Printing device, printing method and program

Abstract

To provide a printing device that is configured to suppress a printing medium from deviating when the medium is cut, a printing method and a program.SOLUTION: A printing device 100 comprises a printing part 120, a conveying part 130, a cutting part 150 and a pressing part 140. The printing part 120 has a printing head 121 that prints an object to be printed on a printing medium. The conveying part 130 has a roller 131 that conveys the printing medium while pressing the printing medium against the printing head 121. The cutting part 150 cuts the printing medium. The pressing part 140 makes the roller 131 press the printing medium against the printing head 121 by first pressure, when the printing part 120 prints the object to be printed on the printing medium, and makes the roller 131 press the printing medium against the printing head 121 by second pressure larger than the first pressure, when the cutting part 150 cuts the printing medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a printing device that prints printing objects such as letters, symbols, logos, characters, and marks on a tape-shaped printing medium. This printing device is equipped with a thermal print head, and while conveying the tape-shaped printing medium, ink applied to a ribbon is transferred to the printing medium by heat, thereby printing the printing object. The printing medium on which the printing object has been printed is then cut by a cutter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-144250 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the printing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the print medium is cut by pressing a cutter blade against it. By pressing the cutter blade against the print medium to cut it, the print medium is pulled, and there is a risk that the position of the print medium may shift before and after cutting. If the position of the print medium shifts, there is a problem that the position of the print target printed on the print medium will also shift when printing is resumed.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a printing device, a printing method, and a program that reduce misalignment of the print medium due to cutting. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, one aspect of a printing device according to the present invention comprises: A printing unit having a print head that prints a print object on a print medium; a transport unit having a roller that transports the print medium while pressing the print medium against the print head; a cutting unit that cuts the print medium; a pressing unit that presses the printing medium against the print head with a first pressure by the roller when the printing unit prints a print target on the printing medium, and that presses the printing medium against the print head with a second pressure greater than the first pressure by the roller when the cutting unit cuts the printing medium; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0007] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, one aspect of a printing method according to the present invention includes: A printing unit having a print head that prints a print object on a print medium; a transport unit having a roller that transports the print medium while pressing the print medium against the print head; a cutting unit that cuts the print medium; A method of printing using a printing device comprising: When the printing unit prints a print target on the print medium, the roller presses the print medium against the print head with a first pressure, and when the cutting unit cuts the print medium, the roller presses the print medium against the print head with a second pressure greater than the first pressure. It is characterized by:

[0008] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, one aspect of the program according to the present invention includes: A printing unit having a print head that prints a print object on a print medium; a transport unit having a roller that transports the print medium while pressing the print medium against the print head; a cutting unit that cuts the print medium; a pressing unit that presses the print medium against the print head by the roller; A computer that controls a printing device comprising: a control unit that controls the pressing unit to cause the roller to press the print medium against the print head with a first pressure when the printing unit prints a print object on the print medium, and to cause the roller to press the print medium against the print head with a second pressure greater than the first pressure when the cutting unit cuts the print medium; The present invention is characterized in that it functions as a Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing device, a printing method, and a program that reduce misalignment of the print medium due to cutting. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1 is a front view showing a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing a print medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating the movement of a cam in the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention (part 1). [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the movement of the cam of the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention (part 2). [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a printing unit and a cutting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 4 is a flowchart showing a printing process executed by the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12]FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention (part 1). [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention (part 2). [Figure 14] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a half-cut operation of a print medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 6 is a flowchart showing a cutting process executed by the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing device according to the embodiment of the present invention (part 3). [Figure 17] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a print medium according to a modified example. [Figure 18] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a half-cut operation of a print medium according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printing system and a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, a printing system 1 according to this embodiment prints a print object S, such as letters, symbols, logos, characters, marks, etc., on a tape-shaped print medium R. The printing system 1 includes a printing device 100 and a terminal device 200. The printing device 100 is a thermal transfer printer that transfers ink applied to a ribbon to the print medium R by heat. The terminal device 200 has a display 230, and is configured, for example, as a smartphone or a tablet PC (Personal Computer). The printing device 100 and the terminal device 200 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a wireless line, and the terminal device 200 transmits data indicating the print object S to the printing device 100.

[0013] For ease of understanding, a Cartesian coordinate system is set up in which the direction in which the printing medium R is transported is the x-direction, the direction perpendicular to the printing medium R is the y-direction, and the direction perpendicular to the x-direction and y-direction is the z-direction, and will be referred to as appropriate.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing device 100 includes a cartridge storage unit 101, a printing unit 120, a transport unit 130, a pressing unit 140, and a cutting unit 150.

[0015] The cartridge storage section 101 is a section for storing a cartridge 300 in which a tape-like print medium R and an ink-coated ribbon are wound into a roll and stored, as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 4, the print medium R includes a print medium body R1 including paper or resin coated with an adhesive, and a release paper R2 that protects the adhesive.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the printing unit 120 has a print head 121 and a lower guide 122, and prints a print target S on a tape-shaped print medium R. The print head 121 is attached to a fixed part 123 made of metal such as die-cast aluminum to increase rigidity. The print head 121 includes a thermal print head in which a plurality of heating resistors are arranged in a line on a substrate such as alumina ceramic. The print head 121 selectively heats the plurality of heating resistors by applying an electric current corresponding to the print target S, and transfers the ink applied to the ribbon to the print medium R by the heat, thereby performing printing. The lower guide 122 is a heat sink made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, and is disposed between the print head 121 and the cutting unit 150 and in the vicinity of the print head 121. As a result, the lower guide 122 guides the print head 121, the print medium R, and the ribbon, and cools the print medium R and the ribbon heated by the print head 121.

[0017] The transport unit 130 has a roller 131, a roller support unit 132, a tape guide 133, and a winding shaft 134 shown in Fig. 2, and transports the print medium R in the sending direction (x direction). The transport unit 130 also transports a ribbon on which ink is applied together with the print medium R.

[0018] The roller 131 includes a platen roller having a metal core and resin formed around the core, and is rotated by being driven by a servo motor or the like. The motor that drives the roller 131 is not limited to a servo motor, and may be a stepping motor or a DC (Direct Current) motor. The roller 131 presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 and transports the printing medium R.

[0019] The roller support part 132 includes an arm 132a and a roller shaft support part 132b. One end part 132c of the arm 132a is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 132d, and the roller shaft support part 132b is attached to the other end part 132e. When the arm 132a rotates around the rotating shaft 132d, the roller shaft support part 132b moves in the y direction or the -y direction. The roller shaft support part 132b rotatably supports the roller 131.

[0020] 5, the tape guide 133 has a fixed portion 133a, a curved portion 133b, and a tip portion 133c. The tape guide 133 is disposed in a position in the feeding direction from the roller 131 (between the roller 131 and the cutting portion 150) and in the vicinity of the roller 131, and prevents the print medium R from bending. The fixed portion 133a is fixed to the roller shaft support portion 132b in order to dispose the tape guide 133 at a fixed position relative to the roller 131. The curved portion 133b has one end fixed to the fixed portion 133a and has a curved shape so as not to interfere with the rotation of the roller 131. The tip portion 133c is disposed at the other end of the curved portion 133b, and is disposed at a position where it comes into contact with the print medium R when it bends. Further, the tip 133c of the tape guide 133 is disposed opposite the above-mentioned lower guide 122, and there is a space between the tip 133c and the lower guide 122. As a result, the print medium R and the ribbon 310 pass between the tip 133c of the tape guide 133 and the lower guide 122, and bending of the print medium R and the ribbon 310 is suppressed.

[0021] 2 takes up the ribbon 310 coated with ink, and transports the ribbon 310 in the sending direction together with the print medium R. The rotation speed of the winding shaft 134 is adjusted to a rotation speed at which tension is applied to the ribbon 310 so that the ribbon 310 does not sag. The rotation speed of the winding shaft 134 is set, for example, to be greater than the rotation speed of the roller 131, and preferably, the rotation speed of the winding shaft 134 is set to be 1.1 times or more the rotation speed of the roller 131. Furthermore, when the print medium R is transported in the retracting direction, the winding shaft 134 rotates idly, and the ribbon 310 is transported in the retracting direction together with the print medium R.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing unit 140 includes a cam 141, a cam follower 142 that is moved by the cam 141, and an elastic body 143 that is disposed between the cam follower 142 and the roller support unit 132. The pressing unit 140 is a device that presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with the roller 131, and presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a first pressure or a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure. Specifically, when the printing medium R is transported, the roller 131 presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with the first pressure. This allows the print target S to be printed clearly on the printing medium R. When the printing medium R is half-cut, the roller 131 presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with the second pressure. This makes it possible to suppress misalignment of the printing medium R due to half-cutting. Furthermore, when the cartridge 300 is replaced, the pressing portion 140 moves the roller 131 away from the print head 121 .

[0023] The cam 141 rotates around a rotation axis extending in the y-axis direction by a stepping motor or the like, and has a first cam surface 141a, a second cam surface 141b, and a third cam surface 141c. A distance D1 between the first cam surface 141a and the printing unit 120 is smaller than a distance D2 between the second cam surface 141b and the printing unit 120. A distance D2 between the second cam surface 141b and the printing unit 120 is smaller than a distance D3 between the third cam surface 141c and the printing unit 120. The third cam surface 141c has a fitting portion 141d. Here, an example in which the cam 141 rotates around a rotation axis extending in the y-axis direction will be described, but the direction of the rotation axis of the cam 141 and the shape of the cam 141 may be other than those described here.

[0024] The cam follower 142 has a contact portion 142a and a fitted portion 142b that fits into the fitting portion 141d, and is pressed by the cam 141 to move in the y direction or the -y direction. When the contact portion 142a of the cam follower 142 is in contact with the first cam surface 141a, the roller shaft support portion 132b is urged by the elastic body 143, and the roller 131 presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a second pressure. As shown in FIG. 6, when the contact portion 142a of the cam follower 142 is in contact with the second cam surface 141b, the roller support portion 132 is urged by the elastic body 143, and the roller 131 presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a first pressure. As shown in FIG. 7, when the contact portion 142a of the cam follower 142 is in contact with the third cam surface 141c, the fitted portion 142b fits into the fitting portion 141d, and the roller 131 moves away from the print head 121.

[0025] The elastic body 143 is disposed between the cam follower 142 and the roller shaft support portion 132b, and biases the roller support portion 132, and includes, for example, a leaf spring or a coil spring.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 8, the cutting unit 150 performs full cutting or half cutting of the tape-shaped print medium R on which the print target S is printed by the printing unit 120. The cutting unit 150 has a first cutting blade (full cutter) 151 for full cutting, a second cutting blade (half cutter) 152 for half cutting, and a drive unit (not shown) for driving the first and second cutting blades 151, 152. The first cutting blade 151 is disposed at a distance L1 from the print head 121. The second cutting blade 152 is disposed at a distance L2 from the print head 121. Full cutting is a process of cutting both the print medium body R1 and the release paper R2 of the print medium R. Half cutting is a process of cutting the print medium body R1 without cutting the release paper R2 of the print medium R.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 9, the electrical configuration of the printing device 100 includes the above-mentioned printing unit 120, conveying unit 130, pressing unit 140, and cutting unit 150, as well as a control unit 110, a communication unit 160, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 170, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 180.

[0028] The control unit 110 is configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) etc. The control unit 110 executes a program stored in the ROM 170 to function as a print target acquisition unit 111, a print head control unit 112, and a transport control unit 113.

[0029] The print target acquisition unit 111 acquires print target data transmitted from the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 160 , and stores the data in the RAM 180 .

[0030] The print head control unit 112 controls the printing unit 120 to print the print target S on the print medium R based on the transport distance that the transport unit 130 transports the print medium R in the sending direction. Specifically, each time the print medium R is transported a distance equivalent to one dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction, the print head control unit 112 causes the print head 121 to print a one-dot line, which is a line of one pixel arranged in a line in the main scanning direction, of the image of the print target S stored in the RAM 180.

[0031] The transport control unit 113 controls the transport unit 130, the pressing unit 140, and the cutting unit 150 to transport the print medium R in the sending direction and to full-cut or half-cut the printed print medium R. In detail, when printing an image while transporting the print medium R, the transport control unit 113 controls the pressing unit 140 to press the print medium R against the print head 121 with a first pressure using the roller 131. When half-cutting the print medium R, the transport control unit 113 controls the pressing unit 140 to press the print medium R against the print head 121 with a second pressure using the roller 131, and controls the cutting unit 150 to half-cut the print medium R at the planned half-cut position. After printing the print target S on the print medium R, the transport control unit 113 controls the transport unit 130 to transport the print medium R in the sending direction until the planned full-cut position of the print medium R is located at the position of the first cutting blade 151 of the cutting unit 150. Thereafter, the transport control unit 113 controls the cutting unit 150 to fully cut the planned full-cut position of the print medium R. Furthermore, when replacing the cartridge 300, the transport control unit 113 controls the pressing unit 140 to move the roller 131 away from the print head 121.

[0032] As described above, the printing unit 120 selectively causes the heating resistors provided in the print head 121 to generate heat in accordance with the print data under the control of the print head control unit 112. The heated heating resistors transfer the ink applied to the ribbon 310 to the print medium R, and pixels (one dot line) arranged in a line in the main scanning direction of the print head 121 are printed.

[0033] As described above, the transport unit 130 transports the print medium R in the sending direction under the control of the transport control unit 113 while pressing the print medium R against the print head 121. Also, under the control of the transport control unit 113, the transport unit 130 rotates the winding shaft 134 to transport the ribbon 310 on which ink is applied together with the print medium R.

[0034] As described above, the pressing unit 140 rotates the cam 141 based on the control of the transport control unit 113, and when printing on the printing medium R, the roller 131 presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a first pressure, and when half-cutting the printing medium R, the roller 131 presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a second pressure. Furthermore, when replacing the cartridge 300, the cam 141 is rotated based on the control of the transport control unit 113 to move the roller 131 away from the print head 121.

[0035] As described above, the cutting unit 150, under the control of the transport control unit 113, performs full or half cutting of the tape-shaped print medium R on which the print target S has been printed by the printing unit 120.

[0036] The communication unit 160 receives data indicating the print target S from the terminal device 200. The communication unit 160 is configured with a wireless communication module such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0037] The ROM 170 is made up of a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and stores programs for the control unit 110 to realize various functions as described above. The RAM 180 is made up of a volatile memory, and is used as a working area for the control unit 110 to execute programs for performing various processes. The RAM 180 also stores information such as image data of the print target S.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 10, the terminal device 200 includes a control unit 210, a communication unit 220, a display 230, an operation unit 240, a ROM 250, and a RAM 260.

[0039] The control unit 210 is configured with a CPU etc. The control unit 210 executes a program stored in the ROM 250 to function as a print target acquisition unit 211 and a print target transmission unit 212.

[0040] The print target acquisition unit 211 acquires data indicating the print target S that has been accepted by the operation unit 240 or received by the communication unit 220 .

[0041] The print target transmission unit 212 transmits data of the print target S to the printing device 100 via the communication unit 220. In addition, when a user operates the terminal device 200 to instruct the printing start, the print target transmission unit 212 transmits data indicating the instruction to start printing to the printing device 100.

[0042] The communication unit 220 transmits data indicating the print target S and data indicating an instruction to start printing to the printing device 100. The communication unit 220, like the communication unit 160 described above, is configured from a wireless communication module such as a wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0043] The display 230 displays images necessary for operations, and is configured with an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like.

[0044] The operation unit 240 receives data for the print target S, instructions for starting the print process, starting and ending printing, and replacing the cartridge, based on input from the user. The operation unit 240 and the display 230 form a touch panel display device.

[0045] The ROM 250 is made up of a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and stores programs for implementing various functions by the control unit 110. The RAM 260 is made up of a volatile memory, and is used as a working area for the control unit 110 to execute programs for performing various processes, and stores data indicating the print target S.

[0046] Next, the printing process executed by the printing device 100 will be described.

[0047] In response to a user's instruction to start the print process, the printing device 100 starts the print process shown in FIG.

[0048] First, the print target acquisition unit 111 waits in a state in which it can receive data indicating the print target S, and determines whether or not the data indicating the print target S has been received (step S101). If the data indicating the print target has not been received (step S101; No), step S101 is repeated.

[0049] When the print target S is input to the terminal device 200 by a user operation and is sent from the terminal device 200 to the printing device 100, the print target acquisition unit 111 receives data indicating the print target S (step S101; Yes). Upon receiving the print target S, the print target acquisition unit 111 stores the data indicating the print target S in the RAM 180, and waits in a state in which printing can start when a command to start is given by the user (step S102). In this example, the print target S is "ABCDE".

[0050] Next, the conveyance control unit 113 determines whether or not a print start instruction has been issued by the user through the terminal device 200 (step S103). If it is determined that a print start instruction has not been issued (step S103; No), the conveyance control unit 113 returns to step S102 and repeats steps S102 and S103.

[0051] When the conveyance control unit 113 determines that the instruction to start printing has been executed (step S103; Yes), it controls the pressing unit 140 to press the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a first pressure by the roller 131 (step S104). In detail, the conveyance control unit 113 controls the pressing unit 140 to rotate the cam 141 to a position where the second cam surface 141b contacts the contact portion 142a of the cam follower 142, as shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the printing medium R is urged by the elastic body 143 arranged between the cam follower 142 and the roller shaft support portion 132b, and the printing medium R is pressed against the print head 121 with a first pressure by the roller 131. At this point, as shown in FIG. 12, the printing medium R is cut at the full cut position C1. In this example, the half cut planned position C2 is in the vicinity of the print head 121.

[0052] Next, the print head control unit 112 controls the printing unit 120 to print one dot line of the print target S on the print medium R that has been transported in the sending direction by the transport unit 130 controlled by the transport control unit 113 a distance equivalent to one dot line (step S105). Specifically, each time the print medium R is transported in the sub-scanning direction a distance equivalent to one dot pitch, the print head control unit 112 causes the print head 121 to print one dot line, which is a line of one pixel arranged in a line in the main scanning direction, of the image of the print target S stored in the RAM 180.

[0053] Next, the print head control unit 112 determines whether the print target S has been printed to the end (step S106).

[0054] When the print head control unit 112 determines that the print target S has not been printed to the end (step S106; No), the transport control unit 113 determines whether the planned half-cut position C2 of the print medium R has been transported to the half-cut position (step S107). In detail, the transport control unit 113 makes this determination based on whether the planned half-cut position C2 has been transported a distance L2 from the position where the print head 121 was located. The half-cut position is the position where the second cutting blade 152 for half-cutting of the cutting unit 150 is located.

[0055] When the transport control unit 113 determines that the print medium R has not been transported to the half-cut position C2 (step S107; No), the transport control unit 113 returns to step S105 and repeats steps S105 to S107.

[0056] 13, when the transport control unit 113 determines that the print medium R has been transported to the half-cut position C2 (step S107; No), the transport control unit 113 stops the transport (step S108). In this example, "E" of "ABCDE" of the print target S is in the middle of being printed.

[0057] Next, the transport control unit 113 controls the pressing unit 140 to press the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a second pressure by the roller 131 (step S109). In detail, the transport control unit 113 controls the pressing unit 140 to rotate the cam 141 to a position where the first cam surface 141a contacts the contact portion 142a of the cam follower 142, as shown in Fig. 3. As a result, the printing medium R is biased by the elastic body 143 arranged between the cam follower 142 and the roller shaft support portion 132b, and the printing medium R is pressed against the print head 121 with the second pressure by the roller 131.

[0058] Next, the transport control unit 113 controls the cutting unit 150 to half-cut the print medium R at the planned half-cut position C2, as shown in Fig. 14 (step S110). The half-cut is a process of cutting the print medium body R1 without cutting the release paper R2 of the print medium R. Because the roller 131 presses the print medium R against the print head 121 with the second pressure, it is possible to reduce the misalignment of the print medium R due to cutting, and the letter "E" on the print target S can be printed clearly. After that, the process returns to step S104, and steps S104 to S110 are repeated.

[0059] Next, when the print head control unit 112 determines that the printing target S has been printed to the end (step S106; Yes), the transport control unit 113 executes a cutting process (step S111).

[0060] 15 is executed, the transport control unit 113 controls the transport unit 130 as shown in Fig. 16 to transport the print medium R to a cutting position where the planned full cut position C3 of the print medium R is located and the first cutting blade 151 of the cutting unit 150 is disposed (step S201). Specifically, the transport control unit 113 controls the transport unit 130 to transport the print medium R a distance L1 in the sending direction.

[0061] Next, the conveyance control unit 113 controls the cutting unit 150 to cut the printing medium R at the planned full cut position C3 (step S202). In this example, since printing has been completed and the effect of misalignment on the printing target S is small, the printing medium R is cut while being pressed against the print head 121 with a first pressure by the pressing unit 140 using the roller 131.

[0062] 11, the transport control unit 113 determines whether or not an instruction to end the print process has been received (step S112). If an instruction to end the print process has not been received (step S112; No), the transport control unit 113 returns to step S101 and repeats steps S101 to S112.

[0063] When the instruction to end the print process is accepted (Step S112; Yes), the printing device 100 ends the print process.

[0064] As described above, according to the printing system 1 and printing device 100 of this embodiment, by half-cutting the printing medium R while pressing the printing medium R against the print head 121 with the second pressure by the roller 131, it is possible to reduce the misalignment of the printing medium R due to the half-cut. This makes it possible to reduce the movement of the printing medium R even if the printing medium R is pulled by half-cutting the printing medium R during printing. This makes it possible to prevent gaps from occurring in the printing object S printed on the printing medium R before and after the half-cut, and allows the printing object S to be printed clearly on the printing medium R.

[0065] (Modification) In the printing device 100 of the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the pressing unit 140 includes the cam 141 and the cam follower 142 that is moved by the cam 141. The pressing unit 140 only needs to be able to press the printing medium R against the print head 121 with the roller 131 at a first pressure or a second pressure greater than the first pressure, and to separate the roller 131, and may have a structure using a linear motor other than a cam structure, or a structure using a fluid such as hydraulic pressure or air pressure.

[0066] In the printing device 100 of the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the cutting unit 150 performs a half cut to cut the print medium body R1 without cutting the release paper R2 of the print medium R. However, as shown in FIG. 17, a half cut may be performed to cut the release paper R2 without cutting the print medium body R1 of the print medium R. Even in this case, by half-cutting the print medium R while pressing it with the second pressure, it is possible to reduce the misalignment of the print medium R due to the half cut. This makes it possible to prevent gaps from occurring in the print target S printed on the print medium R before and after the half cut, even if the print medium R is half-cut during printing, and allows the print target S to be printed clearly on the print medium R.

[0067] In the printing device 100 of the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the cutting unit 150 presses the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a first pressure using the roller 131 by the pressing unit 140 when fully cutting the printing medium R, but when fully cutting the printing medium R, the pressing unit 140 may press the printing medium R against the print head 121 with a second pressure using the roller 131. In this way, it is possible to prevent the position of the printing medium R from shifting when fully cutting.

[0068] In the printing device 100 of the above embodiment, the transport unit 130 transports the printing medium R to the cutting position, fully cuts the printing medium R, and then prints the next printing target. However, the printing medium R may be transported to the cutting position, fully cut the printing medium R, and then transport the printing medium R in the pull-back direction (-x direction). Also, as shown in FIG. 18, a half-cut planned position C4 may be set near the leading end of the tape, and the half-cut planned position C4 may be transported to the second cutting blade 152 and half-cut may be performed. In this case, the printing start position on the printing medium R is transported in the pull-back direction to the print head 121, and then printing is performed, and a full cut is performed to end the printing process. In this way, it is possible to reduce the portion of the printing medium R on which the printing target S is not printed.

[0069] The printing device 100 in the above embodiment has been described as an example of a thermal transfer printer that transfers ink applied to a ribbon to the printing medium R by heat. The printing device 100 may be a thermal printer in which the print head 121 is a print head capable of thermal transfer, and instead of transferring ink applied to a ribbon to the printing medium R by heat, the printing device 100 may be a thermal printer that prints on thermal paper that detects heat and changes color. In this case, no ribbon is required, making it possible to reduce running costs. It is also possible to print on thermal paper such as cash register receipts.

[0070] The printing system 1 of the above embodiment has been described as an example including the printing device 100 and the terminal device 200. The printing device 100 may be equipped with a display and an operation unit, and may be capable of printing the print target S on the print medium R by itself, without the terminal device 200.

[0071] Furthermore, the core part of the printing process executed by the printing device 100 and the terminal device 200, which are composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., can be executed by using a normal information mobile terminal (smartphone, tablet PC), personal computer, etc., without using a dedicated system. For example, a computer program for executing the above-mentioned operations may be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium (flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), etc.), and the information processing terminal that executes the above-mentioned processes may be configured by installing this computer program on a information mobile terminal, etc. Also, the information processing device may be configured by storing this computer program in a storage device of a server device on a communication network such as the Internet, and downloading it to a normal information processing terminal, etc.

[0072] Furthermore, when the functions of the printing device are shared between an OS (Operating System) and an application program, or are realized by the OS and the application program working together, only the application program portion may be stored on a recording medium or storage device.

[0073] It is also possible to superimpose the computer program on a carrier wave and distribute it via a communication network. For example, the computer program may be posted on a bulletin board (BBS: Bulletin Board System) on the communication network and distributed via the network. The computer program may then be started and executed under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-mentioned processing to be performed.

[0074] Although the above describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and the present invention includes the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1...printing system, 100...printing device, 101...cartridge storage section, 110, 210...control section, 111, 211...printing target acquisition section, 112...print head control section, 113...transport control section, 120...printing section, 121...print head, 122...lower guide, 123, 133a...fixed section, 130...transport section, 131...roller, 132...roller support section, 132a...arm, 132b...roller shaft support section, 132c...one end section, 132d...rotating shaft, 132e...other end section, 133...tape guide, 133b...curved section, 133c...tip section, 134...winding shaft, 140...pressing section, 141...cam, 141 a...first cam surface, 141b...second cam surface, 141c...third cam surface, 141d...engaging portion, 142...cam follower, 142a...contact portion, 142b...engaged portion, 143...elastic body, 150...cutting portion, 160, 220...communication portion, 170, 250...ROM, 180, 260...RAM, 200...terminal device, 212...image acquisition portion, 213...marker detection portion, 214...image generating and display portion, 230...display, 240...operation portion, 300...cartridge, 310...ribbon, 320...rib, 330...cartridge claw, R...printing medium, S...printing target, D1 to D3...spacing, L1 to L2...distance

Claims

1. A printing unit having a print head that prints a print object on a print medium; a transport unit having a roller that transports the print medium while pressing the print medium against the print head; a cutting unit that cuts the print medium; a pressing unit that presses the print medium against the print head with a first pressure by the roller when the printing unit prints a print object on the print medium, and that presses the print medium against the print head with a second pressure greater than the first pressure by the roller when the cutting unit cuts the print medium; A printing device comprising:

2. The print medium includes a print medium body and a release paper attached to the print medium body, the cutting unit includes a half cutter that performs a half cut to cut either the print medium body or the release paper; 2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. a conveyance control unit that controls the conveyance unit, the pressing unit, and the cutting unit, the conveyance control unit interrupts printing when the position where the printing medium is to be half-cut is reached by the half cutter, and causes the pressing unit to cause the roller to press the printing medium against the print head with the second pressure greater than the first pressure; 3. The printing device according to claim 2.

4. the pressing portion includes a cam having a first cam surface and a second cam surface, a cam follower moved by the cam, a roller support portion supporting the roller, and an elastic body disposed between the cam follower and the roller support portion; when the first cam surface presses the cam follower, the cam follower presses the elastic body, the roller support portion is urged against the elastic body, and the roller presses the printing medium against the print head with the second pressure, and when the second cam surface presses the cam follower, the cam follower presses the elastic body, the roller support portion is urged against the elastic body, and the roller presses the printing medium against the print head with the first pressure.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

5. A printing unit having a print head that prints a print object on a print medium; a transport unit having a roller that transports the print medium while pressing the print medium against the print head; a cutting unit that cuts the print medium; A method of printing using a printing device comprising: When the printing unit prints a print object on the print medium, the roller presses the print medium against the print head with a first pressure, and when the cutting unit cuts the print medium, the roller presses the print medium against the print head with a second pressure greater than the first pressure. A printing method comprising:

6. A printing unit having a print head that prints a print object on a print medium; a transport unit having a roller that transports the print medium while pressing the print medium against the print head; a cutting unit that cuts the print medium; a pressing unit that presses the print medium against the print head by the roller; A computer that controls a printing device comprising: a control unit that controls the pressing unit to cause the roller to press the print medium against the print head with a first pressure when the printing unit prints a print object on the print medium, and to cause the roller to press the print medium against the print head with a second pressure greater than the first pressure when the cutting unit cuts the print medium; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a

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