Printing system, method for controlling the same, and program

Abstract

To provide a printing system that can appropriately perform subsequent stage processing even when it fails to detect timing marks.SOLUTION: A printing system performs printing while conveying a recording medium, and has estimation means that estimates the interval between marks for determining the timing to start predetermined processing that is performed on a recording medium on which printing is performed. When means for detecting marks fails to detect the marks, the printing system determines the timing to start the predetermined processing on the basis of a result of the estimation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an operation control technique using timing marks in a printing system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a digital printing system, when printing a background color and then printing a pattern, or when performing processing on a paper on which a pattern has been printed, operation control using timing marks has been performed. Patent Document 1 discloses a control method that enables printing or processing even when the positions of the timing marks vary. The content is that the start timing of printing or processing is determined based on statistical information composed of one or more data based on the number of pulse signals output between detecting one timing mark and detecting the next timing mark.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technique of Patent Document 1 above, when determining the start timing of subsequent processes such as printing and processing, it is necessary to obtain both the detection of the timing mark and the number of pulses of the pulse signal. Therefore, there is a problem that when the timing mark cannot be detected, the start timing of the subsequent process cannot be determined.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to enable appropriate performance of subsequent processes such as printing and processing even when the timing mark cannot be detected.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The printing system according to the present disclosure is a printing system that performs printing while conveying a recording medium, and includes a forming unit that forms a mark on the recording medium for determining the start timing of a predetermined process performed on the recording medium on which printing has been performed, a detecting unit that detects the mark formed on the recording medium by the forming unit, and a control unit that controls the execution of the predetermined process. The control unit has an estimating unit that estimates the interval between the marks formed on the recording medium by the forming unit. When the detecting unit successfully detects the mark, the start timing of the predetermined process is determined based on the result of the detection. When the detecting unit fails to detect the mark, the start timing of the predetermined process is determined based on the result of the estimation.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, even when a timing mark cannot be detected, subsequent processes such as printing and processing can be appropriately performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the mode for carrying out the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings and the like. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the technology of the present disclosure, and not all the configurations described in the following embodiments are essential means for solving the problems. In this specification, a printing system that forms an image by transporting a continuous sheet at a constant speed in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of recording elements using a recording head (line head) for each ink color in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged by an amount corresponding to the width of the continuous sheet will be described as an example. Also, a roll paper will be described as an example of the continuous sheet, but a material other than paper such as a roll film may be used. Further, the printing system may be configured to form an image on a cut sheet of a predetermined size such as A4 instead of the continuous sheet.

[0010] [Embodiment 1] <Outline of the Configuration of the Printing System> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing system 100 includes a paper feeding device 104 that feeds out a roll paper P, a first printing device 115 that performs printing with special ink, a second printing device 116 that performs printing with CMYK basic color inks, a winding device 105 that winds up the roll paper P, a UI panel 101, and a control PC 119.

[0011] The paper feeding device 104 is a mechanism that supplies roll paper P to the first printing device 115 and the second printing device 116. The paper feeding device 104 rotates the paper tube of the roll paper P around the rotating shaft 117, and feeds the roll paper P wound around the paper tube to the printing device at a constant speed via a plurality of rollers (such as conveying rollers and paper feeding rollers). The winding device 105 is a mechanism that winds the roll paper P discharged from the printing device around the paper tube in a roll shape. The winding device 105 winds the conveyed roll paper P at a constant speed via a plurality of rollers (for example, conveying rollers and paper discharging rollers), and holds it as a finished product 111 on the paper tube of the rotating shaft 118. The roll paper P is set by hanging it from the paper feeding device 104 to the winding device 105 before printing starts. Specifically, first, the leading end of the roll paper P is passed over the oblique light correction device 110. Next, it is passed under the line head 103 of the first printing device 115. Next, it is passed under the drying device 112, and over the cooling devices 113 and 114. Next, it is passed under the mark detection device (mark sensor) 120, the line head 102, and the drying device 106 of the second printing device 116 in sequence, and further over the cooling devices 108 and 109. Then, it is passed through the connection scanner device 107 and wound around the winding device 105. After passing the roll paper P through the first printing device 115 and the second printing device 116 as described above, the user inputs a printing job to the control PC 119. After inputting the printing job, the user presses the printing start button on the UI panel 101 to start printing.

[0012] <Functional Configuration of the Control PC> Next, the functional configuration (software configuration) of the control PC 119 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 2. The control PC 119 has functional parts such as a paper conveyance part 201, an image formation part 202, a communication part 203, a control part 204, a storage part 205, an operation display part 206, an inspection part 207, a paper feeding control part 208, and a winding control part 209.

[0013] The paper conveyance unit 201 drives a plurality of rollers to convey the roll paper P fed out from the paper feeding device 104 to the first printing device 115 and the second printing device 116, and further conveys the roll paper P that has passed through both printing devices to the winding device 105. The image forming unit 202 forms an image on the roll paper P based on the image data related to the input print job using the first printing device 115 and the second printing device 116. The communication unit 203 performs transmission and reception of various data with an external device (for example, a personal computer) connected to a communication network such as a LAN or a WAN. The control unit 204 is responsible for overall control of the entire printing system 100 by a CPU and a RAM (not shown). That is, the CPU acquires system programs, processing programs, etc. from the storage unit 205 and expands them in the RAM, and by executing these, each functional unit shown in FIG. 2 is realized. The storage unit 205 holds various programs such as system programs and processing programs, and various data necessary for the execution of these programs in a non-volatile semiconductor memory (so-called flash memory) or an HDD (not shown). The operation display unit 206 displays various information on the UI panel 101 composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display with a touch panel, and accepts user operations and outputs operation signals to the control unit 204. User operations include, for example, setting partition information when inputting a print job. The partition information is information indicating the insertion position of a partition page to be inserted in advance when it is necessary to sort the printed roll paper (product) P' into a plurality of rolls for delivery.

[0014] <Overview of the operation of the printing system> Next, the flow of the operation when performing a printing process on the roll paper P in the printing system 100 will be described. Prior to the start of the printing process, the user creates a print job on an external information processing device and transmits it to the printing system 100 via a communication network. The print job is composed of image data to be printed and print setting information that defines the printing conditions, etc. of the image data. The print setting information includes information necessary for generating print data such as the number of copies, color adjustment, partition pages, correction of paper stretching / expansion, and information necessary for controlling the printing device such as the conveyance speed and the drying temperature.

[0015] Based on the received print job, the control unit 204 generates data for spot color printing and data for basic color printing, and causes the image forming unit 202 to execute printing processing. When printing the data for spot color printing, the timing mark is also printed. Further, based on the detection signal of the timing mark from the mark sensor 120, the printing start timing of the data for basic color printing is determined.

[0016] The inspection unit 207 inspects whether there are any printing defects such as non-ejection of ink in the printing apparatus. As inspection methods, there are various methods such as a method of inspecting by analyzing a read image obtained by reading the roll paper P which is the product or the roll paper P printed with an inspection pattern with a camera or a scanner, and a method of monitoring the ejection state from the nozzles.

[0017] <Control Flow> Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the flow of print control in the printing system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. The following flow shows the flow of a series of processes until a product for one page is completed. In reality, each process for a plurality of pages is advanced simultaneously in parallel, such as executing spot color printing for another page while executing basic color printing for a certain page. Also, in the following description, the symbol "S" means step.

[0018] First, in S301, the image forming unit 202 executes printing processing according to the data for spot color printing of the M-th page to be processed among the pages specified in the print job at the first printing apparatus 115 based on an instruction from the control unit 204. At this time, the first printing apparatus 115 also prints the timing mark for correctly aligning the plate for spot color printing and the plate for basic color printing on the M-th page. Note that the spot color refers to ink colors other than CMYK which are basic colors, such as red, orange, green, and violet.

[0019] In S302, as preprocessing for the control unit 204 to estimate the interval between timing marks in S303, a reset process of the pulse signal (a process of setting the number of pulses to "0") is performed by a pulse generator (not shown). Note that the content of the preprocessing depends on the method for estimating the interval between timing marks. For example, when estimating the interval between timing marks by the count time (elapsed time) of a timer instead of the number of pulses of the pulse signal, a reset process of the timer for time measurement may be performed as the preprocessing.

[0020] In S303, the control unit 204 estimates the interval between the timing mark on the M-th page and the timing mark on the previous (M - 1)-th page (hereinafter referred to as the "mark interval") based on the number of pulses of the pulse signal. For example, assume that the page to be processed is the 3rd page (M = 3). In this case, the current number of pulses of the pulse signal reset at the time of printing the timing mark on the 2nd page (M = 2) represents the interval until the timing mark on the 3rd page is printed (= corresponding to the conveyance amount of the roll paper P). Note that the conveyance speed of the roll paper P is assumed to be constant throughout the print job. In this way, the mark interval between pages is estimated. Note that when estimating the mark interval by elapsed time, it can be estimated by obtaining the count time of the timer from the time of printing the timing mark on the (M - 1)-th page to the time of printing the timing mark on the M-th page. The information on the estimated mark interval is stored in the RAM in the control unit 204.

[0021] In S304, the control unit 204 determines whether the timing mark on the M-th page is detected by the mark sensor 120 in the second printing device 116 based on the mark interval estimated in S303. In the present embodiment, the timing mark is formed on the roll paper P by printing using special ink in the first printing device 115 that performs special printing. Therefore, the mark sensor 120 is a colorimetric sensor that measures the color of the roll paper P. If the color of the special ink rather than the background color of the roll paper P is measured at the timing indicated by the mark interval estimated in S303, it is determined that the detection of the timing mark has been successful. At this time, a margin considering the stretching and shrinking characteristics of the used roll paper P, etc. is calculated and provided based on the printing settings of the printing job for the timing indicated by the mark interval. The amount of margin to be provided is arbitrary, but about ±1% of the assumed timing is common. Then, the control unit 204 distributes the next process to be executed according to the determination result. Specifically, if the determination result is a detection failure, S305 is executed next, and if the determination result is a detection success, S307 is executed next.

[0022] In S305, the control unit 204 distributes the next process to be executed depending on whether the number of times of failure to detect the timing mark has reached the threshold N. For example, “2” or “3” is assumed as the value of the threshold N. When the N-th detection failure occurs, the control unit 204 regards it as a device abnormality and ends the printing process. When the number of detection failures is less than the N-th time, the control unit 204 executes S306 next. Here, it is determined whether there is a device abnormality based on the cumulative number of detection failures. However, for example, it may be determined that there is a device abnormality when the detection fails continuously N times.

[0023] In S306, the control unit 204 determines the start timing of the basic color printing based on the mark interval estimated in S303. For example, if the roll paper P is being conveyed at 30 m / min, it is considered that the plate (image) for the basic color printing can be formed at an appropriate position when the basic color printing is started 0.3 seconds after detecting the timing mark (that is, when the roll paper P has been conveyed 15 cm after being detected). In this case, the predicted detection timing is obtained from the estimated mark interval, and the number of pulses corresponding to the time of +0.3 seconds added to the obtained predicted detection timing is determined as the start timing of the basic color printing. Then, the control unit 204 issues an execution instruction for printing to the image forming unit 202 so that the basic color printing is performed at the start timing thus determined.

[0024] In S307, the control unit 204 determines the start timing of the basic color printing based on the detection result of the timing mark by the mark sensor 120. The concept in the determination is the same as that in S306. Since the conveyance amount from the detection time of the timing mark can be obtained from the conveyance speed, the timing at which the plate for the basic color printing is formed at an appropriate position is determined. That is, in the above example, the number of pulses corresponding to the time of +0.3 seconds added to the actual detection time may be determined as the start timing of the basic color printing. Then, the control unit 204 issues an execution instruction for printing to the image forming unit 202 so that the basic color printing is performed at the start timing thus determined.

[0025] In S308, the image forming unit 202 executes printing processing according to the data for basic color printing of the M-th page at the second printing device 116 based on the instruction from the control unit 204.

[0026] In S309, the control unit 204 determines whether or not the printing processing for all pages related to the input printing job has been completed. If there are unprocessed pages, it returns to S301 and continues the processing.

[0027] The above is the flow of print control in the printing system 100 according to the present embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, even if the detection of the timing mark fails, the position of the timing mark can be pseudo-specified based on the estimated mark interval, and the start timing of the basic color printing can be determined.

[0028] When the page to be processed is the first page (M = 1), since there is no timing mark on the page one before that (page M - 1), the estimation of the timing mark interval (S303) cannot be executed. Therefore, S303 is skipped and the process proceeds to the determination of S304. If the timing mark on the first page cannot be detected, it is treated as if there were no timing mark, and the basic color printing in the second printing device 116 is not performed, and the process proceeds to the spot color printing process for the second page.

[0029] <Effect of the Present Embodiment> Here, the effects of the present embodiment will be described with reference to a specific example. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a roll paper P as a product obtained when the timing mark is appropriately formed and its detection is successful. In the roll paper P after printing shown in FIG. 4, a target image composed of each round rectangle 401 of the background formed by spot color printing and the face 402 of the foreground formed by basic color printing is formed without missing for five pages. In the example of FIG. 4, for example, the timing mark interval for performing the basic color printing on the second page is the length from the position of the timing mark 403a on the first page to the timing mark 403b on the second page.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the printing result when a defect occurs in the timing mark 403c on the third page in the specific example of FIG. 4 described above, where (a) shows the case of the prior art and (b) shows the case of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5(a), in the prior art, since the mark sensor 120 cannot detect the timing mark 403c, basic color printing is not performed for the third page, and only each round rectangle 401 by special color printing is formed on the roll paper P. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5(b), in the present embodiment, since the start timing of basic color printing is determined based on the estimated mark interval even if the timing mark cannot be detected, the target image composed of each round rectangle 401 and the face 402 is also formed for the third page. Note that the reasons for the inability to detect the timing mark can include various cases such as defective formation of the mark itself and dirt or dust adhering to the mark sensor 120.

[0031] <Modification Example> In the present embodiment, the timing mark is formed on the roll paper by printing, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the timing mark may be formed on the roll paper by a method other than printing, such as attaching a sticker of the same shape.

[0032] In addition, in the present embodiment, a printing system using roll paper as a recording medium has been described as an example, but it can be similarly applied to a printing system using cut paper, for example.

[0033] As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the timing mark cannot be properly detected for some reason, the start timing of subsequent printing processing can be determined based on the estimated mark interval. As a result, printing can be continued at locations where printing was impossible due to the inability to detect the timing mark in the past, so that the occurrence of NG pages can be suppressed.

[0034] [Embodiment 2] In Embodiment 1, in a printing system that performs basic color printing following spot color printing, an aspect that enables performing subsequent basic color printing based on an estimated mark interval when detection of a timing mark formed during the previous spot color printing fails was described. Next, as Embodiment 2, an aspect that enables performing subsequent processing based on an estimated mark interval when detection of a timing mark formed during the previous printing fails in a printing system that performs a processing operation following the printing process will be described. Regarding the content common to Embodiment 1, the description will be omitted or simplified, and the following will focus on the differences for explanation.

[0035] <Outline of the Configuration of the Printing System> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the printing system according to this embodiment. The printing system 100’ includes a paper feeding device 104, a first printing device 115, a second printing device 116, a winding device 105, a UI panel 101, and a control PC 119, similar to the printing system 100 of Embodiment 1, and further includes a processing device 601. The roll paper P printed by the second printing device 116 is sent to the processing device 601, passes through a mark sensor 602 in the processing device 601, passes through a die-cutting mechanism 603, and the roll paper P is wound as a product by the winding device 105.

[0036] <Functional Configuration of the Control PC> Next, the functional configuration (software configuration) of the control PC 119' according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 7. The control PC 119' of the present embodiment includes a paper conveyance unit 201, an image forming unit 202, a communication unit 203, a control unit 204, a storage unit 205, an operation display unit 206, an inspection unit 207, a paper feed control unit 208, a winding control unit 209, and a processing control unit 210. The processing control unit 210 controls the start operation of the die-cutting mechanism 603 included in the processing device 601 based on the detection result of the timing mark by the mark sensor 602 or the estimated mark interval. The die-cutting mechanism 603 is a mechanism that performs a processing called "scraping up". Scraping up refers to a process in label printing using a two-layer roll paper, in which a blank portion (referred to as "scrap") that is not used as a seal on the upper layer side is die-cut and peeled off, leaving only the portion that becomes the seal on the lower layer side (mounting paper).

[0037] <Control Flow> Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the flow of control of printing and processing in the printing system 100' according to the present embodiment will be described. In the flowchart of FIG. 8, S801 to S805 on the left side indicate the processing flow in the printing device, and S811 to S817 on the right side indicate the processing flow in the processing device. Note that the flowchart of FIG. 8 shows the flow of a series of processes until a finished product for one page is completed, similar to the flowchart of FIG. 3 in Embodiment 1. In reality, for each process of the finished product for a plurality of pages, each process can proceed simultaneously in parallel, such as performing printing for one page while performing processing (here, scraping up) for another page. Also, in the following description, the symbol "S" means step.

[0038] First, in S801, the image forming unit 202 executes printing processing according to the label printing data for the M-th page to be processed among the pages specified in the printing job at the first printing device 115 and the second printing device 116 based on an instruction from the control unit 204. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the timing mark for performing scraping up on the M-th page is printed using K ink at the second printing device 116.

[0039] In S802, the control unit 204 performs a reset process of a pulse signal by a pulse generator (not shown) as preprocessing for estimating the interval between timing marks in S803. Note that the fact that this preprocessing depends on the method for estimating the interval between timing marks is the same as in Embodiment 1. For example, when estimating the interval between timing marks by elapsed time instead of the number of pulses, a reset process of a timer for time measurement may be performed as preprocessing.

[0040] In S803, the control unit 204 estimates the interval between the timing mark on the M-th page and the timing mark on the previous (M - 1)-th page (hereinafter referred to as "mark interval") based on the current number of pulses of the pulse signal.

[0041] In S804, the control unit 204 notifies the processing control unit 210 of the mark interval estimated in S803. Note that in the case of a system configuration in which label printing is performed in cooperation with an external processing device, the notification may be made by wireless or wired communication, or may be made indirectly via a server or the like.

[0042] In S805, the control unit 204 determines whether or not the printing process for all pages related to the input printing job has been completed. If there are unprocessed pages, the process returns to S801 and continues. This is the flow of the process on the printing device side. Subsequently, the flow of the process on the processing device side will be described.

[0043] In S811, the processing control unit 210 receives the notification of the estimated mark interval from the control unit 204.

[0044] In S812, the processing control unit 210 determines whether the timing mark on the M-th page has been detected by the mark sensor 602 in the processing apparatus 601 based on the estimated mark interval received in S811. As described above, in the present embodiment, the timing mark is formed on the roll paper P by printing using K ink in the second printing apparatus 116 that performs basic color printing. Therefore, the mark sensor 602 determines that the detection of the timing mark has been successful if the color of the K ink is measured at the timing indicated by the estimated mark interval related to the notification. At this time, the point of providing a margin in consideration of the expansion and contraction characteristics of the roll paper P used is the same as in the first embodiment. Then, the processing control unit 210 distributes the next process to be executed according to the determination result. Specifically, if the determination result is a detection failure, S813 is executed next, and if the determination result is a detection success, S815 is executed next.

[0045] In S813, the processing control unit 210 distributes the next process to be executed depending on whether the number of times of failure to detect the timing mark has reached the threshold value N. This process corresponds to the process of S305 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. When the failure of detection is the N-th time, it is regarded as a device abnormality and the process ends without performing the processing. On the other hand, if the failure of detection is less than the N-th time, S814 is executed next. Note that the same as in the first embodiment is that the arrival of the threshold value N may be determined by the continuous number of times instead of the cumulative number of times. Also, although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the processing control unit 210 notifies the control unit 204 that the processing has ended because the detection failure of the timing mark has exceeded a predetermined number of times. Upon receiving this notification, the control unit 204 stops the label printing.

[0046] In S814, the processing control unit 210 determines the start timing of waste removal based on the estimated mark interval related to the notification. The concept of determining this start timing is the same as in Embodiment 1. Based on the estimated mark interval, the conveyance amount from the point that would originally have been detected is obtained from the conveyance speed, and the die-cutting timing is determined so that the waste portion (scrap) can be appropriately peeled off from the backing paper while leaving the portion that becomes the seal. Then, the processing control unit 210 issues an execution instruction to the die-cutting mechanism 603 so that waste removal is performed at the start timing thus determined.

[0047] In S815, the processing control unit 210 determines the start timing of waste removal based on the detection result of the timing mark by the mark sensor 602. The concept in the determination is the same as in S814. The conveyance amount from the detection point of the timing mark is obtained from the conveyance speed, and the timing is determined so that the waste portion (scrap) can be appropriately peeled off from the backing paper while leaving the portion that becomes the seal. Then, the processing control unit 210 issues an execution instruction to the die-cutting mechanism 603 so that waste removal is performed at the start timing thus determined.

[0048] In S816, the die-cutting mechanism 603 executes the waste removal for the M-th page based on the instruction from the processing control unit 210. Specifically, the upper layer side of the roll paper P is die-cut so as to leave the image portion that becomes the seal of the target page, and the waste portion is peeled off from the lower layer side backing paper.

[0049] In S817, the processing control unit 210 determines whether or not the processing of all pages related to the input print job has been completed. If there are unprocessed pages, it returns to S811 to continue the processing.

[0050] The above is the flow of printing and processing control in the printing system 100' according to the present embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, even if the detection of the timing mark fails, the position of the timing mark can be pseudo-specified based on the estimated mark interval, and the start timing of processing can be determined.

[0051] <Effect of the present embodiment> Here, the effects according to this embodiment will be described with reference to specific examples. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the processing result when a defect occurs in the timing mark on the third page, where (a) shows the case of the prior art and (b) shows the case of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9(a), in the prior art, as a result of the mark sensor 602 being unable to detect the timing mark 903, for the third page, the cutting of the seal portion that should originally be performed cannot be carried out, and the image 900 formed on the surface base material 901 of the roll paper P remains. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9(b), in this embodiment, for the third page as well, as a result of the start timing being determined based on the estimated mark interval, the die-cutting of the seal portion can be carried out for the third page as well, and a mount 902 that is appropriately cut and raised is obtained without the image 900 formed on the surface base material 901 of the roll paper P remaining.

[0052] <Modification Example> In this embodiment, an aspect of using the estimated mark interval for start control of the processing in the processing apparatus 601 has been described, but this may also be carried out in combination with Embodiment 1. That is, in both the case where the mark sensor 120 of the second printing apparatus cannot detect the timing mark and the case where the mark sensor 602 of the processing apparatus 601 cannot detect the timing mark, the estimated mark interval may be used to determine the start timing of each of printing and processing.

[0053] As described above, according to this embodiment, even when the timing mark cannot be detected properly for some reason, the start timing can be determined based on the estimated mark interval, and the subsequent processing can be continued. That is, processing can be continued even for portions that were conventionally unable to be processed due to the inability to detect the timing mark.

[0054] (Other Embodiments) The present disclosure can also be implemented by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and causing one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus to read and execute the program. It can also be implemented by a circuit (for example, an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0055] Further, the present disclosure includes the following configurations and methods.

[0056] [Configuration 1] A printing system that performs printing while conveying a recording medium, forming means for forming a mark on the recording medium for determining the start timing of a predetermined process to be performed on the recording medium on which printing has been performed; detection means for detecting the mark formed on the recording medium by the forming means; control means for controlling the execution of the predetermined process; having the control means having estimation means for estimating the interval between the marks formed on the recording medium by the forming means, when the detection means succeeds in detecting the mark, determining the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the detection, when the detection means fails to detect the mark, determining the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the estimation, A printing system characterized by the above.

[0057] [Configuration 2] The printing system includes first printing means for performing first printing on the recording medium, and second printing means for performing second printing on the recording medium on which the first printing has been performed, the second printing means performing the second printing as the predetermined process, A printing system according to Configuration 1, characterized by the above.

[0058] [Configuration 3] The printing system according to Configuration 2, wherein the first printing means forms the mark by printing as the forming means.

[0059] [Configuration 4] The printing system according to Configuration 2, wherein the forming means forms the mark by a method other than printing.

[0060] [Configuration 5] The first printing is printing using a special color other than the basic color, The second printing is printing using the basic color, The printing system according to any one of Configurations 2 to 4, characterized in that.

[0061] [Configuration 6] The printing system includes a printing means for printing on the recording medium and a processing means for performing a processing on the recording medium printed by the printing means, The processing means performs the processing as the predetermined processing, The printing system according to Configuration 1, characterized in that.

[0062] [Configuration 7] The printing system according to Configuration 6, wherein the printing means forms the mark by printing as the forming means.

[0063] [Configuration 8] The printing system according to Configuration 6, wherein the forming means forms the mark by a method other than printing.

[0064] [Configuration 9] The processing means performs, as the processing, a cusp raising process on the recording medium label-printed by the printing means, The printing system according to any one of Configurations 6 to 8, characterized in that.

[0065] [Configuration 10] The predetermined processing is processing performed in page units, The forming means forms the mark in page units. The estimating means estimates the mark interval between pages. The printing system according to any one of Configurations 1 to 9, characterized in that.

[0066] [Configuration 11] The estimating means estimates the mark interval based on the number of pulses of a pulse signal representing the conveyance amount of the recording medium from the time when the mark on the (M - 1)-th page is formed to the time when the mark on the M-th page is formed. The printing system according to Configuration 10, characterized in that.

[0067] [Configuration 12] The estimating means estimates the mark interval based on the count time of a timer representing the conveyance amount of the recording medium from the time when the mark on the (M - 1)-th page is formed to the time when the mark on the M-th page is formed. The printing system according to Configuration 10, characterized in that.

[0068] [Configuration 13] When the number of times the detection means fails to detect the mark is less than N times, the control means determines the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the estimation. The printing system according to any one of Configurations 1 to 12, characterized in that.

[0069] [Configuration 14] When the number of times the detection means fails to detect the mark is N times or more, the control means aborts the execution of the predetermined process. The printing system according to any one of Configurations 1 to 13, characterized in that.

[0070] [Configuration 15] The N times is the cumulative number of failure times. The printing system according to Configuration 13 or 14, characterized in that.

[0071] [Configuration 16] The N times is the consecutive number of failure times. The printing system according to Configuration 13 or 14, characterized in that.

[0072] [Configuration 17] The printing system according to any one of Configurations 1 to 16, wherein the recording medium is a roll paper.

[0073] [Configuration 18] The printing system according to any one of Configurations 1 to 16, wherein the recording medium is a cut paper.

[0074] [Method 1] A control method for a printing system that performs printing while transporting a recording medium, wherein the printing system has a forming means for forming, on the recording medium, a mark for determining a start timing of a predetermined process to be performed on the recording medium on which printing has been performed; a detecting means for detecting the mark formed on the recording medium by the forming means; and a control means for controlling execution of the predetermined process, and the control means performs an estimating step of estimating an interval between the marks formed on the recording medium by the forming means; when the detecting means succeeds in detecting the mark, a step of determining the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the detection; and when the detecting means fails to detect the mark, a step of determining the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the estimation, which is a control method characterized by this.

[0075] [Configuration 20] A program for causing a computer to function as the printing system according to any one of Configurations 1 to 18.

Claims

1. A printing system that performs printing while transporting a recording medium, forming means for forming, on the recording medium, a mark for determining the start timing of a predetermined process to be performed on the recording medium on which printing has been performed; detecting means for detecting the mark formed on the recording medium by the forming means; control means for controlling the execution of the predetermined process; having the control means has estimating means for estimating the interval between the marks formed on the recording medium by the forming means, when the detecting means succeeds in detecting the mark, determining the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the detection, when the detecting means fails to detect the mark, determining the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the estimation, A printing system characterized by the above.

2. The printing system includes first printing means for performing first printing on the recording medium, and second printing means for performing second printing on the recording medium on which the first printing has been performed, the second printing means performs the second printing as the predetermined process, A printing system according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The printing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the first printing means forms the mark by printing as the forming means.

4. The printing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the forming means forms the mark by a method other than printing.

5. The first printing is printing using a special color other than the basic color, the second printing is printing using the basic color, A printing system according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

6. The printing system includes a printing unit that performs printing on the recording medium, and a processing unit that performs a processing operation on the recording medium printed by the printing unit, wherein the processing unit performs the processing operation as the predetermined operation. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

7. The printing system according to claim 6, characterized in that the printing unit forms the mark by printing as the forming unit.

8. The printing system according to claim 6, characterized in that the forming unit forms the mark by a method other than printing.

9. The printing system according to claim 6, characterized in that the processing unit performs a rounding-up process on the recording medium label-printed by the printing unit as the processing operation.

10. The predetermined operation is an operation performed in page units, the forming unit forms the mark in page units, and the estimating unit estimates the mark interval between pages. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

11. The printing system according to claim 10, characterized in that the estimating unit estimates the mark interval based on the number of pulses of a pulse signal representing the conveyance amount of the recording medium from the time when the mark on the (M - 1)-th page is formed to the time when the mark on the M-th page is formed.

12. The printing system according to claim 10, characterized in that the estimating unit estimates the mark interval based on the count time of a timer representing the conveyance amount of the recording medium from the time when the mark on the (M - 1)-th page is formed to the time when the mark on the M-th page is formed.

13. When the number of times the detection means fails to detect the mark is less than N times, the control means determines the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the estimation. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

14. When the number of times the detection means fails to detect the mark is N times or more, the control means stops the execution of the predetermined process. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

15. The N times is the cumulative number of failure times. The printing system according to claim 13, characterized in that.

16. The N times is the consecutive number of failure times. The printing system according to claim 13, characterized in that.

17. The recording medium is a roll paper. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

18. The recording medium is a cut paper. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

19. A control method for a printing system that performs printing while transporting a recording medium, The printing system is, A forming means for forming a mark on the recording medium for determining the start timing of a predetermined process to be performed on the recording medium on which printing has been performed, A detection means for detecting the mark formed on the recording medium by the forming means, A control means for controlling the execution of the predetermined process, And having, The control means, An estimation step of estimating the interval of the marks formed on the recording medium by the forming means, When the detection means succeeds in detecting the mark, a step of determining the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the detection, When the detection means fails to detect the mark, determining the start timing of the predetermined process based on the result of the estimation; executing the above, characterized by a control method.

20. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 19.

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