Recording device and control method

Abstract

To prevent conveyance of a recording medium that is not scheduled.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: first conveyance means for conveying a recording medium; second conveyance means for conveying the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance means; a driving source for outputting driving force of driving the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means; blocking means capable of blocking transmission of the driving force to the first conveyance means; and control means capable of selectively executing first driving control of transmitting the driving force of the driving source to the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means, after the recording medium reaches the second conveyance means, and second driving control of blocking the transmission of the driving force to the first conveyance means by the blocking means, and transmitting the driving force to the second conveyance means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a control method. [Background technology]

[0002] A recording device is provided with multiple transport mechanisms from a recording medium loading section to a recording head. For example, a pickup roller that transports the recording medium from the loading section, an intermediate roller that transports the recording medium transported by the pickup roller, and a transport roller that transports the recording medium from the intermediate roller to the recording head are provided. Providing a drive source for each transport mechanism increases the cost of the device. Patent Document 1 discloses a recording device provided with a transmission unit that allows multiple transport mechanisms to share a single drive source. This transmission unit can transmit the driving force of a motor to different rollers depending on the displacement of the internal mechanism caused by the motor, which is the drive source, and the rotation direction of the motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-102385 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, for example, in a recording job in which recording is performed on multiple recording media, the recording efficiency can be improved by performing the recording operation while continuously transporting the multiple recording media. However, when multiple transport mechanisms are driven simultaneously by the driving force from a single driving source, depending on the size of the recording media, the next recording medium that is not the target of the recording job may be transported. If the driving source is stopped, the last recording medium of the recording job may not be transported.

[0005] The present invention provides a technique for preventing an unintended recording medium from being transported. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, A recording means for recording on a recording medium; a first conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a second conveying means for conveying the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means; a drive source that outputs a drive force for driving the first conveying means and the second conveying means; a cut-off means for cutting off the transmission of the driving force to the first transport means; After the recording medium reaches the second conveying means, a first drive control for transmitting a driving force of the driving source to the first conveying means and the second conveying means; a second drive control for interrupting the transmission of the driving force to the first transport means by the interrupting means and transmitting the driving force to the second transport means; and a control means for selectively executing the steps: A recording device is provided. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an unintended conveyance of another recording medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of the internal mechanism of the recording apparatus in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of a transmission unit that transmits driving force. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control by a control unit. [Figure 6] 2A and 2B are diagrams showing an example of the operation of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1; [Figure 7] 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of continuous feed control. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams of supercharging. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control by a control unit. [Figure 10] 4A and 4B are flowcharts showing an example of control by a control unit. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing another control example of the control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] First Embodiment <Outline of the recording device> Fig. 1 is an external view of a recording device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2(A) is a schematic diagram of the internal mechanism of the recording device 1. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a serial type inkjet recording device will be described, but the present invention can also be applied to other types of recording devices. Furthermore, the recording device 1 may be a full-color printer or a monochrome printer, or may be a multifunction printer equipped with a reading device that reads a document.

[0011] In addition, "recording" includes not only the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also the formation of images, patterns, and the like on a recording medium, whether meaningful or insignificant, or the processing of the medium, regardless of whether it is manifested in a way that can be perceived by humans visually. In addition, although cut sheets of paper are assumed as the "recording medium" in this embodiment, it may also be cloth, plastic film, etc.

[0012] In the figure, arrows X, Y, and Z indicate directions that intersect with each other, and in this embodiment, arrows X and Y indicate horizontal directions that are perpendicular to each other, and arrow Z indicates the up-down direction. The X direction is the width direction of recording device 1, the Y direction is the depth direction of recording device 1, and the Z direction is the height direction of the recording device. In the following description, the downstream side and the upstream side are based on the transport direction of the recording medium.

[0013] The recording device 1 is equipped with a paper feed tray 2A in which recording medium P is set before recording, and paper feed cassettes 2B and 2C. The paper feed tray 2A constitutes a loading section in which the recording medium P is loaded, and is also capable of being stored and deployed. The paper feed cassettes 2B and 2C are equipped with loading sections 20B and 20C in which the recording medium P is loaded, and are detachable from the main body of the recording device 1 in the Y direction.

[0014] The recording device 1 also includes a paper discharge tray 3 onto which the recording medium P is discharged after recording. The recording medium P set in the paper feed tray 2A, paper feed cassette 2B or paper feed cassette 2C is conveyed by the conveying units 4A, 4B or 4C and the conveying units 5 to 8, guided by a guide member 9. During the conveying process, an image is recorded by the recording head 11, and the recording medium P is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 3. The guide member 9 has a guide portion 9a which forms a path for inverting the recording medium P, and the recording device 1 is also capable of double-sided recording on the recording medium P.

[0015] Of the transport units 4A to 4C and the transport units 5 to 8, the transport units 4A to 4C are disposed on the most upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium P. The transport unit 5 is disposed downstream of the transport units 4B and 4C, and the transport unit 6 is disposed downstream of the transport units 4A and 5. The transport unit 7 is disposed downstream of the transport unit 6, and the transport unit 8 is disposed downstream of the transport unit 7.

[0016] The transport unit 7 transports the recording medium P in the Y direction (sub-scanning direction) relative to the recording head 11. The recording position of the image in the Y direction relative to the recording medium P is controlled by driving and controlling the transport unit 7. The transport unit 7 includes a drive roller 7a and a driven roller 7b that is in pressure contact with the drive roller 7a, and transports the recording medium P by clamping it between these rollers.

[0017] The transport units 4A to 4C and the transport units 5 and 6 can also be called feeding units because they feed the recording medium P to the transport unit 7. The transport units 4A to 4C in this embodiment include a pickup roller that picks up the recording medium P from the corresponding paper feed tray 2A, stacking unit 20B or stacking unit 20C and transports it to the transport unit 5 or 6.

[0018] The transport units 5 and 6 include drive rollers 5a, 6a and driven rollers 5b, 6b that are in pressure contact with the corresponding drive rollers 5a, 6a, and these rollers sandwich and transport the recording medium P. The transport units 5 and 6 can also be called intermediate units or intermediate rollers because they are located between the most upstream transport units 4A to 4C and the transport unit 7.

[0019] The transport unit 8 can also be called a discharge unit because it discharges the recorded recording medium P to the discharge tray 3. The transport unit 8 includes a drive roller 8a and a driven roller 7b that is in pressure contact with the drive roller 8a, and these rollers sandwich and transport the recording medium P.

[0020] The recording head 11 is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink to record on a recording medium. The recording head 11 is located between the transport unit 7 and the transport unit 8 in the transport direction of the recording medium P. The recording head 11 is mounted on a carriage 12. The ink ejection surface (lower surface) of the recording head 11 faces the platen 10, and ejects ink onto the recording medium P transported over the platen 10. An ink tank that supplies ink to the recording head 11 may be mounted on the carriage 12, or may be located in a position other than the carriage 12 and supply ink to the recording head 11 via a tube.

[0021] The carriage 12 is moved back and forth in a direction across the recording medium P (in this embodiment, the X direction (main scanning direction)) by a drive unit 13. The drive unit 13 is a mechanism that uses a carriage motor 15 as a drive source, and is, for example, a belt transmission mechanism that includes a drive pulley and a driven pulley spaced apart in the X direction, an endless belt wound around these pulleys, and a guide member that guides the movement of the carriage 12 in the X direction. The carriage 12 is connected to the endless belt. When the carriage motor 15 rotates the drive pulley, the endless belt runs and the carriage 11 moves. The recording head 11 may be replaceably attached to the carriage 12.

[0022] Thus, the recording device 1 of this embodiment is a serial type recording device in which the recording head 11 is mounted on the carriage 12. The recording operation on the recording medium P is performed by alternately repeating a transport operation (intermittent transport operation) in which the transport unit 7 transports the recording medium P a predetermined amount and a recording scan while transport of the transport unit 7 is stopped. The recording scan is an operation in which ink is ejected from the recording head 11 while the carriage 12 on which the recording head 11 is mounted is moved.

[0023] The detection units 16 and 18 detect the recording medium P on the conveying path of the recording medium P. The detection unit 17 is disposed on the paper feed tray 2A and can detect whether the recording medium P is loaded on the paper feed tray 2A. The detection units 16 and 18 detect the passage of the leading edge and trailing edge of the recording medium P. The detection units 16 to 18 are, for example, optical sensors, or a combination of a movable element that moves by contacting the recording medium P and a sensor that detects the movement of the movable element. The detection unit 16 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveying unit 5 and can detect that the leading edge of the recording medium P has reached the conveying unit 5 and that the trailing edge of the recording medium P has passed through the conveying unit 5. The detection unit 18 is disposed on the upstream side of the conveying unit 7 and can detect that the leading edge of the recording medium P has reached in front of the conveying unit 7.

[0024] The recording apparatus 1 includes drive sources 13 and 14 for the transport units 4A to 4C, 5 to 8. In this embodiment, the drive sources 13 and 14 are motors. The drive source 13 is shared by the transport units 4A to 4C, 5 and 6, and outputs a drive force for driving these units. The drive source 14 is shared by the transport units 7 and 8, and outputs a drive force for driving these units.

[0025] The driving force of the driving source 14 can be constantly transmitted to the transport units 7 and 8 via a driving force transmission mechanism (not shown), and the transport units 7 and 8 rotate forward or reverse according to the rotation direction of the driving source 14. The driving force of the driving source 13 can be constantly transmitted to the transport units 5 and 6 via a driving force transmission mechanism (not shown), and the transport units 7 and 8 rotate in one direction regardless of the rotation direction of the driving source 13.

[0026] The driving force of the driving source 13 is selectively transmitted to the transport units 4A to 4C. FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of the transmission unit 20 that transmits the driving force between the driving source 13 and the transport units 4A to 4C. The transmission unit 20 is composed of a gear mechanism, a belt transmission mechanism, or the like. The transmission unit 20 can transition to states M1 to M3 by the displacement of its internal mechanism. The displacement of the internal mechanism is performed, for example, by the rotation of the driving source 13 or by the operation of another device. In state M1, the driving force of the driving source 13 is transmitted to the transport unit 4A, but is not transmitted to the transport units 4B and 4C. In state M2, when the driving source 13 is rotated forward, the driving force is transmitted to the transport unit 4B, but is not transmitted to the transport units 4A and 4C. Also, in state M2, when the driving source 13 is rotated backward, the driving force is transmitted to the transport unit 4C, but is not transmitted to the transport units 4A and 4B. In state M3, the driving force of the driving source 13 is not transmitted to any of the transport units 4A to 4C.

[0027] Between the transmission unit 20 and the transport unit 4B, a cutoff unit 21 capable of cutting off the transmission of the driving force of the drive source 13 to the transport unit 4B is provided. In this embodiment, the cutoff unit 21 is a trigger mechanism that cuts off the transmission of the driving force by contacting the carriage 12, and a movable element inside the mechanism is displaced by the pressing force of the carriage 12, acting to cut off the transmission of the driving force. The cutoff mechanism may be, for example, one that releases the meshing of gears that transmit the driving force, or one that separates members that frictionally transmit the driving force.

[0028] In the present embodiment, the blocking unit 21 is configured to be able to advance and retreat in the moving area of ​​the carriage 12. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram thereof, and is a plan view of the carriage 12 and the periphery of the recording device 1. The carriage 12 reciprocates in the X direction in the moving area 12a of width W1. When recording on a recording medium, the carriage 12 reciprocates in the X direction within a range of width W2. The blocking unit 21 can be moved by the driving force of the driving source 13 between an interference position (dashed line position) where the trigger portion enters the moving area 12a and a retreat position (solid line position) where the trigger portion retreats from the moving area 12a. For example, the trigger portion enters the moving area 12a by the reverse rotation of the driving source 13, and the trigger portion retreats from the moving area 12a by the forward rotation. When the trigger portion enters the moving area 12a and the carriage 12 moves outside the range of width W2, the carriage 12 can come into contact with the trigger portion.

[0029] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the blocking unit 21 can advance and retreat into the movement area 12a of the carriage 12, but the blocking unit 21 may be always disposed at a specific position (a position that does not contact the carriage 12 during recording) in the movement area 12a of the carriage 12. Also, a trigger mechanism that utilizes the pressing force of the carriage 12 is exemplified as the blocking unit 21, but any mechanism may be used as long as it is capable of blocking the transmission of driving force.

[0030] In this embodiment, a transmission unit 20 and a cut-off unit 21 are provided as a configuration for cutting off the transmission of the driving force of the driving source 13 to the transport unit 4B. When cutting off the transmission of the driving force using the transmission unit 20, it is necessary to switch the state of the transmission unit 20 to, for example, state M3. This switching may take time. When cutting off the transmission of the driving force using the cut-off unit 21, it is possible to cut off the transmission of the driving force in a shorter time than when using the transmission unit 20.

[0031] In this embodiment, a total of five units, namely, transport units 4A to 4C, 5 and 6, are provided as transport units to which driving force is transmitted from drive source 13, but the number of units can be designed appropriately depending on the length of the transport path and the length of the recording medium to be fed.

[0032] <Control unit> 4 is a block diagram of the control unit 30 of the recording device 1. The control unit 30 is an electronic circuit that controls the recording device 1. The CPU 31 is a processor that controls the operations of the recording device 1 and the processing of data. The CPU 31 executes a program stored in the storage device 32 to control the entire recording device 1. The storage device 32 may be composed of multiple storage devices. For example, the storage device 32 may be a semiconductor memory such as a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, or a DRAM, or a hard disk. The storage device 32 stores various data required for processing, such as data received from the host computer 100, in addition to the program executed by the CPU 31.

[0033] The CPU 31 controls the recording head 11 via a driver 33a. The CPU 31 controls the carriage motor 15 via a driver 33b. The CPU 31 also controls the drive sources 13 and 14 via drivers 33c and 33d.

[0034] In addition to the detection units 16 to 18, the sensor group 34 includes a sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the carriage 12 in the X direction, and sensors (not shown) that detect the amount of rotation of the drive sources 13 and 14.

[0035] The host computer 100 is, for example, a personal computer or a mobile terminal (such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal) used by a user. A printer driver 100a that performs communication between the host computer 100 and the recording device 1 is installed in the host computer 100. The recording device 1 has an interface unit 35, and communication between the host computer 100 and the CPU 31 is performed via the interface unit 35. For example, when a user inputs an instruction to execute a recording operation to the host computer 100, the printer driver 100a collects data of an image to be recorded and settings related to recording, and instructs the recording device 1 to execute recording control. An instruction to execute recording control may be called a recording job. Note that a recording job may be a single recording job that is formed by combining multiple recording jobs.

[0036] <Recording Control> In this embodiment, three types of recording are possible: recording of images onto a recording medium P loaded in the paper feed tray 2A, recording of images onto a recording medium P contained in the paper feed cassette 2B, and recording of images onto a recording medium P contained in the paper feed cassette 2C.

[0037] When recording an image on the recording medium P loaded in the paper feed tray 2A, the recording medium P is fed to the transport unit 7 by the transport unit 4A and the transport unit 6. When recording an image on the recording medium P accommodated in the paper feed cassette 2B, the recording medium P is fed to the transport unit 7 by the transport unit 4B, the transport units 5 and 6. When recording an image on the recording medium P accommodated in the paper feed cassette 2C, the recording medium P is fed to the transport unit 7 by the transport unit 4B, the transport units 5 and 6.

[0038] When the recording medium P is fed to the transport unit 7, the recording operation is started. The position of the leading edge of the recording medium P during the recording operation can be calculated as follows. First, after the leading edge of the recording medium P is detected by the detection unit 18, the transport unit 6 is driven until the leading edge of the recording medium P hits the nip portion of the transport unit 7 while the transport unit 7 is stopped. The distance in the transport direction from the detection unit 18 to the transport unit 7 is known. Even after the leading edge of the recording medium P hits the nip portion of the transport unit 7, the transport unit 6 continues to feed the recording medium P for a while to bend the recording medium P, thereby correcting the skew of the recording medium P. After that, the transport unit 7 is driven to transport the recording medium P to the recording head 12, and the transport distance of the recording medium P, that is, the position of the leading edge of the recording medium P in the transport direction, can be calculated by detecting the amount of rotation of the drive source 14.

[0039] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a basic recording control flow, and shows the flow of processing executed by the CPU 31. Fig. 6(A) to Fig. 7(A) show an example of the operation of the recording device 1 when the processing of Fig. 5 is executed on the recording medium P accommodated in the paper feed cassette 2B.

[0040] First, the CPU 31 accepts a recording job (S701). For example, the CPU 31 accepts a recording job from the host computer 100 via the I / F unit 35. The CPU 31 starts a feeding operation to feed the recording medium P in accordance with setting information of the accepted recording job (S2).

[0041] Fig. 6(A) illustrates the feeding operation. The driving source 13 is driven, and the driving force is transmitted to the transport units 5 and 6, which are driven. The driving force is also transmitted to the transport unit 4B via the transmission unit 20(M2), which also drives the transport unit 4B. Of the recording media P loaded on the mounting table 20B, the uppermost recording medium P is transported to the transport unit 5 by the transport unit 4B. Then, as shown in Fig. 6(B), the recording medium P reaches the transport unit 7 by the drive of the transport units 5 and 6.

[0042] Returning to Fig. 5, the CPU 31 corrects skew of the recording medium P (S3). Then, in S4, the CPU 31 transports the recording medium P to the recording start position below the recording head 11 (cuing up the recording medium P). Here, the drive source 14 is driven, and the transport units 7 and 8 are driven. The recording medium P is transported to the recording start position by the transport unit 7. The CPU 31 executes a recording operation on the recording medium P (S5).

[0043] 7A illustrates an example of the driving modes of the drive sources 13 and 14 during a recording operation. Since the recording medium P has reached the transport unit 7, the transport can be performed by the transport unit 7. For this reason, the drive source 13 is stopped. During the recording operation, as described above, the intermittent transport operation of the recording medium P by the transport unit 7 and the recording scan while the transport of the transport unit 7 is stopped are alternately performed.

[0044] Returning to Fig. 5, the CPU 31 executes a discharge operation to discharge the recorded recording medium P to the paper discharge tray 3 by the transport unit 7 and the transport unit 8 (S6). The CPU 31 judges whether or not there is a next page to be recorded (S7). If there is a next page, the process returns to S2, and if there is no next page, the operation of this flow ends.

[0045] <Continuous feed control and drive transmission cutoff> In order to improve productivity in a recording job in which recording is performed on a plurality of recording media P, the recording device 1 can feed the subsequent recording medium P while recording on the preceding recording medium P. This continuous feed control makes it possible to reduce the interval between the preceding recording medium P and the subsequent recording medium P and perform continuous recording.

[0046] Fig. 7(B) illustrates an operation mode of the recording device 1 in continuous feed control, which is compared with the state in Fig. 7(A). In the example in Fig. 7(A), the driving source 13 is stopped after the recording medium P reaches the transport unit 7. On the other hand, in the continuous feed control illustrated in Fig. 7(B), the driving source 13 is driven in accordance with the transport of the preceding recording medium P1 even after the preceding recording medium P1 reaches the transport unit 7. Therefore, during the recording operation on the preceding recording medium P1, the feeding of the succeeding recording medium P2 is started.

[0047] While this continuous feed control can improve the efficiency of printing on a plurality of printing media P, there may be cases where feeding of a printing medium P that is not the target of the printing job starts during feeding of the last (last page) printing medium P.

[0048] For example, when the recording medium P is A4 size, the trailing end of the fed recording medium P has not passed the conveying unit 5 or the conveying unit 4B at the timing when the leading end of the fed recording medium P reaches the position of the conveying unit 7. However, when the recording medium P is B5 size or smaller, the trailing end of the fed recording medium P passes the position of the conveying unit 4B before the leading end of the fed recording medium P reaches the position of the conveying unit 7. Therefore, there is a possibility that the next recording medium P on the stacking section 20B will be fed by the conveying unit 4B.

[0049] 8(A) and 8(B) are explanatory diagrams. FIG. 8(A) shows an example of the execution of recording medium P, in which images are recorded on two recording media, recording media P1 and P2. Recording medium P2 is the last recording medium of the recording job. Recording medium P0 on stacking section 20B is the third recording medium that is not the target of the recording job. When the size of recording medium P is small (when the length in the transport direction is short), transport unit 4B comes into contact with recording medium P0 on stacking section 20B before recording medium P2 reaches transport unit 7, and recording medium P0 becomes available for pick-up.

[0050] Fig. 8(B) shows the stage in which the last recording medium P2 has reached the transport unit 7 from the state in Fig. 8(A). A recording medium P0 that is not the target of the recording job has reached the transport unit 5, causing an overfeed state. If the recording medium P that is the target of the next recording job is the recording medium P on the paper feed tray 2A or the stacking table 20C, the recording medium P0 may interfere with the execution of the next recording job.

[0051] 6B, when the size of the recording medium P is large (when the length in the transport direction is long), the transport unit 4B is in contact with the recording medium P even when the recording medium P reaches the transport unit 7. Therefore, the next recording medium that is not the target of the recording job will not be picked up by the transport unit 4B, or even if it is picked up, it will be fed by a small transport distance that does not reach the transport unit 5, and there will be no hindrance to the execution of the next recording job.

[0052] Therefore, in this embodiment, two types of drive control A and B can be selectively executed as drive control during the transport of the last recording medium P of a recording job. The feeding of the last recording medium P is started by transmitting the drive force of the drive source 13 to the transport units 4B, 5, and 6. After the last recording medium P reaches the transport unit 5, in drive control A, the drive force of the drive source 13 continues to be transmitted to the transport units 4B, 5, and 6 to transport the last recording medium P to the transport unit 5. On the other hand, in transport control B, after the last recording medium P reaches the transport unit 5, the transmission of the drive force to the transport unit 4B is interrupted by the interruption unit 21, while the drive force continues to be transmitted to the transport units 5 and 6 to transport the last recording medium P to the transport unit 5.

[0053] When the length of the recording medium P is short, by selecting drive control B, it is possible to prevent overfeeding of another recording medium P that is not scheduled to be fed and is not the target of the recording job. Even in drive control B, the transport units 5 and 6 are driven, so that the last recording medium P can reach the transport unit 7.

[0054] 5, and shows the flow of processing executed by the CPU 31. More specifically, it shows the flow from the start of feeding of the recording medium P to the arrival of the recording medium P at the transport unit 7. The processing of this flowchart is executed based on the start of feeding of the recording medium P stacked on the stacking section 20B.

[0055] The CPU 31 judges whether the feeding to be started is during execution of a recording job for recording on a plurality of recording media P, and in particular, whether feeding is during continuous feed control (S11). If continuous feed control is in progress, the CPU 31 executes the process of S12, and if continuous feed control is not in progress, the CPU 31 executes the process of S22. The process of S22 is single feed control in which the recording media P are fed one by one, and the next feeding is started after the recording of the recording is completed.

[0056] Next, CPU 31 judges whether the current feeding is the feeding of the last recording medium P (last recording medium in continuous feed control) of the recording job (S12). If it is judged that the last recording medium P is being fed, CPU 31 executes the process of S13, and if it is judged that a recording medium other than the last recording medium is being fed, CPU 31 executes the process of S23. In S23, feeding under continuous feed control is executed. Here, the transfer unit 20 is set to state M2, and the drive source 13 is rotated forward, thereby driving the transport units 4B, 5 and 6 to feed the recording medium P.

[0057] In S13, the CPU 31 starts feeding the last page of the recording medium P. Here, the transfer unit 20 is set to the state M2, and the drive source 13 is rotated forward to drive the transport units 4B, 5, and 6. The recording medium P on the stacking table 20B is transported to the transport unit 5 by the transport unit 4B (pickup roller).

[0058] The CPU 31 monitors the detection result of the detection unit 16, and recognizes that the leading edge of the recording medium P of the final page has been detected by the detection unit 16 (that is, that the recording medium P has reached the transport unit 5) (S14). Upon detection of the leading edge of the recording medium P of the final page, measurement of the length of the recording medium P is started. The length is measured by measuring the amount of rotation of the drive source 13.

[0059] The CPU 31 monitors the detection result of the detection unit 16, and recognizes that the trailing end of the recording medium P of the final page has been detected by the detection unit 16 (has passed the transport unit 5) (S15). When the trailing end of the recording medium P of the final page is detected, the measurement of the length of the recording medium P is terminated.

[0060] The CPU 31 determines the length of the last page of the recording medium P (S16). The length of the recording medium P is calculated from the amount of rotation of the driving source 13 from the detection of the leading edge of the recording medium P to the detection of the trailing edge.

[0061] The CPU 31 judges whether the length specified in S16 is longer than a predetermined specified value. The specified value is a threshold value that is determined based on the length required for the leading edge of the recording medium P to reach the transport unit 7 before the trailing edge of the recording medium P passes through the transport unit 4B. For example, the specified value can be the distance from the transport unit 4B to the transport unit 7 on the transport path. The specified value is stored as a fixed value in the storage device 32, and is referred to by the CPU 31 when executing a recording job. The specified value may be information included in the recording job.

[0062] If the length specified in S16 is equal to or less than the specified value (equal to or less than the threshold), the CPU 31 executes the process of S18 (drive control B). If the length specified in S16 is longer than the specified value (longer than the threshold), the CPU 31 executes the process of S19 without going through the process of S18 (maintaining control at the start. Drive control A). In the process of S18, the CPU 31 cuts off the transmission of the drive force from the drive source 13 to the transport unit 4B by the cutoff unit 21. Fig. 10(A) is a flowchart showing an example of the process of S18.

[0063] First, the trigger portion of the blocking unit 21 is moved to the interference position. The CPU 31 moves the trigger portion to the interference position by reversing the drive source 13 (S31). The CPU 31 drives the carriage motor 15 to move the carriage 12 and abuts the carriage 12 against the trigger portion (S32). As a result, the blocking unit 21 is in a blocking state in which the transmission of the driving force from the drive source 13 (transmission unit 20) to the transport unit 4B is blocked. This makes it possible to prevent the feeding of another recording medium P that does not need to be fed from the paper feed cassette 2B. Then, the CPU 31 switches the blocking flag to ON at the timing when the blocking unit 21 and the carriage 12 come into contact with each other (S33). The blocking flag is a flag stored in the storage device 32, for example, and indicates whether the blocking unit 21 is in a blocking state or not.

[0064] 9. In the process of S19, the CPU 31 continues feeding. Regardless of whether the blocking unit 21 is in the blocking state or not, the transport units 5 and 6 (intermediate rollers) are driven by the driving force from the drive source 13 to transport the recording medium P of the last page.

[0065] If the process of S18 is performed before the process of S19 is performed, the transmission of the driving force from the driving source 13 to the transport unit 4B is interrupted by the interruption unit 21. Even if the process of S19 is performed in this state and the driving source 13 is driven, the transport unit 4B is not driven and another recording medium P is not picked up.

[0066] Furthermore, if the process of S18 is not performed, the length specified in S16 is longer than the specified value. This means that the trailing edge of the recording medium P does not pass the position of the transport unit 4B when the recording medium P of the last page is transported to the position where the leading edge of the recording medium P reaches the transport unit 7. Even if the process of S19 is performed in this state and the transport unit 4B is driven by the driving force from the drive source 13, another recording medium P will not be picked up.

[0067] Based on the detection result of the detection unit 18, the CPU 31 judges whether or not the recording medium P of the last page has reached the transport unit 7 (S20). If it is judged that the recording medium P has reached the transport unit 7, the CPU 31 executes the process of S21. Here, when the cutoff unit 21 is in the cutoff state, a process is performed to return the cutoff unit 21 to the state in which the driving force is transmitted. Fig. 10(B) is a flow chart showing an example of this process.

[0068] The CPU 31 reads the cutoff flag and determines whether the cutoff flag is ON or not (S41). If it is determined that the cutoff flag is OFF, the process ends. If it is determined that the cutoff flag is ON, the CPU 31 drives the carriage motor 15 to move the carriage 12 and separate the carriage 12 from the trigger portion (S42). This places the cutoff unit 21 in a state in which the drive force is transmitted from the drive source 13 (transmission unit 20) to the transport unit 4B. Then, the CPU 31 switches the cutoff flag to OFF (S43).

[0069] Returning to FIG. 9, when the process of S21 is completed, the process of FIG. 9 is completed. After the process of FIG. 9, which corresponds to S2 in FIG. 5, is completed, the CPU 31 performs processes of S3, S4, S5, and S6 in order on the recording medium P of the final page that has been fed. Since the recording medium P has reached the transport unit 7 at the time the process of S2 is completed, the recording medium P is transported by the transport unit 7 in the subsequent processes. Therefore, the driving force of the drive source 13 is not required for the processes of S3 and subsequent processes on the recording medium P of the final page.

[0070] With the above configuration, this embodiment can prevent another recording medium P that does not need to be fed from the paper feed cassette 2B immediately after a recording job in which recording is performed on multiple recording media P. Operations related to the blocking and recovery of the blocking unit 21 are sufficient to move the trigger part by the driving source 13 once and to move the carriage 12 once each. There are cases in which the operation is completed faster than switching the state of the transmission unit 20.

[0071] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, when the length of the recording medium P of the last page is equal to or less than a specified value, the cutoff unit 21 cuts off the transmission of the driving force, but the next recording job may also be taken into consideration to determine whether the transmission is cut off. For example, when the next recording job has already been received and the size and stacking section of the recording medium P are the same, productivity may be improved by continuing the continuous feed control from the previous recording job to the next recording job. Note that when multiple recording jobs are combined into one recording job, the presence or absence of the transmission cutoff may be determined for each individual recording job before the combination.

[0072] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of this. A process different from the example of FIG. 9 will be described. In the example of FIG. 11, if the length specified in S16 is equal to or less than a specified value, the next recording job is confirmed in S24. If the next recording job is accepted and it is determined that the recording medium P to be used is the same size as the recording medium in the recording conditions and is contained in the paper feed cassette 2B, the process of S19 is performed without performing the process of S18. In other words, the recording medium P of the first page of the next recording job is fed consecutively with the recording medium P of the last page of the previous recording job, thereby improving productivity.

[0073] On the other hand, if it is determined in S24 that the next recording job has not been accepted, that the next recording job has been accepted but the size of the recording medium is different, or that the recording medium contained in the paper feed cassette 2C or the recording medium on the paper feed tray 2A will be used, the processing of S18 is executed.

[0074] <Third embodiment> In the first embodiment, the transmission of the driving force to the transport unit 4B is interrupted by using the interrupting unit 21, but the transmission of the driving force to the transport unit 4B may be interrupted by switching the state of the transmission unit 20. In this case, the transmission unit 20 functions as the interrupting unit 21, and the interrupting unit 21 is not necessary.

[0075] <Fourth embodiment> In the first embodiment, the transmission of driving force to the conveying unit 4B is cut off using the cut-off unit 21, but the target for cutting off the transmission of driving force may be the conveying unit 4C, or it may be both the conveying units 4B and 4C.

[0076] <Fifth embodiment> In the first embodiment, the length of the final page of the recording medium P is identified during feeding (S14 to S16), but the timing and method of identification are not limited to this. For example, if a recording job targets multiple recording media P of the same size, the length of the recording medium P of a page before the final page may be measured during feeding, and the measurement result may be identified as the length of the recording medium P of the final page. Also, if the recording job includes size information, the length of the recording medium P of the final page may be identified based on that size information.

[0077] In the first embodiment, the selection of drive controls A and B is performed after the recording medium P of the final page passes through the transport unit 5, but it may be performed at any timing after the recording medium P of the final page reaches the transport unit 5. For example, it may be performed when the leading edge of the recording medium P of the final page is detected by the detection unit 16. Alternatively, it may be performed when the recording medium P of the final page passes through the transport unit 4B. In short, it is only necessary that the recording medium P of the final page can be transported to the transport unit 7 without the transport unit 4B, and that the recording medium P of the final page can pass through the transport unit 4B after the recording medium P of the final page reaches the transport unit 7.

[0078] <Other embodiments> The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for realizing one or more functions of the above-mentioned embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) for realizing one or more functions.

[0079] <Summary of the embodiment> The above-described embodiments disclose a recording device or a control method relating to at least the following items.

[0080] Item 1. A recording means for recording on a recording medium; a first conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a second conveying means for conveying the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means; a drive source that outputs a drive force for driving the first conveying means and the second conveying means; a cut-off means for cutting off the transmission of the driving force to the first transport means; After the recording medium reaches the second conveying means, a first drive control for transmitting a driving force of the driving source to the first conveying means and the second conveying means; a second drive control for interrupting the transmission of the driving force to the first transport means by the interrupting means and transmitting the driving force to the second transport means; and a control means for selectively executing the steps: A recording device comprising:

[0081] Item 2. Item 1. The recording device according to item 1, the control means selectively executes the first drive control and the second drive control after a last recording medium in a recording job in which recording is performed on a plurality of recording media has arrived at the second transport means. A recording device comprising:

[0082] Item 3. The recording device according to item 1 or 2, The first transport means transports the recording medium from a first stacking unit on which the recording medium is stacked. A recording device comprising:

[0083] Item 4. A recording device according to any one of items 1 to 3, a third transport means for transporting the recording medium to the recording means; the second drive control is performed until the recording medium reaches the third transport means. A recording device comprising:

[0084] Item 5. Item 2. The recording device according to item 2, The control means executing the first drive control or the second drive control based on the length of the last recording medium; A recording device comprising:

[0085] Item 6. Item 2. The recording device according to item 2, The control means If the length of the last recording medium is longer than a threshold value, the first drive control is executed; If the length of the last recording medium is equal to or less than a threshold value, the second drive control is executed. A recording device comprising:

[0086] Item 7. The recording device according to item 5 or 6, a detection unit for detecting the recording medium in a transport path of the recording medium; The control means determining a length of the recording medium based on a detection result of the leading end and trailing end of the recording medium by the detection means; A recording device comprising:

[0087] Item 8. Item 2. The recording device according to claim 1, The first drive control is executed until the last recording medium passes through the second conveying means, the second drive control is executed after the last recording medium has passed through the second conveying means; A recording device comprising:

[0088] Item 9. Item 2. The recording device according to claim 1, the control means executes the first drive control for the recording media other than the last recording medium in the recording job. A recording device comprising:

[0089] Item 10. The recording device according to any one of items 1 to 9, a carriage which carries the recording means and moves, the interrupting means is brought into a state of interrupting transmission of the driving force by contacting the carriage; A recording device comprising:

[0090] Item 11. A recording device according to any one of items 1 to 10, a fourth conveying means for conveying the recording medium from a second stacking unit on which the recording medium is stacked to the second conveying means; a transmission means capable of transmitting a driving force of the driving source to the first transport means and the fourth transport means, the driving source is a motor, The transmission means is The driving force is transmitted to the first conveying means or the fourth conveying means depending on a rotation direction of the motor. A recording device comprising:

[0091] Item 12. A control method for a recording device including a recording means for recording on a recording medium, a first transport means for transporting the recording medium, a second transport means for transporting the recording medium transported by the first transport means, a drive source for outputting a drive force for driving the first transport means and the second transport means, and a cutoff means for cutting off transmission of the drive force to the first transport means, comprising: After the recording medium reaches the second conveying means, a first drive control for transmitting a driving force of the driving source to the first conveying means and the second conveying means; a second drive control for interrupting the transmission of the driving force to the first transport means by the interrupting means and transmitting the driving force to the second transport means; A control step for selectively executing A control method comprising:

[0092] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 1 recording device, 11 recording head, 4A to 4C transport units, 5 to 8 transport units, 13 driving source, 21 cutoff unit

Claims

1. A recording means for recording on a recording medium; a first conveying means for conveying the recording medium; a second conveying means for conveying the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means; a drive source that outputs a drive force for driving the first conveying means and the second conveying means; a cut-off means for cutting off the transmission of the driving force to the first transport means; After the recording medium reaches the second conveying means, a first drive control for transmitting a driving force of the driving source to the first conveying means and the second conveying means; a second drive control for interrupting the transmission of the driving force to the first transport means by the interrupting means and transmitting the driving force to the second transport means; and a control means for selectively executing the steps: A recording apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, the control means selectively executes the first drive control and the second drive control after a last recording medium in a recording job in which recording is performed on a plurality of recording media has arrived at the second transport means. A recording apparatus comprising:

3. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, The first transport means transports the recording medium from a first stacking unit on which the recording medium is stacked. A recording apparatus comprising:

4. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, a third transport means for transporting the recording medium to the recording means; the second drive control is performed until the recording medium reaches the third transport means. A recording apparatus comprising:

5. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, The control means executing the first drive control or the second drive control based on the length of the last recording medium; A recording apparatus comprising:

6. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, The control means If the length of the last recording medium is longer than a threshold value, the first drive control is executed; If the length of the last recording medium is equal to or less than a threshold value, the second drive control is executed. A recording apparatus comprising:

7. 6. The recording device according to claim 5, a detection unit for detecting the recording medium in a transport path of the recording medium; The control means determining a length of the recording medium based on a detection result of the leading end and trailing end of the recording medium by the detection means; A recording apparatus comprising:

8. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, The first drive control is executed until the last recording medium passes through the second conveying means, the second drive control is executed after the last recording medium has passed through the second conveying means; A recording apparatus comprising:

9. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, the control means executes the first drive control for the recording media other than the last recording medium in the recording job. A recording apparatus comprising:

10. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, a carriage which carries the recording means and moves, the interrupting means is brought into a state of interrupting transmission of the driving force by contacting the carriage; A recording apparatus comprising:

11. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, a fourth conveying means for conveying the recording medium from a second stacking unit on which the recording medium is stacked to the second conveying means; a transmission means capable of transmitting a driving force of the driving source to the first transport means and the fourth transport means, the driving source is a motor, The transmission means is The driving force is transmitted to the first conveying means or the fourth conveying means depending on a rotation direction of the motor. A recording apparatus comprising:

12. A control method for a recording device including a recording means for recording on a recording medium, a first transport means for transporting the recording medium, a second transport means for transporting the recording medium transported by the first transport means, a drive source for outputting a drive force for driving the first transport means and the second transport means, and a cutoff means for cutting off transmission of the drive force to the first transport means, comprising: After the recording medium reaches the second conveying means, a first drive control for transmitting a driving force of the driving source to the first conveying means and the second conveying means; a second drive control for interrupting the transmission of the driving force to the first transport means by the interrupting means and transmitting the driving force to the second transport means; A control step for selectively executing A control method comprising:

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