JP2002002037A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder in which replacement of a recording medium is not required even when an image of different size is recorded by providing means for detecting paper jam when a tag sheet having no TOF or a continuous label body where a long label is stuck to a mounting paper is used. SOLUTION: The image recorder 100 for recording a specified image on a recording medium 204, i.e., a continuous sheet of tag paper or a label paper, comprises means 200 for recording an image on the recording medium 204, means 209 for reading out image information 902 recorded on the recording medium 204, and means 400 for generating paper jam detection timing information 1006 wherein paper jam is detected by comparing the image information 902 with the paper jam detection timing information 1006.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording a predetermined image using a continuous sheet such as tag paper or label paper as a recording medium, and more particularly to a paper jam detection of a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a recording apparatus for recording a predetermined image on a continuous sheet on which tag paper, label paper or the like is continuously arranged. In a recording medium used for such an apparatus, for example, in the case of a continuous sheet of tag paper, a TOF (Top
Of Form) is recorded in advance,
The TOF mark was read by a sensor such as a reflection type photo interrupter, and the read signal was used for recording timing detection and paper jam detection.

When the recording medium is, for example, a continuous sheet of label paper, labels of a fixed size are attached to the mount at regular intervals, and a portion consisting of only the mount and a portion having the label attached to the mount are provided. Has been read by a sensor such as a transmission type photo interrupter, and the read signal has been used for recording timing detection and paper jam detection.

[0004]

However, when using a continuous sheet of tag paper or label paper as described above, the image size that can be recorded depends on the interval of the TOF and the size of the label paper pasted on the backing paper. It will be regulated. Therefore, when recording images of different recording sizes, it is necessary to replace the continuous sheet according to the image size.

Here, if tag paper without TOF or a continuous label with a long label attached to the backing paper is used, the necessity of replacement is eliminated. Difficult to use.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a means for detecting a paper jam when a tag sheet without TOF or a continuous label having a long label attached to a backing sheet is used to record images of different sizes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that does not need to replace a recording medium even when the recording is performed.

[0007]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus for recording a predetermined image using a continuous sheet such as tag paper or label paper as a recording medium. Recording means for recording an image on a recording medium, image reading means for reading image information recorded on the recording medium, and timing information creating means for creating paper jam detection timing information, wherein the image information and the paper A paper jam is detected by comparing the information with jam detection timing information.

[0008]

[First Embodiment] An embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image recording apparatus, FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a command system structure transmitted from a PC, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a comparison between the conventional example and the tag paper of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a comparison between the conventional example and the label paper of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross section of a recording unit of the image recording apparatus. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing recording data developed in a print memory and its recording result. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a recording head and an image reading unit when recording is performed on tag paper without TOF. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining creation, and FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining paper jam detection.

An image recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a color label recording apparatus of an ink jet system using a long line head. An external host computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC 102) is connected to the image recording apparatus 100 by a printer cable 103, and the recording data is sent and the operation of the image recording apparatus 100 is controlled. The feeding unit 101 of the image recording apparatus 100 includes a recording medium 20 as a continuous sheet.
4 is set, and cutter 20 is
8 is installed.

[0010] As shown in FIG.
The recording unit 200 for forming an image and the recording medium 204
The image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit 101 that feeds the sheet to zero, and a cutter unit 207 that cuts a sheet on which an image is recorded by the recording unit 200 and discharged. The recording unit 200 ejects yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks 205 from the recording heads 201 of each color fixed to the head unit 202 in accordance with the image forming signal, and conveys the sheet on the conveyance belt 203. The image is recorded by spraying on the surface. An image reading unit 209 serving as image reading means is mounted downstream of the head unit 202, and reads a recorded image.

FIG. 3 shows a command system structure transmitted from the PC 102 used in the present embodiment. As a command,
A sheet setting command 300 for setting the type of sheet to be recorded, etc., a format command 301 having a setting serving as a reference for recording data, a data portion 305 of recording data to be rendered in a print memory as a rendering command, and an attribute indicating an attribute of the recording data The section includes a character drawing command 302, an image drawing command 303, and a barcode drawing command 304, and further includes a recording start command 306 that indicates the end of the recording data and starts recording.

[0012] These commands are used to transfer a recording command.
Transmit in the order of 309. The parameters of the sheet setting command 300 include the sheet type 307 to be recorded, the sheet size 308,
There is a TOF mark width (or label gap (interval between labels)) 310. The recording timing detection and the paper jam detection control are changed according to the parameter indicating the sheet type 307.

FIG. 4 shows an image recording apparatus 10 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows an electrical simplified block diagram of FIG. An MPU (microprocessor) 400 is timing information creation means described later, which operates according to a control program stored in a program ROM 401, receives recording data from a host computer via a communication driver 405,
Using the CGROM 403, the VR that is the print memory
The recorded data is expanded to AM404.

The MPU 400 includes a recording unit 200 and a feeding unit 101.
Drive control of various motors 407 via a motor driver 406, and cyan, magenta,
Recording heads 201C, 201M for four colors of yellow and black,
The drive of 201Y and 201K is controlled. These operations control the operation of components related to feeding, transporting, and discharging of the recording medium 204 and recording. Further, the image reading unit 209 is driven and controlled via an image reading unit driving circuit 410 to read a recorded image. Note that sensors and the like related to the above operation control are also connected to the MPU 400.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for comparing and explaining a conventional tag sheet with TOF and a tag sheet without TOF used in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the conventional tag paper 500 with TOF is
On the back of the recording surface, a mark 503 called TOF indicating the sheet feed length of one tag sheet 504 is recorded in advance. Here, for example, as shown in FIG.
When creating 5, tag paper with TOF with a large TOF interval
01 must be used. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5C, the TOF-free tag
Has no TOF recorded.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for comparing and explaining a conventional label sheet and a label sheet used in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), a conventional label paper 600 is
Are attached to the mount 605 at regular intervals, and when a large-sized label 604 is used, a different label paper 601 is used as shown in FIG. 6B. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.6 (c), the recording medium 204 of the present embodiment is a label continuous body 602, which is configured by attaching a long label 606 to a mount 605, and has a predetermined size. Cut to label 607.

(Paper Jam Detection Control) As shown in FIG. 7, the recording medium 204 conveyed from the feeding section 101
An image is recorded on the sheet, and the sheet is conveyed to the discharge section 104.
At this time, as described above, the recording timing detection and the paper jam detection control are changed according to the sheet type parameter 307 of the command from the PC 102 as described below.

In the case of the tag paper 500 with the TOF, the tag paper 500 is conveyed for a predetermined time by detecting the TOF by the reflection type photo interrupter 703 at the entrance side, and the recording by the recording head 201 is performed. The recording control to be started is continuously performed, and a paper jam detection control is performed to determine that a paper jam has occurred if the TOF cannot be detected by the reflective photointerrupter 705 on the exit side even after a predetermined time has elapsed.

In the case of the label paper 600, the tag paper 600 is transported for a predetermined time by detecting the leading end of the label with the transmission type photo interrupter 702 at the entrance side as in the conventional case, and the recording by the recording head 201 is started. Recording control is continuously performed, and a paper jam detection control is performed to determine that a paper jam has occurred when the transmission-type photointerrupter 704 on the exit side cannot detect the leading end of the label even after a predetermined time has elapsed.

In the case of the tag sheet 502 without TOF, the first sheet is detected by the transmissive photo-interrupter 703 on the entrance side to detect the presence or absence of a sheet, and the TOF is detected for a predetermined time after the presence of the sheet is detected.
The blank tag paper 502 is conveyed, and recording by the recording head 201 is started. For the second and subsequent sheets, the tag sheet 502 without the TOF is conveyed for a predetermined time after being conveyed by the designated sheet size, and recording control for starting recording by the recording head 201 is continuously performed. The paper jam detection timing information generated by using the developed recording data is compared with the image information read by the image reading unit 209 to perform a paper jam detection control for determining a paper jam.

In the case of the label continuous body 602, the first sheet is detected by the transmission type photo interrupter 703 on the entrance side to detect the presence or absence of a sheet, and after the presence of the sheet is detected, the label continuous body 602 is transported for a predetermined time. The recording by the recording head 201 is started. Then, after the second sheet, the label continuous body 602 is conveyed for a predetermined time after being conveyed by the designated sheet size,
The recording control for starting recording by the recording head 201 is continuously performed, and as described later, paper jam detection timing information created by using recording data previously developed in a print memory, and an image read by the image reading unit 209. The information is compared with the information to perform a paper jam detection control for determining a paper jam.

FIG. 8 shows print data expanded in the print memory and the print result in this embodiment. The image recording apparatus 100 converts the recording data transmitted from the PC 102 into
VRAM of each color of black, cyan, magenta and yellow
Expand to 404K, 404C, 404M, 404Y. In the present embodiment, the recording data 807 of the black barcode 809 and the blue characters 808
And the barcode 804 is expanded into a black VRAM 404K, and the characters 805 and 806 are VRAM 404C of cyan and magenta,
404M.

FIG. 9 shows the recording head 201 and the image reading unit 209 when recording is performed on the tag paper 502 without TOF in this embodiment.
FIG. As described above, the image reading unit 209 is disposed downstream of the yellow recording head 201Y, which is the last recording head 201, reads the images 901 and 902 recorded on the tag paper 502 without TOF, and To output read information of the first to n-th pixels.

FIG. 10 shows the generation of paper jam detection timing information in the present embodiment. That is, the MPU 400, which is a timing information generating means, takes the logical sum 1004 of the recording data developed in the VRAMs 404K, 404C, 404M, and 404Y, which are the print memories of the respective colors, and thereafter, for each horizontal line (in the transport direction and the vertical direction). The logical sum 1005 of the bits is obtained, and the result becomes timing information 1006 as paper jam detection timing information. That is, the timing information 1006 is obtained by binarizing the presence or absence of an image using the position of the recording medium 204 in the traveling direction as a variable.

FIG. 11 shows an example of detecting a paper jam based on image information read by the image reading unit 209 and paper jam detection timing information. The image information 1001 and 1002 binarized by taking the logical sum of all the bits (pixels) of the image (first pixel to n-th pixel) read by the image reading unit 209 and the timing information 1006 described in FIG. Compare, paper jam 1103, 11
04 is detected.

With the above configuration, it is possible to detect a paper jam even when the tag paper 502 without TOF and the label continuous body 602 are used, and by using these sheets, images of different sizes are recorded. In this case, there is no need to replace the recording medium 204.

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
Is a diagram for explaining a command system structure transmitted from a PC.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the creation of timing information. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

In the first embodiment, the recording data expanded in the print memory is used to create the paper jam detection timing information. In the present embodiment, however, a command from the PC 102 as the host computer is used. Creates paper jam detection timing information.

FIG. 12 shows a command system structure transmitted from the PC 102 used in this embodiment. The command is a sheet setting command 30 similar to the first embodiment.
0, format command 301, character drawing command
302, barcode drawing command 304, recording start command 30
6, and transmits these commands in a predetermined order.

FIG. 13 shows the creation of paper jam detection timing information in the present embodiment. That is, one character drawing command 302 and one barcode drawing command 304 are used as drawing commands sent from the PC 102 by the MPU 400, which is timing information generating means.

In the character drawing command 302,
By analyzing the command, it can be understood that the character data 1302 is expanded in a predetermined format. By taking the logical sum 1303 of the character data 1302 for each horizontal line, the timing information when only the character drawing command 302 is recorded 1304 can be created. Similarly, in the barcode drawing command 304, it is understood that the barcode data 1306 is expanded into a predetermined format by analyzing the command, and the barcode data for each horizontal line is obtained.
By taking the logical sum 1307 of 1306, the timing information 1308 when only the barcode drawing command 304 is recorded can be created.

Furthermore, by taking the logical sum of the timing information 1304 and 1308 created by each drawing command, the timing information 1309 of the data to be actually recorded can be created. That is, also in the present embodiment, the timing information 13
09 binarizes the presence or absence of an image using the position of the recording medium 204 in the traveling direction as a variable. By comparing the timing information 1309 created in this way with the image information read by the image reading unit 209 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, paper jam detection control can be performed.

In each of the above embodiments, a color label recording apparatus of an ink jet system using a long line head has been described as an example. The type of the recording device is not limited as long as it is an image recording device that records an image.

[0034]

As described above, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, a recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium, an image reading unit for reading image information recorded on the recording medium, and a paper jam detection timing It has a timing information creating means for creating information, and detects a paper jam by comparing image information with paper jam detection timing information. Can be detected.

That is, by using the tag paper or label continuous body without the TOF, the image size is not limited to the size of the TOF or the label of the recording medium, and the images of different sizes can be used without changing the recording medium. Can be recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a command system structure transmitted from a PC.

FIG. 4 is an electrical simplified block diagram of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a comparison between a conventional example and the tag paper of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a comparison between a conventional example and the label paper of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a recording unit of the image recording apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing recording data developed in a print memory and a recording result thereof.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a recording head and an image reading unit when recording is performed on tag paper without TOF.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating creation of timing information.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating paper jam detection.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a command system structure transmitted from a PC.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating creation of timing information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100: Image recording device 101: Feeding unit 102: PC 103: Printer cable 104: Discharge unit 200: Recording unit 201: Recording head 202: Head unit 203: Conveying belt 204: Recording medium 205: Ink 207: Cutter unit 208 ... Cutter 209… Image reading section 300… Sheet setting command 301… Format command 302… Character drawing command 303… Image drawing command 304… Barcode drawing command 305… Data section 306… Record start command 307… Sheet type 308… Sheet size 309… Recording command transfer example 310 TOF mark width 400 MPU 401 Program ROM 402 RAM 403 CGROM 404 VRAM 405 Communication driver 406 Motor driver 407 Seed motor 408 Head drive circuit 410 Image reading unit drive circuit 500… Tag paper with TOF 501… Tag paper with TOF 502… Tag paper without TOF 503… Mark 504… Tag paper 505… Tag paper 600… Label paper 601… Label paper 602… Continuous label 603… Label 604… Label 605… Mount 606… Long label 607… Label 702… Photo interrupter 703… Photo interrupter 704… Photo interrupter 705… Photo interrupter 804… Bar code 805… Character 806… Character 807… Record data 808… Character 809… Bar code 901… Image 902… Image 1001… Image information 1002… Image information 1004… Logic 1005… Logic 1006 … Timing information 1103… Paper jam 1104… Paper jam 1302… Character data 1303… OR 1304… Timing information 1306… Bar code data 1307… OR 1308… Timing information 1309… Timing information

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording a predetermined image using a continuous sheet such as tag paper or label paper as a recording medium, comprising: recording means for recording an image on the recording medium; and image information recorded on the recording medium. An image reading unit for reading, and a timing information creating unit for creating paper jam detection timing information, wherein a paper jam is detected by comparing the image information with the paper jam detection timing information. Recording device. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing information creating unit creates the paper jam detection timing information using print data developed in a print memory. 3. The timing information creating means creates the paper jam detection timing information using a command from a host computer.
The image recording apparatus as described in the above. 4. The paper jam detection timing information includes:
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information is binarized image information.