Media transport device, recording device, and transport method

Abstract

Regardless of the cumulative number of sheets being transported, the system efficiently and continuously transports the media. [Solution] A media transport device 10 comprising a storage unit 11 for storing multiple media M, a feed roller 12 that performs a paper feeding operation to supply the media M from the storage unit 11 after a waiting time has elapsed, and a determination unit 20 that determines the waiting time, wherein the determination unit 20 determines the waiting time to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller 12 is a first cumulative number, and a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller 12 is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a medium conveyance device, a recording device, and a conveyance method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various medium conveyance devices have been used in recording devices and the like. Among these, there is a medium conveyance device capable of continuously conveying a medium such as cut paper. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a paper running stability device capable of continuously conveying printing paper, which starts a counter from the feeding timing of the previously fed paper and feeds the next paper at a desired timing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a conventional medium conveyance device capable of continuously conveying a medium such as the paper running stability device of Patent Document 1, there is a risk that appropriate conveyance timing cannot be set. This is because, for example, the conveying unit that conveys the medium and the medium slip, and variations in the amount of slip cause variations in the time from the start of the conveying operation to the actual start of conveyance. Such variations in the amount of slip change depending on the cumulative number of conveyed media sheets. Therefore, it is generally done to set the conveyance timing in consideration of the maximum amount of slip corresponding to the maximum cumulative number of conveyed sheets, and the conveyance timing is set late even when the amount of slip is small. Therefore, conventionally, it has been difficult to continuously convey a medium suitably regardless of the number of cumulative conveyed sheets.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, the media transport device of the present invention comprises a storage unit for storing a plurality of media, a feed roller that performs a paper feeding operation to supply media from the storage unit after a waiting time has elapsed, and a determination unit for determining the waiting time, wherein the determination unit determines the waiting time to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a first cumulative number, and determines the waiting time to be a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number.

[0006] Furthermore, the present invention provides a media transport method for solving the above problems, comprising a media transport device comprising a storage unit for storing multiple media and a feed roller that performs a paper feeding operation to supply media from the storage unit after a waiting time has elapsed, characterized in that the waiting time is determined to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a first cumulative number, and a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of a recording device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A flowchart illustrating an example of a recording method that can be performed with the recording device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] A graph showing the general relationship between the cumulative number of sheets transported and the amount of slippage. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows a graph illustrating the relationship between the cumulative number of sheets transported and the waiting time when using the recording device shown in the Figure 1 and the reference example recording device. [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows a graph illustrating the relationship between the cumulative number of sheets transported and throughput when using the recording device and the reference example recording device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The present invention will be described in general terms below. A media transport device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a storage unit for storing a plurality of media, a feed roller that performs a paper feeding operation to supply media from the storage unit after a waiting time has elapsed, and a determination unit for determining the waiting time, wherein the determination unit determines the waiting time to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a first cumulative number, and determines the waiting time to be a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number.

[0009] According to this embodiment, the determination unit for determining the waiting time sets the waiting time to a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a first cumulative number, and sets the waiting time to a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number. With this configuration, the waiting time can be suitably set according to the amount of slip between the medium and the feed roller, which changes depending on the cumulative number of sheets transported. Therefore, the medium can be suitably transported continuously regardless of the cumulative number of sheets transported.

[0010] A media transport device according to a second aspect of the present invention is an aspect dependent on the first aspect, characterized in that the determination unit calculates the amount of slip between the media and the feed roller based on the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller, and determines the waiting time based on the following formula (1).

[0011]

number

[0012] According to this embodiment, the determination unit calculates the amount of slip between the medium and the feed roller based on the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller, and determines the waiting time based on the above formula (1). With this configuration, the waiting time can be set particularly suitably, and the medium can be transported continuously, particularly suitably, regardless of the cumulative number of sheets transported.

[0013] The media conveyance device according to the third aspect of the present invention is an aspect that depends on the first or second aspect, and is characterized by including a storage unit that stores a table associating the cumulative conveyance number of the feed roller with the slip amount.

[0014] According to this aspect, a storage unit that stores a table associating the cumulative conveyance number of the feed roller with the slip amount is provided. By adopting such a configuration, the standby time can be easily set.

[0015] The media conveyance device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is an aspect that depends on any one of the first to third aspects, and includes a sensor capable of detecting the media fed by the feed roller. The determination unit makes an error determination when the sensor does not detect the feeding of the media after the elapse of the standby time determined by the determination unit.

[0016] According to this aspect, a sensor capable of detecting the media fed by the feed roller is provided, and the determination unit makes an error determination when the sensor does not detect the feeding of the media after the elapse of the standby time determined by the determination unit. By adopting such a configuration, when a feeding error of the media by the feed roller occurs, it can be notified to the user.

[0017] The media conveyance device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is an aspect that depends on any one of the first to fourth aspects, and is characterized by including a notification unit that notifies that the determination unit has changed the standby time from the first standby time to the second standby time.

[0018] According to this aspect, a notification unit that notifies that the determination unit has changed the standby time from the first standby time to the second standby time is provided. By adopting such a configuration, it can be notified to the user that the standby time has been changed from the first standby time to the second standby time.

[0019] The recording apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention includes a recording unit that performs recording on a medium fed by the feeding roller, and any one of the first to fifth medium conveyance devices, and is characterized by this.

[0020] According to this aspect, the medium can be suitably continuously conveyed regardless of the number of accumulated conveyance sheets, and recording can be performed on the medium.

[0021] The recording apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is an aspect subordinate to the sixth aspect, and includes a reception unit that receives input of recording data, and the determination unit determines the standby time during the period from receiving the input of the recording data to starting the recording operation, and is characterized by this.

[0022] According to this aspect, a reception unit that receives input of recording data is provided, and the determination unit determines the standby time during the period from receiving the input of the recording data to starting the recording operation. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to suppress a delay in the time until the start of the recording operation that may occur by newly providing the time for setting the standby time separately from the period from receiving the input of the recording data to starting the recording operation.

[0023] A method for conveying a medium by a medium conveyance device including a storage unit that stores a plurality of media and a feeding roller that performs a paper feeding operation of supplying a medium from the storage unit after the elapse of a standby time, wherein the standby time is determined to be a first standby time when the cumulative conveyance number of the feeding roller is a first cumulative number, and is determined to be a second standby time longer than the first standby time when the cumulative conveyance number of the feeding roller is a second cumulative number greater than the first cumulative number, and is characterized by this.

[0024] According to this embodiment, the waiting time is determined to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a first cumulative number, and a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is greater than the first cumulative number (a second cumulative number). Therefore, the waiting time can be suitably set according to the amount of slip between the medium and the feed roller, which changes depending on the cumulative number of sheets transported. Consequently, the medium can be suitably transported continuously regardless of the cumulative number of sheets transported.

[0025] The present invention will now be described in detail. First, an overview of a recording device 10 as an example of a media transport device of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the recording device 10 of this embodiment includes a storage section 11 capable of accommodating a plurality of media M, a feed roller 12 that performs a paper feeding operation to supply the media M from the storage section 11, and a transport section 13 consisting of a plurality of transport roller pairs that transport the media M supplied from the feed roller 12 in the transport direction A. There are no particular limitations on the configuration of the transport section 13 or the configuration of the transport path for the media M.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the recording device 10 of this embodiment includes a head 15 as a recording unit mounted on a carriage 14 that can reciprocate in the width direction B during the transport path of the medium M. In addition, as shown in Figure 1, the recording device 10 of this embodiment includes a mounting unit 16 on which the medium M, on which an image has been formed by ejecting ink from the head 15, is placed.

[0027] In this embodiment, the head 15 is an inkjet head that ejects ink while moving in the width direction B, which intersects with the transport direction A of the medium M. However, there are no particular limitations on the configuration of the recording unit; it may be a so-called line head in which the nozzles that eject ink cover the entire width direction B, or it may be a configuration that forms an image using toner rather than ejecting liquid ink to form an image.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the recording device 10 of this embodiment includes a control unit 20 that controls the driving of each component of the recording device 10. Specifically, the control unit 20 includes a CPU 21 that performs data calculations and controls each component of the recording device 10, and a storage unit 22 consisting of a ROM that stores various information, and RAM or EEPROM that can overwrite and store information.

[0029] The recording device 10 of this embodiment, as a media transport device, can store multiple media M stacked in the storage section 11, the feed roller 12 can continuously feed multiple media M, and the transport section 13 can continuously transport multiple media M. Next, the operation of the recording device 10 of this embodiment when transporting multiple media M continuously will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 5. When the recording device 10 of this embodiment transports multiple media M continuously, it transports the media M at predetermined intervals. In other words, the feed roller 12 performs a paper feeding operation to supply media M from the storage section 11 after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed. The control unit 20 then determines this waiting time as a decision unit.

[0030] Generally, with continued use of the recording device 10, slippage is more likely to occur between the medium M and the feed roller 12 when the feed roller feeds the medium M. The general relationship between the cumulative number of sheets transported and the amount of slippage is shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, as the cumulative number of sheets transported increases, the amount of slippage increases in proportion to the cumulative number of sheets transported. However, the effect of increased slippage can be reduced by increasing the waiting time.

[0031] Therefore, in the recording device 10 of this embodiment, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 4, the control unit 20 decides to lengthen the waiting time as the cumulative number of transported sheets increases. In other words, in the recording device 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 20 determines the waiting time to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of transported sheets by the feed roller 12 is a first cumulative number, and determines a second waiting time that is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of transported sheets by the feed roller 12 is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number.

[0032] The recording device 10 of this embodiment has such a configuration that the waiting time can be suitably set according to the amount of slip between the medium M and the feed roller 12, which changes depending on the cumulative number of medium M sheets transported. Therefore, the medium M can be transported continuously and suitably regardless of the cumulative number of sheets transported. In the recording device 10 of this embodiment, the waiting time is increased linearly as the cumulative number of sheets transported increases, but the waiting time may also be increased in stages each time the cumulative number of sheets transported increases by a predetermined number.

[0033] Here, we compare the throughput corresponding to the number of records per unit time between the recording device 10 of this embodiment and a reference example recording device in which the waiting time is constant, that is, the waiting time does not change according to the cumulative number of media M transported. In the reference example recording device, when transporting multiple media M in succession, regardless of the cumulative number of transported media, the timer counter starts counting after the preceding media M passes the detection sensor and sets the interval between media M in terms of time. In a recording device with such a configuration, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 4, it is necessary to set a long waiting time in advance to meet the product usage limit in order to reduce the effect of a large amount of slip. The product usage limit refers to, for example, the number of usable media M guaranteed by the recording device.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, in the reference example recording device represented by the dashed line, the throughput remains low and constant regardless of the cumulative number of sheets transported. On the other hand, as described above, the recording device 10 of this embodiment increases the waiting time as the cumulative number of sheets transported increases, so as shown by the double-dash line in Figure 5, the throughput can be high when the cumulative number of sheets transported is small.

[0035] In the example recording device, the waiting time is determined by dividing the sum of the length of the medium M in the transport direction and the distance between the mediums M by the feed roller 12's feed speed of the medium M. For example, when continuously transporting A4 paper with a length of 297 mm in the transport direction, with a distance of 3 mm between the mediums M so that the feed speed of the medium M by the feed roller 12 is 100 mm / s, the waiting time is (297 mm + 3 mm) / 100 mm / s = 3 s. In this case, the throughput is such that 20 sheets can be recorded per minute. For example, if the amount of slippage becomes large and the medium M cannot be fed every 3 s, an error will occur.

[0036] Here, the decision to set the spacing between media M at 3 mm takes into account the amount of slippage when transporting media M equivalent to the number of products used (the maximum amount of slippage corresponding to the maximum cumulative number of transported media). In other words, for example, if the amount of slippage when transporting media M equivalent to the number of products used is 1 mm, the initial amount of slippage of the recording device is 0 mm. Even if the spacing between media M could ideally be 2 mm at the initial stage of using the recording device, it is necessary to set the spacing between media M to 3 mm even at the initial stage of using the recording device.

[0037] On the other hand, in the recording device 10 of this embodiment, the waiting time is set taking into account the amount of slippage. As described above, the amount of slippage increases as the cumulative number of transported sheets increases, so there is almost no slippage when the cumulative number of transported sheets is small. For this reason, a higher throughput can be achieved than in the reference example recording device when the cumulative number of transported sheets is small. That is, for example, if the amount of slippage when transporting media M equal to the number of sheets used in the product is 1 mm, the distance between media M is set to 2 mm in the initial stages of use of the recording device 10, and the distance between media M is gradually widened so that the distance between media M becomes 3 mm when the number of media M equal to the number of sheets used in the product has been transported.

[0038] Specifically, in the recording device 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 20 calculates the amount of slip between the medium M and the feed roller 12 based on the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller 12, and determines the waiting time based on the following formula (1). With this configuration, the recording device 10 of this embodiment can set the waiting time particularly favorably, and can transport the medium M continuously, regardless of the cumulative number of sheets transported. The constant can be set to a suitable value as appropriate, depending on the time required for the design and the time difference due to the expected amount of displacement of the placement position of the medium M in the storage section 11.

[0039]

number

[0040] In this embodiment, the recording device 10 is equipped with a storage unit 22 as described above. The storage unit 22 stores a table of parameters related to the amount of slip, which associates the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller 12 with the amount of slip. With this configuration, the recording device 10 in this embodiment allows for easy setting of the waiting time.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the recording device 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a sensor 17 capable of detecting the medium M being fed by the feed roller 12. The control unit 20 makes an error determination if the feeding of the medium M is not detected by the sensor 17 after a waiting time determined by the control unit 20 has elapsed. With this configuration, the recording device 10 of this embodiment can notify the user if an error occurs in feeding the medium M by the feed roller 12. There are no particular limitations on the arrangement of the sensor 17.

[0042] Furthermore, the recording device 10 of this embodiment is equipped with an operation panel 18, as shown in Figure 1. The operation panel 18 displays the waiting time. In other words, the operation panel 18 acts as a notification unit that notifies the user when the control unit 20 changes the waiting time from the first waiting time to the second waiting time. With this configuration, the recording device 10 of this embodiment can notify the user when the waiting time has changed from the first waiting time to the second waiting time. As for notifying the user when the waiting time has changed from the first waiting time to the second waiting time, for example, the specific waiting time may be notified for each transport of the medium M, or the user may be notified that the waiting time will be longer than before when the waiting time exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0043] From the perspective of the recording device, the recording device 10 of this embodiment includes a head 15, which serves as a recording unit for recording on the medium M fed by the feed roller 12, together with the medium transport device described above. Therefore, the recording device 10 of this embodiment can suitably transport the medium M continuously and record on the medium M regardless of the cumulative number of sheets transported.

[0044] Furthermore, in the recording device 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 20 also serves as a reception unit that receives input of recording data. The control unit 20 determines the waiting time between receiving the input of recording data and starting the recording operation. With this configuration, the recording device 10 of this embodiment can suppress the delay in the time until the start of the recording operation that could occur if a separate waiting time were set in addition to the time between receiving the input of recording data and starting the recording operation.

[0045] Here, with reference to Figure 2, an example of a recording method using the recording device 10 of this embodiment will be described. When recording data is input and the recording method shown in the flowchart of Figure 2 is started, first, in step S110, the control unit 20 checks the cumulative number of transported sheets. Here, the cumulative number of transported sheets is stored in the storage unit 22.

[0046] Next, in step S120, the control unit 20 acquires the amount of slip. This amount of slip can be, for example, a constant value as an initial value. This constant value as an initial value can then be stored in the storage unit 22.

[0047] Next, in step S130, the control unit 20 corrects the amount of slip. As described above, the storage unit 22 stores a table that associates the cumulative number of sheets transported with the amount of slip. The control unit 20 corrects the amount of slip based on this table, using the cumulative number of sheets transported confirmed in step S110. Furthermore, steps S120 and S130 together can be described as determining the waiting time based on the table, with the first waiting time being determined when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller 12 is the first cumulative number, and the second waiting time being determined when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller 12 is greater than the first cumulative number (the second cumulative number), which is longer than the first waiting time.

[0048] Furthermore, in step S130, the control unit 20 can also correct the amount of slip based on parameters other than the cumulative number of transported sheets. For example, the control unit 20 can accept various parameters such as the type of medium M and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, and can correct the amount of slip according to conditions that make slipping easy or difficult.

[0049] Next, in step S140, the control unit 20 determines the spacing between media M when transporting the media M continuously. The spacing between media M corresponds to the sum of the feed amount and the constant in equation (1) above. Then, based on equation (1) above, the control unit 20 determines the waiting time in step S150.

[0050] Next, in step S160, the recording operation is started. The recording operation is performed by the control unit 20 controlling the reciprocating movement of the carriage 14, the ejection of ink from the head 15, and the transport unit 13 controlling the transport of the medium M. After that, in step S170, when the control unit 20 determines that the recording operation has finished, in step S180 the new cumulative transport count is overwritten in the storage unit 22, and the recording method shown in the flowchart of Figure 2 is terminated.

[0051] The recording method shown in the flowchart of Figure 2 can be considered as a method for transporting media M by a recording device 10, which is a media transport device comprising a storage unit 11 that accommodates multiple media M, and a feed roller 12 that performs a paper feeding operation to supply media M from the storage unit 11 after a waiting time has elapsed. In this transport method, the waiting time is determined to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller 12 is a first cumulative number, and a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller 12 is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number.

[0052] By implementing this transport method, the waiting time can be suitably set according to the amount of slip between the medium M and the feed roller 12, which varies depending on the cumulative number of medium M sheets transported. Therefore, by implementing this transport method, the medium M can be suitably transported continuously regardless of the cumulative number of sheets transported.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as described in the claims, and these are also included within the scope of the present invention. For example, when replacing the feed roller 12 with a new one, the amount of slip may be corrected using a different table, or the cumulative number of conveyed sheets may be reset. Alternatively, for example, the amount of slip may be corrected from the measured waiting time detected by the sensor 17. Specifically, the current amount of slip may be estimated based on the measured waiting time detected by the sensor 17 in the initial stage of use, and the waiting time may be determined based on the estimated amount of slip. The waiting time used for estimation is not limited to the initial stage of use, but may also be measured in the previous few recording operations. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 10...Recording device (media transport device), 11...Storage unit, 12...Feeding roller, 13...Transport unit, 14...Carriage, 15...Head (recording unit), 16...Placement unit, 17...Sensor, 18...Operation panel (notification unit), 20...Control unit (decision unit, reception unit), 21...CPU, 22...Storage unit, M...Media

Claims

1. A storage section for accommodating multiple media, A feeding roller that performs a paper feeding operation to supply media from the storage unit after a waiting period has elapsed, A determination unit for determining the aforementioned waiting time, Equipped with, The media transport device is characterized in that the determination unit determines the waiting time to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a first cumulative number, and determines the waiting time to be a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets transported by the feed roller is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number.

2. In the media transport device according to claim 1, The media conveying device is characterized in that the determination unit calculates the amount of slip between the media and the feed roller based on the cumulative number of sheets conveyed by the feed roller, and determines the waiting time based on the following formula (1). [Math 1]

3. In the medium transport device according to claim 2, A media conveying device characterized by comprising a storage unit that stores a table that associates the cumulative number of sheets conveyed by the feed roller with the amount of slippage.

4. In the media transport device according to claim 1, The system includes a sensor capable of detecting the medium being fed by the aforementioned feeding roller, The media transport device is characterized in that the determination unit makes an error determination if the sensor does not detect the feeding of the media after the waiting time determined by the determination unit has elapsed.

5. In the media transport device according to claim 1, A media transport device characterized by comprising a notification unit that notifies that the determination unit has changed the waiting time from the first waiting time to the second waiting time.

6. A recording unit that records on a medium fed by the aforementioned feeding roller, A media transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A recording device characterized by comprising the following features.

7. In the recording device according to claim 6, It is equipped with a reception unit that accepts input of recorded data, The recording device is characterized in that the determination unit determines the waiting time between receiving the input of the recording data and starting the recording operation.

8. A storage section for accommodating multiple media, A feeding roller that performs a paper feeding operation to supply media from the storage unit after a waiting period has elapsed, A method for transporting media using a media transport device equipped with, A conveying method characterized in that the waiting time is determined to be a first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets conveyed by the feed roller is a first cumulative number, and a second waiting time which is longer than the first waiting time when the cumulative number of sheets conveyed by the feed roller is a second cumulative number which is greater than the first cumulative number.

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