Recording device

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of removing an area of ​​a recording material including an interrupted image when image recording is interrupted without requiring complicated operations and suppressing the occurrence of quality defects. [Solution] In a recording device that records an image on a sheet that is supplied and transported from a rotatably supported roll sheet, when image recording is interrupted, the sheet is transported so that the leading edge of a predetermined removal area containing the interrupted image where recording on the sheet was interrupted is positioned at a cutting position where the sheet can be cut, and after the leading edge of the removal area is cut, the sheet is transported so that the rear end of the removal area is positioned at the cutting position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a fixing unit that fixes an image onto a recording material. [Background technology]

[0002] Recording devices, such as inkjet printers, require a fixing process in which ink ejected onto a recording material is heated and dried by applying heat or air, for example, to fix the ink to the recording material. The fixing process is affected by various factors, such as the temperature and humidity inside the device, the type and quality of the recording material, the print content (recording content), and the type of ink used as the recording liquid, and affects print quality (recording quality). In particular, poor ink fixing not only affects the quality of the printed material (recorded material) onto which the ink is ejected, but can also affect the quality of other printed materials if the ink transfers to other printed materials. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a recording device that waits before printing to prevent the ink from drying insufficiently. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-025814 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a recording device in which a roll of paper (roll sheet) is rotatably supported by a paper feed roller as a recording material, and the sheet-like portion pulled out from the roll is wound up by a take-up roller to transport the paper and print (record) on the sheet-like portion. In such a recording device, if a user interrupts printing, the user must remove the portion of the paper containing the interrupted, unwanted image, for example, manually or by operating the device. The device operation for such removal is different from normal recording operations and requires complex operations. Furthermore, if the interrupted image that has not been fixed is wound up by the take-up roller or paper feed roller during the removal operation, ink may adhere to the back side of the paper in the wound roll-like portion, potentially causing poor print quality.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can remove an area of ​​a recording material containing an interrupted image when image recording is interrupted, without requiring complex operations and while suppressing the occurrence of quality defects. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the recording apparatus of the present invention comprises: a supply unit that rotatably supports a roll sheet around which a sheet is wound and supplies the sheet from the roll sheet; a recording unit that records an image on a sheet that is fed from a roll sheet supported by the feeding unit and transported in a transport direction; a fixing unit that fixes the image recorded by the recording unit onto a sheet; a take-up unit that is located downstream of the fixing unit in the conveyance direction and that takes up the sheet on which the image has been recorded by the recording unit; a cutting unit that cuts the sheet at a cutting position between the fixing unit and the winding unit; a control unit that performs control to transport the sheet in the transport direction by winding the sheet by the winding unit and to transport the sheet in the reverse transport direction by winding the sheet back into the supply unit; A recording device comprising: When the image recording is interrupted, the control unit controls the winding unit and the supply unit. The method is characterized in that the leading end of a predetermined removal area including an interrupted image where recording on the sheet has been interrupted is positioned at the cutting position, and after the cutting unit cuts off the leading end of the removal area, the trailing end of the removal area is positioned at the cutting position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, when image recording is interrupted, it is possible to easily remove the area of ​​the recording material that includes the interrupted image without causing any quality defects. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic external configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic top view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, developed on a plane. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic top view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, developed on a plane. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic top view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, developed on a plane. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic top view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, developed on a plane. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are a flowchart and a selection screen showing processing when printing is interrupted; [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a method for removing an output product when printing is interrupted in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a method for removing an output product when printing is interrupted in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a method for removing an output product when printing is interrupted in a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The following describes in detail exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the embodiments may be modified as appropriate depending on the configuration of the device to which the invention is applied and various conditions. In other words, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, although the embodiments describe multiple features, not all of these features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate identical or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the recording device is shown to have only a printing function, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the recording device may be further equipped with a reading device that reads images on a document and functions as a copier, or may be a multi-function peripheral (MFP) that has other functions added.

[0011] 1, the recording device 100 includes a printer controller 120, a printer engine 150, an HDD 161, and an input / output device 162. The recording device 100 is connectable to a host computer 190 via a network 191.

[0012] The printer controller 120 has an HDD interface (I / F) 121, an input / output device I / F 122, a ROM I / F 125, and a memory controller 126. The printer controller 120 also has a host I / F 127, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 128, a controller engine interface 129, and an image processing unit 130, which are connected via a system bus 131. The printer controller 120 also has a flash ROM 123 and a RAM 124, which are connected to the system bus 131 via the ROM I / F 125 and the memory controller 126, respectively.

[0013] The CPU 128 is a central processing unit in the form of a microprocessor (microcomputer). and is a control unit that controls the overall operation of the recording device 100 by executing programs and activating hardware. Flash ROM 123 stores programs executed by CPU 128 and various data necessary for various operations of the recording device 100. RAM 124 is used as a work area for CPU 128, as a temporary storage area for various received data, and stores various setting data.

[0014] The image processing unit 130 performs various types of image processing, such as converting (expanding) print data (e.g., data expressed in a page description language) handled by the recording device 100 into image data (bitmap image data), and other image processing. The image processing unit 130 also converts the color space (e.g., YCbCr) of the image data included in the input print data into a standard RGB color space (e.g., sRGB). The image processing unit 130 also performs various image processing on the image data as needed, such as resolution conversion to an effective number of pixels (which the recording device 100 can print), image analysis, image correction, and the like. The image data obtained by these image processing operations is stored in the RAM 124 or the HDD 161.

[0015] The printer engine 150 is a printing unit that forms images. The printer engine 150 includes an inkjet head 151, a cutter 152, a conveyance motor 153, an interface 154 with the printer controller 120, an optical sensor 155, a thermal fixing unit 156, a paper feed motor 158, and a take-up motor 159. Each component is connected via a system bus 157.

[0016] The inkjet head 151 is a printing unit (recording unit) that prints an image on a recording material based on image data. The inkjet head 151, for example, holds multiple print heads for multiple colors and forms an image on the recording material by ejecting ink from the print heads in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording material. Note that the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described using an inkjet printer (liquid ejection recording apparatus) that uses ink as the recording liquid as an example, but is not limited to this. The present invention is applicable to printing devices of various printing methods, such as thermal printers (sublimation type, thermal transfer type, etc.), dot impact printers, LED printers, laser printers, and other electrophotographic printers.

[0017] The cutter 152 is a mechanism that cuts the roll paper used as the recording material in this embodiment. The cutter 152 cuts the roll paper to a predetermined length after an image is printed on it. For paper types that would scatter paper dust when cut by the cutter 152, a setting for drawing a cutting dust reduction line at the cutting position to prevent paper dust from scattering during cutting is stored in the Flash ROM 123. Furthermore, independent of the cutting dust reduction line setting, the Flash ROM 123 can store an operation setting for the cutter 152 for each paper type. For paper types that cannot be cut using the cutter 152, a setting (user cut) that does not move the cutter 152 so that the user can cut with scissors is stored in the Flash ROM 123. For paper types that would result in a crooked cut unless the user holds the roll paper down while cutting is stored in the Flash ROM 123, a setting (eject cut) that moves the cutter 152 by user operation is stored in the Flash ROM 123. For paper types for which user cut or eject cut settings are not made, a setting for automatic cutting by the cutter 152 (auto cut) is stored in the flash ROM 123.

[0018] The transport motor 153 is a motor for driving transport rollers that transport the roll paper, and is controlled by the CPU 128. The paper feed motor 158 is a motor for driving paper feed rollers that feed the roll paper, and is controlled by the CPU 128. The take-up motor 159 is a motor for driving a take-up roller that winds up the roll paper, and is controlled by the CPU 128. When printing on roll paper, the transport motor 153, paper feed motor 158, and take-up motor 159 rotate the roll paper in the paper discharge direction, and by synchronizing with each other, transport, printing, and winding up the product. In addition, the transport motor 153, paper feed motor 158 By rotating the winding motor 159 in the reverse direction relative to the transport direction, the roll paper can be fed in the reverse transport direction and taken up by the paper feed roller.

[0019] The optical sensor 155 is a measuring means for measuring the attribute values ​​of the recording material, and is a reflective optical sensor that includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light-emitting element, a specular reflection light receiving element, a diffuse light receiving element, etc. The recording device 100 uses the optical sensor 155 to measure attribute values ​​such as the intensity of specular reflection light and diffuse reflection light from roll paper placed on a platen (not shown), and the thickness of the roll paper. After printing, the ink on the recording material is dried by the heat when it passes through a thermal fixing device 156, and the output is completed.

[0020] The input / output device 162 includes hard keys and a panel for the user to perform various operations, and a display unit for displaying (notifying) various information to the user. The input / output device 162 may also display information to the user by outputting a sound (buzzer, voice, etc.) based on acoustic information from a sound generator. When feeding paper, the user uses the input / output device 162 to select the paper type and notify the recording device 100 of the correct paper type. This allows the recording device 100 to perform the transport set for each paper type.

[0021] HDD 161 is a non-volatile storage area that can store and read programs to be executed by CPU 128, print data, and setting information required for various operations of recording device 100. Note that instead of HDD 161, other large-capacity storage devices such as flash memory may be used.

[0022] In this embodiment, the input / output device 162 is located inside the recording device 100, but this is not limiting and the input / output device 162 may be connected as an external device via a network 191, for example. The host computer 190 may also function as the input / output device 162. In addition to the input / output device 162, the recording device 100 may be able to further connect other input / output devices via the network 191, etc.

[0023] The host computer 190 is, for example, an external device that serves as a print data supply source, and has a printer driver installed. Instead of the host computer 190, the recording device 100 may be provided with a data providing device that serves as a print data supply source, such as an image reader, a digital camera, or a smartphone. The connection between each device and the recording device 100 is not limited to via the network 191, and may be directly connected, for example, via wireless communication.

[0024] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. The diagram shows the components of the recording apparatus 100 that are primarily related to the transport of roll paper 203. The recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is a recording apparatus that prints (records) on a sheet portion 203S that is pulled out from a roll portion 203R1 of roll paper 203 (roll sheet) that is wound into a roll. The recording apparatus 100 includes a paper feed roller (supply roller) 201 that rotatably supports the roll portion 203R1, and a winding roller 202 that rotatably supports the leading end of the sheet portion 203S pulled out from the roll portion 203R1 as a roll portion R2. The CPU 128 can control the conveyance direction of the roll paper 203 (the rotation direction of the roll-shaped portions 203R1 and 203R2 and the movement direction of the sheet-shaped portion 203S) by controlling the forward and reverse rotation of the conveyance motor 153, the paper feed motor 158, and the winding motor 159. Specifically, the roll paper 203 can be conveyed in a first direction (conveyance direction) in which it is pulled out from the paper feed roller 201 and taken up by the winding roller 202, and in a second direction (reverse conveyance direction) in which it is pulled out from the winding roller 202 and taken up by the paper feed roller 201.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, within the recording device 100, the roll paper 203 is transported along a transport path by a paper feed roller 201 and transport rollers 204 and 205. An optical sensor 155, located opposite a platen (not shown), measures the position of the roll paper 203 (sheet-like portion 203S) to accurately position it. Ink is ejected from an inkjet head 151, which serves as a recording unit, onto the sheet-like portion 203S of the roll paper 203 transported from the paper feed roller 201, to print (record) an image. The printed sheet-like portion 203S passes through a thermal fixer 156, which serves as a fixing unit, where the ink dries to form a finished output. The sheet-like portion 203S then passes through a relay roller 208 and is taken up by a take-up roller 202. A cutter 152 is disposed downstream of the thermal fixing unit 156 in the transport direction of the roll paper 203 and upstream of the relay roller 208 (upstream of the take-up roller 202).

[0026] The paper feed roller 201, transport rollers 204 and 205, and take-up roller 202 can rotate (reversely rotate) in the direction opposite to the rotation direction during printing, thereby transporting the roll paper 203 in the direction opposite to the printing direction (first direction) (second direction) and rewinding it onto the paper feed roller 201. That is, the first direction is the transport direction during recording, which is the direction in which the sheet-like portion 203S is fed from the paper feed roller 201 (supply unit) to the take-up roller 202 (rewind unit). The second direction is the transport direction in which the sheet-like portion 203S once fed is rewound onto the paper feed roller 201. The specific configurations of the supply unit and the winding unit are not limited to a specific configuration, and configurations different from those in this embodiment may also be adopted. For example, a configuration in which a spindle serving as a winding core is attached to a flange as a holding member for the roll sheet may be used. The leading end of the sheet may be attached to the spindle, and the sheet may be wound up by driving a spindle gear outside the flange. Alternatively, a so-called coreless holding structure may be used in which only both axial ends of the roll sheet are held by a pair of flange holding members.

[0027] 3 to 6 are schematic diagrams of the recording apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, laid out flat and viewed from above. The image 301 printed on the sheet-like portion 203S of the roll paper 203 passes through the thermal fixing device 156 (entering at the leading edge position 207 and exiting at the trailing edge position 206), completing thermal fixing to the roll paper 203 (sheet-like portion 203S). After thermal fixing is complete, the cutter 152 is operated according to the settings stored in the Flash ROM 123. The position on the roll paper 203 (sheet-like portion 203S) where the cutter 152 cuts the paper corresponds to the cutting position 305 at the center of the cutter 152.

[0028] During printing, for example, if the input / output device 162 receives an interrupt instruction from the user, the inkjet head 151 stops ejecting ink. When printing is interrupted, the area from the leading edge position 306 of the image 301 whose printing has been interrupted to the position corresponding to the leading edge position 207 of the thermal fuser 156 has passed through the thermal fuser 156, and therefore becomes an area where thermal fixing has been completed (fixed area). On the other hand, the area from the position corresponding to the leading edge position 207 of the thermal fuser 156 to the trailing edge position 302 of the interrupted printing image 301 has not passed through the thermal fuser 156, and therefore becomes an area where thermal fixing has not been completed (unfixed area). In addition, the printed image area 304, which is the product preceding the interrupted image area 301, has been thermally fixed and is taken up by the take-up roller 202.

[0029] Example 1 A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0030] 7(a) and 7(b), a case where a print interruption is received will be described. When the CPU 128 detects that a print job has been interrupted by the user during printing (S401), it displays a selection screen 407 on the input / output device 162 (S402) as shown in FIG. 7(b), which asks whether or not to remove the print interruption image 301. Here, the print interruption image 301 is, for example, For example, this is an image that has been recorded partway through but not to the end of one page of the roll paper 203 that is to be recorded. The selection screen 407 displays an option 408 for selecting whether to remove the print interrupted image 301, and an option 409 for selecting not to remove the print interrupted image 301. The CPU 128 determines whether to remove the print interrupted image 301 based on an input from the user to the input / output device 162 (S403).

[0031] If option 408 is selected, the CPU 128 determines to remove the print interrupted image 301 (S403, YES), and executes a process for removing the print interrupted image 301 (S404), which will be described later with reference to Figure 8. After removing the print interrupted image 301, the paper feed roller 201 is rotated to convey and pay out the sheet portion 203S of the roll paper 203, and the leading end of the sheet portion 203S is connected to the winding roller 202, where printing and winding are performed again to produce a completed output.

[0032] If option 409 is selected, it is determined that the process of removing the print-interrupted image 301 will not be performed (S403, YES), and the CPU 128 causes the thermal fuser 156 to perform a drying process on all images on the roll paper 203, including the print-interrupted image 301 (S405). The CPU 128 then causes the take-up roller 202 to take up the images, starting with the dried images (S406). In this case, the printed roll paper 203, including the print-interrupted image 301, becomes the finished output, and an unnecessary image will be included. Alternatively, the user will have to unfold the printed roll paper 203 and manually cut and remove it, which is extremely time-consuming.

[0033] 3, 4, 5, and 8, we will explain the removal of the output when printing is interrupted. As shown in Fig. 3, the CPU 128 determines whether the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 exceeds the cut position 305 in the conveyance direction (S501).

[0034] If the CPU 128 determines that the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 does not exceed the cut position 305 (S501, NO), it performs a predetermined feed conveyance as first control (S531). The leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 not exceeding the cut position 305 means that the leading edge position 306 is located closer to the inkjet head 151 than the cut position 305 in the conveyance direction of the roll paper 203 (sheet-like portion 203S). Here, the determination method is as follows: the ejection start position at the start of printing is stored in the RAM 124 as the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301; when an interruption is performed, the current leading edge position 306 is calculated from the amount by which the leading edge position 306 has been conveyed, and is compared with the cut position 305. The amount by which the leading edge position 306 has been conveyed is calculated from the amount by which the conveyance motor 153, the paper feed motor 158, and the take-up motor 159 have rotated in the conveyance direction. As a feed conveyance, the CPU 128 conveys the roll paper 203 in the first direction until the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305 (S531).

[0035] On the other hand, if the CPU 128 determines that the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 is beyond the cut position 305 (S501, YES), it performs a predetermined rewinding transport as second control (S541). The leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 being beyond the cut position 305 means that, in the transport direction of the roll paper 203 (sheet-like portion 203S), the leading edge position 306 is located closer to the take-up roller 202 than the cut position 305. In the rewinding transport, the CPU 128 rotates the feed roller 201, transport rollers 204 and 205, and take-up roller 202 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction during the feed transport of the roll paper 203. The rewinding transport (reverse transport) of the roll paper 203 is a transport that moves the roll paper 203 in a second direction opposite to the first direction until the leading edge position 306 coincides with the cut position S305, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0036] Transport of the roll paper 203 in the feeding transport (S531) and rewinding transport (S541) Therefore, the rotation speeds of the conveying motor 153, the paper feed motor 158, and the take-up motor 159 are switched to be faster than during printing (at a conveying speed faster than during image recording operation) to perform conveying.

[0037] If the leading edge position 306 and the cut position 305 are interrupted at the same position, neither conveyance nor reverse conveyance is performed, and that position is set as the cut position. In this case, in the determination in S501, for example, it may be determined that the leading edge position 306 of the interrupted print image 301 does not exceed the cut position 305, and the conveyance distance in the forward conveyance may be set to zero.

[0038] When the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305 as a result of the above-mentioned transport control, the CPU 128 stops transport of the roll paper 203, moves the cutter 152 in the forward direction to perform the cut, and then moves it in the backward direction to return it to its original position (S542). When the sheet-like portion 203S is cut at a position corresponding to the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301, the CPU 128 continues to feed and transport the roll paper 203 until the trailing edge position 302 of the print-interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305, as shown in Figure 5 (S543). When the trailing edge position 302 of the print-interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305, the CPU 128 stops transport of the roll paper 203, and performs the aforementioned back-and-forth movement of the cutter 152 to perform the cut (S544). As a result, the sheet portion 203S is cut at a position corresponding to the rear end position 302 of the print interrupted image 301, and a predetermined removal area 203D including the print interrupted image 301 is removed from the roll paper 203.

[0039] As described above, in this embodiment, the recording device 100 can perform an automatic removal operation that automatically transports and cuts the roll paper 203 according to the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301. This allows the print interrupted image 301 to be removed without the user having to perform any complicated operations. After removing the print interrupted image 301 (including the removal area 203D), the leading edge of the cut roll paper 203 is connected to the take-up roller 202, and printing and rewinding are performed again to create a completed output. Here, to pull the cut roll paper 203 to the position of the take-up roller 202, the roll paper 203 can be manually pulled, or a function that automatically feeds the roll paper 203 can be executed. Also, in this embodiment, the cutting positions are the leading edge position 306 and the trailing edge position 302 of the print interrupted image 301, but the length (width) of the removal area 203D in the transport direction of the roll paper 203 can also be made longer than the length of the print interrupted image 301, allowing for cutting with a margin. That is, in the transport direction of the roll paper 203, the leading edge cutting position of the removal area 203D is forward of the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301, and the trailing edge cutting position of the removal area 203D is rearward of the trailing edge position 302 of the print interrupted image 301.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, recording device 100 is configured to include cutter 152 as a cutting unit, but the configuration of recording devices to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to this configuration, and the present invention can also be applied to recording devices that do not include cutting means such as cutter 152. In other words, this is a recording device in which the user manually cuts the roll paper to wind up and collect the finished output, and is configured to provide an area between the fixing unit and the winding unit on the roll paper transport path that exposes part of the roll paper, allowing the user to perform the cutting operation.

[0041] Furthermore, printing interruptions are not limited to those caused by user actions as described in this embodiment, but may also occur due to some kind of trouble with the device. The control of the present invention can also be applied when printing is interrupted in such a manner.

[0042] Example 2 3 to 7 and 9, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, when the roll paper 203 is conveyed in the reverse direction and the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301 is aligned with the cut position 305, the trailing edge of the print interrupted image 301 is conveyed to the paper feed roller 201 as the roll-shaped portion 203R1. The feature is the operation control when the film is wound up. Note that the same matters as those in the first embodiment will not be described again in the second embodiment. The matters in the second embodiment that are not particularly described here are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0043] First, when a print interruption is received, the process is executed in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 7, as in the first embodiment.

[0044] Next, removal of the output when printing is interrupted will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 9. CPU 128 determines whether leading edge position 306 of interrupted printing image 301 exceeds cut position 305 in the conveying direction (S601). If CPU 128 determines that leading edge position 306 of interrupted printing image 301 does not exceed cut position 305 (S601, NO), it performs a predetermined feeding and conveying operation (S631).

[0045] Here, the determination method is to store the ejection start position at the start of printing in RAM 124 as leading edge position 306 of interrupted print image 301, and when interruption is executed, calculate the current leading edge position 306 from the amount of transport of leading edge position 306 and compare it with cut position 305. As a feed transport, CPU 128 transports roll paper 203 in the first direction until leading edge position 306 of interrupted print image 301 coincides with cut position 305 (S631).

[0046] On the other hand, if it is determined that the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 exceeds the cut position 305 (S601, YES), then it is determined whether the trailing edge of the print-interrupted image 301 will be taken up by the paper feed roller 201 when rewinding (reverse transport) is performed (S611). More specifically, the CPU 128 determines whether the trailing edge position 302 of the print-interrupted image 301 will exceed the winding start position 307 of the paper feed roller 201 when the roll paper 203 is transported reversely (S611). If the trailing edge position 302 does not exceed the winding start position 307 (S611, NO), then this means that the trailing edge of the removal area 203D will not be rewound onto the paper feed roller 201 as part of the roll-shaped portion 203R1. In this case, the CPU 128 starts rewinding (S641).

[0047] On the other hand, if the rear end position 302 of the print interrupted image 301 exceeds the winding start position 307 during reverse transport of the roll paper 203 (S611, YES), this means that the rear end side of the removal area 203D is rewound as part of the roll-shaped portion 203R1 onto the paper feed roller 201. In this case, before starting the rewinding transport (second control), the CPU 128 performs a predetermined fixing process while transporting the roll paper 203 in the opposite direction (first direction) to the rewinding transport direction (second direction) as a fixing transport operation (third control) (S651).

[0048] The area (rewind area) on the rear end side of the removal area 203D that is rewound onto the paper feed roller 201 as part of the roll-shaped portion 203R1 may include an unfixed area that has not been fixed to the roll paper 203 by the thermal fixer 156. The fixing process (fixing and conveying operation) here is a process for preventing such an unfixed area from being rewound onto the paper feed roller 201 in an unfixed state. In this fixing process, the CPU 128 performs thermal fixing using the thermal fixer 156 while conveying the roll paper 203 in the first direction until the rear end position 302 of the print-interrupted image 301 passes the front end position 207 of the thermal fixer 156. In other words, the entire print-interrupted image 301 (the entire unfixed area) is thermally fixed to the sheet-shaped portion 302S.

[0049] Thereafter, the transport direction of the roll paper 203 is switched from the first direction to the reverse direction (second direction), and a rewinding transport is performed (S641) similar to that of the first embodiment (S541). In the rewinding transport, the CPU 128 rotates the paper feed roller 201, transport rollers 204 and 205, and take-up roller 202 in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation during the feed transport of the roll paper 203. The rewinding transport (reverse transport) of the roll paper 203 is performed when the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301 is at the cut position S30. Repeat until you reach a position that matches 5.

[0050] If the leading edge position 306 and the cutting position 305 are interrupted at the same position, neither conveyance nor reverse conveyance is performed, and cutting is performed at that position as the cutting position. In this case, in the determination in S601, for example, it may be determined that the leading edge position 306 of the interrupted printing image 301 does not exceed the cutting position 305, and the conveying distance in the sending-out conveyance may be controlled to be zero.

[0051] When the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305 as a result of the above-described conveyance control, the CPU 128 stops conveying the roll paper 203 and operates the cutter 152 to perform the cut (S642). When the sheet-like portion 203S is cut at a position corresponding to the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301, the CPU 128 feeds and conveys the roll paper 203 until the trailing edge position 302 of the print interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305 (S643). When the trailing edge position 302 of the print interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305, the CPU 128 stops conveying the roll paper 203 and operates the cutter 152 to perform the cut (S644). As a result, the sheet-like portion 203S is cut at a position corresponding to the trailing edge position 302 of the print interrupted image 301, and a predetermined removal area 203D including the print interrupted image 301 is removed from the roll paper 203.

[0052] As described above, in this embodiment, when the reverse-conveyed roll paper 203 passes the winding start position 307 and is rewound onto the paper feed roller 201, the control is such that thermal fixing is performed first, and then the roll paper is reverse-conveyed and wound up. This prevents ink from adhering when the paper is wound up, and removes the print-interrupted image, without requiring the user to perform any complicated operations.

[0053] Here, in this embodiment, the positions at which the cutter 152 cuts the roll paper 203 (sheet-like portion 203S) are the leading end position 306 and the trailing end position 302 of the print interrupted image 301, but as explained in embodiment 1, cutting may be performed with a margin.

[0054] In this embodiment, the winding start position 307 by the paper feed roller 201 is set to the position where the paper feed roller 201 starts to come in contact with the paper feed roller 201 (the position overlapping the paper feed roller 201 in a plan view), but is not limited to this configuration. It may be set to, for example, the center of the paper feed roller 201, etc., as long as it is a position that can prevent ink from adhering to the roll-shaped portion 203R1.

[0055] Example 3 A third embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 7 and 10. The third embodiment is characterized by operational control in which fixing processing is performed only on a necessary range of unfixed areas of the print-interrupted image 301 in the fixing and conveying operation before the start of rewinding and conveying described in the second embodiment. Note that repeated explanations of matters common to the first and second embodiments will be omitted in the third embodiment. Matters not specifically explained here in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

[0056] First, when a print interruption is received, the process is executed according to the flowchart of FIG. 7, as in the first embodiment.

[0057] Next, removal of the output when printing is interrupted will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 10. CPU 128 determines whether leading edge position 306 of interrupted printing image 301 exceeds cut position 305 in the conveying direction (S701). If CPU 128 determines that leading edge position 306 of interrupted printing image 301 does not exceed cut position 305 (S701, NO), it performs a predetermined feeding and conveying operation (S731).

[0058] Here, the determination method is to determine whether the ejection start position at the start of printing is the leading edge position 30 of the print interrupted image 301. 6 in the RAM 124, and when the interruption is executed, the current leading edge position 306 is calculated from the amount by which the leading edge position 306 has been transported and compared with the cut position 305. The CPU 128 transports the roll paper 203 in the first direction as a feed transport until the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305 (S731).

[0059] On the other hand, if it is determined that the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 exceeds the cut position 305 (S701, YES), then it determines whether the trailing edge of the print-interrupted image 301 will be taken up by the paper feed roller 201 when rewinding (reverse transport) is performed (S711). More specifically, the CPU 128 determines whether the trailing edge position 302 of the print-interrupted image 301 will exceed the winding start position 307 of the paper feed roller 201 when the roll paper 203 is transported backward (S711). If the trailing edge position 302 does not exceed the winding start position 307 (S711, NO), then this means that the trailing edge of the removal area 203D will not be rewound onto the paper feed roller 201 as part of the roll-shaped portion 203R1. In this case, the CPU 128 starts rewinding (S741).

[0060] On the other hand, if the rear end position 302 of the print interrupted image 301 exceeds the winding start position 307 during reverse transport of the roll paper 203 (S711, YES), this means that the rear end side of the removal area 203D is rewound as part of the roll-shaped portion 203R1 onto the paper feed roller 201. In this case, before starting the rewinding transport, the CPU 128 performs a predetermined fixing process as a fixing transport operation while transporting the roll paper 203 in the opposite direction (first direction) to the rewinding transport direction (second direction) (S712 to S751).

[0061] When performing the fixing process, the CPU 128 calculates the distance from the leading edge position 306 of the print-interrupted image 301 to the cutting position 305 when the reverse conveyance is performed as the winding amount (S712). Then, the CPU 128 adds the calculated winding amount to the trailing edge position 302 of the print-interrupted image 301, and calculates (obtains) the thermal fixing required position for defining the area in the print-interrupted image 301 that requires thermal fixing process (S713).

[0062] The thermal fixing required position is acquired to prevent ink from the print-interrupted image 301 from adhering to (the back surface of) the roll paper 203 in the roll-shaped portion 203R1 when the roll paper 203 is wound by the paper feed roller 201. The thermal fixing required position varies depending on the device configuration, such as the transport distance from the paper feed roller 201 to the thermal fixer 156, and the length of the print-interrupted image 301 in the transport direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , thermal fixing required positions 308 and 309 are shown as examples. That is, depending on the device configuration and the size of the print-interrupted image 301, at least the area of ​​the print-interrupted image 301 from the trailing edge position 302 to the thermal fixing required position 308 or 309 is fixed to the roll paper 203 before it is wound by the paper feed roller 201. This prevents the above-mentioned ink adhesion and other problems from occurring when the roll paper 203 is wound (rewound) by the paper feed roller 201.

[0063] The CPU 128 determines whether the calculated thermal fixing required position exceeds the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing unit 156 (S721). If it is determined that the thermal fixing required position does not exceed the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing unit 156 (S721, NO), the CPU 128 controls the transport in the first direction so that thermal fixing does not start until the thermal fixing required position reaches the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing unit 156 (S761). The thermal fixing required position 308 is an example of a thermal fixing required position that does not exceed the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing unit 156. If the thermal fixing required position does not exceed the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing unit 156, i.e., if it is the thermal fixing required position 308, the CPU 128 transports the roll paper 203 so that thermal fixing is not performed until the thermal fixing required position 308 reaches the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing unit 156 (S761). When the thermal fixing required position 308 reaches the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing unit 156, the CPU 128 starts the fixing process by the thermal fixing unit 156, and continues the process until the rear end position 302 of the print interrupted image 301 reaches the front end position 207 of the thermal fixing unit 156. The paper 203 is conveyed (S751).

[0064] On the other hand, if the calculated position requiring thermal fixing exceeds the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing device 156, the CPU 128 starts transporting the roll paper 203 in the first direction while performing thermal fixing by the thermal fixing device 156 (S751). The position requiring thermal fixing 309 is an example of a position requiring thermal fixing that exceeds the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing device 156. If the position requiring thermal fixing exceeds the rear end position 206 of the thermal fixing device 156, i.e., in the case of the position requiring thermal fixing 309, the CPU 128 transports the roll paper 203 while performing thermal fixing until the rear end position 302 of the print-interrupted image 301 reaches the front end position 207 of the thermal fixing device 156.

[0065] If the thermal fixing required position 308 and the rear end position of the thermal fixing unit are the same, the process proceeds to S751.

[0066] When the CPU 128 has completed fixing of the necessary areas of the print-interrupted image 301 (S751), it starts the removal and transport operation (rewinding transport) (S741). During rewinding transport, the CPU 128 rotates the feed roller 201, transport rollers 204 and 205, and take-up roller 202 in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation during the feed-out transport of the roll paper 203. The rewinding and transport (reverse transport) of the roll paper 203 is continued until the leading edge position 306 coincides with the cut position S305 (S741). Note that if the leading edge position 306 and the cut position 305 are interrupted at the same position, neither transport nor reverse transport is performed, and cutting is performed at that position as the cut position.

[0067] When the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305 as a result of the above-described conveyance control, the CPU 128 stops conveying the roll paper 203 and operates the cutter 152 to perform the cut (S742). When the sheet-like portion 203S is cut at a position corresponding to the leading edge position 306 of the print interrupted image 301, the CPU 128 feeds and conveys the roll paper 203 until the trailing edge position 302 of the print interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305 (S743). When the trailing edge position 302 of the print interrupted image 301 coincides with the cut position 305, the CPU 128 stops conveying the roll paper 203 and operates the cutter 152 to perform the cut (S744). As a result, the sheet-like portion 203S is cut at a position corresponding to the trailing edge position 302 of the print interrupted image 301, and a predetermined removal area 203D including the print interrupted image 301 is removed from the roll paper 203.

[0068] As described above, in this embodiment, when the roll paper 203 is transported backward and wound up, thermal fixing is first performed only on the areas that require thermal fixing. In other words, of the unfixed areas of the print interrupted image 301, at least the rewind area that is wound onto the paper feed roller 201 (the area from the trailing end position 302 to the thermal fixing required position 308) is subjected to fixing processing, and fixing processing is not performed on areas other than the rewind area. This shortens the time required for thermal drying and makes it possible to remove intermediate images without requiring the user to perform complicated operations.

[0069] Here, in this embodiment, the positions at which the cutter 152 cuts the roll paper 203 (sheet-like portion 203S) are the leading end position 306 and the trailing end position 302 of the print interrupted image 301, but as explained in embodiments 1 and 2, cutting may be performed with a margin.

[0070] In this embodiment, the winding start position 307 by the paper feed roller 201 is set to the position where the paper feed roller 201 starts to come in contact with the paper feed roller 201 (the position overlapping the paper feed roller 201 in a plan view), but is not limited to this configuration. It may be set to, for example, the center of the paper feed roller 201, etc., as long as it is a position that can prevent ink from adhering to the roll-shaped portion 203R1.

[0071] The above-described embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0072] The disclosure of the embodiments of the present invention includes the following configurations. (Configuration 1) a supply unit that rotatably supports a roll sheet around which a sheet is wound and supplies the sheet from the roll sheet; a recording unit that records an image on a sheet fed from the roll sheet supported by the feeding unit and conveyed in a conveyance direction; a fixing unit that fixes the image recorded by the recording unit onto a sheet; a take-up unit that is located downstream of the fixing unit in the conveying direction and that takes up the sheet on which the image has been recorded by the recording unit; a cutting unit that cuts the sheet at a cutting position between the fixing unit and the winding unit; a control unit that performs control to transport the sheet in the transport direction by winding the sheet by the winding unit and to transport the sheet in the reverse transport direction by winding the sheet back into the supply unit; A recording device comprising: A recording device characterized in that, when image recording is interrupted, the control unit controls the winding unit and the supply unit to position the leading end of a predetermined removal area including an interrupted image on the sheet where recording was interrupted at the cutting position, and after the cutting unit cuts off the leading end of the removal area, the rear end of the removal area is positioned at the cutting position. (Configuration 2) When the leading edge of the removal area is located closer to the recording unit than the cutting position when the image recording is interrupted, the control unit performs a first control to transport the sheet in the transport direction and position the leading edge of the removal area at the cutting position. 2. The recording device according to claim 1. (Configuration 3) When the recording of the image is interrupted, the leading end of the removal area is located closer to the winding section than the cutting position, The control unit is characterized in that it performs second control to transport the sheet in the reverse transport direction and position the leading end of the removal area at the cutting position. 3. The recording device according to configuration 1 or 2. (Configuration 4) The recording device described in any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit is capable of controlling the fixing unit and is capable of executing a third control in which an unfixed area in the interrupted image that has not been fixed to the sheet is fixed to the sheet by the fixing unit before positioning the leading edge of the removal area at the cutting position. (Configuration 5) 5. The recording apparatus according to configuration 4, wherein in the third control, the control section causes the fixing section to fix the unfixed area while conveying the recording material in the conveyance direction. (Configuration 6) The recording device described in configuration 4 or 5, characterized in that the control unit executes the third control when the unfixed area includes a rewinding area that is rewound into the supply section when the sheet is transported in the reverse transport direction to position the leading edge of the removal area at the cutting position. (Configuration 7) 7. The recording apparatus according to configuration 6, wherein in the third control, at least the rewinding area of ​​the unfixed area is fixed onto the sheet by the fixing section. (Configuration 8) The recording apparatus according to the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein in the third control, the fixing unit does not fix the toner image on the sheet in the unfixed area excluding the rewinding area (Configuration 9). 9. The recording apparatus according to any one of configurations 4 to 8, wherein in the third control, the entire unfixed area is fixed onto the sheet by the fixing section. (Configuration 10) 10. The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, wherein the control unit positions the rear end of the removal area at the cutting position, and then the cutting unit cuts off the rear end. (Configuration 11) A recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, characterized in that the conveying speed of the recording material when the leading and trailing ends of the removal area are positioned at the cutting positions is faster than the conveying speed during the image recording operation. (Configuration 12) A recording device described in any one of configurations 1 to 11, characterized in that when the control unit does not cut the removal area, the interrupted image is fixed to the sheet by the fixing unit and wound up by the winding unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 100...recording device, 128...CPU, 151...inkjet head, 152...cutter, 155...optical sensor, 156...thermal fixing device, 201...paper feed roller, 202...winding roller, 203...roll paper, 203R1, R2...roll-shaped portion, 203S...sheet-shaped portion, 301...print interruption image

Claims

1. a supply unit that rotatably supports a roll sheet around which a sheet is wound and supplies the sheet from the roll sheet; a recording unit that records an image on a sheet that is fed from a roll sheet supported by the feeding unit and transported in a transport direction; a fixing unit that fixes the image recorded by the recording unit onto a sheet; a take-up unit that is located downstream of the fixing unit in the conveyance direction and that takes up the sheet on which the image has been recorded by the recording unit; a cutting unit that cuts the sheet at a cutting position between the fixing unit and the winding unit; a control unit that performs control to transport the sheet in the transport direction by winding the sheet by the winding unit and to transport the sheet in the reverse transport direction by winding the sheet back into the supply unit; A recording device comprising: When image recording is interrupted, the control unit controls the winding unit and the supply unit to position the leading end of a predetermined removal area containing an interrupted image on the sheet where recording was interrupted at the cutting position, and after the cutting unit cuts off the leading end of the removal area, the control unit positions the trailing end of the removal area at the cutting position.

2. The recording device described in claim 1, characterized in that when image recording is interrupted and the leading edge of the removal area is located closer to the recording unit than the cutting position, the control unit executes a first control to transport the sheet in the transport direction to position the leading edge of the removal area at the cutting position.

3. When the recording of the image is interrupted, the leading end of the removal area is located closer to the winding section than the cutting position, 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a second control to transport the sheet in the reverse transport direction and position the leading edge of the removal area at the cutting position.

4. The recording device described in claim 3, characterized in that the control unit is capable of controlling the fixing unit and is capable of executing a third control in which the fixing unit fixes an unfixed area in the interrupted image that has not been fixed to the sheet to the sheet before positioning the leading edge of the removal area at the cutting position.

5. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the third control, the control section causes the fixing section to fix the unfixed area while conveying the recording material in the conveyance direction.

6. The recording device described in claim 5, characterized in that the control unit executes the third control when the unfixed area includes a rewinding area that is rewound into the supply section when the sheet is transported in the reverse transport direction to position the leading edge of the removal area at the cutting position.

7. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in the third control, at least the rewound area of ​​the unfixed area is fixed onto the sheet by the fixing section.

8. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the third control, the fixing unit does not fix the toner image on the sheet in the unfixed area excluding the rewind area.

9. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in the third control, the entire unfixed area is fixed onto the sheet by the fixing section.

10. After the control unit positions the rear end of the removal area at the cutting position, the cutting unit 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edge is cut off.

11. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying speed of the recording material when the leading and trailing ends of the removal area are positioned at the cutting positions is faster than the conveying speed during the image recording operation.

12. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the removal area is not cut, the control unit causes the fixing unit to fix the interrupted image on the sheet, and the take-up unit takes up the sheet.

Images