JP4251014B2 - Printer and printer control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer and a printer control method, and more particularly to a printer having a function of partially cutting a recording sheet and a function of conveying a recording sheet in the reverse direction and a control method of such a printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a printer such as an electronic cash register used in a POS (Point-Of-Sale) system, a printer for printing a roll-shaped recording sheet with a thermal head and then cutting the recording sheet A device (cutting means) is provided.
[0003]
The cutter device operates in response to a cut command sent from the host device to the printer, and can cut the recording sheet after printing to issue the recording sheet as a receipt.
[0004]
In such a printer with a cutter device, there is a certain distance between the printing position on the recording sheet and the cutting position by the cutter device. Accordingly, when the next printing is started from the position after the recording sheet having been printed is cut by the cutter device, a margin corresponding to the distance is generated between the upper cut edge of the recording sheet and the printing start position. The extra recording sheet will be consumed by this margin, and the appearance of the receipt will also deteriorate.
[0005]
Therefore, as a method of reducing the margin at the top of the receipt, for example, after printing is completed and the recording sheet is cut by the cutter device, the recording sheet is moved in the reverse direction (that is, from the cutting position by the cutter device to the printing position). (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0006]
According to such a method, the distance from the upper cutting edge of the recording sheet to the print start position is shortened by the feed amount in the reverse direction, so that the margin at the top of the next printed receipt can be reduced.
[0007]
In addition, when such a printer with a cutter device is used, for example, in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, the surface of the recording sheet becomes sticky, and the recording sheet sticks to the thermal head waiting to be printed. There was a problem that it was easy. If printing is started with such sticking occurring, conveyance by a conveying means such as a platen roller that conveys a recording sheet cannot be performed normally, and there is a problem that the printing quality at the time of launch is significantly reduced.
[0008]
Therefore, when the printer is turned on or immediately before starting printing, the recording sheet is once sent in the reverse direction, and the recording sheet attached to the thermal head is peeled off and then printing is started. It can be considered as a sticking measure.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-193712 [0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, some of the cutter devices provided in the above-described printer perform partial cutting that cuts the recording sheet after the printing is finished partially. When the partial cut is performed, it is possible to prevent the cut receipt from dropping naturally, and the operator tears the receipt to remove it.
[0011]
However, in the case of a printer that has taken the above-described countermeasure against sticking of the recording sheet, the recording sheet is once sent in the reverse direction immediately before starting printing, and the recording sheet attached to the thermal head is peeled off and then printing is started. When a receipt is continuously issued in which such “printing and partial cut” processes are continuously performed, the remaining portion due to the partial cut may be cut in the reverse direction.
[0012]
This is because when a partial cut is made so that one end of the recording sheet is partially left, the lower edge of the receipt on the other end side becomes free, so when the paper is fed in the reverse direction, It is because it becomes easy to get caught in a nearby member.
[0013]
Then, there is a possibility that a receipt that has been issued one time before and cut out is drawn into the paper discharge port of the printer and causes a paper jam.
[0014]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a printer and a printer capable of preventing a paper jam from occurring when a recording sheet is partially cut and then conveyed in the reverse direction. It is to provide a control method.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the invention described in claim 1 includes a thermal head for printing on a recording sheet, a cutting means capable of partially cutting the recording medium sheet, and printing by the thermal head. And a conveying unit capable of conveying the recording sheet in a first direction from a position toward a cutting position by the cutting unit and a second direction opposite to the first direction. ,
After the recording sheet is partially cut by the cutting means, a control means is provided for changing the amount by which the recording sheet is conveyed in the second direction by the conveying means according to the conveyance operation stop time of the conveying means. It is characterized by that.
[0016]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the recording sheet is partially cut, the amount of conveyance of the recording sheet in the second direction by the conveyance unit according to the conveyance operation stop time of the conveyance unit. Can be changed. And the sticking force of the recording sheet sticking to the thermal head is substantially proportional to the transport operation stop time of the transport means in the initial stage.
[0017]
Therefore, the amount transported in the second direction as a countermeasure against the sticking of the recording sheet is the optimum transporting amount against the sticking force of the recording sheet, and the recording sheet is transported in the second direction more than necessary. In this way, the remaining part of the recording sheet that has been partially cut (partial cut) is not cut, or the recording sheet cannot be reliably peeled off from the thermal head due to insufficient transport amount. It is possible to prevent paper jams.
[0018]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, when the transport operation stop time is shorter than a specified time, the control means has a case where the transport operation stop time is longer than the specified time. In comparison, the amount of the recording sheet conveyed in the second direction is reduced.
[0019]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the conveyance operation stop time is shorter than the specified time, the amount to be conveyed in the second direction as a countermeasure against the sticking of the recording sheet is the sticking of the recording sheet. The conveyance amount is set to a minimum against the force, and the recording sheet is not conveyed in the second direction more than necessary.
[0020]
Further, when the conveyance operation stop time is longer than the specified time, the amount conveyed in the second direction as a countermeasure against the sticking of the recording sheet is set to a sufficient carrying amount that resists the sticking force of the recording sheet. .
[0021]
For this reason, the amount by which the recording sheet is conveyed in the second direction can be easily changed according to the conveyance operation stop time of the conveyance unit.
[0022]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the second aspect, when the conveyance operation stop time is shorter than a predetermined time, the amount by which the recording sheet is conveyed in the second direction is the cutting means. Is set to an amount that does not break the portion of the recording sheet that has not been cut.
[0023]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the conveyance operation stop time is shorter than the specified time, the amount of conveyance of the recording sheet in the second direction breaks the remaining portion of the partially cut recording sheet. It is set to an amount that does not occur, and is a sufficient conveyance amount that resists the sticking force of the recording sheet without breaking.
[0024]
Therefore, even when the conveyance operation stop time is shorter than the specified time, the recording sheet that has been partially cut due to insufficient conveyance amount cannot be reliably peeled off from the thermal head. In addition, the amount by which the recording sheet is conveyed in the second direction can be set optimally according to the length of the partial cut and the breaking strength of the recording sheet.
[0025]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal head for printing on a recording sheet, a cutting means capable of partially cutting the recording sheet, and the cutting means from a printing position by the thermal head. And a transporting unit capable of transporting the recording sheet in both directions of a first direction toward the cutting position by the second direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. is there.
[0026]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the printer control method according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects. The invention described above relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0028]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
[0029]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 of this embodiment is used for an electronic cash register or the like used in a POS system or the like. For example, printing is performed on a roll-shaped recording sheet S by a thermal head H. For this purpose, the recording unit 2 is generally formed in the front, and the storage unit 3 for storing and holding the recording sheet S is formed in the rear.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 2 includes a thermal head H, a platen roller 20, and a cutter device 30. The recording sheet S passes between the thermal head H that is the printing position and the platen roller 20, and further passes between the movable blade 9 and the fixed blade 14 of the cutter device 30 that is the cutting position of the recording sheet. It leads up.
[0031]
The apparatus body of the printer 1 is provided with a cover frame 8 that can be freely opened and closed, and a cutter unit frame 11 for housing the movable blade 9 and its driving mechanism on a body frame 7 made of, for example, metal. For example, it is covered with a panel 5 attached to the case body 4 made of resin.
[0032]
The cover frame 8 is attached so as to be openable and closable around a support shaft 12 provided at the upper ends of both sides of the main body frame 7.
[0033]
In the printer 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed blade 14 is disposed at the end of the upper surface of the cover frame 8 on the cutter unit frame 11 side.
[0034]
The fixed blade 14 is made of, for example, a long plate-shaped metal member, and constitutes a cutter device (cutting means) 30 together with the movable blade 9 (see FIG. 3).
[0035]
The fixed blade 14 is disposed such that the blade portion 14 a faces the cutter unit frame 11. Further, a slit-shaped paper discharge port 15 for conveying and discharging the recording sheet S is provided between the blade portion 14 a of the fixed blade 14 and the bottom portion 11 b of the cutter unit frame 11.
[0036]
The platen roller 20 presses the recording sheet S against the head surface of the thermal head H by being biased by biasing means (not shown) such as a spring mechanism. The thermal head H includes a heating element corresponding to each print pixel, and printing on the recording sheet S is performed by heating these heating elements.
[0037]
The rotation shaft of the platen roller 20 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown) such as a motor, and the platen roller 20 can be driven to rotate in both directions by this drive mechanism. When the platen roller 20 serving as a conveying unit is rotationally driven, the recording sheet S is pulled out from the roll and upwards (ie, the cutter device 30) according to the rotation direction of the platen roller 20 due to friction with the platen roller 20. In the first direction) or in the opposite direction (second direction). Hereinafter, the direction in which the recording sheet S is fed from the printing position to the cutting position and the rotation direction of the platen roller 20 at that time are referred to as the forward direction, and the opposite direction is referred to as the reverse direction.
[0038]
During receipt printing, printing over a plurality of lines can be performed by repeating the operation of printing the recording sheet S in the forward direction by a distance corresponding to one line while printing one line with the thermal head H. Then, after the printing is completed, the last printed line is cut by the cutter device 30, whereby the printed recording sheet S is issued as a receipt.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 3, the movable blade 9 constituting the cutter device 30 in the present embodiment has, for example, a support shaft 18 provided at one end of the cutter unit frame 11 as a center, in the direction of arrow A in FIG. It can be pivoted in the opposite direction.
[0040]
Further, an elongated hole 19 for driving the movable blade 9 by a drive mechanism (not shown) provided on the back surface of the cover 11a of the cutter unit frame 11 is provided in the approximate center of the movable blade 9. .
[0041]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the cutter apparatus 30 of this embodiment is such that the length of the movable blade 9 is longer than the length of the blade portion 14a of the fixed blade 14 so that the recording sheet S is not completely separated. The distance is set shorter by a predetermined distance D.
[0042]
Therefore, when the movable blade 9 is driven in the direction of arrow A, the recording sheet S is partially cut (partial cut) leaving a part of the end corresponding to the predetermined distance D. Thus, the cutter device 30 has a function of performing a partial cut.
[0043]
The configuration of the cutting means is not limited to the saddle-type configuration such as the cutter device 30 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and other types of cutting means may be used. Moreover, the structure which has not only the structure which has only a partial cut function but the function of both a partial cut and a full cut may be sufficient.
[0044]
FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a central control unit (CPU) 50. The CPU 50 is connected to a host computer 51 outside the printer via an interface 52.
[0045]
The printer 1 also includes a ROM 54, a RAM 56, a print control unit 58, a cutter control unit 60, a conveyance control unit 62, a cover detection unit 64, a paper feed switch 66, and the like, which are connected to the CPU 50.
[0046]
The ROM 54 stores various control programs, print character patterns, and the like. Further, the RAM 56 is provided with a reception buffer for holding commands and print data received from the host computer 51. Further, the print control unit 58 controls the thermal head H described above, and causes the thermal head H to print on the recording sheet S in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 50.
[0047]
The cutter control unit 60 controls the driving mechanism of the movable blade 9 of the cutter device 30 described above, and causes the cutter device 30 to perform a partial cut of the recording sheet S in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 50.
[0048]
The conveyance control unit 62 controls the driving mechanism of the platen roller 20 described above, and rotates the platen roller 20 in the forward direction or the reverse direction in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 50, thereby moving the recording sheet S in the forward direction. And in the opposite direction.
[0049]
The cover detection unit 64 includes a sensor that detects the open / closed state of the cover frame 8 and notifies the CPU 50 of the open / closed state of the cover frame 8. The paper feed switch 66 is provided on the operation panel. When this switch is operated, the CPU 50 drives the platen roller 20 to rotate in the forward direction by the transport control unit 62.
[0050]
As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment can perform partial cutting of the recording sheet S by the cutter device 30, and conveys the recording sheet S in both the forward direction and the reverse direction by the platen roller 20. be able to. These operations are performed according to control commands transmitted from the host computer 51. In the following description, the operation of conveying the recording sheet S in the reverse direction is referred to as reverse paper feeding.
[0051]
Further, the CPU 50 in the printer 1 of the present embodiment interprets a command received from the host computer 51, and according to a command such as a print command or a partial cut command, the print control unit 58, the cutter control unit 60, and the conveyance control unit 62. By giving a control signal to, operations such as printing, partial cut, and backward paper feed are controlled.
[0052]
Further, the CPU 50 has a function of measuring a transport operation stop time (for example, a motor stop time) in the drive mechanism of the platen roller 20 as a transport unit, and this measured time and a preset specified time are used. In accordance with the comparison result, the conveyance control unit 62 includes a control unit that can change the driving amount of a motor or the like that temporarily drives the platen roller 20 to rotate in the reverse direction.
[0053]
Here, for example, the measurement of the motor stop time can be performed using a time base interrupt. Since the time base is always operating during printer startup, the motor stop time can be constantly monitored. Also, by using the time base, there is no need to newly use a timer. Of course, it goes without saying that a new timer may be used.
[0054]
Further, the conveyance operation stop time is not limited to the case where the elapsed time is measured after the motor is stopped, but can be measured by other methods such as measuring the elapsed time after the partial cut is completed.
[0055]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, by controlling the operation in response to the partial cut command as described below, the recording sheet S is transported in the reverse direction (second direction) more than necessary during reverse paper feeding, and is partially cut. The remaining portion of the recording sheet S is not cut or the recording sheet S cannot be reliably peeled off from the thermal head H due to insufficient conveyance amount, thereby preventing the occurrence of a paper jam. To be able to.
[0056]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed when a partial cut command is received in this embodiment.
[0057]
Note that the processing shown in FIG. 5 is realized by the CPU 50 executing a control program stored in the ROM 54. As shown in the figure, when a partial cut command is received, first, in step 100, the recording sheet S is conveyed in the forward direction by a designated amount. That is, the platen roller 20 is driven and fed until the final print line exceeds the cut position, and the motor stops.
[0058]
Next, in step 102, motor stop time measurement is started, and then in step 104, partial cut is executed, and a command reception waiting state is entered.
[0059]
When a command is received in a command reception waiting state (step 106), it is next determined in step 108 whether or not reverse paper feed is designated as “present”.
[0060]
As a result, when the reverse paper feed is designated as “present”, the processing of step 110 is performed. On the other hand, if the reverse paper feed is not designated as “present”, the print processing is executed in step 120 without performing the processing in steps 110 and 112.
[0061]
Next, in step 110, it is determined whether or not the sticking countermeasure reverse paper feed is designated as “present”.
[0062]
As a result, if the reverse paper feed for sticking countermeasure is designated as “present”, the process of step 112 is performed. On the other hand, if the reverse paper feed for sticking countermeasures is not designated as “present”, in step 118, for example, the cue processing of the reverse paper feed 60 steps and the forward paper feed 7 steps (the margin above the receipt). Is performed).
[0063]
Next, in step 112, the elapsed time (motor stop time) since the motor stopped is set to a preset specified time (in this embodiment, 1 minute, but the length of the partial cut or breakage of the recording sheet) It is compared whether or not it is shorter than an appropriate setting according to the strength or the like.
[0064]
As a result, when the motor stop time is shorter than the specified time, in step 114, for example, after the reverse paper feeding process for sticking countermeasures of the backward paper feeding 13 step and the forward paper feeding 13 step is performed, the step In 120, a printing process is executed. On the other hand, when the motor stop time is longer than the specified time, in step 116, for example, after the reverse paper feeding process for sticking countermeasures of the backward paper feeding 30 step and the forward paper feeding 30 step is performed, step 120 is performed. The printing process is executed at.
[0065]
As described above, in the printer 1 of the present embodiment, after the partial cut is executed, the reverse paper feed amount in the reverse paper feed process for sticking countermeasure can be changed according to the motor stop time. .
[0066]
Since the sticking force of the recording sheet S attached to the thermal head H is substantially proportional to the motor stop time in the initial stage of sticking, the reverse paper feed amount as a countermeasure against sticking of the recording sheet S becomes the recording sheet S. The optimum transport amount against the sticking force (13 steps or 30 steps in this embodiment).
[0067]
In other words, when a receipt is issued continuously (when the motor stop time is shorter than the specified time) when the “printing and partial cut” process is executed continuously, the sticking force of the recording sheet S is small and recording is more than necessary. Since there is no need to feed the sheet S in the reverse direction, the reverse paper feed amount is set to a minimum conveyance amount (13 steps) that does not break the remaining portion of the partially cut recording sheet S.
[0068]
Accordingly, the remaining portion of the partially cut recording sheet S is cut by the reverse paper feed, and the paper that is generated when the previous receipt that has been torn is drawn into the paper discharge port 15 of the printer 1 is generated. Clogging can be prevented.
[0069]
Further, when the receipt is issued independently (when the motor stop time is longer than the specified time), the sticking force of the recording sheet S may be increased, so that the thermal head H resists the sticking force of the recording sheet S. The transport amount is sufficient (30 steps) that can be surely peeled off.
[0070]
Accordingly, the recording sheet S cannot be reliably peeled off from the thermal head H because the reverse paper feed amount is insufficient, and it is possible to prevent the print quality at the time of launch from being significantly lowered.
[0071]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the reverse paper feed amount in the reverse paper feed process for sticking countermeasure can be easily changed by comparing the motor stop time with a predetermined time set in advance.
[0072]
In addition, when the motor stop time is shorter than a predetermined time set in advance, the amount that the recording sheet S is fed in the reverse direction is set to an amount that does not break the remaining portion of the partially cut recording sheet S. Without this, it is possible to make the transport amount sufficient to resist the sticking force of the recording sheet S.
[0073]
In this case, when the motor stop time is shorter than the specified time, there is no possibility that the recording sheet S that has been partially cut due to insufficient conveyance amount cannot be reliably peeled off from the thermal head H. Further, the amount by which the recording sheet S is fed in the reverse direction can be set optimally according to the length of the partial cut and the breaking strength of the recording sheet S.
[0074]
The printer and the printer control method of the present invention are not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and various forms can be taken based on the spirit of the present invention.
[0075]
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the platen roller 20 is used as the conveying unit that conveys the recording sheet S has been described as an example. However, the recording sheet S is pressed against the head surface of the thermal head H by the platen and separately conveyed. It is also possible to arrange a paper feed roller.
[0076]
In the above embodiment, the recording sheet S is partially cut (partial cut) while leaving a part of one end thereof. However, the part to be left at the time of partial cutting is not limited to one end of the recording sheet. Partial cutting may be performed so as to leave a part of the center.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the printer and the printer control method of the present invention, after the recording sheet is partially cut, the recording unit causes the recording unit to transfer the recording sheet according to the conveying operation stop time of the conveying unit. The amount conveyed in the direction 2 can be changed. And the sticking force of the recording sheet sticking to the thermal head is substantially proportional to the transport operation stop time of the transport means in the initial stage.
[0078]
Therefore, the amount transported in the second direction as a countermeasure against the sticking of the recording sheet is the optimum transporting amount against the sticking force of the recording sheet, and the recording sheet is transported in the second direction more than necessary. In this way, the remaining part of the recording sheet that has been partially cut (partial cut) is not cut, or the recording sheet cannot be reliably peeled off from the thermal head due to insufficient transport amount. It is possible to prevent paper jams.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a printing position and a recording sheet cutting position of the printer shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a plan view showing a cutter device of the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a system configuration diagram of the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed when a partial cut command is received in the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. ・ Printer 20 ・ ・ Platen roller (conveying means)
30..Cutter device (cutting means)
H · Thermal head S · · Recording sheet

Claims (8)

A thermal head for printing on a recording sheet; a cutting means capable of partially cutting the recording medium sheet; a first direction from the printing position by the thermal head to a cutting position by the cutting means; and the first direction And a conveying means capable of conveying the recording sheet in both directions opposite to the second direction,
After the recording sheet is partially cut by the cutting means, a control means is provided for changing the amount by which the recording sheet is conveyed in the second direction by the conveying means according to the conveyance operation stop time of the conveying means. A printer characterized by that. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit conveys the recording sheet in the second direction when the conveyance operation stop time is shorter than a specified time than when the conveyance operation stop time is longer than the specified time. A printer characterized in that the amount to be reduced is reduced. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein when the conveyance operation stop time is shorter than a specified time, the amount of the recording sheet conveyed in the second direction breaks a portion of the recording sheet that has not been cut by the cutting unit. A printer that is set to a quantity that never occurs. A thermal head for printing on a recording sheet; a cutting means capable of partially cutting the recording sheet; a first direction from the printing position by the thermal head to a cutting position by the cutting means and the first direction; Is a method for controlling a printer, comprising: a conveying means capable of conveying the recording sheet in both directions in the opposite second direction,
After partially cutting the recording sheet by the cutting means, a control step is provided for changing the amount by which the recording sheet is conveyed in the second direction by the conveying means according to the conveyance operation stop time of the conveying means. A control method for a printer. 5. The printer control method according to claim 4, wherein in the control step, when the transport operation stop time is shorter than a specified time, the recording sheet is printed on the second sheet as compared with a case where the transport operation stop time is longer than the specified time. A method for controlling a printer, characterized in that the amount conveyed in the direction is reduced. 6. The method for controlling a printer according to claim 5, wherein an amount of the recording sheet conveyed in the second direction when the conveyance operation stop time is shorter than a specified time is a portion of the recording sheet that has not been cut by the cutting unit. Is set to an amount that does not break the printer. A program for causing a computer to execute the printer control method according to any one of claims 4 to 6. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.

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