Printing apparatus and control method of printing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a printer which reduces the amount of use of a printing medium.SOLUTION: The printing apparatus 1 includes the transport unit 60 that transports the print medium in the transport direction, the transport driver circuit 50 that drives the transport unit 60, the print head 70 that prints the image based on the print data on the print medium, and the control unit 100 that controls the transport driver circuit 50 and the print head 70 to execute the first print mode and the second print mode different from the first print mode. The control unit 100 changes a transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while the image based on the printing data is printed on the printing medium between a case where the first printing mode is executed and a case where the second printing mode is executed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device and a method for controlling a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, techniques for reducing the amount of printing medium used for printing images have been known. For example, the printing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 determines, on a line-by-line basis, whether the expanded data contains a specified margin at least above or below the line, based on the expanded data obtained by expanding font data corresponding to each character of the character information contained in the print data, reduces the specified margin of the expanded data on a line-by-line basis, and executes a process to have the printing unit print the data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-124572 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the printing device of Patent Document 1 reduces the margins included in the decompressed data, which may result in the spacing between characters and images becoming narrower, making the printed content of the printed matter difficult to read. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The printing device of the present disclosure is a printing device comprising: a transport unit that transports a printing medium in a transport direction; a drive unit that drives the transport unit; a printing unit that prints an image based on print data on the printing medium; and a control unit that controls the drive unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing mode and a second printing mode different from the first printing mode, wherein the control unit changes the transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while printing an image based on the print data on the printing medium when executing the first printing mode and when executing the second printing mode.

[0006] The control method for a printing device disclosed herein is a control method for a printing device that includes a transport unit that transports a printing medium in a transport direction, a drive unit that drives the transport unit, and a print unit that prints an image based on print data on the printing medium, wherein a processor included in the printing device executes the steps of controlling the drive unit and the print unit to cause the printing device to execute a first print mode, and controlling the drive unit and the print unit to cause the printing device to execute a second print mode that is different from the first print mode, wherein in the step of executing the second print mode, the transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while printing an image based on the print data on the printing medium is different from the transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while printing an image based on the print data on the printing medium in the step of executing the first print mode. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image printed in a first print mode and an image printed in a second print mode. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing signal waveforms of an encoder signal and a strobe signal. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] [1. Printing device configuration] The configuration of a printing device 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing device 1.

[0009] The printing device 1 includes a communication interface 10, a command analysis unit 20, a print buffer 30, an operation unit 41, a display unit 43, a transport driver circuit 50, a transport unit 60, a print head 70, a print driver circuit 80, and a control unit 100. Hereinafter, the interface will also be referred to as I / F.

[0010] The communication I / F 10 has a connection port and an interface circuit, and performs data communication with the host computer 200 according to a predetermined communication standard. Hereinafter, the computer will be abbreviated as PC. The host PC 200 is an external device that sends print data to the printing device 1, causing the printing device 1 to print an image based on the print data, and sends control commands to the printing device 1, causing the printing device 1 to execute processing corresponding to the control commands.

[0011] The command analysis unit 20 analyzes data received by the communication I / F 10. If the received data is a control command, the command analysis unit 20 outputs the control command to the control unit 100. If the received data is print data, the command analysis unit 20 generates, for example, binary image data based on the print data and loads the generated image data into the print buffer 30.

[0012] The operation unit 41 is a reception unit that receives operations to change the operation mode of the printing device 1. The operation unit 41 may be, for example, a hardware switch such as a DIP switch provided on the printing device 1, or may be a touch panel provided on the printing device 1.

[0013] The display unit 43 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays information on the display panel under the control of the control unit 100.

[0014] The transport driver circuit 50 supplies a drive current to the transport motor 61 under the control of the control unit 100, and drives the transport motor 61 to rotate. The transport driver circuit 50 corresponds to the drive unit. The transport motor 61 is a drive source that transports the print medium, and can be configured, for example, by a DC motor.

[0015] The transport unit 60 includes a transport motor 61, a platen roller 63, and a detection unit 65. The detection unit 65 includes a rotary encoder 67.

[0016] The transport motor 61 is driven by the transport driver circuit 50 to rotate the platen roller 63 .

[0017] The platen roller 63 holds the print medium between itself and the print head 70, and is rotated by the transport motor 61 to transport the print medium in the transport direction. The platen roller 63 also abuts against the print medium from the side opposite the print head 70, causing the print head 70 to abut against the roll paper, and causing the print head 70 to print characters and figures on the print medium.

[0018] The rotary encoder 67 detects the rotation of the platen roller 63 and outputs encoder pulses. The rotary encoder 67 includes, for example, a disk fixed to the end of the platen roller 63 and a photosensor. The disk has, for example, multiple slits formed on its periphery. The central axis of the disk coincides with the rotation axis of the platen roller 63, and the disk rotates as the platen roller 63 rotates. Each time one of the slits formed on the periphery of the disk passes the position of the photosensor, the amount of light received by the photosensor changes in a binary manner. Therefore, when the platen roller 63 rotates, the photosensor generates a detection signal containing multiple pulses. The rotary encoder 67 outputs the generated detection signal to the control unit 100. In this embodiment, an example is described in which the rotary encoder 67 detects the rotation of the platen roller 63, but the rotary encoder 67 may also be configured to detect the rotation of the rotation shaft of a DC motor that constitutes the transport motor.

[0019] The print head 70 corresponds to a printing unit and is equipped with multiple heating elements 75. The print head 70 is a line thermal head in which the heating elements 75 are arranged in one dot line in the width direction of the print medium, which intersects with the transport direction of the print medium. The resolution in the width direction in which the heating elements 75 of the print head 70 are arranged is called the head resolution.

[0020] The print driver circuit 80 drives the print head 70 under the control of the control unit 100. The print head 70 is a line thermal head that prints an image by forming dots on the print medium using multiple heating elements 75 arranged in the width direction of the print medium.

[0021] The print driver circuit 80 sends control signals to the print head 70 to control the driving of the print head 70. The control signals output by the print driver circuit 80 to the print head 70 include a strobe signal STB and a data signal. The strobe signal STB is a signal that defines the energization time of the heating elements 75. When the signal level of the data signal becomes active while the signal level of the strobe signal STB is in an active state, the corresponding heating element 75 is energized and generates heat. The data signal is bit data for one dot line. The print driver circuit 80 acquires the bit data for one dot line from the bit data stored in the print buffer 30, and outputs the acquired bit data for one dot line to the print head 70.

[0022] The control unit 100 is a computer device that includes a memory unit 110 and a processor 130 .

[0023] The storage unit 110 includes memories such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The RAM is used for temporary storage of various data, and the ROM stores a control program 115 for controlling the operation of the printing device 1, various setting information, and the like.

[0024] The processor 130 is an arithmetic processing device configured from a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The processor 130 executes the control program 115 to control each part of the printing device 1. The processor 130 may be configured from a single processor or multiple processors. The processor 130 may also be configured as an SoC integrated with part or all of the storage unit 110 or other circuits. The processor 130 may also be configured as a combination of a CPU that executes programs and a DSP that executes predetermined arithmetic processing. Furthermore, all of the functions of the processor 130 may be implemented in hardware, or may be configured using a programmable device.

[0025] The printing device 1 has a first printing mode and a second printing mode as printing modes. The first print mode is a mode in which the length of the print medium in the transport direction is not reduced when an image based on print data is printed on the print medium. The second print mode is a mode in which, when printing an image based on print data on a print medium, the length of the print medium in the transport direction is reduced compared to the first print mode. The first print mode and the second print mode differ in the transport amount by which the print medium is transported in the transport direction while an image based on print data is printed on the print medium.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a receipt image printed in the first print mode and a receipt image printed in the second print mode. In the drawing, the right side shows a receipt image printed in the first print mode, and the left side shows a receipt image printed in the second print mode. As shown in FIG. 2, the width W of a receipt image printed in the first print mode and a receipt image printed in the second print mode are the same. Additionally, the length in the transport direction of a receipt image printed in the first print mode is L1, and the length in the transport direction of a receipt image printed in the second print mode is L2. L2 is shorter than L1. In other words, the size of a receipt image printed in the second print mode is smaller in the transport direction than a receipt image printed in the first print mode.

[0027] Since the image printed in the second print mode is reduced in size in the transport direction, the spacing between characters and pictures included in the image is prevented from becoming extremely small compared to when the margins are removed, and the appearance of the printed image is less likely to be significantly changed. Furthermore, the change in appearance between the print data and the image printed on the print medium can be made smaller than when the margins are deleted, making it easier for the user to create print data for printing an image that is easy to see.

[0028] In this embodiment, the printer 1 is described as having two printing modes, a first printing mode and a second printing mode, but the number of printing modes provided by the printer 1 is not limited to two. For example, the printer 1 may be configured to have three printing modes: a first printing mode, a second printing mode, and a third printing mode. The third printing mode is a mode in which the length of the print medium in the transport direction is reduced compared to the second printing mode.

[0029] 3 is a diagram showing the signal waveforms of the detection signal and the strobe signal STB on the Nth dot line and the N+1th dot line, where N is an arbitrary natural number. 3A shows the waveforms of the detection signal and the strobe signal STB when the first print mode is executed. The strobe signal STB is active when the signal level is low, and the corresponding heating element 75 is energized. In the first print mode, one cycle of the strobe signal STB corresponds to eight cycles of the detection signal. That is, while the print driver circuit 80 outputs one cycle of the strobe signal STB to the print head 70, the rotary encoder 67 outputs eight cycles of the detection signal to the control unit 100. The ON period of the strobe signal STB shown in Figure 3(A) corresponds to five cycles of the detection signal, and the OFF period of the strobe signal STB corresponds to three cycles of the detection signal. For example, assuming that the head resolution is 203 dpi, in the first print mode, the transport amount of the transport motor 61 of the transport unit 60 is defined so that the print resolution is the same as the head resolution, 203 dpi.

[0030] 3B shows a case where one cycle of the strobe signal STB is reduced to six cycles of the detection signal, and the ON period of the strobe signal STB is set to five cycles of the detection signal, the same as in the first print mode. The OFF period of the strobe signal STB corresponds to one cycle of the detection signal.

[0031] In the first print mode, the print head 70 is often used at its rated power. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the length of the ON period of the strobe signal STB is not changed from the first print mode, but one cycle of the strobe signal STB is shortened to six cycles of the detection signal. This reduces the proportion of the OFF period in one cycle of the strobe signal STB and increases the proportion of the ON period in one cycle of the strobe signal STB. This results in excessive energy, which can cause the print head 70 to malfunction. To prevent malfunction of the print head 70, the duty ratio of the strobe signal STB must be the same as or less than the duty ratio of the strobe signal STB in the first print mode shown in FIG. 3A.

[0032] FIG. 3C shows a case where one period of the strobe signal STB is shortened to six periods of the detection signal, and the duty ratio of the strobe signal STB is set to the same as in the first print mode.

[0033] To prevent failure of the print head 70, the proportion of the ON period in one cycle of the strobe signal STB must be the same as or less than that in the first print mode. However, if the ON period of the strobe signal STB is made shorter than that in the first print mode, as shown in Figure 3(C), the print density may become lighter than in the first print mode.

[0034] FIG. 3D is a diagram showing the signal waveforms of the detection signal and the strobe signal STB when the printing device 1 executes printing in the second print mode. One cycle of the strobe signal STB in the second print mode is the same as one cycle of the strobe signal STB in the first print mode shown in Figure 3(A).The duty ratio of the strobe signal STB in the second print mode is also the same as the duty ratio of the strobe signal STB in the first print mode.In other words, the cycle and duty ratio of the strobe signal STB do not change when executing the first print mode and when executing the second print mode.

[0035] In the second print mode, the strobe signal STB is not changed, but the transport amount by which the print medium is transported in the transport direction is made different from that in the first print mode. As shown in FIG. 3D , in the second print mode, while the print driver circuit 80 outputs one cycle of the strobe signal STB to the print head 70, the rotary encoder 67 outputs six cycles of the detection signal to the control unit 100. That is, the timing at which the rotary encoder 67 outputs the detection signal during one cycle of the strobe signal STB is delayed compared to the first print mode. Therefore, in the second print mode, the second transport distance of the print medium transported by the transport unit 60 while the print head 70 prints a predetermined number of lines in the transport direction is less than the first transport distance of the print medium transported by the transport unit 60 while the print head 70 prints a predetermined number of lines in the transport direction in the first print mode. That is, the transport distance by which the transport unit 60 transports the print medium is less than in the first print mode. This reduces the size of the image printed on the print medium in the transport direction.

[0036] The setting information stored in the memory unit 110 includes the reduction ratio in the transport direction in the second print mode. When the printing device 1 is set to the second print mode by operating the operation unit 41 or the like, the control unit 100 controls the transport driver circuit 50 so that the second transport amount of the printing medium is the transport amount corresponding to the reduction ratio of the second print mode. Furthermore, if the printing device 1 has a third printing mode in addition to the first and second printing modes, the setting information stored in the memory unit 110 includes the reduction ratio in the transport direction in the third printing mode in addition to the reduction ratio in the transport direction in the second printing mode. When the printing device 1 is set to the third printing mode by operating the operation unit 41 or the like, the control unit 100 controls the transport driver circuit 50 so that the transport amount of the printing medium corresponds to the reduction ratio of the third printing mode.

[0037] The print mode of the printer 1 may be changed by a hardware switch such as a DIP switch provided on the printer 1. Furthermore, settings may be accepted via a touch panel provided on the printing device 1, and the print mode settings stored in the storage unit 110 as setting information may be rewritten.

[0038] For example, in the first print mode, assume that the print resolution is 203 dpi when the encoder outputs eight cycles of detection signals while printing an image for one dot line, and that the print speed in the first print mode is 300 mm / s. In the second printing mode, in which the encoder outputs six cycles of detection signals while the print head 70 prints one dot line of an image, the printing resolution is 271 dpi and the printing speed is 226 mm / s, which is slower than in the first printing mode. Furthermore, assume that the third print mode is set to a mode in which the encoder outputs seven cycles of detection signals while the print head 70 prints one dot line of an image. In this case, the print resolution is 232 dpi and the print speed is 264 mm / s. Even if the printing speed is slowed down by the reduction ratio, the same information can be printed with a paper feed amount that is shorter by the reduction ratio, so the printing time remains the same.

[0039] Furthermore, by providing a disk with an increased number of slits on the periphery of the rotary encoder 67, the number of periods of the detection signal output by the encoder can be increased while printing one dot line of image in the first printing mode, making it easier to set the reduction ratio for the second and third printing modes more precisely.

[0040] In addition, in order to reduce the change in density of the image printed on the printing medium when executing the first printing mode and the second printing mode, the control unit 100 may increase or decrease the on time of the strobe signal within the rated power of the print head 70.

[0041] In addition, a preset power supply time may be stored in the memory unit 110, and when the control unit 100 executes the second printing mode, the power supply time to the multiple heating elements, i.e., the duty ratio, may be controlled based on this preset power supply time. This power supply time is adjusted before shipping of the printing device 1 so as to reduce the difference in print density between the image printed on the printing medium when the first printing mode is executed and the image printed on the printing medium when the second printing mode is executed. Therefore, when the second printing mode is executed, the print head 70 is caused to print based on this preset power supply time, thereby preventing changes in print density between when the first printing mode and when the second printing mode are executed.

[0042] [2. Printing Device Operation] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing device 1. The operation of the printing device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the control unit 100 determines whether or not print data has been received from the host PC 200 (step S1). If the control unit 100 has not received print data from the host PC 200 (step S1 / NO), the control unit 100 waits until the print data is received.

[0043] When the control unit 100 receives print data (step S1 / YES), it determines whether the print mode set in the printing device 1 is the second print mode (step S2). If the print mode is not the second print mode (step S2 / NO) but the first print mode, the control unit 100 controls the transport driver circuit 50 according to the determined print mode (step S3). Specifically, the control unit 100 controls the transport driver circuit 50 so that the transport amount of the printing medium transported in the transport direction while printing one dot line of image is a first transport amount (step S3).

[0044] Thereafter, the control unit 100 determines whether printing of the image based on the print data received in step S1 has been completed (step S4). If printing of the image based on the print data has not been completed (step S4 / NO), the control unit 100 returns to the processing of step S3. On the other hand, if printing of the image based on the print data has been completed (step S4 / YES), the control unit 100 ends this processing flow.

[0045] Furthermore, if the print mode is the second print mode (step S2 / YES), the control unit 100 controls the transport driver circuit 50 according to the determined print mode (step S5). Specifically, the control unit 100 controls the transport driver circuit 50 so that the transport amount of the print medium transported in the transport direction while printing an image for one dot line is a second transport amount (step S5). The second transport amount is less than the first transport amount.

[0046] Thereafter, the control unit 100 determines whether printing of the image based on the print data received in step S1 has been completed (step S6). If printing of the image based on the print data has not been completed (step S6 / NO), the control unit 100 returns to the processing of step S5. On the other hand, if printing of the image based on the print data has been completed (step S6 / YES), the control unit 100 ends this processing flow.

[0047] [3. Modifications] In this variation, data in a predetermined format is included in the print data printed by the printer 1. The data in the predetermined format includes, for example, image data such as a product logo or picture, a one-dimensional code such as a barcode, or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code. QR code is a registered trademark.

[0048] When the control unit 100 executes the second printing mode and receives an operation from the operation unit 41 to print data in a specified format in the second printing mode, the control unit 100 causes the print head 70 to print the printing data including data in the specified format in the second printing mode. Furthermore, when executing the second print mode and receiving an operation from the operation unit 41 to print data in a predetermined format in the first print mode, the control unit 100 causes the transport driver circuit 50 to transport the print medium by a first transport amount when printing data in the predetermined format. Furthermore, when printing data in a format other than the predetermined format, the control unit 100 causes the transport driver circuit 50 to transport the print medium by a second transport amount.

[0049] The data in the predetermined format does not have to be included in the print data received from the host PC 200. For example, the data in the predetermined format may be stored in advance in the storage unit 110. When a command included in the print data instructs the control unit 100 to print the data in the predetermined format, the control unit 100 reads the data in the predetermined format from the storage unit 110 and outputs the read data in the predetermined format to the print driver circuit 80. The print driver circuit 80 superimposes the data in the predetermined format input from the control unit 100 on the image data written to the print buffer 30.

[0050] The above-described embodiment and each modification are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the processing units in the flowchart shown in Figure 4 are divided according to the main processing content to make the processing of the printing device 1 easier to understand. The present invention is not limited by the way in which the processing units shown in the flowchart of Figure 4 are divided or the names of the processing units. Furthermore, the processing of the printing device 1 can be divided into even more processing units depending on the processing content, or one processing unit can be divided so that it includes even more processes. Furthermore, the processing order of the above flowchart is not limited to the example shown in the figure.

[0051] 1 represents a functional configuration realized by the cooperation of hardware and software, and the specific implementation form is not particularly limited. Therefore, it is not necessary to implement hardware corresponding to each functional unit individually, and it is of course possible to configure the printer 1 so that the functions of multiple functional units are realized by a single processor executing a program. Furthermore, some of the functions realized by software in the above embodiment may be realized by hardware, or some of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software.

[0052] 4. Summary of the Disclosure A summary of this disclosure is provided below.

[0053] (Appendix 1) A printing device comprising: a transport unit that transports a printing medium in a transport direction; a drive unit that drives the transport unit; a printing unit that prints an image based on print data on the printing medium; and a control unit that controls the drive unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing mode and a second printing mode different from the first printing mode, wherein the control unit changes the transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while printing the image based on the print data on the printing medium when executing the first printing mode and when executing the second printing mode.

[0054] According to this configuration, the transport distance of the print medium in the transport direction is changed between when the first print mode is executed and when the second print mode is executed while printing an image based on the print data on the print medium. This makes it possible to change the size of the image printed on the print medium in the transport direction, thereby reducing the amount of print medium used.

[0055] (Appendix 2) The control unit controls the drive unit so that, in the second printing mode, a second transport amount of the printing medium transported by the transport unit while the printing unit prints a predetermined number of lines in the transport direction is less than a first transport amount of the printing medium transported by the transport unit while the printing unit prints a predetermined number of lines in the transport direction in the first printing mode.

[0056] With this configuration, in the second print mode, the second carry amount, which is the amount the print medium is carried in the carry direction while printing a preset number of lines, is less than the first carry amount, which is the amount the print medium is carried in the carry direction while printing a preset number of lines, in the first print mode. As a result, the size in the carry direction of the image printed on the print medium in the second print mode can be reduced compared to the size in the carry direction of the image printed on the print medium in the first print mode.

[0057] (Appendix 3) 3. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the second printing mode is set to a reduction ratio in the transport direction, and the control unit controls the drive unit so that the second transport amount corresponds to the reduction ratio.

[0058] According to this configuration, the control unit controls the drive unit so that the second transport amount corresponds to the reduction ratio, and therefore, an image can be printed whose size in the transport direction is reduced to a size corresponding to the reduction ratio.

[0059] (Appendix 4) The printing device according to Appendix 1, wherein the printing device includes an operation unit that accepts operations, the printing unit includes a thermal head, and the control unit, when executing the second printing mode, changes the power supply time of the thermal head in accordance with the print density setting accepted by the operation unit.

[0060] With this configuration, the time for which current is applied to the thermal head is changed according to the print density setting received by the operation unit, so that the density of the image printed on the print medium can be changed by operating the operation unit.

[0061] (Appendix 5) A printing device as described in Appendix 1, wherein the printing unit includes a thermal head, the thermal head includes a plurality of heating elements, and the control unit outputs a strobe signal to the thermal head to control the power supply time to the plurality of heating elements, and the period and duty ratio of the strobe signal are not changed when the first printing mode is executed and when the second printing mode is executed.

[0062] With this configuration, the cycle and duty ratio of the strobe signal are not changed when the first print mode is executed and when the second print mode is executed, which prevents an increase in the proportion of the ON period in one cycle of the strobe signal and prevents the printing unit from breaking down due to excessive energy.

[0063] (Appendix 6) A printing device as described in Appendix 1, wherein the printing unit includes a thermal head, the thermal head includes a plurality of heating elements, the control unit includes a memory unit that stores a preset power-on time for the plurality of heating elements, the control unit outputs a strobe signal to the thermal head to control the power-on time for the plurality of heating elements, and when executing the second printing mode, causes the printing unit to perform printing based on the preset power-on time, and the preset power-on time is a power-on time set so as to reduce the difference between the print density of the image printed on the printing medium when executing the first printing mode and the print density of the image printed on the printing medium when executing the second printing mode.

[0064] According to this configuration, when the second print mode is executed, the energization time of the multiple heating elements of the thermal head is controlled based on a preset energization time stored in the memory unit. The preset energization time stored in the memory unit is set to reduce the difference in print density between the image printed on the print medium when the first print mode is executed and the image printed on the print medium when the second print mode is executed, thereby suppressing changes in print density between the image printed on the print medium in the first print mode and the second print mode.

[0065] (Appendix 7) A printing device as described in Appendix 4, comprising a detection unit that detects the rotation of the conveying unit or the rotation of the drive unit, the drive unit being a DC motor, and the detection unit including a rotary encoder that detects the rotation of the rotation shaft of the DC motor.

[0066] With this configuration, the rotary encoder can detect the rotation of the rotary shaft of the DC motor, which is the drive unit. For example, by increasing the number of slits in the rotary encoder's disk, it is possible to finely adjust the size of the image printed on the print medium in the transport direction.

[0067] (Appendix 8) The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit that accepts operations, and the control unit changes the printing mode executed by the printing device to the first printing mode or the second printing mode in response to the operation accepted by the operation unit.

[0068] According to this configuration, by operating the operation unit, the print mode executed by the printing device can be changed to the first print mode or the second print mode.

[0069] (Appendix 9) The printing device is provided with an operation unit that accepts operations, and when the second printing mode is executed and the print data to be printed by the printing unit includes data of a predetermined format, the control unit determines whether to print the data of the predetermined format in the first printing mode or the second printing mode in accordance with the settings accepted by the operation unit, and causes the printing unit to print the data of the predetermined format in accordance with the determined printing mode.

[0070] According to this configuration, when the second print mode is executed and the print data to be printed by the printing unit includes data in a predetermined format, it is determined whether to print the data in the predetermined format in the first print mode or the second print mode according to the settings accepted by the operation unit. Therefore, when printing data in a predetermined format, the data in the predetermined format can be printed in the first print mode or the second print mode according to the settings accepted by the operation unit.

[0071] (Appendix 10) 10. The printing device according to claim 9, wherein the data in the predetermined format includes at least one of image data, a one-dimensional code, and a two-dimensional code.

[0072] With this configuration, when the print data includes at least one of image data, one-dimensional code, and two-dimensional code, it is possible to select whether to print the data in a predetermined format in the first print mode or the second print mode, thereby preventing the data in the predetermined format from being reduced unintentionally by the user.

[0073] (Appendix 11) A control method for a printing device comprising a transport unit that transports a printing medium in a transport direction, a drive unit that drives the transport unit, and a print unit that prints an image based on print data on the printing medium, wherein a processor included in the printing device executes the steps of controlling the drive unit and the print unit to cause the printing device to execute a first print mode, and controlling the drive unit and the print unit to cause the printing device to execute a second print mode that is different from the first print mode, wherein in the step of executing the second print mode, a transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while printing an image based on the print data on the printing medium is different from a transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while printing an image based on the print data on the printing medium in the step of executing the first print mode.

[0074] According to this configuration, the transport distance of the print medium in the transport direction is changed between when the first print mode is executed and when the second print mode is executed while printing an image based on the print data on the print medium. This makes it possible to change the size of the image printed on the print medium in the transport direction, thereby reducing the amount of print medium used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1...printing device, 10...communication I / F, 20...command analysis unit, 30...print buffer, 41...operation unit, 43...display unit, 50...transport driver circuit, 60...transport unit, 61...transport motor, 63...platen roller, 65...detection unit, 67...rotary encoder, 70...print head, 75...heating element, 80...print driver circuit, 100...control unit, 110...memory unit, 115...control program, 130...processor, 200...host computer.

Claims

1. 1. A printing device, comprising: a transport unit that transports the print medium in a transport direction; a drive unit that drives the conveying unit; a printing unit that prints an image based on print data onto the printing medium; a control unit that controls the drive unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing mode and a second printing mode different from the first printing mode, The control unit changes the transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while printing an image based on the print data on the printing medium when the first printing mode is executed and when the second printing mode is executed.

2. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the drive unit so that a second transport amount of the printing medium transported by the transport unit while the printing unit prints a predetermined number of lines in the transport direction in the second printing mode is less than a first transport amount of the printing medium transported by the transport unit while the printing unit prints the predetermined number of lines in the transport direction in the first printing mode.

3. In the second printing mode, a reduction ratio in the transport direction is set, The printing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit controls the drive unit so that the second carry amount corresponds to the reduction ratio.

4. the printing device includes an operation unit that accepts operations; the printing unit includes a thermal head, The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit, when executing the second printing mode, changes the energization time of the thermal head in accordance with the print density setting received by the operation unit.

5. the printing unit includes a thermal head, the thermal head includes a plurality of heating elements; The control unit a strobe signal is output to the thermal head to control the energization time of the plurality of heating elements; 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the cycle and duty ratio of the strobe signal are the same when the first printing mode is executed and when the second printing mode is executed.

6. the printing unit includes a thermal head, the thermal head includes a plurality of heating elements; the control unit includes a storage unit that stores a preset energization time for the plurality of heating elements, The control unit a strobe signal is output to the thermal head to control the energization time of the plurality of heating elements; When the second printing mode is executed, the printing unit executes printing based on the preset power-on time.

2. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined power supply time is set so as to reduce the difference between the print density of the image printed on the printing medium when the first printing mode is executed and the print density of the image printed on the printing medium when the second printing mode is executed.

7. a detection unit that detects rotation of the transport unit or the drive unit, the drive unit is a DC motor, The printing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the detection unit includes a rotary encoder that detects rotation of a rotary shaft of the DC motor.

8. the printing device includes an operation unit that accepts operations; The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit changes the printing mode executed by the printing device to the first printing mode or the second printing mode in response to an operation received by the operation unit.

9. the printing device includes an operation unit that accepts operations; The control unit When the second printing mode is executed and the print data to be printed by the printing unit includes data in a predetermined format, determining whether to print the data in the predetermined format in the first printing mode or the second printing mode in accordance with the setting accepted by the operation unit; 3. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit prints the data in the predetermined format in accordance with the determined print mode.

10. The data in the predetermined format includes: At least one of image data, one-dimensional code, and two-dimensional code is included.

10. The printing device according to claim 9.

11. A control method for a printing device including a transport unit that transports a print medium in a transport direction, a drive unit that drives the transport unit, and a print unit that prints an image based on print data on the print medium, comprising: The processor of the printing device controlling the driving unit and the printing unit to cause the printing device to execute a first printing mode; controlling the driving unit and the printing unit to cause the printing device to perform a second printing mode different from the first printing mode; A method for controlling a printing device, wherein in the step of executing the second printing mode, a transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while an image based on the print data is printed on the printing medium is different from a transport amount by which the printing medium is transported in the transport direction while an image based on the print data is printed on the printing medium in the step of executing the first printing mode.

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