Image forming apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides an image forming apparatus having a feeding tray capable of housing both a roll body formed by winding a sheet medium into a roll shape and a sheet medium in a state of being stacked in multiple sheets, and capable of determining whether the sheet medium is properly disposed at a prescribed position of the feeding tray. A printer (100) includes a feeding tray (11) having a first housing portion (11a) capable of housing a roll body (R) formed by winding a roll paper (P1) into a roll shape and a second housing portion (11b) capable of housing cut paper (P2) in a state of being stacked in multiple sheets, a feeding roller (2), a head (5), and a plurality of detection portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a feed tray capable of accommodating both a roll formed by winding sheet media into a cylindrical shape and sheet media in a stacked state. Background Technology

[0002] Image forming apparatuses are known to house both a roll of paper wound into a cylindrical shape and a paper cutter. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a fax machine (image forming apparatus) having a paper feed tray (feeding tray) which has a mounting section for the roll and a mounting section for the paper cutter. The paper housed in the feeding tray is fed by a roller (feeding roller).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 02-264556 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] In an image forming apparatus such as Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the feeding action performed by the feed roller has already begun even though the paper to be printed is not contained in the feed tray.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that, in an image forming apparatus having a feed tray capable of accommodating both a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a cylindrical shape and sheet media in a stacked state, can determine whether the sheet media is properly positioned at a predetermined position on the feed tray.

[0009] Technical solutions for solving the problem

[0010] The image forming apparatus disclosed herein includes: a housing; a feed tray that can be inserted into and removed relative to the housing, having a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion, the first receiving portion being capable of receiving a roll of sheet medium wound into a cylindrical shape, and the second receiving portion being capable of receiving sheet medium in a stacked state; a feed roller for feeding sheet medium from the feed tray toward a transport path; an image forming unit for forming an image of the sheet medium in the transport path; and one or more detection units capable of detecting whether sheet medium is disposed at a predetermined position on the feed tray.

[0011] Invention Effects

[0012] According to the image forming apparatus of this disclosure, it is detected whether a sheet medium is disposed at a predetermined position on the feed tray. Therefore, in an image forming apparatus having both a feed tray capable of accommodating a roll body formed by winding sheet medium into a cylindrical shape and sheet medium in a stacked state, it is possible to determine whether the sheet medium is properly disposed at a predetermined position on the feed tray. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the printer's structure when housing the cut paper.

[0015] Figure 3A This is a diagram showing the roll paper detection section when no roll body is contained.

[0016] Figure 3B This is a diagram showing the roll paper detection section when a roll of paper is contained.

[0017] Figure 4A This diagram shows the paper cutting detection unit when no paper cutting is contained.

[0018] Figure 4B This is a diagram showing the paper cutting detection unit when paper cutting is contained.

[0019] Figure 5A This is a diagram showing the presence or absence of paper detection unit when no paper is placed on it.

[0020] Figure 5B This is a diagram showing the presence or absence of paper detection unit when paper is properly placed.

[0021] Figure 6 This is the first half of a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing procedure performed in the printer according to the first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 7 This is the latter half of a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing procedure performed in the printer according to the first embodiment.

[0023] Figure 8 This is the first half of a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing performed in the printer according to the second embodiment.

[0024] Figure 9 This is the latter half of a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing procedure performed in the printer according to the second embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0025] (First Implementation)

[0026] The following is for reference Figures 1 to 5B The printer 100 (an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention) according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Furthermore, Figure 1 The up / down, left / right, and front / back directions shown are set as the up / down, left / right, and front / back directions of printer 100.

[0027] (Overall structure of Printer 100)

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the printer 100 includes a housing 100a, a feed tray 11, a feed roller 2, a pair of transport rollers 3a (an example of the transport rollers of the present invention), a pair of paper discharge rollers 3b, a cutter mechanism 4, a head 5 (an example of the image forming unit of the present invention), a paper discharge tray 6, a guide 7, a pair of intermediate rollers 9 (an example of the intermediate rollers of the present invention), a control unit 10, and a notification unit 30. The feed tray 11 can be inserted and removed from the lower part of the housing 100a. The insertion and removal of the feed tray 11 relative to the housing 100a is detected by a sensor (not shown). The paper discharge tray 6 forms a side wall on the front side of the upper part of the housing 100a and can be opened and closed relative to the housing 100a.

[0029] The feed tray 11 is insertable and removable relative to the housing 100a. The feed tray 11 has: a first receiving portion 11a, capable of receiving a roll body R formed by winding a strip of paper P1 (hereinafter referred to as roll paper P1) into a roll shape; and a second receiving portion 11b, capable of receiving a cut paper P2 (refer to) that is a piece of paper shorter than roll paper P1. Figure 2 The paper is stored in a stacked state. Furthermore, the roll paper P1 and cut paper P2 in this embodiment are examples of the sheet-like media of the present invention. Additionally, a rear end wall 18 extending upward is formed at the rear end of the feed tray 11. The rear end wall 18 is a component used to prevent the cut paper P2 stored in the second receiving portion 11b from falling off when the feed tray 11 is inserted or removed from the housing 100a.

[0030] The first receiving section 11a has a cylindrical core component Rc, two rollers 14 and 15, and a roll cover 16. The roll body R is a component formed by winding a strip of paper P1 into a roll shape on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical core component Rc. The roll body R is configured to rotate axially along its axis of rotation Rx (the central axis of the core component Rc). Figure 1 The direction perpendicular to the paper surface is parallel to the left-right direction. The axial direction of the rotation axis Rx is also equivalent to the width direction of the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2.

[0031] Two rollers 14 and 15 extend relatively long in the left-right direction, forming a length slightly longer than the width of the roll body R. Roller 15 is positioned behind roller 14. The rotation axes of rollers 14 and 15 are parallel to the rotation axis Rx. Furthermore, these two rollers 14 and 15 support the roll body R from below in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the roll body R.

[0032] When unwinding the paper roll P1 from the roll body R, the two rollers 14 and 15 are driven to rotate counterclockwise. Figure 1 The roll body R (with solid arrows in the text) rotates. The roll paper P1 unwound from the roll body R housed in the first housing section 11a is conveyed through a path below the bottom surface 17 (described later) of the second housing section 11b to a position directly below the feed roller 2 or downstream in the conveying direction from directly below the feed roller 2. The roll paper P1 is fed by the feed roller 2 toward the conveying path and is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 6 via the intermediate roller pair 9, the conveyor roller pair 3a, the head 5, and the paper discharge roller pair 3b. In addition, the conveying path of the roll paper P1 is defined by the feed roller 2, the intermediate roller pair 9, the conveyor roller pair 3a, and the paper discharge roller pair 3b.

[0033] The roll cover 16 is a component that covers the roll body R housed in the first receiving portion 11a. The roll cover 16 extends in the left-right direction and is longer than the width of the rollers 14 and 15. In addition, the roll cover 16 is configured to approach the outer peripheral surface of the roll body R with the largest size that can be housed in the first receiving portion 11a. As a result, even if the winding of the roll body R becomes loose and the outer diameter of the roll body R increases, the outer peripheral surface of the roll body R will contact the inner surface of the roll cover 16, thus limiting the increase in the outer diameter.

[0034] The second receiving section 11b is located behind the first receiving section 11a and has a bottom surface 17 that supports the cut paper P2 from below. The bottom surface 17 extends relatively long in the left-right direction and is formed to be slightly longer than the width of the cut paper P2. The cut paper P2, received in the second receiving section 11b, is fed towards the conveying path by the feed roller 2 and is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 6 through the intermediate roller pair 9, the conveyor roller pair 3a, the head 5, and the paper discharge roller pair 3b. The conveying path of the cut paper P2 is defined by the feed roller 2, the intermediate roller pair 9, the conveyor roller pair 3a, and the paper discharge roller pair 3b.

[0035] Furthermore, a notch is made at the rear end of the bottom surface 17 of the second receiving section 11b and at the center in the left-right direction. When printing on the roll paper P1, as described above, the roll paper P1 unwound from the roll body R is conveyed to the feed roller 2 via a path below the bottom surface 17 of the second receiving section 11b. Then, the roll paper P1 is fed towards the conveying path through the notched portion of the bottom surface 17 of the second receiving section 11b, which was never containing the cut paper P2.

[0036] Furthermore, the printer 100 of this embodiment has the following structure: when printing on roll paper P1, if the cut paper P2 is housed in the second receiving section 11b, the roll paper P1 cannot be fed by the feed roller 2. This is because the printer 100 of this embodiment is a structure in which roll paper P1 and cut paper P2 are fed by a common feed roller 2, and the cut paper P2 is loaded on the roll paper P1 unwound from the roll body R. Therefore, in this embodiment, when printing on roll paper P1, the cut paper P2 needs to be removed from the second receiving section 11b. In addition, when printing on cut paper P2, if the roll paper P1 is positioned downstream of the feeding position of roll paper P1 or cut paper P2 in the transport direction of the roll paper P1 or cut paper P2, which is a feeding position where roll paper P1 and cut paper P2 can be fed by the feed roller 2, the roll paper P1 may obstruct the feeding of cut paper P2. Therefore, when printing on the cut paper P2, it is preferable that the roll body R is not housed in the first receiving portion 11a, the roll paper P1 is not unwound from the roll body R housed in the first receiving portion 11a, or even if the roll paper P1 is unwound from the roll body R housed in the first receiving portion 11a, the roll paper P1 is positioned upstream in the conveying direction than the feeding position. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the feeding tray 11 is inserted into the housing 100a, at least a portion of the first receiving portion 11a and the entirety of the second receiving portion 11b are housed inside the housing 100a.

[0037] The feed roller 2 is positioned behind the first receiving section 11a and near the rear end of the second receiving section 11b. Driven by a feed motor, the feed roller 2 rotates, thereby feeding the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2 from the feed tray 11 onto the transport path. As described above, the transport paths of the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2 are defined by the feed roller 2, the intermediate roller pair 9, the conveyor roller pair 3a, and the discharge roller pair 3b. Therefore, the feed roller 2 feeds the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2 along a common transport path.

[0038] Furthermore, the printer 100 according to this embodiment includes: a swing arm 20a that supports the feed roller 2 in a rotatable manner; and a swing shaft 20b that supports the swing arm 20a rotatably to the housing 100a. The rotation axis direction of the swing shaft 20b is parallel to the left-right direction. The swing shaft 20b can directly support the swing arm 20a to the housing 100a, or indirectly support the swing arm 20a to the housing 100a. When feeding the roll paper P1, as... Figure 1 As shown, the feed roller 2 swings about the swing shaft 20b via the swing arm 20a, thereby contacting the roll of paper P1 unwound from the roll body R housed in the first receiving section 11a. During the feeding of the cut paper P2, as... Figure 2As shown, the feed roller 2 swings about the swing axis 20b via the swing arm 20a, thereby coming into contact with the cut paper P2, which is housed in the second receiving section 11b in a stacked state. Thus, the feed roller 2 can feed the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2 into the conveying path.

[0039] The cutter mechanism 4 is positioned downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction (hereinafter also referred to as the "conveying direction") along the conveying path of the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2, and upstream of the head 5 described later in the conveying direction. The cutter mechanism 4 includes, for example, a cutter 4a consisting of two rotating blades and a cutting motor (not shown) that drives the cutter 4a axially. By controlling the cutting motor using the control unit 10, the roll paper P1, unwound from the roll body R and conveyed along the conveying path, is cut by the cutter 4a along the width direction of the roll paper P1. Thus, the roll paper P1 conveyed to the paper discharge tray 6 forms the rear end.

[0040] The guide 7 is located behind the feed roller 2 and upstream in the conveying direction from the cutter mechanism 4. The guide 7 guides the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2 fed by the feed roller 2 towards the cutter mechanism 4. Figure 1 As shown, the guide 7 is tilted upwards from the front to the rear in the front-to-back direction. The guide 7 extends relatively long in the left-to-right direction, forming a shape slightly longer than the width of the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2. Fine embossed patterns repeating along the conveying direction are formed on the surface of the guide 7. Here, short-sized sheets of paper such as the cut paper P2 are separated, thereby preventing overlapping conveying.

[0041] The intermediate roller pair 9 is located downstream of the cutter mechanism 4 in the conveying direction and upstream of the head 5 in the conveying direction. The intermediate roller pair 9 conveys the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2 to the conveyor roller pair 3a. The intermediate roller pair 9 consists of a drive roller that rotates via an intermediate motor (not shown) and a driven roller that rotates in conjunction with the drive roller. Furthermore, an intermediate positioning sensor 31 (an example of the conveying detection unit of the present invention) is disposed near the intermediate roller pair 9, upstream of the intermediate roller pair 9 in the conveying direction and downstream of the cutter mechanism 4 in the conveying direction. The intermediate positioning sensor 31 is a sensor capable of detecting the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 within the conveying path. More specifically, the intermediate positioning sensor 31 is a sensor that detects whether the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 conveyed along the conveying path has reached the intermediate roller pair 9.

[0042] The conveyor roller pair 3a consists of a drive roller that rotates via a conveyor motor (not shown) and a driven roller that rotates in conjunction with the drive roller. The discharge roller pair 3b consists of a drive roller that rotates via a discharge motor (not shown) and a driven roller that rotates in conjunction with the drive roller. By controlling the conveyor motor and discharge motor (not shown) with the control unit 10, the conveyor roller pair 3a and the discharge roller pair 3b rotate while clamping the roll paper P1 (or cut paper P2), thereby conveying the roll paper P1 (or cut paper P2).

[0043] The head 5 is a component that forms an image on the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2. It is located downstream of the conveyor roller pair 3a in the conveying direction and upstream of the discharge roller pair 3b in the conveying direction. The head 5 includes a plurality of nozzles (not shown) formed on its lower surface and a driver IC. When the driver IC is driven by the control unit 10, ink is ejected from the nozzles. As the roll paper P1 (or cut paper P2) conveyed by the conveyor roller pair 3a passes the position opposite to the lower surface of the head 5, ink is ejected from the nozzles of the head 5 to form an image on the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2. In addition, the head 5 can be either a linear type in which ink is ejected from the nozzles when the position is fixed, or a serial type in which ink is ejected from the nozzles while moving axially along the rotation axis Rx. The roll paper P1 (or cut paper P2) with the image formed by the head 5 is received by the discharge tray 6, which is in an open state relative to the housing 100a.

[0044] In this embodiment, the horizontal component of the conveying direction of the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2 fed by the feed roller 2 is from the front to the rear in the front-to-back direction. The horizontal component of the conveying direction of the roll paper P1 and the cut paper P2 discharged from the open paper tray 6 after passing a position opposite to the lower surface of the head 5 is from the rear to the front in the front-to-back direction. That is, the printer 100 of this embodiment has a so-called U-shaped turning path structure where the conveying direction reverses midway.

[0045] The control unit 10 is connected to the feed motor, intermediate motor, conveyor motor, paper output motor, driver IC, and cut-off motor via an internal bus (not shown). Additionally, the control unit 10 is electrically connected to the intermediate positioning sensor 31 and sensors 51b, 52b, and 53b (described later). The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores programs and data for various control operations performed by the CPU. The RAM temporarily stores data used by the CPU when executing programs.

[0046] The notification unit 30 is capable of performing notification actions to inform the user. For example, the notification unit 30 may be a display provided on the printer 100, which performs the notification action by displaying information to be notified to the user. Alternatively, the notification unit 30 may be a speaker provided on the printer 100, which performs the notification action by emitting the information to be notified to the user through sound. Other methods may also be used to perform the notification action. The notification actions performed by the notification unit 30 will be described in detail in the processing of the control unit 10 described later.

[0047] (Roll Paper Inspection Department 51)

[0048] Furthermore, the printer 100 of the first embodiment includes a roll paper detection unit 51 (an example of the first detection unit of the present invention) that detects whether a roll of paper P1 is contained in the first receiving section 11a. The roll paper detection unit 51 is a sensor capable of detecting the roll of paper P1 unwound from the roll body R. The roll paper detection unit 51 is located below and behind the roller 15 of the first receiving section 11a. Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown, the roll paper detection unit 51 includes an actuator 51a and a sensor 51b. The actuator 51a is supported in a manner that allows it to rotate about a rotation axis 51a2. The axis of the rotation axis 51a2 is parallel to the left-right direction. The sensor 51b is a sensor that detects the actuator 51a. The sensor 51b is, for example, a light sensor having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element (not shown). When the roll paper P1 unwound from the roll body R is not housed in the first housing part 11a, as... Figure 3A As shown, the actuator 51a does not block the light path and is therefore not detected by the sensor 51b. When the roll of paper P1 unwound from the roll body R is housed in the first housing portion 11a, as... Figure 3B As shown, the roll of paper P1 unwound from the roll body R comes into contact with the actuator 51a. Therefore, the actuator 51a is pressed by the roll of paper P1 and rotates about the rotation axis 51a2. Figure 3B The solid arrow (as shown) blocks the light path and is detected by sensor 51b. Thus, the roll paper detection unit 51 can detect whether the first receiving part 11a contains a roll of paper P1 unwound from the roll body R. Furthermore, the actuator 51a and sensor 51b can be supported on the housing 100a or on the feed tray 11. Alternatively, either the actuator 51a or the sensor 51b can be supported on the housing 100a, and the other on the feed tray 11.

[0049] (Cut Paper Inspection Department 52)

[0050] Furthermore, the printer 100 of the first embodiment includes a paper cutting detection unit 52 (an example of the second detection unit of the present invention) for detecting whether a cutting paper P2 is contained in the second receiving section 11b. The paper cutting detection unit 52 is mounted on the swing arm 20a. Figure 4A and Figure 4B As shown, the paper cutting detection unit 52 includes an actuator 52a and a sensor 52b. The actuator 52a is supported on the swing arm 20a in a manner that allows it to rotate about a rotation axis 52a2. The axis of the rotation axis 52a2 is parallel to the left-right direction. The sensor 52b is a sensor that detects the actuator 52a. The sensor 52b is mounted on the swing arm 20a. The sensor 52b is, for example, a light sensor having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element (not shown). When the paper cutting P2 is not housed in the second housing 11b, as... Figure 4A As shown, actuator 52a does not block the light path and is therefore not detected by sensor 52b. When the cut paper P2 is housed in the second housing section 11b, as... Figure 4B As shown, the cut paper P2 stacked on the bottom surface 17 comes into contact with the actuator 52a. Therefore, the actuator 52a is pressed by the cut paper P2 and rotates about the rotation axis 52a2. Figure 4B The solid arrow (symbolizing the light path obstruction) is detected by sensor 52b. Therefore, the paper cutting detection unit 52 can detect whether the second receiving section 11b contains paper cutting P2. Furthermore, the actuator 52a and sensor 52b can be directly supported on the housing 100a without via the swing arm 20a, or they can be supported on the feed tray 11. Alternatively, either the actuator 52a or the sensor 52b can be supported on the housing 100a, and the other on the feed tray 11. Figure 4A and Figure 4B The description of the presence or absence of the paper detection unit 53 is omitted.

[0051] (Paper Inspection Department 53)

[0052] Furthermore, the printer 100 of the first embodiment also includes a paper presence / absence detection unit 53 (an example of the third detection unit of the present invention) that detects whether a roll of paper P1 or a cut of paper P2 is disposed at a feeding position where the feed roller 2 can feed roll paper P1 and cut paper P2. More specifically, the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 is a sensor that detects whether a roll of paper P1 or a cut of paper P2 is present at a feeding position downstream in the conveying direction from the roll of paper detection unit 51 or the cut of paper detection unit 52, and directly below or further downstream in the conveying direction than directly below the feed roller 2. The "feeding position" of the feed roller 2 is a position downstream in the conveying direction from the roll of paper detection unit 51 or the cut of paper detection unit 52, and directly below or further downstream in the conveying direction than directly below the feed roller 2, preferably a position further downstream in the conveying direction than directly below the feed roller 2. The paper presence / absence detection unit 53 is mounted on the swing arm 20a. A portion of the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 is positioned downstream of the feed roller 2, along the conveying direction of the conveying path. For example... Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 includes an actuator 53a and a sensor 53b. The actuator 53a is supported on the swing arm 20a in a manner that allows it to rotate about a rotation axis 53a2. The axis of the rotation axis 53a2 is parallel to the left-right direction. The sensor 53b is a sensor that detects the actuator 53a. The sensor 53b is mounted on the swing arm 20a. The sensor 53b is, for example, a light sensor having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element (not shown). When the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 is not present in a position downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction, as... Figure 5A As shown, actuator 53a does not block the light path and is therefore not detected by sensor 53b. When the roll paper P1 or cut paper P2 is located downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction, as... Figure 5B As shown, the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 is in contact with the actuator 53a. In Figure 5B The diagram shows a situation where the unwound paper roll P1 is positioned downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction. Therefore, the actuator 53a is pressed by the paper roll P1 or the cut paper P2 and rotates around the rotation axis 53a2. Figure 5B The solid arrow (as shown) is detected by sensor 53b because it blocks the light path. Therefore, the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 can detect whether there is a roll of paper P1 or a cut paper P2 at a position downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction. Furthermore, actuator 53a and sensor 53b can be directly supported on housing 100a without via swing arm 20a, or they can be supported on feed tray 11. Alternatively, either actuator 53a or sensor 53b can be supported on housing 100a, and the other on feed tray 11. Figure 5A and Figure 5BThe description of the paper cutting detection unit 52 is omitted.

[0053] In addition, the distance between the roll paper detection unit 51 and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 along the conveying path is greater than or equal to the distance between the feed roller 2 and the intermediate roller pair 9 along the conveying path, and is also greater than or equal to the distance between the intermediate roller pair 9 and the conveying roller pair 3a along the conveying path.

[0054] (Processing of Control Unit 10)

[0055] Next, refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 This section describes an example of the processing performed by the control unit 10 when printing on roll paper P1 or cut paper P2 in printer 100. The processing described below begins when the control unit 10 receives a print instruction. The print instruction is input by the user via a terminal such as a PC or smartphone connected to printer 100, or via an input device (not shown) included in printer 100. In this embodiment, the print instruction is an instruction to print on roll paper P1 housed in the first receiving section, or an instruction to print on cut paper P2 housed in the second receiving section.

[0056] First, the control unit 10 determines whether the roll paper detection unit 51 detects that roll paper P1 is contained in the first receiving section 11a (step S1). If the control unit 10 determines that the roll paper detection unit 51 does not detect that roll paper P1 is contained in the first receiving section 11a (S1: No), it proceeds to step S22, which will be described later. If the control unit 10 determines that the roll paper detection unit 51 detects that roll paper P1 is contained in the first receiving section 11a (S1: Yes), the control unit 10 determines whether the paper cutting detection unit 52 detects that paper cutting P2 is contained in the second receiving section 11b (step S2).

[0057] If the paper cutting detection unit 52 determines that the paper cutting detection unit does not detect that the paper cutting P2 is contained in the second receiving section 11b (S2: No), proceed to step S8 described later. If the paper cutting detection unit 52 determines that the paper cutting detection unit 52 detects that the paper cutting P2 is contained in the second receiving section 11b (S2: Yes), the control unit 10 determines that both the roll paper P1 and the paper cutting P2 are contained in the feed tray 11. Then, the control unit 10 determines whether the input printing instruction is for the roll paper P1 (step S3).

[0058] If the printing instruction is determined to be roll paper P1 (S3: Yes), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action indicating that the cut paper P2 needs to be removed from the second receiving section 11b (step S4). If the printing instruction is determined not to be roll paper P1 (S3: No), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action indicating that the roll paper P1 unwound from the roll body R needs to be wound back (step S5).

[0059] After step S4 or S5, the control unit 10 determines whether a sensor (not shown) has detected insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (step S6). If it is determined that the sensor has detected insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (S6: Yes), the control unit 10 stops the predetermined notification action performed by the notification unit 30 (step S7) and returns to step S1. The predetermined notification action referred to here is any one of steps S4, S5, and steps S17, S18, S19, and S21 described later. If it is determined that the sensor has not detected insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (S6: No), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to continue performing the predetermined notification action until the sensor detects insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a.

[0060] In step S2 above, if the paper cutting detection unit 52 determines that the paper cutting detection unit 52 has not detected that the paper cutting unit P2 is contained in the second receiving part 11b (S2: No), the control unit 10 determines whether the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 has detected that the roll paper P1 is positioned at the feeding position of the feed roller 2 (step S8). If the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 determines that the roll paper P1 is not correctly placed (S8: No), the control unit 10 determines that the roll paper P1 is not correctly placed. Correctly placed roll paper P1 means that the roll paper P1 unwound from the roll body R contained in the first receiving part 11a is positioned at the feeding position of the feed roller 2. Then, the control unit 10 determines whether the input printing instruction is for roll paper P1 (step S16).

[0061] If the printing instruction is determined to be for roll paper P1 (S16: Yes), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action indicating that the roll paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a is not positioned in the feed position (step S17). Alternatively, as part of the notification action performed in step S17, the control unit 30 may also notify that the roll paper P1 has been unwound to a position downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction. In the notification action of step S17, the notification unit 30 may, for example, perform actions such as notifying that the roll paper P1 is not fully unwound, notifying that the roll paper P1 is not positioned in the feed position, or notifying that the roll paper P1 needs to be unwound to the feed position. Then, the process proceeds to step S6 as described above. If the printing instruction is determined not to be roll paper P1 (S16: No), the control unit 10 determines that there is an error in the paper contained in the paper supply tray 11, and causes the notification unit 30 to perform the action of notifying that the roll paper P1 needs to be rewound and that the cut paper P2 needs to be placed in the second receiving unit as a notification action (step S18). Then, proceed to the above-mentioned step S6.

[0062] If the paper detection unit 53 detects that a roll of paper P1 is positioned at the feed position of the feed roller 2 (S8: Yes), the control unit 10 determines that the roll of paper P1 unwound from the roll body R is correctly placed. Then, the control unit 10 determines whether the input printing instruction is for roll of paper P1 (step S9).

[0063] If the printing instruction is determined not to be roll paper P1 (S9: No), the control unit 10 determines that there is an error in the paper contained in the paper supply tray 11, and causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action that indicates that the roll paper P1 needs to be rewound and that the cut paper P2 needs to be placed in the second receiving unit (step S18). Then, proceed to step S6 as described above.

[0064] If the printing instruction is determined to be roll paper P1 (S9: Yes), the control unit 10 drives the feed motor to start the feed roller 2 feeding the roll paper P1 (step S10). Then, the control unit 10 controls the feed motor, intermediate motor, conveying motor, and paper discharge motor to feed the roll paper P1 by a predetermined amount (step S11). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether the roll paper P1 has been detected by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 from the time the feed roller 2 is driven until a first time has elapsed (step S12). The first time is the time from the time the feed roller 2 is driven until the roll paper P1 reaches the intermediate positioning sensor 31, and is the time obtained by dividing the distance along the conveying path from the feed roller 2 to the intermediate positioning sensor 31 by the feed speed of the feed roller 2, plus an allowable error.

[0065] If the control unit 10 determines that the roll paper P1 has not been detected by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 before the first time has elapsed from the time the feed roller 2 is driven (S12: No), it considers that the roll paper P1 has not reached the intermediate positioning sensor 31, and causes the notification unit 30 to perform an action to notify that the roll paper P1 housed in the first housing unit 11a is not properly positioned on the feed tray 11 as a notification action (step S19). In the notification action of step S19, the notification unit 30 may also perform actions such as notifying that the feed of the roll paper P1 cannot be carried out, notifying that there is a possibility that the roll paper P1 is positioned in a skewed state, or notifying that the roll paper P1 needs to be properly unwound to the feed position as a notification action.

[0066] If the control unit 10 determines that the roll paper P1 was detected by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 before the first time elapsed after the feed roller 2 is driven (S12: Yes), it determines whether the roll paper P1 is no longer detected by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 after the feed roller 2 is driven, from the time the roll paper P1 is detected by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 until the second time elapsed (step S20). The second time is, for example, the time from the start of detecting the cut paper P2 to the time when the intermediate positioning sensor 31 no longer detects the cut paper P2, and is the time obtained by dividing the length of the cut paper P2 along the conveying direction by the conveying speed of the feed roller 2, plus an allowable error. That is, if the state of not detecting the paper P1 after the second time elapsed from the start of detection by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 continues, the control unit 10 can determine that the roll paper P1 is detected by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 instead of the cut paper P2.

[0067] If the control unit 10 determines that the intermediate positioning sensor 31 no longer detects the roll paper P1 before the second time has elapsed (S20: Yes), it considers that there is a possibility that the cutting paper P2 has been incorrectly configured or that the roll paper P1 has been cut midway. The control unit 10 then performs a notification action (step S21) to notify that the cutting paper P2 or the cut roll paper P1 needs to be removed from the feed tray 11. After step S19 or step S21, the process proceeds to step S6 as described above.

[0068] If the control unit 10 determines that the state of the roll paper P1 detected by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 is maintained even after the second time has passed (S20: No), it controls the driver IC to record the specified travel amount (step S13).

[0069] Next, the control unit 10 determines whether there is no recorded data on the same sheet of paper (step S14). If it is determined that there is recorded data on the same sheet of paper (S14: No), the process returns to step S11. If it is determined that there is no recorded data on the same sheet of paper (S14: Yes), the control unit 10 ejects the roll of paper P1 (step S15) and ends printing.

[0070] In step S1 above, if the roll paper detection unit 51 determines that the roll paper P1 is not contained in the first receiving part 11a (S1: No), the control unit 10 determines whether the cutting paper detection unit 52 detects that the cutting paper P2 is contained in the second receiving part 11b (step S22).

[0071] If the paper cutting detection unit 52 detects that paper cutting P2 is contained in the second receiving section 11b (S22: Yes), the process proceeds to step S28, described later. If the paper cutting detection unit 52 does not detect that paper cutting P2 is contained in the second receiving section 11b (S22: No), the control unit 10 determines that neither roll paper P1 nor paper cutting P2 is contained in the feed tray 11. Then, the control unit 10 determines whether the input printing instruction is for paper cutting P2 (step S23).

[0072] If the printing instruction is determined not to be paper cutting P2 (S23: No), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification operation to receive the roll body R into the first receiving section 11a and to unwind the roll paper P1 from the roll body R (step S24). If the printing instruction is determined to be paper cutting P2 (S23: Yes), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification operation to place the paper cutting P2 (step S25).

[0073] After step S24 or S25, the control unit 10 determines whether a sensor (not shown) has detected insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (step S26). If it is determined that the sensor has detected insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (S26: Yes), the control unit 10 stops the predetermined notification action performed by the notification unit 30 (step S27) and returns to step S1. The predetermined notification action referred to here is any one of steps S24, S25, and steps S37 and S40 described later. If it is determined that the sensor has not detected insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (S26: No), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to continue performing the predetermined notification action until the sensor detects insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a.

[0074] In step S22 above, if the paper cutting detection unit 52 detects that the paper cutting unit 11b contains the paper cutting P2 (S22: Yes), the control unit 10 determines whether the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 detects that the paper cutting P2 is positioned at the feed position of the feed roller 2 (step S28). If the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 does not detect that the paper cutting P2 is positioned at the feed position of the feed roller 2 (S28: No), the control unit 10 determines that the paper cutting P2 is not correctly placed. Correct placement of the paper cutting P2 means that the paper cutting P2 contained in the second feed section 11b is located downstream in the conveying direction from directly below the feed roller 2. Then, the control unit 10 determines whether the input printing instruction is for the paper cutting P2 (step S36).

[0075] If the printing instruction is determined to be paper cutting P2 (S36: Yes), the control unit 10 proceeds to step S26 after step S25. If the printing instruction is determined not to be paper cutting P2 (S36: No), the control unit 10 determines that there is a paper error in the paper supply tray 11, and causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action to remove paper cutting P2, receive the roll body R, and unwind the roll paper P1 (step S37). Then, it proceeds to step S26.

[0076] If the paper detection unit 53 detects that a cutting paper P2 is positioned at the feed position of the feed roller 2 (S28: Yes), the control unit 10 determines whether the input printing instruction is for the cutting paper P2 (step S29). If the printing instruction is not for the cutting paper P2 (S29: No), the process proceeds to step S26 after step S37. If the printing instruction is for the cutting paper P2 (S29: Yes), the control unit 10 drives the feed motor to start the feeding operation of the feed roller 2 for the cutting paper P2 (step S30). Then, the control unit 10 controls the feed motor, intermediate motor, conveying motor, and paper discharge motor to convey a predetermined amount of the cutting paper P2 (step S31). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether the intermediate positioning sensor 31, located downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction, detects the cutting paper P2 (step S32). In addition, the control unit 10 can perform step S32 after stopping the feeding of the cutting paper P2, or it can perform step S32 during the feeding of the cutting paper P2.

[0077] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 does not detect the cutting paper P2 (S32: No), the control unit 10 determines that the rear end of the cutting paper P2 has passed the intermediate positioning sensor 31. Then, the control unit 10 calculates the unrecorded remaining length of the cutting paper P2 and determines whether the unrecorded remaining length is greater than the length required for recording the image on the cutting paper P2 (step S38). In this embodiment, the unrecorded remaining length of the cutting paper P2 is calculated as, for example, the length from the intermediate positioning sensor 31 to the head 5. If the unrecorded remaining length is less than or equal to the required recording length (S38: No), the control unit 10 determines that the size of the placed cutting paper P2 is incorrect and ejects the cutting paper P2 (step S39). Then, the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action to indicate that the cutting paper P2 has been placed (step S40), and proceeds to step S26.

[0078] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 detects the paper cutting P2 (S32: Yes), or if it is determined that the remaining length is not recorded and is greater than the length required for recording (S38: Yes), the control unit 10 controls the driver IC to record the specified travel amount (step S33).

[0079] Next, the control unit 10 determines whether there is no recorded data on the same sheet of paper (step S34). If it is determined that there is recorded data on the same sheet of paper (S34: No), it returns to step S31. If it is determined that there is no recorded data on the same sheet of paper (S34: Yes), the control unit 10 ejects the cut paper P2 (step S35) and ends printing.

[0080] As described above, the printer 100 of the first embodiment includes a feed tray 11, a feed roller 2, a head 5, multiple detection units, a notification unit 30, and a control unit 10. The feed tray 11 has a first receiving portion 11a capable of receiving a roll body R formed by winding roll paper P1 into a roll shape, and a second receiving portion 11b capable of receiving multiple sheets of cut paper P2 in a stacked state. Furthermore, the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification operation based on the detection results of the multiple detection units. According to this embodiment, it detects whether roll paper P1 or cut paper P2 is disposed at a predetermined position on the feed tray 11, and performs a notification operation to the user based on the detection results. Therefore, in the printer 1 having a feed tray 11 capable of receiving both the roll body R formed by winding roll paper P1 into a roll shape and multiple sheets of cut paper P2 in a stacked state, the user can determine whether the roll paper P1 or cut paper P2 is properly disposed at a predetermined position on the feed tray 11.

[0081] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification operation based on the detection results of the roll paper detection unit 51, the cut paper detection unit 52, and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53. Thus, based on the detection results of the roll paper detection unit 51, the cut paper detection unit 52, and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53, the user can determine whether the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 is properly positioned at the designated location on the feed tray 11.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the control unit 10 receives an instruction to print the roll of paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a, and the detection result of the roll of paper detection unit 51 indicates that the first receiving section 11a does not house the roll of paper P1, the notification unit 30 performs a notification action to unwind the roll of paper P1 from the roll body R housed in the first receiving section 11a. Therefore, even when the first receiving section 11a does not house the roll of paper P1, if an instruction to print the roll of paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a is received, printing as is can be prevented.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the control unit 10 receives an instruction to print the cut paper P2 housed in the second housing section 11b, and the roll paper detection unit 51 detects that the first housing section 11a contains the roll paper P1, the notification unit 30 performs an action to notify that the roll paper P1, which has been unwound from the roll body R, needs to be wound back. Therefore, even when the first housing section 11a contains the roll paper P1, if an instruction to print the cut paper P2 housed in the second housing section 11b is received, printing as is can be prevented.

[0084] Furthermore, the printer 100 of this embodiment also includes an intermediate positioning sensor 31 capable of detecting roll paper P1 or cut paper P2 within the transport path. When the control unit 10 receives an instruction to print the roll paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a, and the roll paper detection unit 51 indicates that the first receiving section 11a contains the roll paper P1, it drives the feed roller 2. If the control unit 10 does not detect the roll paper P1 by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 before a first time elapses after driving the feed roller 2, it causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action indicating that the roll paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a is not properly positioned on the feed tray 11. Therefore, even when the roll paper P1 is housed in the first receiving section 11a, but the feed roller 2 is not properly feeding the roll paper P1, the user can understand that the roll paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a is not properly positioned.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after driving the feed roller 2, if the control unit 10 detects the roll paper P1 by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 and no longer detects the roll paper P1 after a second time interval, the notification unit 30 performs an action to notify that the cut paper P2 needs to be removed from the second receiving section 11b. Thus, even when the roll paper P1 is received in the first receiving section 11a, but the actual sheet medium being transported is the cut paper P2 received in the second receiving section 11b, the user can understand that the cut paper P2 needs to be removed from the second receiving section 11b.

[0086] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the control unit 10 receives an instruction to print the roll of paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a, and the detection result of the paper cutting detection unit 52 indicates that paper cutting P2 is housed in the second receiving section 11b, the notification unit 30 performs an action to notify that paper cutting P2 needs to be removed from the second receiving section 11b. When printing the roll of paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a, if paper cutting P2 is housed in the second receiving section 11b, printing cannot be performed properly. According to the above structure, when an instruction to print the roll of paper P1 housed in the first receiving section 11a is received, if there is a possibility that paper cutting P2 is housed in the second receiving section 11b, the notification indicates that paper cutting P2 needs to be removed from the second receiving section. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the situation where printing is performed when the sheet medium is not properly positioned in the designated position on the feed tray 11.

[0087] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the control unit 10 detects that the roll paper P1 contained in the first receiving section 11a is present in the roll paper detection unit 51 and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 detects that no sheet medium is placed in the feed position, the notification unit 30 will perform an action to notify that the roll paper P1 contained in the first receiving section 11a is not placed in the feed position. This allows the user to understand that the roll paper P1 unwound from the roll body R is not properly placed in the feed position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent situations where, although the roll paper R is contained in the first receiving section 11a, the roll paper P1 is improperly placed and not fed by the feed roller 2, or causes a paper jam inside the housing 100a after being fed.

[0088] (Second Implementation)

[0089] In the first embodiment described above, the printer 100 may also exclude the paper cutting detection unit 52 and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53. Hereinafter, refer to... Figure 8 and Figure 9 The second embodiment of the present invention will be described, which includes a roll paper detection unit 51 but excludes a paper cutting detection unit 52 and a paper presence / absence detection unit 53. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for structures identical to those in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted. The printer of the second embodiment has the same structure as the printer 100 of the first embodiment, except that it does not include the paper cutting detection unit 52 and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53.

[0090] In the printer of the second embodiment, the distance between the roll paper detection unit 51 and the feed roller 2 along the transport path is greater than or equal to the distance between the feed roller 2 and the intermediate roller pair 9 along the transport path, and is greater than or equal to the distance between the intermediate roller pair 9 and the transport roller pair 3a along the transport path.

[0091] In the printer of the second embodiment, an example of the processing performed by the control unit 10 when recording an image on the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 will be described. The processing described below begins when the control unit 10 receives a print instruction.

[0092] First, the control unit 10 determines whether the roll paper detection unit 51 has detected that the roll paper P1 is contained in the first receiving section 11a (step S101). If it is determined that the roll paper detection unit 51 has not detected that the roll paper P1 is contained in the first receiving section 11a (S101: No), the process proceeds to step S121, which will be described later. If it is determined that the roll paper detection unit 51 has detected that the roll paper P1 is contained in the first receiving section 11a (S101: Yes), the control unit 10 determines whether the input printing instruction is for the roll paper P1 (step S102).

[0093] If the printing instruction is determined to be not roll paper P1 (S102: No), the control unit 10 determines that there is a paper error in the paper supply tray 11, and causes the notification unit 30 to perform the actions of rewinding the roll paper P1 and placing the cut paper P2 as a notification action (step S103).

[0094] The control unit 10 determines whether a sensor (not shown) has detected the insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (step S104). If it is determined that the sensor has detected the insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (S104: Yes), the control unit 10 stops the predetermined notification action performed by the notification unit 30 (step S105) and returns to step S101. The predetermined notification action referred to here is any one of steps S103, S109, S114, and S117, which will be described later. If it is determined that the sensor has not detected the insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (S104: No), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to continue performing the predetermined notification action until the sensor detects the insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a.

[0095] If the printing instruction is determined to be roll paper P1 (S102: Yes), the control unit 10 drives the feed motor to start the feed roller 2 to feed the roll paper P1 (step S106). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether the intermediate positioning sensor 31, which is located downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction, has detected the roll paper P1 (step S107).

[0096] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 determines that the roll paper P1 has not been detected (S107: No), the control unit 10 determines whether the driving amount of the feed roller 2 is above or above a predetermined threshold (step S108). Here, the predetermined threshold is a predetermined threshold for determining that the roll paper P1 has no paper, for example, a preset threshold. If the driving amount of the feed roller 2 is less than the predetermined threshold (S108: No), the process returns to step S107. If the driving amount of the feed roller 2 is above or above the predetermined threshold (S108: Yes), the control unit 10 determines that the roll paper P1 has not been correctly placed, and causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action to unwind the roll paper P1 from the roll body R as a notification action (step S109). Then, the process proceeds to step S104 as described above.

[0097] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 detects the roll paper P1 (S107: Yes), the control unit 10 controls the feed motor, intermediate motor, conveying motor, and paper discharge motor to feed the roll paper P1 by a predetermined amount (step S110). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether the roll paper detection unit 51 detects that the roll body R is contained in the first receiving part 11a (step S111). In addition, the control unit 10 can execute step S111 after stopping the feeding of the roll paper P1, or it can execute step S111 during the feeding of the roll paper P1.

[0098] If the roll paper detection unit 51 determines that the roll paper P1 is not detected in the first receiving unit 11a (S111: No), the control unit 10 calculates the unrecorded remaining length of the strip of paper P1 constituting the roll body R, and determines whether the unrecorded remaining length is greater than the length required for recording the strip of paper P1 for subsequent image recording (step S112). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the unrecorded remaining length of the strip of paper P1 constituting the roll body R calculated is, for example, the length from the roll paper detection unit 51 to the head 5.

[0099] If the remaining length is not recorded as less than the required length (S112: No), the control unit 10 determines that the paper P1 constituting the roll body R is used up and discharges the roll paper P1 in the conveying process (step S113). Then, the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action as announcing the reception of a new roll body R and the unwinding of the roll paper P1 (step S114), and proceeds to the above-mentioned step S104.

[0100] If the control unit 10 determines that the roll paper detection unit 51 has detected that the first receiving unit 11a contains the roll paper P1 (S112: Yes), or if it determines that the remaining length not recorded is greater than the length required for recording (S111: Yes), the control unit 10 determines whether the intermediate positioning sensor 31 has detected the roll paper P1 (step S115). Whether the intermediate positioning sensor 31 has detected the roll paper P1 depends on whether the intermediate positioning sensor 31 has detected the rear end of the paper. More specifically, when the cutting paper P2 is being fed, the intermediate positioning sensor 31 switches from a state of detecting paper to a state of not detecting paper. At this time, it is determined that the intermediate positioning sensor 31 has detected the rear end of the cutting paper P2, that is, it has not detected the roll paper P1. On the other hand, when the roll paper P1 is being fed, the intermediate positioning sensor 31 maintains a state of detecting paper. At this time, it is determined that the intermediate positioning sensor 31 has not detected the rear end of the cutting paper P2, that is, it has detected the roll paper P1.

[0101] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 determines that the roll paper P1 is not detected (S115: No), the control unit 10 determines that the cutting paper P2 has been incorrectly placed and discharges the cutting paper P2 in the conveying process (step S116). Then, the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action to notify that the cutting paper P2 has been removed from the second receiving unit 11b (step S117), and proceeds to the above-mentioned step S104.

[0102] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 detects the roll paper P1 (S115: Yes), the control unit 10 controls the driver IC to record the specified travel amount (step S118).

[0103] Next, the control unit 10 determines whether there is no recorded data on the same sheet of paper (step S119). If it is determined that there is recorded data on the same sheet of paper (S119: No), the process returns to step S110. If it is determined that there is no recorded data on the same sheet of paper (S119: Yes), the control unit 10 ejects the roll of paper P1 (step S120) and ends printing.

[0104] In step S101 above, if the roll paper detection unit 51 determines that the first receiving unit 11a does not detect that the roll paper P1 is contained (S101: No), the control unit 10 determines that either the feed tray 11 contains a cut paper P2 or neither the roll paper P1 nor the cut paper P2 is contained. Then, the control unit 10 determines whether the input printing instruction is for the cut paper P2 (step S121).

[0105] If the printing instruction is not the paper cutter P2 (S121: No), the control unit 10 determines that there is a paper error in the paper supply tray 11, and causes the notification unit 30 to perform the actions of removing the paper cutter P2, receiving the roll body R, and unwinding the roll paper P1 as a notification action (step S122).

[0106] Next, the control unit 10 determines whether a sensor (not shown) has detected the insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (step S123). If it is determined that the sensor has detected the insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (S123: Yes), the control unit 10 stops the prescribed notification performed by the notification unit 30 (step S124) and returns to step S101. Furthermore, the prescribed notification action mentioned here is any one of the notification actions in step S122, step S128, and step S133 (described later). If it is determined that the sensor has not detected the insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a (S123: No), the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to continue performing the prescribed notification action until the sensor detects the insertion or removal of the supply tray 11 relative to the housing 100a.

[0107] If the printing instruction is determined to be cutting paper P2 (S121: Yes), the control unit 10 drives the feed motor to start the feeding operation of the feed roller 2 on the cutting paper P2 (step S125). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether the intermediate positioning sensor 31, which is located downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction, has detected the leading edge of the cutting paper P2 (step S126).

[0108] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 determines that the leading edge of the cutting paper P2 has not been detected (S126: No), the control unit 10 determines whether the driving amount of the feed roller 2 is above or above a predetermined threshold (step S127). Here, the predetermined threshold is a predetermined threshold for determining that the cutting paper P2 has no paper, for example, a preset threshold. If the driving amount of the feed roller 2 is less than the predetermined threshold (S127: No), the process returns to step S126. If the driving amount of the feed roller 2 is above or above the predetermined threshold (S127: Yes), the control unit 10 determines that the cutting paper P2 has not been correctly placed or that neither the roll body R nor the cutting paper P2 has been contained, and causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action to indicate that the cutting paper P2 has been placed (step S128). Then, the process proceeds to step S123 as described above.

[0109] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the cutting paper P2 (S126: Yes), the control unit 10 controls the feed motor, intermediate motor, conveying motor, and paper discharge motor to feed the cutting paper P2 by a predetermined amount (step S129). Next, the control unit 10 determines whether the intermediate positioning sensor 31 has detected the cutting paper P2 (step S130). Furthermore, the control unit 10 can execute step S130 after stopping the feeding of the cutting paper P2, or it can execute step S130 during the feeding of the cutting paper P2.

[0110] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 does not detect the cutting paper P2 (S130: No), the control unit 10 determines that the rear end of the cutting paper P2 has passed the intermediate positioning sensor 31. Then, the control unit 10 calculates the unrecorded remaining length of the cutting paper P2 and determines whether the unrecorded remaining length is greater than the length required for recording the image on the cutting paper P2 (step S131). In this embodiment, the unrecorded remaining length of the cutting paper P2 is calculated as, for example, the length from the intermediate positioning sensor 31 to the head 5. If the unrecorded remaining length is less than or equal to the required recording length (S131: No), the control unit 10 determines that the size of the placed cutting paper P2 is incorrect and ejects the cutting paper P2 (step S132). Then, the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification action to indicate that the cutting paper P2 has been placed (step S133), and proceeds to step S123.

[0111] If the intermediate positioning sensor 31 detects the paper cutting P2 (S130: Yes), or if it is determined that the remaining length is not recorded and is greater than the length required for recording (S131: Yes), the control unit 10 controls the driver IC to record the specified travel amount (step S134).

[0112] Next, the control unit 10 determines whether there is no recorded data on the same sheet of paper (step S135). If it is determined that there is recorded data on the same sheet of paper (S135: No), the process returns to step S129. If it is determined that there is no recorded data on the same sheet of paper (S135: Yes), the control unit 10 ejects the cut paper P2 (step S136) and ends printing.

[0113] As described above, the printer of the second embodiment includes a roll paper detection unit 51. Therefore, based on the detection result of whether the first receiving unit 11a contains a roll paper P1, the user can determine whether the sheet medium is properly positioned at the designated location on the feed tray.

[0114] Furthermore, in the printer of the second embodiment, the distance between the roll paper detection unit 51 and the feed roller 2 along the transport path is greater than or equal to the distance between the feed roller 2 and the intermediate roller pair 9 along the transport path, and also greater than or equal to the distance between the intermediate roller pair 9 and the transport roller pair 3a along the transport path. For example, when the remaining amount of the roll body R housed in the first receiving part 11a is low, there is a situation where the rear end of the roll paper P1 transported from the first receiving part 11a to the feed roller 2 is barely detected by the roll paper detection unit 51. The roll body R detected by the roll paper detection unit 51 and transported to the feed roller 2 is transported as is. In this case, when the distance between the intermediate roller pair 9 and the transport roller pair 3a, or the distance between the feed roller 2 and the intermediate roller pair 9, is greater than the distance between the roll paper detection unit 51 and the feed roller 2, the transported roll paper P1 cannot reach the next roller from the roller and remains between the two rollers. According to the structure of this embodiment, the above-mentioned problems can be avoided, and the roll of paper P1 delivered from the first receiving section 11a can be reliably conveyed along the conveying path.

[0115] Furthermore, the distance between the roll paper detection unit 51 and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 along the transport path is preferably greater than the distance between the feed roller 2 and the intermediate roller pair 9 along the transport path, and greater than the distance between the intermediate roller pair 9 and the transport roller pair 3a along the transport path. With this structure, the roll paper P1 delivered from the first receiving unit 11a can be reliably transported along the transport path.

[0116] (Modified Example)

[0117] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made as long as they are within the scope of the claims.

[0118] The printer 100 of the first embodiment described above includes a roll paper detection unit 51, a paper cutting detection unit 52, and a paper presence / absence detection unit 53. Furthermore, the printer of the second embodiment described above includes only the roll paper detection unit 51, the paper cutting detection unit 52, and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53. However, the printer according to the present invention may include only one of the roll paper detection unit 51, the paper cutting detection unit 52, and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53, or it may include a combination of any two. For example, the printer may also include only the paper cutting detection unit 52 and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53. In this case, the control unit 10, based on the detection results of the paper cutting detection unit 52 and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53, causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification operation. Thus, based on the detection results of the paper cutting detection unit 52 and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53, the user can determine whether the sheet medium is properly positioned at the designated location on the feed tray 11.

[0119] Furthermore, in a printer that only includes the roll paper detection unit 51, the paper cutting detection unit 52, and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53, if the roll paper detection unit 51 does not detect the roll paper P1, it is determined that the feed tray 11 contains either the paper cutting P2 or neither the roll paper P1 nor the paper cutting P2. In this case, for example, after the feeding operation begins, a determination is made as to whether the paper cutting P2 is correctly placed based on whether the intermediate positioning sensor 31, located downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction, detects the paper cutting P2.

[0120] In the printer according to the present invention, without the paper presence / absence detection unit 53, the determination of whether the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 is located directly below the feed roller 2, i.e., whether it is correctly placed, can be performed as follows: For example, the determination of whether the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 is correctly placed can be made based on whether the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 unwound from the roll body R housed in the feed tray 11 is detected by the intermediate positioning sensor 31 located downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction after the start of the feeding operation. Alternatively, the determination of whether the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 is correctly placed can also be made by detecting the current generated in the feed motor (not shown) that drives the rotation of the feed roller 2. If the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 is not correctly placed, the feed roller 2 contacts the bottom surface of the feed tray 11. In this case, the feed roller 2 cannot rotate and is locked, and the maximum current is generated in the feed motor. By detecting the current at this time, it is possible to determine whether the roll paper P1 or the cut paper P2 is placed correctly.

[0121] In the above embodiment, the roll paper detection unit 51, the cut paper detection unit 52, and the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 are each composed of an actuator and a light sensor. However, each detection unit may also lack an actuator and instead have a light sensor with a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, directly detecting the paper by illuminating it with light. In this case, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are mounted in the housing. Alternatively, a sensor that detects the presence / absence of paper may be used, where an actuator pressed due to contact with the paper contacts a switch or similar device.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 can detect whether there is a roll of paper P1 or a cut paper P2 at a position downstream of the feed roller 2 in the conveying direction. However, the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 may also be a component that detects whether there is a roll of paper P1 or a cut paper P2 at a position directly below the feed roller 2.

[0123] In the first and second embodiments described above, the supply tray can be inserted and removed relative to the housing in the front-to-back direction. However, the supply tray may also be a structure that can be inserted and removed relative to the housing in the left-to-right direction.

[0124] The image forming apparatus of this invention can be applied not only to printer 100, but also to multifunction printers, copiers, etc. Furthermore, the printer is not limited to inkjet type, but can also be laser type. Moreover, the sheet medium involved in this invention can be not only paper, but also cloth or labels, etc.

[0125] In the first embodiment described above, the control unit 10 may also, if the detection result of the roll paper detection unit 51 indicates that the first receiving section 11a does not contain roll paper P1, the detection result of the cut paper P2 indicates that the second receiving section 11b does not contain cut paper P2, and the detection result of the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 indicates that sheet media is positioned at the feed position, then the notification unit 30 may perform an action to notify that the cut end of the roll paper P1 remaining at the feed position needs to be removed from the feed tray 11. When printing on the roll paper P1 unwound from the roll body R, the roll paper P1 is cut to an appropriate length. Sometimes the cut end of the cut roll paper P1 remains on the feed tray 11. According to the above structure, the cut end of the roll paper P1 remaining on the feed tray 11 can be detected. Furthermore, the user can be notified that the cut end needs to be removed. Furthermore, the timing by which the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform the action of notifying that the cut end of the roll paper P1 remaining in the feed position needs to be removed from the feed tray 11 can be when the feed tray 11 is inserted into the housing 100a. This timing can be any timing before receiving the printing instruction, or after receiving the printing instruction, or after the feed operation of the feed roller 2 begins. Alternatively, the control unit 10 can also cause the notification unit 30 to perform the action of notifying that the cut end of the roll paper P1 remaining in the feed position needs to be removed from the feed tray 11 at all of the above-mentioned timings.

[0126] In this invention, the control unit 10 may, before receiving an instruction to print on sheet media, if the detection result of the roll paper detection unit 51 indicates that the first receiving section 11a contains roll paper P1 and the detection result of the cutting paper detection unit 52 indicates that the second receiving section 11b contains cutting paper P2, then the notification unit 30 may perform an action to notify that the cutting paper P2 contained in the second receiving section 11b is to be fed. Thus, the user can know whether the cutting paper P2 contained in the second receiving section 11b is being fed by the feed roller 2 before receiving the instruction to print on sheet media. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether sheet media needs to be removed from the second receiving section 11b before the feeding operation of the feed roller 2 begins.

[0127] In this invention, the control unit 10 may also, when the detection result of the roll paper detection unit 51 indicates that the first receiving section 11a does not contain roll paper P1 and the detection result of the cutting paper detection unit 52 indicates that the second receiving section 11b does not contain cutting paper P2, cause the notification unit 30 to perform an action to notify that neither the first receiving section 11a nor the second receiving section 11b contains sheet media. This allows the user to know that the feed tray 11 is not equipped with sheet media. Furthermore, the timing for the control unit 10 to cause the notification unit 30 to perform the action to notify that neither the first receiving section 11a nor the second receiving section 11b contains sheet media can be when the feed tray 11 is inserted into the housing 100a. This timing can be any timing before receiving a printing instruction, after receiving a printing instruction, or after the feeding operation of the feed roller 2 begins. Alternatively, during all the aforementioned timings, the control unit 10 may cause the notification unit 30 to perform an action that indicates that neither the first containment unit 11a nor the second containment unit 11b contains the sheet-like medium, as a notification action.

[0128] In this invention, when the detection result of the roll paper detection unit 51 indicates that the roll paper P1 contained in the first receiving section 11a is contained, and the detection result of the paper presence / absence detection unit 53 indicates that no sheet medium is placed at the feed position, the timing for the control unit 10 to cause the notification unit 30 to perform an action indicating that the roll paper P1 contained in the first receiving section 11a is not placed at the feed position can be when the feed tray 11 is inserted into the housing 100a. Alternatively, this timing can be any timing before receiving the printing instruction, after receiving the printing instruction, or after the feed operation of the feed roller 2 begins. Alternatively, the control unit 10 can cause the notification unit 30 to perform an action indicating that the roll paper P1 contained in the first receiving section 11a is not placed at the feed position at all of the above timings.

[0129] The statement in this invention that "the detection result does not indicate that sheet-like media is contained in the first receiving section" is not limited to the case where the roll paper detection unit 51 directly detects that the first receiving section 11a does not contain roll paper P1. For example, in a printer that does not have a roll paper detection unit 51, the detection result of a detection unit other than the roll paper detection unit 51 cannot determine that "sheet-like media is contained in the first receiving section". Therefore, the detection result of a detection unit other than the roll paper detection unit 51 is also included in the case of "not indicating that sheet-like media is contained in the first receiving section".

[0130] The statement in this invention that "the detection result does not indicate that the first receiving section does not contain sheet-like media" is not limited to the case where the roll paper detection unit 51 directly detects that the first receiving section 11a contains roll paper P1. For example, in a printer that does not have a roll paper detection unit 51, it cannot be determined from the detection result of a detection unit other than the roll paper detection unit 51 that "the first receiving section does not contain sheet-like media". Therefore, the detection result of a detection unit other than the roll paper detection unit 51 is also included in the case of "not indicating that the first receiving section does not contain sheet-like media".

[0131] The statement in this invention that "the detection result does not indicate that sheet-like media are contained in the second receiving section" is not limited to the case where the paper cutting detection unit 52 directly detects that the paper cutting P2 is not contained in the second receiving section 11b. For example, in a printer that does not have a paper cutting detection unit 52, it cannot be determined from the detection result of a detection unit other than the paper cutting detection unit 52 that "sheet-like media are contained in the second receiving section". Therefore, the detection result of a detection unit other than the paper cutting detection unit 52 is also included in the case of "not indicating that sheet-like media are contained in the second receiving section".

[0132] The statement in this invention that "the detection result does not indicate that the sheet-like medium is not contained in the second receiving section" is not limited to the case where the paper cutting detection unit 52 directly detects that the paper cutting P2 is contained in the second receiving section 11b. For example, in a printer that does not have a paper cutting detection unit 52, it cannot be determined from the detection result of a detection unit other than the paper cutting detection unit 52 that "the sheet-like medium is not contained in the second receiving section". Therefore, the detection result of a detection unit other than the paper cutting detection unit 52 is also included in the case of "not indicating that the sheet-like medium is not contained in the second receiving section".

[0133] The "operation of notifying the arrangement of the sheet medium contained in the first receiving section relative to the delivery tray" of the present invention includes: an operation of notifying the unwinding of the roll paper P1 from the roll body R; an operation of notifying that the roll paper P1 is not contained in the first receiving section 11a; an operation of notifying that the roll paper P1 needs to be properly placed in the first receiving section 11a; and an operation of notifying that the cut end of the roll paper P1 needs to be removed, etc.

[0134] The "operation of notifying the arrangement of the sheet medium contained in the second receiving section relative to the delivery tray" of the present invention includes: an operation of notifying that the cutting paper P2 needs to be placed in the second receiving section; an operation of notifying that the cutting paper P2 is not contained in the second receiving section 11b; and an operation of notifying that the cutting paper P2 needs to be properly placed in the second receiving section 11b, etc.

[0135] In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the control unit 10 controls based on the detection results of one or more detection units. If the detection result is a certain one, the reporting unit 30 is instructed to perform a reporting action; if the detection result is another one, the reporting unit 30 is not instructed to perform a reporting action.

[0136] The printer 100 of the above embodiment has the following structure: when printing on roll paper P1, if cut paper P2 is housed in the second housing section 11b, roll paper P1 cannot be fed by the feed roller 2. However, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can also be structured to feed roll paper P1 and cut paper P2 to different feed paths by using different feed rollers. That is, in this structure, when both roll paper P1 and cut paper P2 are housed in the feed tray, roll paper P1 and cut paper P2 can be fed separately. Even with such a structure, the control unit 10 causes the notification unit 30 to perform a notification operation based on the detection result of one or more detection units capable of detecting whether sheet media is disposed at a predetermined position on the feed tray.

[0137] Label Explanation

[0138] 2. Feeding rollers

[0139] 3a Conveyor Roller Pair

[0140] 3b Paper discharge roller pair

[0141] 5 heads (image forming unit)

[0142] 9 intermediate roller pairs

[0143] 11. Pallet delivery

[0144] 11a First Containment Department

[0145] 11b Second Containment Department

[0146] 51. Roll Paper Inspection Department

[0147] 52. Paper Cutting Inspection Department

[0148] 53. Is there a paper inspection department?

[0149] 100 printers

[0150] 100a housing

[0151] P1 Roll Paper

[0152] P2 Cutting Paper

[0153] R roll body

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, have: case; The feeding tray is pluggable relative to the housing and has a first receiving part and a second receiving part. The first receiving part is capable of receiving a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a roll shape, and the second receiving part is capable of receiving sheet media in a stacked state. The feed roller feeds the sheet-like medium from the feed tray toward the conveying path; The image forming unit forms an image of the sheet-like medium within the transport path; One or more detection units are capable of detecting whether a sheet-like medium is disposed at a specified position on the supply tray; The notification department is capable of performing notification actions to inform users. and Control Department Based on the detection results of the one or more detection units, the control unit causes the reporting unit to execute the reporting action. When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet-like medium contained in the first receiving section, and the detection result does not indicate that the second receiving section does not contain a sheet-like medium, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action that indicates that the sheet-like medium needs to be removed from the second receiving section.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet-like medium housed in the first receiving section, and the detection result does not indicate that the sheet-like medium is housed in the first receiving section, the control unit causes the reporting unit to perform an action that reports information related to the configuration of the sheet-like medium housed in the first receiving section relative to the supply tray. When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet-like medium contained in the second receiving section, and the detection result does not indicate that a sheet-like medium is contained in the second receiving section, the control unit causes the reporting unit to perform an action of reporting content related to the configuration of the sheet-like medium contained in the second receiving section relative to the supply tray.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The one or more detection units include a first detection unit capable of detecting whether the first receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. Based on the detection result of the first detection unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet medium contained in the first receiving unit, and the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that no sheet medium is contained in the first receiving unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action of notification related to the configuration of the sheet medium contained in the first receiving unit relative to the supply tray.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The one or more detection units further include a second detection unit capable of detecting whether the second receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. The control unit, based on the detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, causes the notification unit to execute the notification action.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that the first receiving unit does not contain a sheet-like medium, and the detection result of the second detection unit indicates that the second receiving unit does not contain a sheet-like medium, the control unit causes the reporting unit to perform an action that indicates that neither the first receiving unit nor the second receiving unit contains a sheet-like medium.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, Before receiving an instruction to print a sheet medium, if the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that a sheet medium is contained in the first receiving unit and the detection result of the second detection unit indicates that a sheet medium is contained in the second receiving unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action of notifying that the sheet medium contained in the second receiving unit is to be supplied.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The one or more detection units further include a third detection unit, which detects whether a sheet of medium is disposed at a feeding position where the sheet of medium can be fed by the feeding roller. The control unit, based on the detection results of the first detection unit and the third detection unit, causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The feeding position is a position downstream of the first detection unit or the second detection unit along the conveying direction of the conveying path, and directly below the feeding roller, or a position downstream of the conveying direction from directly below the feeding roller.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The third detection unit is located downstream of the feed roller, along the conveying direction of the conveying path.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The one or more detection units further include a third detection unit, which detects whether a sheet of medium is disposed at a feeding position where the sheet of medium can be fed by the feeding roller. The control unit, based on the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit, causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The one or more detection units include: The second detection unit detects whether the second receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium; and The third detection unit detects whether sheet-like media are positioned at the feeding position where the feeding roller can feed sheet-like media. The control unit, based on the detection results of the second detection unit and the third detection unit, causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

13. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, have: case; The feeding tray is pluggable relative to the housing and has a first receiving part and a second receiving part. The first receiving part is capable of receiving a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a roll shape, and the second receiving part is capable of receiving sheet media in a stacked state. The feed roller feeds the sheet-like medium from the feed tray toward the conveying path; The image forming unit forms an image of the sheet-like medium within the transport path; One or more detection units are capable of detecting whether a sheet-like medium is disposed at a specified position on the supply tray; The notification department is capable of performing notification actions to inform users. and Control Department Based on the detection results of the one or more detection units, the control unit causes the reporting unit to execute the reporting action. When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet medium contained in the second receiving section, and the detection result does not indicate that the sheet medium is not contained in the first receiving section, the control unit performs an action to notify that the sheet medium unwound from the roll body needs to be rewound.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet-like medium housed in the first receiving section, and the detection result does not indicate that the sheet-like medium is housed in the first receiving section, the control unit causes the reporting unit to perform an action that reports information related to the configuration of the sheet-like medium housed in the first receiving section relative to the supply tray. When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet-like medium contained in the second receiving section, and the detection result does not indicate that a sheet-like medium is contained in the second receiving section, the control unit causes the reporting unit to perform an action of reporting content related to the configuration of the sheet-like medium contained in the second receiving section relative to the supply tray.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, The one or more detection units include a first detection unit capable of detecting whether the first receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. Based on the detection result of the first detection unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that, When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet medium contained in the first receiving unit, and the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that no sheet medium is contained in the first receiving unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action of notification related to the configuration of the sheet medium contained in the first receiving unit relative to the supply tray.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that, The one or more detection units further include a second detection unit capable of detecting whether the second receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. The control unit, based on the detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, causes the notification unit to execute the notification action.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that, When the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that the first receiving unit does not contain a sheet-like medium, and the detection result of the second detection unit indicates that the second receiving unit does not contain a sheet-like medium, the control unit causes the reporting unit to perform an action that indicates that neither the first receiving unit nor the second receiving unit contains a sheet-like medium.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that, Before receiving an instruction to print a sheet medium, if the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that a sheet medium is contained in the first receiving unit and the detection result of the second detection unit indicates that a sheet medium is contained in the second receiving unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action of notifying that the sheet medium contained in the second receiving unit is to be supplied.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that, The one or more detection units further include a third detection unit, which detects whether a sheet of medium is disposed at a feeding position where the sheet of medium can be fed by the feeding roller. The control unit, based on the detection results of the first detection unit and the third detection unit, causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that, The feeding position is a position downstream of the first detection unit or the second detection unit along the conveying direction of the conveying path, and directly below the feeding roller, or a position downstream of the conveying direction from directly below the feeding roller.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that, The third detection unit is located downstream of the feed roller, along the conveying direction of the conveying path.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that, The one or more detection units further include a third detection unit, which detects whether a sheet of medium is disposed at a feeding position where the sheet of medium can be fed by the feeding roller. The control unit, based on the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit, causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, The one or more detection units include: The second detection unit detects whether the second receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium; and The third detection unit detects whether sheet-like media are positioned at the feeding position where the feeding roller can feed sheet-like media. The control unit, based on the detection results of the second detection unit and the third detection unit, causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

25. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, have: case; The feeding tray is pluggable relative to the housing and has a first receiving part and a second receiving part. The first receiving part is capable of receiving a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a roll shape, and the second receiving part is capable of receiving sheet media in a stacked state. The feed roller feeds the sheet-like medium from the feed tray toward the conveying path; The image forming unit forms an image of the sheet-like medium within the transport path; One or more detection units are capable of detecting whether a sheet-like medium is disposed at a specified position on the supply tray; The notification department is capable of performing notification actions to inform users; and Control Department The one or more detection units include a first detection unit capable of detecting whether the first receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. Based on the detection result of the first detection unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to execute the notification action. When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet medium contained in the second receiving unit, and the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that the sheet medium is contained in the first receiving unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action of notifying that the sheet medium unwound from the roll body needs to be rewound.

26. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, have: case; The feeding tray is pluggable relative to the housing and has a first receiving part and a second receiving part. The first receiving part is capable of receiving a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a roll shape, and the second receiving part is capable of receiving sheet media in a stacked state. The feed roller feeds the sheet-like medium from the feed tray toward the conveying path; The image forming unit forms an image of the sheet-like medium within the transport path; One or more detection units are capable of detecting whether a sheet-like medium is disposed at a specified position on the supply tray; The notification department is capable of performing notification actions to inform users; and Control Department The one or more detection units include a first detection unit capable of detecting whether the first receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. Based on the detection result of the first detection unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to execute the notification action. The image forming apparatus includes a transport detection unit capable of detecting sheet-like media within the transport path. When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet of media contained in the first receiving section, and the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that a sheet of media is contained in the first receiving section, it drives the feed roller. If the control unit does not detect sheet-like media by the conveying detection unit before a first time has elapsed from driving the feed roller, the notification unit performs an action to notify that the sheet-like media contained in the first receiving unit is not properly positioned on the feed tray.

27. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, have: case; The feeding tray is pluggable relative to the housing and has a first receiving part and a second receiving part. The first receiving part is capable of receiving a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a roll shape, and the second receiving part is capable of receiving sheet media in a stacked state. The feed roller feeds the sheet-like medium from the feed tray toward the conveying path; The image forming unit forms an image of the sheet-like medium within the transport path; One or more detection units are capable of detecting whether a sheet-like medium is disposed at a specified position on the supply tray; The notification department is capable of performing notification actions to inform users; and Control Department The one or more detection units include a first detection unit capable of detecting whether the first receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. Based on the detection result of the first detection unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to execute the notification action. The image forming apparatus includes a transport detection unit capable of detecting sheet-like media within the transport path. When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet of media contained in the first receiving section, and the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that a sheet of media is contained in the first receiving section, it drives the feed roller. After the control unit drives the feed roller, from the point where the sheet medium is detected by the conveying detection unit until a second time elapses and the sheet medium is no longer detected by the conveying detection unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action that indicates that the sheet medium needs to be removed from the second receiving unit.

28. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, have: case; The feeding tray is pluggable relative to the housing and has a first receiving part and a second receiving part. The first receiving part is capable of receiving a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a roll shape, and the second receiving part is capable of receiving sheet media in a stacked state. The feed roller feeds the sheet-like medium from the feed tray toward the conveying path; The image forming unit forms an image of the sheet-like medium within the transport path; One or more detection units are capable of detecting whether a sheet-like medium is disposed at a specified position on the supply tray; The notification department is capable of performing notification actions to inform users; and Control Department The one or more detection units include a first detection unit capable of detecting whether the first receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. The one or more detection units further include a second detection unit capable of detecting whether the second receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. Based on the detection results of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to execute the notification action. When the control unit receives an instruction to print a sheet-like medium contained in the first receiving unit, and the detection result of the second detection unit indicates that a sheet-like medium is contained in the second receiving unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action of notifying that the sheet-like medium needs to be removed from the second receiving unit as the notification action.

29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that, When the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that the first receiving unit does not contain a sheet-like medium, and the detection result of the second detection unit indicates that the second receiving unit does not contain a sheet-like medium, the control unit causes the reporting unit to perform an action that indicates that neither the first receiving unit nor the second receiving unit contains a sheet-like medium.

30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that, Before receiving an instruction to print a sheet medium, if the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that a sheet medium is contained in the first receiving unit and the detection result of the second detection unit indicates that a sheet medium is contained in the second receiving unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action of notifying that the sheet medium contained in the second receiving unit is to be supplied.

31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that, The one or more detection units further include a third detection unit, which detects whether a sheet of medium is disposed at a feeding position where the sheet of medium can be fed by the feeding roller. The control unit, based on the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit, causes the notification unit to perform the notification action.

32. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, have: case; The feeding tray is pluggable relative to the housing and has a first receiving part and a second receiving part. The first receiving part is capable of receiving a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a roll shape, and the second receiving part is capable of receiving sheet media in a stacked state. The feed roller feeds the sheet-like medium from the feed tray toward the conveying path; The image forming unit forms an image of the sheet-like medium within the transport path; One or more detection units are capable of detecting whether a sheet-like medium is disposed at a specified position on the supply tray; The notification department is capable of performing notification actions to inform users; and Control Department The one or more detection units include a first detection unit capable of detecting whether the first receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. The one or more detection units further include a third detection unit, which detects whether a sheet of medium is disposed at a feeding position where the sheet of medium can be fed by the feeding roller. Based on the detection results of the first detection unit and the third detection unit, the control unit causes the reporting unit to execute the reporting action. If the control unit detects that the first detection unit indicates that a sheet medium is contained in the first receiving unit, and the third detection unit detects that a sheet medium is not placed at the delivery position, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action to notify that the sheet medium contained in the first receiving unit is not placed at the delivery position.

33. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, have: case; The feeding tray is pluggable relative to the housing and has a first receiving part and a second receiving part. The first receiving part is capable of receiving a roll body formed by winding sheet media into a roll shape, and the second receiving part is capable of receiving sheet media in a stacked state. The feed roller feeds the sheet-like medium from the feed tray toward the conveying path; The image forming unit forms an image of the sheet-like medium within the transport path; One or more detection units are capable of detecting whether a sheet-like medium is disposed at a specified position on the supply tray; The notification department is capable of performing notification actions to inform users; and Control Department The one or more detection units include a first detection unit capable of detecting whether the first receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. The one or more detection units further include a second detection unit capable of detecting whether the second receiving portion of the supply tray contains a sheet-like medium. The one or more detection units further include a third detection unit, which detects whether a sheet of medium is disposed at a feeding position where the sheet of medium can be fed by the feeding roller. Based on the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit, the control unit causes the reporting unit to execute the reporting action. When the detection result of the first detection unit indicates that no sheet medium is contained in the first receiving unit, the detection result of the second detection unit indicates that no sheet medium is contained in the second receiving unit, and the detection result of the third detection unit indicates that a sheet medium is disposed at the delivery position, the control unit causes the notification unit to perform an action that indicates that the cut end of the sheet medium remaining at the delivery position needs to be removed from the delivery tray.

Images