Printer, printing control method, and program

Abstract

To reduce time and effort and wasteful use of recording paper until printing restarts when paper jam has occurred.SOLUTION: Upon detection of jam by a jam detection part 18 during printing according to a thermal head 171, a CPU 11 of a thermal printer 1 interrupts the printing by the thermal head 171, and conveys a tape (medium to be printed) T in a reverse direction of a sub-scanning direction X (refer to Fig.5(b) and Fig.5(c)) by a prescribed length.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a printer has been disclosed that, when a paper jam occurs during transport of recording paper, reprints a print image in an actual print area that was printed immediately before the paper jam occurred (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-126759 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that if a paper jam occurs while the recording paper is being transported, it takes time to clear the jam.In addition, when reprinting, the recording paper is transported in the ejection direction and reprinting is performed on the label next to the label printed just before the paper jam occurred, which causes a problem of using more recording paper than necessary.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a printing device that can reduce the effort required to resume printing when a paper jam occurs and reduce waste of recording paper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a printing device according to the present invention comprises: A thermal head that prints by heating a print medium; a platen roller that conveys the print medium by rotating with the print medium sandwiched between the platen roller and the thermal head; a jam detection unit that detects a jam of the print medium; a control unit that, when the jam is detected by the jam detection unit while the printing is being performed, stops the printing and transports the print medium by a predetermined length in a direction opposite to a transport direction; The present invention is characterized by comprising: Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time required to resume printing when a paper jam occurs and to reduce the waste of recording paper. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a thermal printer. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the thermal printer. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal structure of a thermal printer. [Figure 4] 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a print control process. [Diagram 5] 11A to 11E are diagrams showing a series of flow of tape transport control when a jam occurs. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing a platen roller and its surroundings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is subject to various technically preferable limitations for implementing the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment and illustrated examples.

[0010] <Thermal printer appearance> First, the external appearance of a thermal printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing the thermal printer 1.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, a thermal printer 1 is a printing device that heats a tape T serving as a print medium, and prints images such as characters, marks, figures, and tables.

[0012] The tape T has a tape body on which printing is performed and a release paper for the tape body. The tape body is a multi-layered tape having a laminate film, a color-developing layer, a tape color layer, a base material, and an adhesive layer, which are integrally formed in this order from the front surface to the back surface.

[0013] The thermal printer 1 has a housing 101 on which a tape exit 102, a remaining tape check window 103, an open button 104, an operation unit 12, and a display unit 14. The housing 101 houses a circuit configuration, which will be described later, a tape adapter 174 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that supplies tape T, and the like. The housing 101 also has a lid 101a, which opens when the user presses the open button 104, making it possible to replace the tape adapter 174 housed in the housing 101.

[0014] The tape exit 102 is an exit for the printed tape T. The remaining tape confirmation window 103 is a transparent window portion that allows a user to observe the thickness of the tape T on the reel stored in the housing 101 as the remaining amount. The open button 104 is a button that is pressed to open the lid 101a.

[0015] The operation unit 12 has a power key 121, a cut key 122, and a wireless LAN switching key 123. The power key 121 is a key that accepts a press input to turn the thermal printer 1 on / off. The cut key 122 is a key that accepts a press input to cut and feed the tape T. The wireless LAN switching key 123 is a key that accepts a press input to switch the wireless LAN communication mode of the thermal printer 1 between an access point mode and a client mode. The access point mode is a mode in which the thermal printer 1 functions as an access point of the wireless LAN and performs wireless LAN communication directly with an external device. The client mode is a mode in which the thermal printer 1 performs wireless LAN communication with an external device via an access point of the wireless LAN.

[0016] The display unit 14 has a power lamp 141 and wireless LAN lamps 142 and 143. The power lamp 141 is a lamp that lights up while the thermal printer 1 is powered on. The wireless LAN lamp 142 is a lamp that lights up while the thermal printer 1 is in the access point mode of the wireless LAN. The wireless LAN lamp 143 is a lamp that lights up while the thermal printer 1 is in the client mode of the wireless LAN.

[0017] <Functional configuration of thermal printer> Next, the internal functional configuration (circuit configuration) of the thermal printer 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the thermal printer 1. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the thermal printer 1. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram that locally shows a printing unit 17 (described below) and its surroundings, omitting other parts.

[0018] 2, the thermal printer 1 includes a CPU 11, an operation unit 12, a RAM 13, a display unit 14, a storage unit 15, a communication unit 16, a printing unit 17, and a jam detection unit 18. The various units of the thermal printer 1 are connected to each other via a bus 19.

[0019] The CPU 11 is a control unit that controls each part of the thermal printer 1. The CPU 11 reads out a specified program from among various programs stored in the storage unit 15, loads it into the RA 13, and executes various processes in cooperation with the loaded program.

[0020] The operation unit 12 has a power key 121, a cut key 122, and a wireless LAN switching key 123. The operation unit 12 accepts operation input from the user by pressing each key, and outputs to the CPU 11 an operation signal based on the operation input.

[0021] The RAM 13 is a volatile semiconductor memory from which information can be read and written, and provides a work area for the CPU 11 and temporarily stores data and programs.

[0022] The display unit 14 has a power lamp 141 and wireless LAN lamps 142 and 143. The display unit 14 turns on / off the power lamp 141 and the wireless LAN lamps 142 and 143 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 11.

[0023] The storage unit 15 is a storage unit from which at least information can be read, such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. However, the storage unit 15 may be a storage unit from which at least information can be read and written, such as a flash memory.

[0024] The communication unit 16 has an antenna for wireless LAN communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit, a signal processing circuit, etc. The communication unit 16 performs wireless LAN communication with an external device (for example, a PC (Personal Computer)) directly (access point mode) or via an access point (client mode).

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printing unit 17 has a thermal head 171, a platen roller 172, a cutter 173, a tape adapter 174, and a drive unit 175, and performs printing on the tape T under the control of the CPU 11.

[0026] The thermal head 171 is a print head that is disposed on the transport path of the tape T and heats the tape T to perform printing. Here, the transport direction (discharge direction) of the tape T is defined as the sub-scanning direction X, and the direction perpendicular to the transport direction (sub-scanning direction X) of the tape T is defined as the main scanning direction Y. The thermal head 171 has, for example, one line of heating elements arranged in a row in the main scanning direction Y. The thermal head 171 prints on the tape T line by line by heating the heating elements by selectively energizing the heating elements according to the print data via the drive unit 175 under the control of the CPU 11. Note that the thermal head 171 may have multiple lines of heating elements arranged in a row in the main scanning direction Y, and may be configured to print on the tape T line by line.

[0027] The platen roller 172 is disposed opposite the thermal head 171, and is a roller that conveys the tape T pulled out from the tape adapter 174 to the tape outlet 102 by rotating while sandwiching the tape T between the platen roller 172 and the thermal head 171. The platen roller 172 is driven to rotate about a rotation axis via a drive unit 175 under the control of the CPU 11 so as to be able to move up and down (approach or separate) toward the thermal head 171, thereby conveying the tape T in the sub-scanning direction X to the tape outlet 102 so as to come into contact with the thermal head 171 for printing. The platen roller 172 can also be driven to rotate (reversely) in a direction opposite to the rotation (forward rotation) when conveying the tape T in the sub-scanning direction X under the control of the CPU 11 via the drive unit 175. In other words, the platen roller 172 is driven to rotate in a reverse direction about the rotation axis so as to convey the tape T in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X.

[0028] The cutter 173 is disposed on the transport path of the tape T, downstream of the thermal head 171 in the sub-scanning direction X (towards the tape outlet 102), and is a cutting unit that cuts the printed tape T under the control of the CPU 11. The cutter 173 has a full-cut mechanism that cuts the tape body and release paper of the tape T together (full cut), but is not limited to this and may also have a half-cut mechanism that cuts only the tape body of the tape T (half cut).

[0029] The tape adapter 174 is an adapter that holds the wound unprinted tape T. The tape adapter 174 feeds the tape T, which is pulled by the rotation (normal rotation) of the platen roller 172, to the thermal head 171 side.

[0030] The drive unit 175 is a drive unit that drives the thermal head 171, the platen roller 172, and the cutter 173, and includes a head drive circuit that energizes each heat element of the thermal head 171, a platen roller lifting mechanism for the platen roller 172, a motor that rotates (forward or reverse) the platen roller 172, and a cutting drive mechanism for the cutter 173. Under the control of the CPU 11, the drive unit 175 heats each heat element of the thermal head 171 using the head drive circuit, raises and lowers the platen roller 172 using the platen roller lifting mechanism, rotates the platen roller 172 using the motor, and cuts the tape using the cutting drive mechanism of the cutter 173.

[0031] The jam detection unit 18 is a photosensor that detects tape T that has been transported into an area R (see FIG. 3) on the side of the platen roller 172, i.e., into an area R that deviates from the transport path, due to the tape T wrapping around the platen roller 172 when the tape T is transported in the sub-scanning direction X to the tape outlet 102. For this reason, the jam detection unit 18 is provided in a position where the roller surface of the platen roller 172 can be seen through the area R. The jam detection unit 18 outputs detected detection information to the CPU 11.

[0032] <Thermal printer operation> Next, the print control process executed by the thermal printer 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the print control process. This print control process is started, for example, when the CPU 11 of the thermal printer 1 acquires print data (print job data) from an external device via the communication unit 16.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, when the print control process is started, the CPU 11 of the thermal printer 1 rotates (forward rotation) the platen roller 172 via the drive unit 175, thereby transporting (forward transport) the tape T in the sub-scanning direction X to a position where the line to be printed faces the heating elements of the thermal head 171 (step S1).

[0034] Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a jam of the tape T has been detected by the jam detection unit 18 (step S2).

[0035] In step S2, if it is determined that the jam detection unit 18 has not detected a jam of the tape T (step S2; NO), the CPU 11 adjusts the voltage applied to the thermal head 171 to a predetermined voltage level and causes the thermal head 171 to print one line (step S3).

[0036] Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the line printed in step S3 (the line to be printed) is the last line to be printed (step S4).

[0037] In step S4, if it is determined that the line to be printed is the final line to be printed (step S4; YES), the CPU 11 ends the print control process.

[0038] Furthermore, if it is determined in step S4 that the line to be printed is not the final line to be printed (step S4; NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to step S1 and transports the tape T in the sub-scanning direction X (forward transport) to a position where the next line to be printed faces the heating elements of the thermal head 171 (step S1). Then, the CPU 11 performs the processes from step S2 onwards.

[0039] Furthermore, in step S2, if it is determined that a jam of the tape T has been detected by the jam detection unit 18 (step S2; YES), the CPU 11 rotates (reverses) the platen roller 172 via the drive unit 175 to transport (reverse transport) the tape T by a predetermined length (L×2) in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X (step S5). For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), when a fold (jam portion) Tw occurs in the tape T due to being wound around the platen roller 172 and the fold Tw enters the region R (see FIG. 3) between the platen roller 172 and the jam detection unit 18, the jam of the tape T is detected by the jam detection unit 18. When the jam detection unit 18 detects a jam of the tape T in this way, the CPU 11 interrupts printing by the thermal head 171, and as shown in Figs. 5(b) and 5(c), conveys (conveys) the tape T in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X (the direction of the arrow in the figure) a predetermined length (L x 2), i.e., the length of the above-mentioned mountain fold (jam portion) Tw. In other words, the CPU 11 conveys (conveys) the tape T in the reverse direction so that the mountain fold (jam portion) Tw of the tape T is located upstream of the printing position by the thermal head 171. Here, the predetermined length (L x 2) is a length equivalent to the arc length (L x 2) of the platen roller 172 having an arrow height equal to the length l of a perpendicular line PL dropped from the jam detection unit 18 to the transport path TP of the tape T, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0040] Next, the CPU 11 adjusts the voltage applied to the thermal head 171 to a voltage level that does not affect the color development of the tape T and can suppress wrinkles that occur at the folds Tw of the tape T (step S6). This voltage level is adjusted based on the type of tape T (paper tape, cloth tape, magnetic tape, etc.), and is, for example, about 40% of the voltage applied to the thermal head 171 when printing is performed at the minimum gradation print density.

[0041] Next, the CPU 11 rotates (forwardly rotates) the platen roller 172 via the drive unit 175 to feed (forwardly feed) the tape T by a predetermined length (L×2) in the sub-scanning direction X (step S7). For example, as shown in FIG. 5(d) and FIG. 5(e), the CPU 11 feeds (forwardly feeds) the tape T by a predetermined length (L×2) in the sub-scanning direction X, that is, from the leading end of the mountain fold (jam portion) Tw until the trailing end passes the printing position by the thermal head 171. That is, the CPU 11 returns the tape T to the position where the printing by the thermal head 171 was interrupted upon detection of a jam by the jam detection unit 18. As described above, at this time, the applied voltage of the thermal head 171 is adjusted to a voltage level that does not affect the color development of the tape T and can suppress wrinkles occurring at the mountain fold Tw of the tape T. For this reason, by feeding the tape T by a predetermined length (L×2) in the sub-scanning direction X, wrinkles that have occurred at the folded portion (jammed portion) Tw can be removed.

[0042] Next, the CPU 11 advances the process to step S3, and causes the thermal head 171 to print one line (step S3). Subsequently, the CPU 11 performs the processes from step S4 onwards.

[0043] Effect As described above, when a jam is detected by the jam detection unit 18 while printing is being performed by the thermal head 171, the CPU 11 of the thermal printer 1 interrupts printing by the thermal head 171 and transports the tape (print medium) T a predetermined length in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X (see FIGS. 5(b) and 5(c)). This makes it possible to resolve the jam detected by the jam detection unit 18, thereby reducing the effort required by the user to resume printing when a jam occurs and reducing waste of the tape T.

[0044] Furthermore, the CPU 11 feeds the tape T a predetermined length in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X, and then feeds the tape T in the sub-scanning direction X by the above-mentioned predetermined length, and resumes printing by the thermal head 171. This allows printing to be resumed from the position where printing by the thermal head 171 was interrupted, triggered by detection of a jam by the jam detection unit 18, so that the user's effort until printing is resumed when a jam occurs and wasteful use of the tape T can be further reduced.

[0045] Furthermore, after the CPU 11 has fed the tape T a predetermined length in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X, the CPU 11 adjusts the voltage applied to the thermal head 171 when feeding the tape T the predetermined length in the sub-scanning direction X to a voltage level that does not affect the color development of the tape T and that can suppress wrinkles that have occurred in the tape T due to a jam. This makes it possible to smooth out wrinkles that have occurred in the tape T when feeding the tape T the predetermined length in the sub-scanning direction X, thereby suppressing the recurrence of jams.

[0046] Furthermore, the CPU 11 adjusts the voltage level based on the type of tape T. This allows the process of smoothing out wrinkles that have occurred on the tape T to be performed appropriately according to the type of tape T.

[0047] Furthermore, the jam detection unit 18 detects, as a jam, that the tape T has been transported into a predetermined area R (see FIG. 3) that deviates from the transport path TP of the tape T. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can accurately detect a jam of the tape T.

[0048] Furthermore, since the above-mentioned specified length (L x 2) is determined based on the arc length of the platen roller 172, whose arrow height is the length l of the perpendicular line PL dropped from the jam detection unit 18 to the transport path TP, a jam caused by wrapping around the platen roller 172 can be properly resolved.

[0049] <Other> It should be noted that the description of the above embodiment is merely an example of the printing device according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the above embodiment, after the tape T is fed a predetermined length (L×2) in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X, the voltage applied to the thermal head 171 when the tape T is fed the above-mentioned predetermined length (L×2) in the sub-scanning direction X is adjusted to a voltage level that does not affect the color development of the tape T and that can suppress wrinkles that occur at the fold points Tw of the tape T. However, the voltage applied to the thermal head 171 may also be adjusted to the above-mentioned voltage level when the tape T is fed the predetermined length (L×2) in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X, that is, when the processing of step S5 of the printing control processing (see FIG. 4) is performed.

[0050] In addition, in the above embodiment, the jam detection unit 18 is provided at a position where the roller surface of the platen roller 172 can be seen through the area R (see FIG. 3) in order to detect a jam that occurs due to wrapping around the platen roller 172, but if a jam of a different type to the jam in question can occur, a separate jam detection unit may be provided at a position where the jam in question can be detected.

[0051] In the above embodiment, in step S5 of the print control process (see FIG. 4), the predetermined length when the tape T is transported (reverse transport) in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X is set to a length equivalent to the arc length (L×2) of the platen roller 172 having the arrow height equal to the length l of the perpendicular line PL dropped from the jam detection unit 18 to the transport path TP of the tape T, but this length is merely an example, and it may be any length greater than that as long as it has at least the length of the jammed portion of the tape T (the fold point Tw).

[0052] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the tape T is transported a predetermined length (L×2) in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction X and / or when the tape T is transported the above-mentioned predetermined length (L×2) in the sub-scanning direction X, the platen roller 172 may be moved closer to the thermal head 171 via the drive unit 175. This makes it possible to press the jammed portion (folded portion Tw) of the tape T passing between the platen roller 172 and the thermal head 171 during the above-mentioned transport, and therefore makes it possible to suitably smooth out any wrinkles that have occurred in the jammed portion.

[0053] Furthermore, the detailed configuration and operation of each component of the thermal printer 1 in the above embodiment can of course be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. Thermal printer 11 CPU 12 Control section 13 RAM 14 Display section 15 Storage section 16 Communications Department 17 Printing Department 171 Thermal head 172 Platen roller 173 Cutter 174 Tape Adapter 175 Drive unit 18 Jam detection unit 19 Bus

Claims

1. A thermal head that prints by heating a print medium; a platen roller that conveys the print medium by rotating with the print medium sandwiched between the platen roller and the thermal head; a jam detection unit that detects a jam of the print medium; a control unit that, when the jam is detected by the jam detection unit while the printing is being performed, stops the printing and transports the print medium by a predetermined length in a direction opposite to a transport direction; A printing device comprising:

2. The control unit is After the print medium is conveyed a predetermined length in a direction opposite to a conveying direction, the print medium is conveyed in the conveying direction by the predetermined length, and the printing by the thermal head is resumed.

2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit is after conveying the print medium by a predetermined length in a direction opposite to a conveying direction, when conveying the print medium by the predetermined length in the conveying direction, a voltage applied to the thermal head is adjusted to a voltage level that does not affect color development of the print medium; 3. The printing device according to claim 2.

4. The control unit is adjusting the voltage level based on the type of the receiving medium; 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The voltage level is a voltage level capable of suppressing wrinkles occurring in the print medium due to the jam; 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.

6. The jam detection unit detecting, as the jam, the fact that the print medium has been transported into a predetermined area deviating from a transport path of the print medium; 2. The printing device according to claim 1.

7. The predetermined length is the length being determined based on the arc length of the platen roller, the arrow height being the length of a perpendicular line from the jam detection unit to a transport path of the print medium; 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4.

8. A printing control method executed by a computer of a printing device including a thermal head that prints by heating a print medium, a platen roller that conveys the print medium by rotating with the print medium sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller, and a jam detection unit that detects a jam of the print medium, comprising: a control step of interrupting the printing and transporting the print medium by a predetermined length in a direction opposite to a transport direction when the jam is detected by the jam detection unit while the printing is being performed, A printing control method comprising:

9. A computer of a printing device including a thermal head that prints by heating a print medium, a platen roller that conveys the print medium by rotating with the print medium sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller, and a jam detection unit that detects a jam of the print medium, a control means for interrupting the printing and transporting the print medium by a predetermined length in a direction opposite to a transport direction when the jam is detected by the jam detection unit during the printing; A program characterized by causing the program to function as a

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