Printing apparatus and control method

Abstract

To provide a printing device capable of suppressing failure of printing due to drawing of a paper feed tray in a drawing direction during printing.SOLUTION: A printing unit configured to print an image on a print medium, a first storage unit configured to store a roll of roll paper used as the print medium, and a second storage unit configured to store one or more sheets of cut paper used as the print medium, A printing device comprising: a paper feed tray which can slide between a predetermined mounting position and a predetermined pull-out position in parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction; and a control unit which controls a printing unit, wherein the control unit stops execution of a print job when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction during execution of the print job instructing printing on the print medium by the printing unit and when the roll paper is specified by the print job as the print medium to be printed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to a printing device and a control method. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Research and development is ongoing into printing devices that print images on print media.

[0003] In this regard, a printing device is known that has a paper feed tray that can accommodate both a roll of roll paper and one or more cut sheets, and that performs printing based on a print job that includes instructions to specify either the roll paper or one or more cut sheets as the printing medium on which an image is to be printed, and on the paper stored in the paper feed tray as the printing medium (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-006462 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the printing device described in Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the operation when the paper feed tray is pulled out while an image is being printed on the print medium, which can cause printing failure and is undesirable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present disclosure is a printing device having a printing unit that prints an image on a printing medium, a first storage unit that can store a roll of roll paper used as the printing medium, and a second storage unit that can store one or more cut sheets of paper used as the printing medium, and is equipped with a paper feed tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position, and a control unit that controls the printing unit, wherein the control unit stops execution of a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the printing medium when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position toward the pull-out direction and when the print job specifies the roll paper as the printing medium to be printed on.

[0007] Furthermore, one aspect of the present disclosure is a control method for a printing device having a printing unit that prints an image on a printing medium, a first storage unit that can store a roll of roll paper used as the printing medium, and a second storage unit that can store one or more cut sheets of paper used as the printing medium, and a paper feed tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position, wherein the control method stops execution of a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the printing medium if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position toward the pull-out direction and if the print job specifies the roll paper as the printing medium to be printed on.

[0008] Furthermore, one aspect of the present disclosure is a control method for a printing device having a printing unit that prints an image on a printing medium, a first storage unit that can store a roll of roll paper used as the printing medium, and a second storage unit that can store one or more cut sheets of paper used as the printing medium, and a paper feed tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position, wherein when the roll paper is specified as the printing medium to be printed on by a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the printing medium, the control method detects whether the paper feed tray has been pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction, and if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction during execution of the print job, the control method stops execution of the print job. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance including the front surface of a printing device 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 including the rear surface. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a printing device 1 when the opening / closing cover BD is open at the rear. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of the cutting unit CT. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cutting section CT shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a paper feed tray TR. [Figure 7] 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the printing apparatus 1 equipped with the paper feed tray TR shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a printing device 1. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the flow of processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the length L. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing yet another example of the flow of processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <Outline of printing device according to embodiment> First, an overview of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment will be described.

[0012] A printing device according to an embodiment includes a printing unit, a paper feed tray, and a control unit. The printing unit prints images on print media. The paper feed tray has a first storage section capable of storing a roll of roll paper used as the print medium and a second storage section capable of storing one or more cut sheets used as the print medium, and is a tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position. The control unit controls the printing unit. If the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction during execution of a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the print medium, and if the print job specifies roll paper as the print medium to be printed on, the control unit stops execution of the print job. This allows the printing device to prevent printing failures caused by pulling out the paper feed tray in the pull-out direction during printing.

[0013] The configuration of the printing device according to the embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0014] <Configuration of printing device according to embodiment> The configuration of a printing device according to an embodiment will be described below using the printing device 1 as an example.

[0015] In the following embodiment, for ease of explanation, a user of the printing device 1 will be referred to simply as a user. In this specification, the three-dimensional coordinate system TC is a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system that indicates directions in a diagram depicting the three-dimensional coordinate system TC. In the following, for ease of explanation, the X-axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be referred to simply as the X-axis. In the following, for ease of explanation, the Y-axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be referred to simply as the Y-axis. In the following, for ease of explanation, the Z-axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be referred to simply as the Z-axis. In the following, as an example, a case will be described in which the negative direction of the Z-axis coincides with the direction of gravity. Therefore, in the following, for ease of explanation, the positive direction of the Z-axis will be referred to as the upward direction or simply "up," and the negative direction of the Z-axis will be referred to as the downward direction or simply "down." In the following, for ease of explanation, the positive direction of the X-axis will be referred to as the forward direction or simply "forward," and the negative direction of the X-axis will be referred to as the backward direction or simply "rear."

[0016] For ease of explanation, the surface of an object on the positive side of the X axis will be referred to as the front surface of the object, and the surface of the object on the negative side of the X axis will be referred to as the rear surface of the object. Also, the case where an object is viewed from a certain direction will be referred to as the case where the object is viewed from that direction.

[0017] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance including the front side of a printing device 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance including the rear side of the printing device 1 shown in Fig. 1.

[0018] The printer 1 uses roll paper RP pulled out from a roll RB around which roll paper RP is wound, or cut paper CP as the printing medium, and prints an image on the printing medium. The cut paper CP may be any medium as long as it is a cut sheet-like medium, such as cut printing paper or a sticker mount.

[0019] The printing device 1 includes a printing unit PR, a paper feed tray TR, a cutting unit CT, and an opening / closing cover BD. The printing device 1 may include other components, devices, etc. in addition to the printing unit PR, paper feed tray TR, cutting unit CT, and opening / closing cover BD. To simplify the illustration, FIG. 1 depicts the printing unit PR and cutting unit CT as rectangular parallelepiped objects. To simplify the illustration, FIG. 1 depicts the printing unit PR and cutting unit CT in positions different from their actual locations. To simplify the illustration, FIG. 2 omits the printing unit PR and cutting unit CT.

[0020] The printing unit PR prints an image on a print medium conveyed by the printing device 1 from the paper feed tray TR.

[0021] The paper feed tray TR is a tray that can accommodate at least one of the aforementioned roll RB and one or more cut sheets CP as print media transported by the printing device 1. That is, the paper feed tray TR can accommodate only the roll RB, only one or more cut sheets CP, or both the roll RB and one or more cut sheets CP. The paper feed tray TR is also a tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position. The following describes, as an example, a case where the pull-out direction coincides with the positive direction of the X-axis. The paper feed tray TR may be configured to be removable from the housing of the printing device 1, or may be configured to be non-removable from the housing of the printing device 1. The paper feed tray TR may be a tray that can selectively accommodate the roll RB and one or more cut sheets CP, or a tray that can accommodate the roll RB and one or more cut sheets CP depending on the application. The configuration of the paper feed tray TR will be described in detail below.

[0022] The cutting unit CT cuts the roll paper RP as it is pulled out from the roll RB. The cutting unit CT is located at a predetermined position on the path along which the print medium passes as it is transported from the paper feed tray TR. For ease of explanation, this position will be referred to as the cutting position below.

[0023] The opening / closing cover BD is a cover for opening and closing an opening formed on the rear surface of the printing device 1. For ease of explanation, this opening will be referred to as the rear opening in the following description. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing cover BD closes the rear opening. In this case, the user cannot see the interior of the printing device 1 through the rear opening. Meanwhile, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the printing device 1 when the opening / closing cover BD is open. In this case, the user can see the interior of the printing device 1 through the rear opening. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the opening / closing cover BD is rotatable about an axis parallel to the Y axis on the housing of the printing device 1, but it may also be rotatable about another axis. Furthermore, the opening / closing cover BD may be detachable from the housing of the printing device 1.

[0024] In the example shown in Fig. 3, the user can expose the cutting position by opening the rear opening with the opening / closing cover BD. Therefore, in Fig. 3, the user can see the cutting unit CT through the rear opening. The rear opening is an opening that the user uses to replace the cutter of the cutting unit CT when the cutter has become dull, for example.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of the cutting unit CT. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cutting unit CT shown in FIG. 4. The dotted arrow PT in FIG. 4 indicates at least a portion of the path of the print medium passing through the cutting position. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cutting unit CT is mounted on the moving unit CR. That is, the printing device 1 includes the cutting unit CT and the moving unit CR. The moving unit CR is a member, such as a carriage, that moves the cutting unit CT back and forth in a movement direction that intersects with the transport direction in which the print medium is transported in the printing device 1. The following describes, as an example, a case in which the transport direction and the movement direction are perpendicular to each other. Also, the following describes, as an example, a case in which the movement direction is parallel to the Y-axis. The cutting unit CT has a movable blade BL1, which is an example of the aforementioned cutter, and a fixed blade BL2. The fixed blade BL2 is a blade that is provided on a stand that supports the moving unit CR and extends parallel to the stand. The moving unit CR moves the movable blade BL1 back and forth. The movable blade BL1 moves back and forth together with the moving part CR while remaining in contact with the fixed blade BL2, allowing the cutting part CT to cut the roll paper RP by clamping the roll paper RP between the movable blade BL1 and the fixed blade BL2.

[0026] Here, the moving unit CR includes, for example, a motor MT, a driven pulley that is hidden behind the cutting unit CT in FIG. 5 and is not visible, a timing belt TB stretched between the motor MT and the driven pulley, a scale SL, and an encoder EC. The moving unit CR is supported on the aforementioned base. The motor MT, the driven pulley, the timing belt TB, the scale SL, and the encoder EC are fixed to the base, which extends parallel to the direction of movement. The moving unit CR may be configured to include other components in addition to the motor MT, the driven pulley, the timing belt TB, the scale SL, and the encoder EC.

[0027] The moving unit CR is fixed to the timing belt TB and is capable of reciprocating movement parallel to the Y axis. Therefore, the cutting unit CT mounted on the moving unit CR is also capable of reciprocating movement parallel to the Y axis together with the moving unit CR. The position of the moving unit CR is detected by a disk-shaped scale SL and an encoder EC. Therefore, the printing device 1 can perform processing according to the detected position of the moving unit CR and can move the moving unit CR to a desired position. In other words, the printing device 1 can move the cutting unit CT to a desired position.

[0028] <Paper tray configuration> The configuration of the paper feed tray TR will be described below with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the paper feed tray TR. Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a printing device 1 equipped with the paper feed tray TR shown in Figure 6. However, unlike Figure 6, the paper feed tray TR in Figure 7 contains a plurality of cut sheets CP together with a roll RB.

[0029] In the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the paper feed tray TR is a box-shaped tray with a recessed portion that opens upward. The shape of the paper feed tray TR may be other than the shape shown in FIG. 6. The space SP within the recessed portion of the paper feed tray TR is a space that can accommodate one or more cut sheets CP together with the roll RB. That is, the paper feed tray TR is a tray that can accommodate one or more cut sheets CP together with the roll RB. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the components that make up the paper feed tray TR and that are involved in accommodating the roll RB will be referred to as the first storage portion CT1. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the components that make up the paper feed tray TR and that are involved in accommodating one or more cut sheets CP will be referred to as the second storage portion CT2. A portion of the first storage portion CT1 may be integral with a portion of the second storage portion CT2. The first storage portion CT1 may also be a separate member from the second storage portion CT2. Furthermore, a certain member may constitute a part of the first storage portion CT1 and also a part of the second storage portion CT2.

[0030] The paper feed tray TR is supported by the housing BX so as to be slidable parallel to the pull-out direction between the mounted position and the pulled-out position. The housing BX may be configured separately from the printing device 1 or may be configured integrally with the printing device 1. The following describes, as an example, a case in which the housing BX is configured integrally with the printing device 1, as shown in FIG. 1. Here, the mounted position is the position at which the paper feed tray TR can slide within the housing BX, at which the printer 1 pulls out roll paper RP and cut sheets CP from the paper feed tray TR. The pulled-out position is the position at which the paper feed tray TR can slide within the housing BX, a predetermined distance away from the mounted position in the pull-out direction. The predetermined distance may be any distance. For example, the pulled-out position is the position at which the paper feed tray TR can slide within the housing BX, the position closest to the pull-out direction. The paper feed tray TR may be removable from the housing BX, or may not be removable from the housing BX. Furthermore, when the housing BX is configured separately from the printing device 1, the housing BX may be configured to be provided on the paper feed tray TR. When the paper feed tray TR is attached to the printing device 1, the front surface of the paper feed tray TR forms part of the front surface of the printing device 1.

[0031] Here, the roll RB is accommodated in the paper feed tray TR so that it is located closer to the front of the paper feed tray TR than one or more cut sheets CP. That is, the first accommodation section CT1 is located closer to the front of the paper feed tray TR than the second accommodation section CT2. The roll RB is accommodated in the paper feed tray TR so that its axis is parallel to the front of the paper feed tray TR. The axis of the roll RB is the axis of rotation of the roll RB when the roll paper RP is pulled out from the roll RB accommodated in the first accommodation section CT1. In the example shown in FIG. 7, in the space SP, the roll RB is supported by a portion of the bottom surface of the paper feed tray TR and a member 10 provided above the bottom surface of the paper feed tray TR. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the connection between the lowest surface forming the space SP and the surface forming the space SP closest to the front of the paper feed tray TR is curved to follow the outer circumferential surface of the roll RB in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the roll RB. For convenience of explanation, the connection portion will be referred to as the target connection portion below.

[0032] The member 10 has a wound body support region 10A and a cut-sheet support region 10B. The wound body support region 10A is a region of the member 10 that has a curved surface that curves along the outer circumferential surface of the wound body RB in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the wound body RB. Therefore, the wound body RB is rotatably supported within the space SP by the target connection portion and the curved surface. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the first storage section CT1 described above is composed of the target connection portion and the wound body support region 10A. The cut-sheet support region 10B is a plate-shaped region of the member 10 that has a placement surface on which one or more cut sheets CP are placed. Therefore, in this example, the second storage section CT2 described above is composed of the cut-sheet support region 10B. The bottom surfaces of the wound body support region 10A and the cut-sheet support region 10B are connected without any steps. The roll support portion 10A and the cut paper support portion 10B may be configured to be separated from each other and not connected to each other.

[0033] Furthermore, member 10 is spaced above the lowest surface that defines space SP. That is, there is a gap between this surface and member 10 in paper feed tray TR. This gap functions as a roll paper passage PP along which roll paper RP passes as it is pulled from roll RB into the interior of printer 1. Note that Figure 7 shows roll paper RP being pulled into printer 1 through roll paper passage PP.

[0034] An opening HL is formed in the cut-sheet support section 10B. The opening HL is formed so that when no cut sheets CP are stored in the second storage section CT2, the paper feed roller R1 (described later) can come into contact with the roll paper RP passing through the roll paper passage PP. The opening HL may be opened and closed by a plate-like member such as a flap.

[0035] In the paper feed tray TR, the path taken by the roll paper RP transported into the printing device 1 via the roll paper passage PP and the path taken by the cut paper CP transported from the second storage unit CT2 by the paper feed roller R1 merge just before the cutting unit CT. In FIG. 7, the area where these two paths merge is indicated by the area surrounded by the dotted line RR. After these two paths merge, the roll paper RP and the cut paper CP are transported sequentially along a common path to the cutting unit CT and the printing unit PR. Therefore, this common path is formed in the printing device 1. This allows the printing device 1 to be less large than if the path taken by the roll paper RP transported into the printing device 1 via the roll paper passage PP and the path taken by the cut paper CP transported from the second storage unit CT2 by the paper feed roller R1 did not merge.

[0036] In this paper feed tray TR, one or more cut sheets CP stored in the paper feed tray TR attached to the printing device 1 are transported one by one as print media into the interior of the printing device 1 by a paper feed roller R1 provided in the printing device 1. The rotation axis of the paper feed roller R1 is parallel to the axis of the roll RB. Therefore, in the printing device 1, the direction in which the print medium is transported from the paper feed tray TR and the pull-out direction are parallel. In the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the direction in which the print medium is transported from the paper feed tray TR and the pull-out direction are both parallel to the X-axis. The paper feed roller R1 is located above the front side of the paper feed roller R1 and is provided in the printing device 1 so as to be able to swing around a rotation axis AX1 that is parallel to the axis of the roll RB. Note that in the printing device 1, the direction in which the print medium is transported from the paper feed tray TR and the pull-out direction may not be parallel. For example, the direction in which the print medium is transported from the paper feed tray TR and the pull-out direction may be perpendicular.

[0037] Roll paper RP, pulled out from a roll RB housed in a paper feed tray TR attached to the printer 1, is also transported as printing media into the printer 1 by the paper feed roller R1. If cut sheets CP are not housed in the paper feed tray TR, the paper feed roller R1 comes into contact with the roll paper RP, which has been manually pulled out from the roll RB by the user to the roll paper passage PP, through the opening HL. This allows the paper feed roller R1 to transport the roll paper RP into the printer 1.

[0038] For ease of explanation, the transportation of roll paper RP or cut paper CP as a printing medium from paper feed tray TR by paper feed roller R1 will be referred to as paper feeding by paper feed roller R1 below.

[0039] The print medium fed by the paper feed roller R1 is sandwiched between a paper feed roller pair R2. The paper feed roller pair R2 is located downstream of the paper feed roller R1 in the print medium transport direction. The paper feed roller pair R2 sandwiches the print medium fed from the paper feed roller R1 and transports the sandwiched print medium to the print head C2. As shown in FIG. 7, the print medium sandwiched between the paper feed roller pair R2 passes between the print head C2, which is supported by the carriage C1 of the printing device 1, and the platen C3 of the printing device 1, whereby an image is printed. The carriage C1, print head C2, and platen C3 each constitute the printing unit PR in the printing device 1. If the print medium is roll paper RP, the roll paper RP after it has been pulled out from the roll RB and on which an image has been printed by the printing unit PR is separated by a cutting unit CT, which cuts the roll paper RP, from the roll paper RP before it has been pulled out from the roll RB and on which an image has been printed by the printing unit PR. For this reason, in the printing device 1, the cutting unit CT is located upstream of the printing unit PR and the paper feed roller pair R2 in the transport path of the roll paper RP. After an image is printed by the printing unit PR, the print medium is gripped by the first discharge unit R3 and discharged toward the second discharge unit R4. The first discharge unit R3 has a roller rotated by an actuator and a shaft. The shaft abuts against the roller and rotates together with the roller. The first discharge unit R3 grips the print medium between the roller and the shaft, thereby discharging the print medium toward the second discharge unit R4. The second discharge unit R4 grips the print medium discharged from the first discharge unit R3 and discharges the gripped print medium onto the discharge tray ST. The second discharge unit R4 has a roller rotated by an actuator and a shaft. The shaft abuts against the roller and rotates together with the roller. The second discharge unit R4 clamps the print medium between the roller and the shaft, thereby discharging the print medium toward the discharge tray ST. Here, the paper feed roller R1, the paper feed roller pair R2, the first discharge unit R3, the second discharge unit R4, and the discharge tray ST are each provided in the printing device 1.Furthermore, the paper feed roller R1, the paper feed roller pair R2, the first discharge section R3, and the second discharge section R4 each constitute a transport section MV in the printing device 1. Note that the paper feed roller R1 does not necessarily have to be included in the transport section MV.

[0040] As described above, in the printing apparatus 1, the roll paper RP pulled out from the roll RB and one or more cut sheets CP are each transported as printing media from the paper feed tray TR by the transport unit MV.

[0041] <Detection by the printing device of the paper feed tray being pulled out in the pull-out direction> The following describes detection of the pull-out direction of the paper feed tray TR by the printing device 1. As shown in FIG.

[0042] The first detection unit S1 detects that the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction from its installed position. The first detection unit S1 may be a contact sensor, an optical sensor, or any other type of sensor that can detect that the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction from its installed position. The first detection unit S1 is an example of a detection unit.

[0043] <Detection by the printing device of the print medium being sandwiched between the paper feed roller pair> The following describes how the printing device 1 detects whether the print medium is being nipped by the paper feed roller pair R2. As shown in FIG.

[0044] The second detection unit S2 detects the print medium at a position on the print medium transport path immediately before the paper feed roller pair R2. The second detection unit S2 may be a contact sensor, an optical sensor, or any other type of sensor that can detect the print medium at that position. When the second detection unit S2 detects the print medium, the printing device 1 determines that the paper feed roller pair R2 has started to nip the print medium. In other words, the printing device 1 determines that the print medium has been nipped by the paper feed roller pair R2. Furthermore, when the state of the second detection unit S2 transitions from a state in which the print medium is detected to a state in which the print medium is not detected, the printing device 1 determines that the paper feed roller pair R2 has finished nipping the print medium. For this reason, it is desirable to position the second detection unit S2 as close to the paper feed roller pair R2 as possible.

[0045] <Hardware configuration of the printing device> The hardware configuration of the printing device 1 will be described below with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the printing device 1.

[0046] The printing device 1 includes, for example, a control unit 11, a memory unit 12, an input reception unit 13, a communication unit 14, a display unit 15, a printing unit PR, a moving unit CR, a first detection unit S1, and a second detection unit S2. These components are connected to each other via a bus so that they can communicate with each other. The printing device 1 also communicates with other devices, such as information processing devices, via the communication unit 14. Examples of such information processing devices include, but are not limited to, notebook PCs (Personal Computers), desktop PCs, workstations, tablet PCs, multi-function mobile phone terminals (smartphones), and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants).

[0047] The control unit 11 controls the entire printing device 1. The control unit 11 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The control unit 11 executes various programs stored in the storage unit 12, for example, to perform various processes performed by the printing device 1.

[0048] The storage unit 12 is a storage device that includes, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). Note that instead of being built into the printing device 1, the storage unit 12 may be an external storage device connected via a digital input / output port such as a universal serial bus (USB). The storage unit 12 stores various types of information, images, and programs processed by the printing device 1. In other words, the various types of information stored in the printing device 1 are stored in the storage unit 12.

[0049] The input reception unit 13 is an input device that receives operations to the printing device 1. The input reception unit 13 may be, for example, a hardware key such as a button, a touch panel integrated with the display unit 15, or another input device.

[0050] The communication unit 14 is a communication device that includes, for example, a digital input / output port such as a USB, an Ethernet (registered trademark) port, an antenna for wireless communication, and the like.

[0051] The display unit 15 is a display device including a liquid crystal display or the like.

[0052] <Processing performed by the printing device when the paper feed tray is pulled out during printing> Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 9 , the processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing. Here, in this embodiment, "printing" refers to the period when the printing device 1 is performing an operation according to a received print job. Therefore, in this embodiment, "printing" refers to the period when at least one of transporting the print medium according to the print job and printing an image on the print medium according to the print job is being performed. Note that "printing" may also include the period when image processing according to the print job is being performed. Also, in this embodiment, a print job refers to information that instructs the printing device 1 to print on the print medium using the printing unit PR. In other words, in this embodiment, a print job refers to information that causes the printing device 1 to print on the print medium using the printing unit PR. Also, in this embodiment, a print job refers to information that includes an instruction to specify either roll paper RP or one or more sheets of cut paper CP as the print medium to be printed on. 9 starts, the printing device 1 may specify roll paper RP as the printing medium to be printed on, or one or more cut sheets CP as the printing medium to be printed on. Also, the following describes, as an example, a case where the paper feed tray TR is located in the installation position at that time.

[0053] After accepting the print job, the control unit 11 waits until the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction (step S110). Here, in step S110, the control unit 11 determines whether the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction based on the output from the first detection unit S1. In FIG. 9, the processing of step S110 is indicated by "Paper feed tray pulled out?" Note that if the operation corresponding to the print job is completed without the paper feed tray TR being pulled out in the pull-out direction, the control unit 11 ends the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

[0054] When the control unit 11 determines that the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction (YES in step S110), it determines whether the print medium being transported is being clamped by the paper feed roller pair R2 (step S120). Here, in step S120, the control unit 11 determines whether the print medium being transported is being clamped by the paper feed roller pair R2 based on the output from the second detection unit S2. In FIG. 9, the process of step S120 is indicated by "Clamped?". Note that the control unit 11 may be configured to determine whether the print medium being transported is being clamped by the paper feed roller pair R2 using other methods, such as a method based on the output from a sensor other than the second detection unit S2 or a method based on the load fluctuation occurring in the actuator that drives the paper feed roller pair R2. The control unit 11 may also estimate and determine whether the print medium being transported is being clamped by the paper feed roller pair R2 using other methods, such as a method based on the elapsed time from a predetermined timing, such as the start of transport.

[0055] If the control unit 11 determines that the print medium being transported is not being clamped by the paper feed roller pair R2 (step S120-NO), it determines that the printing unit PR has not started printing an image on the print medium being transported and that the pullout of the paper feed tray TR in the pullout direction will have little or no effect on the print medium, and ends the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, the control unit 11 continues executing the accepted print job in this case. More specifically, if the printing unit PR was printing an image on the print medium, the control unit 11 continues printing the image on the print medium by the printing unit PR. Furthermore, if the transport unit MV was transporting the print medium, the control unit 11 continues transporting the print medium by the transport unit MV. This is because, even if the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pullout direction, the print medium is not clamped by the paper feed roller pair R2, and therefore tension caused by being pulled by the paper feed roller pair R2 and the paper feed tray TR is not applied to the print medium. This allows the printing device 1 to prevent unnecessary stops of print job execution, thereby improving usability. For example, if a user accidentally pulls out the paper feed tray TR in the pull-out direction immediately after execution of a print job has started and then immediately moves the paper feed tray TR back to its installed position, the printing of the image on the print medium may not be affected even if the printing device 1 continues execution of the print job. In such a case, the printing device 1 can improve usability by continuing execution of the print job. However, execution of the print job may also be stopped in the event of an error other than pulling out the paper feed tray TR in the pull-out direction.

[0056] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that the print medium being transported is being held by the paper feed roller pair R2 (step S120-YES), it then determines whether the print medium being transported is roll paper RP (step S130). This is because if the print medium being held by the paper feed roller pair R2 is cut paper CP, even if the paper feed tray TR is pulled in the pull-out direction, the print medium being held by the paper feed roller pair R2 will not be subjected to tension caused by being pulled by the paper feed roller pair R2 and the paper feed tray TR. Here, in step S130, the control unit 11 determines whether the print medium being transported is roll paper RP based on the accepted print job. In FIG. 9, the processing of step S130 is indicated by "Roll paper?"

[0057] If the control unit 11 determines that the print medium being transported is one or more sheets of cut paper CP (step S130-NO), it determines that there is a low possibility that tension will be applied to the print medium when the paper feed tray TR is pulled in the pull-out direction, i.e., that pulling the paper feed tray TR in the pull-out direction will have no or almost no effect on the print medium, and ends the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 . Therefore, the control unit 11 continues execution of the accepted print job in this case. More specifically, if the printing unit PR is currently printing an image on the print medium, the control unit 11 continues printing the image on the print medium by the printing unit PR. Furthermore, if the transport unit MV is currently transporting the print medium, the control unit 11 continues transporting the print medium by the transport unit MV. This is because, even if the paper feed tray TR is pulled in the pull-out direction, tension generated by being pulled by the paper feed roller pair R2 and the paper feed tray TR will not be applied to the print medium (cut paper CP). This allows the printing device 1 to avoid unnecessary interruptions in print job execution, thereby improving usability. Furthermore, this allows the printing device 1 to prevent cut paper CP used as printing media from going to waste, and as a result, it is also possible to prevent a decrease in printing throughput.

[0058] If the paper feed roller pair R2 does not clamp the print medium between the start of print medium feeding by the paper feed roller R1 and a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 11 stops the transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV, regardless of whether the paper feed tray TR is being pulled out. This is because it is assumed that an error has occurred in the transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV for some reason. Therefore, after stopping the transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV in this case, the control unit 11 displays an image on the display unit 15 informing the user that an error has occurred in the transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV. If the cause of the error is subsequently eliminated by a user operation, the control unit 11 removes the display of the image from the display unit 15 and cancels the print medium transport error by the transport unit MV. Examples of such operations include, but are not limited to, opening the folding cover BD and removing the cut sheet CP through the rear opening, or manually rotating the roll RB in the reverse direction to rewind the roll RP onto the roll RB. The predetermined time may be any length of time. However, the printing device 1 may be configured to change the length of the specified time to a shorter length than the normal length when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction. This is because, for example, if roll paper RP is used as the printing medium and the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction, the roll paper RP may be unnecessarily pulled out by the transport unit MV unless the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit MV is stopped. Therefore, by changing the length of the specified time to a shorter length than the normal length when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction, the printing device 1 can prevent the roll paper RP from being unnecessarily transported by the transport unit MV.

[0059] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that the print medium being transported is roll paper RP (step S130—YES), it stops the execution of the accepted print job (step S140). More specifically, if the printing unit PR is currently printing an image on the print medium in step S140, the control unit 11 stops the printing unit PR from printing the image on the print medium. Furthermore, if the transport unit MV is currently transporting the print medium in step S140, the control unit 11 stops the transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV. This is because, when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction, tension is applied to the print medium held between the paper feed roller pair R2 by the paper feed roller pair R2 and the paper feed tray TR, which may result in a failure to print the image on the print medium. Furthermore, if such tension is applied to the print medium in the printing device 1, this may cause print medium transport problems. Therefore, by processing step S140, the printing device 1 can prevent printing failures caused by pulling out the paper feed tray TR in the pull-out direction during printing. For example, by processing step S140, the printing device 1 can prevent the image being printed on the print medium from being distorted due to the pull-out. Also, by processing step S140, the printing device 1 can prevent the print medium from being transported improperly due to the pull-out. These are useful in preventing print medium waste. In FIG. 9, the processing of step S140 is indicated by "stop printing." Note that the printing device 1 may be configured to stop printing of the image on the print medium by the printing unit PR while not stopping transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV when stopping execution of a print job.

[0060] Next, control unit 11 causes display unit 15 to display a print continuation permission / prohibition confirmation image (step S150). Here, the print continuation permission / prohibition confirmation image is an image that accepts an operation indicating whether or not to resume execution of the print job stopped in step S140. The print continuation permission / prohibition confirmation image may be any image that can accept an operation indicating whether or not to resume execution of the print job stopped in step S140. In FIG. 9, the processing of step S150 is indicated by "display print continuation permission / prohibition confirmation image." Note that control unit 11 may notify the user of the stop of the print job by means other than displaying an image on display unit 15. Control unit 11 may notify the user of the stop of the print job by means other than displaying an image on display unit 15. For example, control unit 11 may notify the user by audio output or the like, or may notify the user using another device via communication unit 14.

[0061] Next, the control unit 11 waits until the input receiving unit 13 receives an operation in step S150 (step S160). More specifically, in this embodiment, the control unit 11 waits until the control unit 11 receives an operation via the print continuation permission confirmation image displayed on the display unit 15 in step S160. In FIG. 9, the processing of step S160 is indicated by "operation received?". The control unit 11 may receive an operation via means other than the means using the input receiving unit 13 and the display unit 15. The control unit 11 may notify the user of the stop of the print job by means other than displaying an image on the display unit 15. For example, the control unit 11 may receive an operation using another device via the communication unit 14.

[0062] If it is determined in step S150 that an operation has been accepted via the print continuation permission confirmation image displayed on display unit 15 (step S160-YES), control unit 11 then determines whether the operation accepted in step S160 is an operation indicating that execution of the print job stopped in step S140 is to be resumed (step S170). In Fig. 9, the processing of step S170 is indicated by "Continue?"

[0063] If the control unit 11 determines that the operation received in step S160 indicates resuming the execution of the print job stopped in step S140 (YES in step S170), it resumes the execution of the print job stopped in step S140 (step S180). More specifically, if the control unit 11 stopped printing of an image on the print medium by the printing unit PR in step S140, it resumes printing of the image on the print medium by the printing unit PR in step S180. Also, if the control unit 11 stopped transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV in step S140, it resumes transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV in step S180. In this way, the printing device 1 can fulfill the user's request to prioritize not wasting print medium, even if the printed image is slightly distorted. In FIG. 9, the processing of step S180 is indicated by "resume printing." After the processing of step S180 is performed, the control unit 11 ends the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9. Note that in step S180, the control unit 11 may be configured to display an image on the display unit 15 urging the user to manually reverse the roll RB and rewind the slackened roll paper RP onto the roll RB before resuming execution of the print job. Urging the user to rewind the roll paper RP onto the roll RB in this way is useful in preventing paper jams when printing resumes. Furthermore, in step S180, the control unit 11 may be configured to ensure that the length of the roll paper RP pulled out from the roll RB is long enough to print an image on the roll paper RP, and to display an image on the display unit 15 urging the user to cut the roll paper RP with scissors, a cutter, or the like before resuming execution of the print job. If the roll paper RP is cut in this way, the user does not need to move the paper feed tray TR to the installation position when resuming printing. This is useful in preventing the bent roll paper RP from getting caught between the paper feed tray TR and the housing BX by moving the paper feed tray TR to the installation position.

[0064] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that the operation received in step S160 indicates that the print job stopped in step S140 will not be resumed (step S170-NO), the control unit 11 displays a cutting permission / prohibition confirmation image on the display unit 15 (step S190). Here, the cutting permission / prohibition confirmation image is an image that accepts an operation indicating whether or not the print medium held by the paper feed roller pair R2 should be cut by the cutting unit CT. The cutting permission / prohibition confirmation image may be any image that can accept an operation indicating whether or not the print medium held by the paper feed roller pair R2 should be cut by the cutting unit CT. In FIG. 9, the processing of step S190 is indicated by "displaying a cutting permission / prohibition confirmation image." By displaying such a cutting permission / prohibition confirmation image in step S190, the printing device 1 can prevent secondary problems, such as the automatically operated cutting unit CT becoming unable to operate due to wrinkles, damage, or the like in the print medium.

[0065] Next, the control unit 11 waits until an operation is accepted via the disconnection permission confirmation image displayed on the display unit 15 in step S190 (step S200). In Fig. 9, the process of step S200 is indicated by "operation accepted?"

[0066] If the control unit 11 determines in step S190 that an operation has been accepted via the cutting permission confirmation image displayed on the display unit 15 (step S200-YES), it then determines whether the operation accepted in step S200 is an operation indicating that the print medium held by the paper feed roller pair R2 is to be cut by the cutting unit CT (step S210). In Figure 9, the processing of step S210 is indicated by "Cut?"

[0067] If the control unit 11 determines that the operation received in step S200 indicates that the print medium held by the paper feed roller pair R2 is to be cut by the cutting unit CT (step S210-YES), the control unit 11 causes the cutting unit CT to cut the print medium (step S220). In this way, by cutting the roll paper RP after transport by the transport unit MV has stopped, the printing device 1 can easily remove the roll paper RP remaining inside the printing device 1 as print medium. In Figure 9, the process of step S220 is indicated by "cutting."

[0068] Next, the control unit 11 displays a paper jam error image on the display unit 15 (step S230). Here, the paper jam error image is an image that includes information indicating that a paper jam has occurred. In other words, the paper jam error image is an image that notifies the user that a paper jam has occurred. In the printing device 1, if the processing of step S220 is performed, the print medium held between the paper feed roller pair R2 remains in the printing device 1 at the time step S230 is executed. Therefore, in step S230, the printing device 1 notifies the user that a paper jam has occurred by displaying the paper jam error image on the display unit 15. On the other hand, in the printing device 1, even if the processing of step S220 is not performed, the print medium held between the paper feed roller pair R2 remains in the printing device 1 at the time step S230 is executed. Therefore, in step S230, the printing device 1 notifies the user that a paper jam has occurred by displaying the paper jam error image on the display unit 15. After the process of step S230 is performed, the control unit 11 ends the process of the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0069] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that the operation received in step S200 is an operation indicating that the printing medium clamped by the paper feed roller pair R2 will not be cut by the cutting unit CT (step S210-NO), it transitions to step S230 and displays a paper jam error image on the display unit 15.

[0070] As described above, if the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction from its installed position during a print job instructing the printing unit PR to print on a print medium, and if the print job specifies roll paper RP as the print medium to be printed on, the printing device 1 will stop the print job. This allows the printing device 1 to prevent printing failures caused by pulling out the paper feed tray TR in the pull-out direction during printing.

[0071] The printing device 1 may be configured to determine in step S110 whether the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction from its installed position and whether the print job has specified roll paper RP as the print medium to be printed on. In this case, the printing device 1 can omit the processing of step S130. In this case, the printing device 1 does not need to execute the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 when the print job specifies one or more sheets of cut paper CP as the print medium to be printed on. The printing device 1 may also be configured to start the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 only when the print job specifies roll paper RP as the print medium to be printed on. In this case, the printing device 1 can omit the processing of step S130. In this case, the printing device 1 does not need to execute the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 when the print job specifies one or more sheets of cut paper CP as the print medium to be printed on.

[0072] <First Modification of the Embodiment> A first variation of the embodiment will be described below. The printing device 1 may be configured to perform the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 instead of the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 as the processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing. The processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is started only when the print job specifies roll paper RP as the print medium to be printed on. However, by adding the same processing as step S130 shown in FIG. 9, the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 may be started regardless of the print medium. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the flow of processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing. Note that steps S110 to S120 shown in FIG. 10 are the same as steps S110 to S120 shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, a description of steps S110 to S120 will be omitted in FIG. 10. Furthermore, step S140 shown in FIG. 10 is the same as step S140 shown in FIG. 9. 10, the processing of step S140 will not be described. Furthermore, steps S150 to S230 shown in FIG. 10 are the same as steps S150 to S230 shown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, the processing of steps S150 to S230 will not be described in FIG. 10. The following describes, as an example, a case in which the printing device 1 receives a print job from an information processing device or the like communicably connected to the printing device 1 at a timing before the processing of step S110 shown in FIG. 10 is started. The print job received by the printing device 1 at this timing may specify roll paper RP as the printing medium to be printed on, or may specify one or more cut sheets CP as the printing medium to be printed on. The following describes, as an example, a case in which the paper feed tray TR is located in the installation position at this timing.

[0073] After stopping the execution of the print job in step S140, the control unit 11 determines whether or not predetermined determination conditions are satisfied (step S310). Here, the determination conditions include the following two conditions, Condition 1 and Condition 2.

[0074] Condition 1: The printing unit PR has started printing an image onto a printing medium. Condition 2: The length of the roll paper RP downstream of the second detection unit S2 exceeds a predetermined length.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 11, the length of the roll paper RP downstream of the second detection unit S2 is the length L of the roll paper RP parallel to the X axis, located downstream of the second detection unit S2. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining length L. The predetermined length may be any length. For example, the predetermined length is the length parallel to the X axis from the downstream end of the second detection unit S2 to the point of contact between the roller and the shaft at the first discharge unit R3 when no printing medium is passing through. Alternatively, the predetermined length is the length parallel to the X axis from the downstream end of the second detection unit S2 to the point of contact between the roller and the shaft at the second discharge unit R4 when no printing medium is passing through.

[0076] The control unit 11 determines that the judgment condition is satisfied when at least one of Condition 1 and Condition 2 is satisfied. On the other hand, the control unit 11 determines that the judgment condition is not satisfied when both Condition 1 and Condition 2 are not satisfied. The judgment condition may be configured to include only one of Condition 1 and Condition 2. In this case, the control unit 11 determines that the judgment condition is satisfied when the condition included in the judgment condition, either Condition 1 or Condition 2, is satisfied, and determines that the judgment condition is not satisfied when the condition included in the judgment condition, either Condition 1 or Condition 2, is not satisfied.

[0077] When the control unit 11 determines that the determination condition is satisfied (step S310-YES), the process proceeds to step S150, and the control unit 11 causes the display unit 15 to display an image for confirming whether or not to allow printing to continue.

[0078] On the other hand, if the control unit 11 determines that the judgment condition is not met (step S310-NO), it rotates the paper feed roller pair R2 in the reverse direction until the second detection unit S2 no longer detects the print medium (step S320). That is, in step S320, the control unit 11 rotates the paper feed roller pair R2 in the reverse direction until the paper feed roller pair R2 changes from a state in which it holds the print medium to a state in which it no longer holds the print medium. This allows the printing device 1 to reduce the force required for the user to rewind the roll paper RP that has been pulled from the roll RB in the paper feed tray TR back onto the roll RB, and also prevents the paper feed roller pair R2 from being subjected to load caused by pulling the roll paper RP in the direction opposite the transport direction. This also allows the printing device 1 to easily remove the roll paper RP. If an image is not printed on the print medium when the paper feed roller pair R2 rotates in the reverse direction in step S320, the print medium is not swollen by ink, and therefore is unlikely to wrinkle due to the reverse rotation of the paper feed roller pair R2. Furthermore, because the length L is limited by a predetermined length, the printing device 1 can reduce the possibility of a paper jam occurring due to the reverse rotation of the paper feed roller pair R2 in step S320 compared to when the length L is not limited by a predetermined length. After the processing of step S320 is performed, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S230 and displays a paper jam error image on the display unit 15.

[0079] The printing device 1 may be configured to limit the amount of reverse rotation of the paper feed roller pair R2. This is to prevent the roll paper RP from being bent as it moves in the opposite direction to the transport direction due to reverse rotation.

[0080] As described above, even if the printing device 1 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 instead of the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 as the processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing, it can prevent printing failures caused by pulling out the paper feed tray TR in the pull-out direction during printing.

[0081] 10 may be configured to be executed between the process of step S140 shown in FIG. 9 and the process of step S150 shown in FIG. 9. That is, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 and the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 may be combined. In this case, if the printing device 1 determines in step S310 that the judgment condition is met, it transitions to step S150. On the other hand, if the printing device 1 determines in step S310 that the judgment condition is not met, it transitions to step S320. Then, after performing the process of step S320, the printing device 1 transitions to step S230 and displays a paper jam error image on the display unit 15.

[0082] <Modification 2 of the embodiment> A second variation of the embodiment will be described below. Instead of determining whether the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction based on the output from the first detection unit S1 in at least one of step S110 shown in FIG. 9 and step S110 shown in FIG. 10, the printing device 1 may determine whether the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction based on the load fluctuations occurring in the actuator that drives the paper feed roller pair R2. In this case, even if the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction, if one or more cut sheets CP are specified as the print medium, no load fluctuations occur in the actuator. On the other hand, in this case, if roll paper RP is specified as the print medium and the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction, a load fluctuation occurs in the actuator. Therefore, when roll paper RP is specified as the print medium, the printing device 1 can determine whether the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction based on the load fluctuations occurring in the actuator. This also allows the printing device 1 to prevent printing failures caused by pulling the paper feed tray TR in the pull-out direction during printing.

[0083] In the printing device 1, a load fluctuation also occurs in the actuator that drives the paper feed roller pair R2 when an attempt is made to pull out the roll paper RP from the discharge tray ST side. Therefore, the printing device 1 can also prevent printing failures caused by the paper feed tray TR being pulled out in the transport direction during printing by performing processing similar to that shown in the flowchart of Fig. 9 or the flowchart of Fig. 10.

[0084] <Modification 3 of the embodiment> A third variation of the embodiment will be described below. The printing device 1 may be configured to omit steps S190 to S210 if predetermined cutting conditions are met in at least one of the flowcharts shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. That is, if the cutting conditions are met in at least one of these two flowcharts, the printing device 1 may be configured to cut the print medium held between the paper feed roller pair R2 with the cutting unit CT without receiving a user instruction indicating whether or not to cut the print medium with the cutting unit CT. Alternatively, if the cutting conditions are not met in at least one of these two flowcharts, the printing device 1 may be configured to not cut the print medium held between the paper feed roller pair R2 with the cutting unit CT without receiving a user instruction indicating whether or not to cut the print medium with the cutting unit CT. Here, the cutting condition is, for example, that the aforementioned length L is equal to or greater than the second predetermined length. Note that the cutting condition may instead be another condition. The second predetermined length may be the same as or different from the aforementioned predetermined length. However, if the second predetermined length is the length parallel to the X-axis from the downstream end of the second detection unit S2 to the contact point between the roller and the shaft in the first discharge unit R3 when no print medium is passing through, the printing device 1 can reduce the force required for the user to pull out the print medium cut by the cutting unit CT from the rear opening. Furthermore, if the second predetermined length is the length parallel to the X-axis from the downstream end of the second detection unit S2 to the contact point between the roller and the shaft in the second discharge unit R4 when no print medium is passing through, the printing device 1 allows the user to pull out the print medium cut by the cutting unit CT from the discharge tray ST side, eliminating the need for the user to open the opening / closing cover BD and improving paper removal.

[0085] Note that length L may be replaced with another amount. For example, length L may be the total length in the transport direction of the roll paper RP unwound from the roll RB. Therefore, length L may also be referred to as the transport amount of the print medium. That is, if the transport amount of the print medium is equal to or greater than the second predetermined length, the printer 1 stops the transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV and then causes the cutting unit CT to cut the roll paper RP transported as the print medium. If the transport amount is less than the second predetermined length, the printer 1 stops the transport of the print medium by the transport unit MV and then does not cause the cutting unit CT to cut the roll paper RP transported as the print medium. This allows the printer 1 to easily remove the roll paper RP after it has been cut and separated from the roll paper RP unwound from the roll RB.

[0086] <Fourth Modification of the Embodiment> A fourth modification of the embodiment will be described below. The printing device 1 may be configured to perform the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 instead of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 as the processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing yet another example of the flow of processing performed by the printing device 1 when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing. Note that the processing of step S110 shown in FIG. 12 is the same processing as the processing of step S110 shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, a description of the processing of step S110 will be omitted in FIG. 12. Also, the processing of step S120 shown in FIG. 12 is the same processing as the processing of step S120 shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, a description of the processing of step S120 will be omitted in FIG. 12. Also, the processing of steps S150 to S230 shown in FIG. 12 is the same processing as the processing of steps S150 to S230 shown in FIG. 9. For this reason, explanation of steps S150 to S230 will be omitted in Fig. 12. Also, the following will be described as an example of a case where the printing device 1 receives a print job that specifies roll paper RP as the print medium to be printed on from an information processing device or the like that is communicably connected to the printing device 1 at a timing before the processing of step S110 shown in Fig. 12 is started. In other words, when the printing device 1 receives this print job, it starts the processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 12. Also, the following will be described as an example of a case where the paper feed tray TR is in the attached position at that timing.

[0087] If it is determined in step S110 that the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pull-out direction, the control unit 11 stops execution of the accepted print job (step S410). That is, in the fourth modified embodiment, the printing device 1 accepts a print job that specifies roll paper RP as the print medium to be printed on, and if the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing, the printing job is always stopped. Note that the process of step S410 is the same as the process of step S140 shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, in this embodiment, further detailed description of the process of step S410 is omitted. After the process of step S410 is performed, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S120 and determines whether the print medium being transported is being clamped by the paper feed roller pair R2.

[0088] As described above, even if the printing device 1 is configured to perform the processing shown in the flowchart in FIG. 12 instead of the flowchart in FIG. 9 and the flowchart in FIG. 10 as the processing that the printing device 1 performs when the paper feed tray TR is pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing, it is possible to prevent printing failures due to the paper feed tray TR being pulled out in the pull-out direction during printing.

[0089] 12, the printing device 1 may be configured to determine whether the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pulling direction based on the load fluctuation occurring in the actuator that drives the paper feed roller pair R2, instead of determining whether the paper feed tray TR has been pulled out in the pulling direction based on the output from the first detection unit S1. This also allows the printing device 1 to prevent printing failures caused by pulling out the paper feed tray TR in the pulling direction during printing.

[0090] In the printing device 1, a load fluctuation also occurs in the actuator that drives the paper feed roller pair R2 when an attempt is made to pull out the roll paper RP from the discharge tray ST side. For this reason, the printing device 1 can also prevent printing failures caused by pulling out the paper feed tray TR in the transport direction during printing by using processing similar to the processing in the flowchart shown in Figure 12.

[0091] Furthermore, the printing device 1 may be configured to omit steps S190 to S210 if the cutting conditions described above are met in the flowchart shown in Fig. 12. In other words, if the cutting conditions are met in at least one of these two flowcharts, the printing device 1 may be configured to cut the printing medium held between the paper feed roller pair R2 by the cutting unit CT without receiving an operation from the user indicating whether or not to cut the printing medium by the cutting unit CT.

[0092] 10 may be configured to be executed between the process of step S120 shown in FIG. 12 and the process of step S150 shown in FIG. 12. That is, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 and the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 may be combined. In this case, if the printing device 1 determines in step S310 that the judgment condition is met, it transitions to step S150. On the other hand, if the printing device 1 determines in step S310 that the judgment condition is not met, it transitions to step S320. Then, after performing the process of step S320, the printing device 1 transitions to step S230 and displays a paper jam error image on the display unit 15.

[0093] The above-described items may be combined in any manner.

[0094] <Additional Notes> [1] a control unit that controls the printing unit; a paper feed tray that has a printing unit that prints images on printing media, a first storage unit that can store a roll of roll paper used as the printing medium, and a second storage unit that can store one or more cut sheets of paper used as the printing medium, and that can slide parallel to a predetermined withdrawal direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position; and a control unit that controls the printing unit; wherein the control unit stops execution of a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the printing medium when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction and when the print job specifies the roll paper as the printing medium to be printed on. [2] The printing device according to [1], further comprising a detection unit that detects when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction. [3] The control unit of the printing device described in [1] or [2] continues execution of the print job if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction during execution of the print job, and if the print job specifies one or more cut sheets as the printing medium to be printed on. [4] A printing device described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the control unit stops the printing unit from printing an image on the printing medium if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installation position in the pull-out direction while the printing unit is printing an image on the printing medium, and if the print job specifies roll paper as the printing medium to be printed on. [5] The printing device according to [4], wherein the control unit accepts an operation indicating whether or not to resume the stopped printing after the printing unit has stopped printing the image on the printing medium. [6] The control unit of the printing device described in [4] or [5] continues printing of an image onto the printing medium by the printing unit if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the printing unit is printing an image onto the printing medium, and if the print job specifies one or more cut sheets as the printing medium to be printed on. [7] A printing device described in any one of [4] to [6], which is equipped with a transport unit that transports the roll paper from the wound body stored in the first storage unit as the printing medium and transports the one or more cut sheets stored in the second storage unit one by one as the printing medium, and the control unit stops transporting the printing medium when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installation position in the pull-out direction while the transport unit is transporting the printing medium and when the roll paper is specified by the print job as the printing medium to be printed on. [8] The control unit, when the printing unit has not started printing an image on the printing medium, stops transporting the roll paper as the printing medium, and then controls the transport unit to transport the printing medium in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the printing medium. [7] A printing device as described in [9] A printing device as described in [7] or [8], which is provided with a cutting unit that cuts the roll paper pulled out from the reel, and the control unit, after stopping the transport of the printing medium, causes the cutting unit to cut the roll paper that has been transported as the printing medium.

[10] The control unit, when the transport amount of the printing medium is equal to or greater than a first length, stops the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit and then causes the cutting unit to cut the roll paper transported as the printing medium, and when the transport amount is less than the first length, does not cause the cutting unit to cut the roll paper transported as the printing medium after stopping the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit. [9] A printing device as described in

[11] The transport unit has a paper feed unit that feeds the roll paper from the roll housed in the first storage unit as the printing medium and feeds the one or more cut sheets housed in the second storage unit one by one as the printing medium, and a pair of paper feed rollers that are located downstream of the paper feed unit in the transport direction of the printing medium and that sandwich and transport the printing medium fed from the paper feed unit, and the control unit stops the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installed position in the pull-out direction and the paper feed roller pair is sandwiching the printing medium while the transport unit is transporting the printing medium, and does not stop the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installed position in the pull-out direction and the paper feed roller pair is not sandwiching the printing medium while the transport unit is transporting the printing medium.

[12] The control unit stops the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit if the paper feed roller pair does not clamp the printing medium within a predetermined time from the timing corresponding to the start of feeding the printing medium by the paper feed unit.

[13] A printing device described in any one of [7] to

[10] , wherein the control unit continues transporting the printing medium if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installation position in the pull-out direction while the transport unit is transporting the printing medium, and if the print job specifies one or more cut sheets as the printing medium to be printed on.

[14] The printing device according to [3], wherein the direction in which the print medium is transported from the paper feed tray is parallel to the pull-out direction.

[15] A control method for a printing device having a printing unit that prints images on printing media, a first storage unit that can store a roll of roll paper used as the printing medium, and a second storage unit that can store one or more cut sheets of paper used as the printing medium, and a paper feed tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position, wherein the control method stops execution of a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the printing medium if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position toward the pull-out direction and if the print job specifies the roll paper as the printing medium to be printed on.

[16] A control method described in

[15] , in which if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the printing unit is printing an image on the printing medium, and if the print job specifies roll paper as the printing medium to be printed on, the printing unit stops printing the image on the printing medium.

[17] The printing device is provided with a transport unit that transports the roll paper from the reel housed in the first storage unit as the printing medium and transports the one or more cut sheets housed in the second storage unit one by one as the printing medium, and if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installation position in the pull-out direction while the transport unit is transporting the printing medium and if the roll paper is specified by the print job as the printing medium to be printed, the transport of the printing medium is stopped.

[15] or

[16] A control method as described in

[18] The transport unit has a paper feed unit that feeds the roll paper from the roll housed in the first storage unit as the printing medium and feeds the one or more cut sheets housed in the second storage unit one by one as the printing medium, and a pair of paper feed rollers that are located downstream of the paper feed unit in the transport direction of the printing medium and that sandwich and transport the printing medium fed from the paper feed unit, wherein, during the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit, if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installed position in the pull-out direction and the paper feed roller pair is sandwiching the printing medium, the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit is stopped, and during the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit, if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installed position in the pull-out direction and the paper feed roller pair is not sandwiching the printing medium, the transport of the printing medium by the transport unit is not stopped.

[19] A control method for a printing device having a printing unit that prints images on printing media, a first storage unit that can store a roll of roll paper used as the printing medium, and a second storage unit that can store one or more cut sheets of paper used as the printing medium, and a paper feed tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position, wherein when the roll paper is specified as the printing medium to be printed on by a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the printing medium, the control method detects whether the paper feed tray has been pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction, and if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction during execution of the print job, the control method stops execution of the print job.

[0095] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and may be changed, substituted, deleted, etc., without departing from the gist of this disclosure. For example, in the flowcharts shown in Figures 9, 10, and 12, the order of the processes may be changed or some processes may be omitted as long as there is no technical contradiction.

[0096] Furthermore, a program for implementing the functions of any of the components of the device described above may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium and then loaded into a computer system for execution. Here, the device in question may be, for example, a printing device 1. Note that the term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an operating system (OS) and peripheral devices. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and compact disks (CDs)-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes devices that retain a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory within a computer system that acts as a server or client when the program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line.

[0097] The above program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" that transmits the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. The program may also be a program for realizing some of the functions described above, or may be a so-called differential file or differential program that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 1...printing device, 10...member, 10A...rolled body support portion, 10B...cut paper support portion, 11...control portion, 12...storage portion, 13...input reception portion, 14...communication portion, 15...display portion, AX1...rotating shaft, BD...opening / closing cover, BL1...movable blade, BL2...fixed blade, BX...housing, C1...carriage, C2...print head, C3...platen, CP...cut paper, CR...moving portion, CT...cutting portion, CT1...first storage portion, CT2...second storage portion Container section, EC...encoder, HL...opening, MT...motor, MV...transport section, PP...roll paper path, PR...printing section, R1...paper feed roller, R2...paper feed roller pair, R3...first discharge section, R4...second discharge section, RB...roll body, RP...roll paper, S1...first detection section, S2...second detection section, SL...scale, SP...space, ST...discharge tray, TB...timing belt, TC...three-dimensional coordinate system, TR...paper feed tray

Claims

1. a printing unit that prints an image on a printing medium; a paper feed tray having a first storage section capable of storing a roll of roll paper used as the printing medium and a second storage section capable of storing one or more cut sheets used as the printing medium, the paper feed tray being slidable parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined mounting position and a pull-out position; a control unit that controls the printing unit; Equipped with the control unit, during execution of a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the print medium, if the paper feed tray is pulled out from the installation position in the pull-out direction and if the roll paper is specified by the print job as the print medium to be printed on, stops execution of the print job. Printing device.

2. a detection unit that detects when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pulling direction; The printing device of claim 1 .

3. the control unit continues execution of the print job when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction during execution of the print job and when the one or more cut sheets are designated by the print job as the print medium to be printed on. The printing device of claim 1 .

4. the control unit stops printing of the image on the print medium by the printing unit when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction and when the print job specifies the roll paper as the print medium to be printed on. The printing device of claim 1 .

5. the control unit receives an operation indicating whether to resume the stopped printing after stopping the printing of the image on the print medium by the printing unit; The printing device according to claim 4 .

6. the control unit, when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the printing unit is printing an image on the print medium, and when the print job specifies one or more cut sheets as the print medium to be printed on, continues printing the image on the print medium by the printing unit.

6. The printing device according to claim 4 or 5.

7. a transport unit that transports the roll paper from the roll housed in the first housing unit as the printing medium and transports the one or more cut sheets housed in the second housing unit one by one as the printing medium, the control unit stops the transport of the print medium when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the transport unit is transporting the print medium, and when the roll paper is specified by the print job as the print medium to be printed on. The printing device according to claim 4 .

8. when the printing unit has not started printing an image on the print medium, the control unit stops transport of the roll paper as the print medium, and then controls the transport unit to transport the print medium in a direction opposite to a transport direction of the print medium. The printing device according to claim 7.

9. a cutting unit that cuts the roll paper pulled out from the roll, the control unit stops the transport of the print medium and then causes the cutting unit to cut the roll paper that has been transported as the print medium. The printing device according to claim 7.

10. The control unit If the transport amount of the print medium is equal to or greater than a first length, the transport unit stops transporting the print medium, and then the cutter cuts the roll paper that has been transported as the print medium. if the transport amount is less than a first length, after stopping the transport of the print medium by the transport unit, the cutting unit is not caused to cut the roll paper that has been transported as the print medium; The printing device of claim 9.

11. The conveying unit is a paper feed unit that feeds the roll paper from the roll housed in the first housing unit as the printing medium and feeds the one or more cut sheets housed in the second housing unit one by one as the printing medium; a pair of paper feed rollers positioned downstream of the paper feed unit in the transport direction of the print medium, which sandwich and transport the print medium fed from the paper feed unit; and The control unit When the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the print medium is being transported by the transport unit, and when the paper feed roller pair is holding the print medium, the transport unit stops transporting the print medium; when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the transport unit is transporting the print medium, and when the paper feed roller pair is not clamping the print medium, the transport unit does not stop transporting the print medium.

11. A printing device according to any one of claims 7 to 10.

12. the control unit stops the transport of the print medium by the transport unit when the paper feed roller pair does not hold the print medium between the paper feed roller pair and a predetermined time has elapsed since the timing according to the start of the feeding of the print medium by the paper feed unit. The printing device of claim 11.

13. the control unit continues conveying the print medium when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the conveyance unit is conveying the print medium, and when the one or more cut sheets are designated by the print job as the print medium to be printed on.

11. A printing device according to any one of claims 7 to 10.

14. a direction in which the print medium is transported from the paper feed tray and a direction in which the print medium is pulled out are parallel to each other; The printing device according to claim 3 .

15. A control method for a printing device having a printing unit that prints an image on a print medium, a first storage unit that can store a roll of roll paper used as the print medium, and a second storage unit that can store one or more sheets of cut paper used as the print medium, and a paper feed tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined loading position and a pull-out position, When the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction during execution of a print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the print medium, and when the roll paper is specified by the print job as the print medium to be printed on, execution of the print job is stopped. Control method.

16. When the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the printing unit is printing an image on the print medium, and when the print job specifies roll paper as the print medium to be printed on, the printing unit stops printing the image on the print medium. The control method according to claim 15.

17. the printing device includes a transport unit that transports the roll paper from the roll housed in the first housing unit as the printing medium and transports the one or more cut sheets housed in the second housing unit one by one as the printing medium, When the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the print medium is being transported by the transport unit, and when the roll paper is specified by the print job as the print medium to be printed on, transport of the print medium is stopped. The control method according to claim 15.

18. The conveying unit is a paper feed unit that feeds the roll paper from the roll housed in the first housing unit as the printing medium and feeds the one or more cut sheets housed in the second housing unit one by one as the printing medium; a pair of paper feed rollers positioned downstream of the paper feed unit in the transport direction of the print medium, which sandwich and transport the print medium fed from the paper feed unit; and When the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the print medium is being transported by the transport unit, and when the paper feed roller pair is holding the print medium, the transport unit stops transporting the print medium; when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction while the transport unit is transporting the print medium, and when the paper feed roller pair is not clamping the print medium, the transport unit does not stop transporting the print medium.

18. The control method of claim 17.

19. A control method for a printing device having a printing unit that prints an image on a print medium, a first storage unit that can store a roll of roll paper used as the print medium, and a second storage unit that can store one or more sheets of cut paper used as the print medium, and a paper feed tray that can slide parallel to a predetermined pull-out direction between a predetermined loading position and a pull-out position, When the roll paper is specified as the print medium to be printed on by the print job that instructs the printing unit to print on the print medium, it is detected whether the paper feed tray has been pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction, When the paper feed tray is pulled out from the mounting position in the pull-out direction during the execution of the print job, the execution of the print job is stopped. Control method.

Images