating the function of the control part 30 with which the printer 1 of this invention is provided. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of removing a recording sheet during printing by the printer of the present invention. 4 is a timing chart for explaining an operation of removing a recording sheet during printing by the printer of the present invention. 4 is a timing chart for explaining an operation of removing a recording sheet during printing by the printer of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of an operation for removing a recording sheet during printing by the printer of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between media size information and a maximum print length. It is a figure for demonstrating the printing state by the conventional printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Roll paper holder 3 Head 4 Ink ribbon cassette 4a Ink ribbon 5 Recording paper cutting part 6 Ejection port 7 Housing | casing 10 Recording paper 11 Switching guide part 12 Recording paper storage part 13 Discharge path 14 Cut piece storage part 20 Storage space 30 Control Unit 30A image input unit 30B print control unit 30C roll paper control unit 30D storage unit 30a data storage unit 30b print status storage unit 30c media size information-discharge amount storage unit 31 switching control unit 32 roll paper drive unit 33 head drive unit 34 RF -ID reading unit 35 Cutting control unit 36 Power switch

Claims (4)

A plurality of colors are printed by the head while the ink portions of the ink ribbon in which a plurality of ink portions corresponding to the colors to be printed are arranged in order are brought into contact with the recording surface of the roll-shaped recording paper,
In a printer that cuts out printed recording paper into a predetermined length and discharges it,
When cutting off the recording paper remaining in the printer prior to resuming printing from the state where the previous printing has not been completed and the recording paper in the middle of printing remains in the printer,
One color of the ink ribbon in the paper feed direction in which the media size information about the print size of the printed material that can be printed by the printing operation with the ink ribbon is obtained from the ink ribbon, and the plurality of ink portions are sequentially arranged based on the media size information The maximum print length corresponding to the minute length is obtained, the length of the recording paper to be discharged is determined from the maximum print length, the discharged recording paper is cut at a plurality of locations, and the cut pieces are stored in the printer A printer characterized by that. In a printer that prints on a roll-shaped recording paper with an ink ribbon, and cuts out the printed recording paper into a predetermined length and discharges it.
An ink ribbon cassette for supporting the ink ribbon;
A roll paper drive unit for feeding a roll-shaped recording paper;
A recording paper cutting unit for cutting the roll-shaped recording paper on a discharge path;
A cutting control unit for controlling the recording paper cutting unit;
A cut piece storage section for storing a cut piece of the recording paper cut by the recording paper cutting section;
A printing status storage unit that constantly updates the printing status and stores the latest printing status;
A control unit for controlling at least the roll paper drive unit and the cutting control unit is provided in a printer casing ,
The controller is
When switching from the print stop state to the print state, the print status stored in the print status storage unit is read, and when it is determined that the read print status is stopped during the printing operation,
An ink ribbon in which media size information about a print size of a printed material that can be printed by a printing operation using an ink ribbon is acquired from the ink ribbon, and a plurality of ink portions corresponding to colors to be printed are arranged in order based on the media size information Find the maximum print length corresponding to the length of one color in the paper feed direction,
The recording sheet is on the discharge path by controlling the rolled paper driving unit, and feed the paper by the maximum print length fraction,
A printer, wherein the cutting control unit is controlled to cut the recording paper fed at a plurality of locations, and the cut pieces of the recording paper are stored in the cutting piece storage unit . The controller is
Based on the power-on signal, the printing status stored in the printing status storage unit is read from the printing status storage unit,
When the read printing status is a printing operation, the roll paper drive unit is instructed to discharge the paper using the maximum print length acquired based on the media size information as a discharge amount,
The printer according to claim 2 , wherein cutting is instructed to the recording paper cutting unit. An RF-ID reading unit for reading media size information from the RF-ID provided in the ink ribbon cassette;
The control unit obtains the maximum printing length based on the media size information read by the RF-ID reading unit, and controls the paper discharge operation of the roll paper driving unit based on the maximum printing length. The printer according to claim 2 or 3 .

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