Printing device, method for determining width of printed medium, and program

Abstract

To provide a printer which can detect a length in a width direction of a printed medium without including detection means, such as a sensor, separately.SOLUTION: A printer 1 includes: a transport part (a motor 32 for transportation and a platen roller 7) which transports a printed medium (a heat-sensitive tape 21); and a control unit (a control circuit 12) which derives a length in a width direction of the printed medium based on a rotation speed of the transport part when the printed medium set at the transport part is transported by the transport part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The disclosure of this specification relates to a printing device, a method for deriving the width of a print medium, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Label printers that create labels by printing characters, figures, etc. on a print medium have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an example of such a label printer that is capable of detecting the type of print tape (tape width, etc.) by using a tape identification sensor to detect multiple holes provided in a tape cartridge that contains the print tape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-015950 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a label printer such as that described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to separately provide a detection means such as a tape identification sensor in order to detect the width direction length of the print medium.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a technique that makes it possible to detect the width direction length of a print medium without providing a separate detection means such as a sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A printing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a print medium, and a control unit that derives a width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit based on a rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit; a storage unit that stores a reference rotation speed, which is the rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium is not set in the transport unit, and a difference between the rotation speed of the transport unit and the reference rotation speed when the print medium of each width length is transported by the transport unit;The control unit is Stored in the memory A reference rotation speed; The printing medium set in the transport section and the difference between the rotation speed of the conveying unit when the The difference closest to the calculated difference is identified from the differences in the width direction lengths for the print medium stored in the storage unit, and the width direction length for the identified difference is set as the width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit. Derive.

[0007] A method for deriving a width of a print medium according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of deriving a width direction length of the print medium based on a rotation speed of a transport unit when the print medium is set in the transport unit and transported by the transport unit, The product is set in the transport section. The step of deriving the width direction length of the print medium includes: stored in the storage unit, and a reference rotation speed which is a rotation speed of the transport unit in a state in which the print medium is not set in the transport unit; The printing medium set in the transport section and the difference between the rotation speed of the conveying unit when the and determining a difference that is closest to the calculated difference from the differences between the rotation speed of the transport unit and the reference rotation speed when the print medium of each width direction length stored in the storage unit is transported by the transport unit, and determining the width direction length of the determined difference as the width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit. Derive.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a processor to execute a process of deriving a width direction length of the print medium based on a rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium is transported by the transport unit. The process of deriving the width direction length of the print medium includes: The product is set in the transport section. The process of deriving the width direction length of the print medium includes the following steps: stored in the storage unit, and a reference rotation speed which is a rotation speed of the transport unit in a state in which the print medium is not set in the transport unit; The printing medium set in the transport section and the difference between the rotation speed of the conveying unit when the and determining a difference that is closest to the calculated difference from the differences between the rotation speed of the transport unit and the reference rotation speed when the print medium of each width direction length stored in the storage unit is transported by the transport unit, and determining the width direction length of the determined difference as the width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit. Derive. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the above aspect, the width direction length of the print medium can be detected without providing a separate detection means such as a sensor, so that it is possible to reduce production costs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printing device 1 with the lid 4 closed. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printing device 1 with the lid 4 open. [Diagram 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware structure of a printing device 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a first diagram showing a state in which a heat-sensitive tape 21 is sandwiched between a platen roller 7 and a thermal head 8. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing a state in which the heat-sensitive tape 21 is sandwiched between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between the tape width of the thermal tape 21 and the friction between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8. FIG. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal waveform from an encoder 33 when the control circuit 12 controls the conveyor motor 32 to rotate the platen roller 7. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print control process. [Figure 9] 13 is a diagram illustrating a table showing the time corresponding to each pulse count number of the encoder signal waveform for each tape width of the thermal tape 21. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Fig. 1 is a plan view of the printing device 1 with the lid 4 closed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the printing device 1 with the lid 4 open. The configuration of the printing device 1 will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

[0012] The printing device 1 is a label printer that prints on a print medium, a thermal tape 21. In the following, a thermal label printer that uses a thermal tape 21 will be described as an example, but the printing method is not particularly limited. The printing device 1 may also be a thermal transfer label printer that uses an ink ribbon.

[0013] 1, the printing device 1 includes a device housing 2, an input unit 3, an openable / closable cover 4, a window 5, and a display unit 6. Although not shown, the device housing 2 is also provided with a power cord connection terminal, an external device connection terminal, a storage medium insertion port, and the like.

[0014] The input unit 3 is provided on the top surface of the device housing 2. The input unit 3 includes various keys such as an input key, a cross key, a conversion key, and a decision key. The lid 4 is disposed on the device housing 2. A user can open the lid 4 as shown in FIG. 2 by pressing a button 4a to release the locking mechanism. A window 5 is formed in the lid 4 so that the user can visually check whether or not the thermal tape 21 is stored in the printing device 1 even when the lid 4 is closed. The lid 4 also includes a display unit 6.

[0015] The display unit 6 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (electro-luminescence) display, etc. The display unit 6 displays characters corresponding to input from the input unit 3, a selection menu for various settings, messages related to various processes, etc. The display unit 6 may be a display with a touch panel, and may function as a part of the input unit 3.

[0016] 2, the device housing 2 is provided with a medium adapter housing section 2a, a platen roller 7, and a thermal head 8 below the lid 4. A medium adapter 20 is housed in the medium adapter housing section 2a. The device housing 2 further includes a full cutter 9, a half cutter 10, and a photosensor 11 between the thermal head 8 and the discharge outlet 2b through which the thermal tape 21 is discharged. The half cutter 10, full cutter 9, and photosensor 11 are disposed in this order from the discharge outlet 2b side.

[0017] The media adapter 20 accommodates the thermal tape 21. The thermal tape 21 accommodated in the media adapter 20 is, for example, wound in the longitudinal direction to have a cylindrical shape. The media adapter 20 is designed to match the tape width (length in the width direction) of the thermal tape 21. In this example, the media adapter 20 is a media adapter for a tape with a tape width of 6 mm.

[0018] In the printing device 1, the media adapter 20 containing the thermal tape 21 is accommodated in the printing device 1, thereby accommodating the thermal tape 21 in the printing device 1. The printing device 1 can accommodate media adapters corresponding to different tape widths. Specifically, the printing device 1 can accommodate, for example, a media adapter for a 12 mm tape, a media adapter for an 18 mm tape, etc., in addition to the media adapter 20 for a 6 mm tape shown in FIG. 2.

[0019] The thermal tape 21 has a five-layer structure in which, from the bottom up, a separator, an adhesive layer, a base material, a coloring layer, and a protective layer are laminated. The separator is attached to the base material so as to be peelable and cover the adhesive layer. The material of the separator is, for example, paper, but is not limited to paper and may be PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The adhesive layer is an adhesive material applied to the base material. The material of the base material is, for example, colored PET. The coloring layer is a thermosensitive coloring layer that develops color when heated by thermal energy. The material of the protective layer is, for example, transparent PET. The configuration of the thermal tape 21 is not limited to such a five-layer structure. For example, the thermal tape 21 may not have a protective layer and the coloring layer may be exposed.

[0020] The platen roller 7 transports the thermal tape 21. The platen roller 7 rotates due to the rotation of a transport motor 32 (see FIG. 3). The transport motor 32 is, for example, a stepping motor, a direct current (DC) motor, etc. The platen roller 7 rotates while holding the thermal tape 21, which has been unwound from the medium adapter 20, between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8, thereby transporting the thermal tape 21 in the transport direction.

[0021] The thermal head 8 is a print head that prints on the thermal tape 21. The thermal head 8 has a plurality of heating elements 8a (see FIG. 3) arranged in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the thermal tape 21, and prints line by line by heating the thermal tape 21 with the heating elements 8a.

[0022] The full cutter 9 is a cutting device that performs full cutting and creates tape pieces by cutting the thermal tape 21. Note that full cutting refers to an operation of cutting all layers that make up the thermal tape 21 along the width direction of the thermal tape 21.

[0023] The half cutter 10 is a cutting device that performs half-cutting, and makes a slit in the heat-sensitive tape 21. Note that half-cutting refers to the operation of cutting the layers of the heat-sensitive tape 21 other than the separator along the width direction.

[0024] The photosensor 11 is a sensor arranged on the transport path of the thermal tape 21 to detect the leading end of the thermal tape 21. The photosensor 11 includes, for example, a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The light-emitting element is, for example, a light-emitting diode, and the light-receiving element is, for example, a photodiode. The photosensor 11 detects the reflected light of the light emitted from the light-emitting element by the light-receiving element, and outputs a signal to a control circuit 12 (see FIG. 3) described later. The control circuit 12 detects the leading end of the thermal tape 21 based on, for example, a change in the amount of reflected light detected by the light-receiving element. Note that the photosensor 11 is not limited to a photoreflector that detects the reflected light of the light emitted from the light-emitting element. The photosensor 11 may be a photointerrupter in which a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are arranged opposite each other.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware structure of the printing device 1. In addition to the above-mentioned components, the printing device 1 includes a control circuit 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14, a display drive circuit 15, a head drive circuit 16, a thermistor 17, a conveyor motor drive circuit 31, a conveyor motor 32, an encoder 33, a cutter motor drive circuit 34, and a cutter motor 35, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0026] The control circuit 12 is a control unit including a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control circuit 12 loads a program stored in a ROM 13 into a RAM 14 and executes the program to control the operation of each part of the printing device 1 (for example, the platen roller 7).

[0027] The ROM 13 stores programs (including programs for performing the processes shown in FIG. 8 described below) and various data required for executing the programs (for example, fonts, a reference rotation speed described below, and differences for each width of the thermal tape 21, etc.). The RAM 14 is a work memory used for executing the programs. Note that computer-readable recording media for storing programs and data used for processes in the printing device 1 include physical (non-temporary) recording media such as the ROM 13 and RAM 14.

[0028] The display drive circuit 15 is a liquid crystal display driver circuit and an organic EL display driver circuit. Under the control of the control circuit 12, the display drive circuit 15 controls the display unit 6 based on the display data stored in the RAM .

[0029] Under the control of the control circuit 12, the head drive circuit 16 controls the supply of electricity to the heating elements 8a of the thermal head 8 based on the print data and control signals. The thermal head 8 has a plurality of heating elements 8a arranged in the main scanning direction, and prints one line at a time by heating the thermal tape 21 with the heating elements 8a. The thermistor 17 is embedded in the thermal head 8. The thermistor 17 measures the temperature of the thermal head 8.

[0030] The conveyor motor drive circuit 31 drives the conveyor motor 32 under the control of the control circuit 12. The conveyor motor 32 may be, for example, a stepping motor or a direct current (DC) motor. The conveyor motor 32 rotates the platen roller 7. Under the control of the conveyor motor drive circuit 31, the conveyor motor 32 rotates not only in the forward direction in which the thermal tape 21 is paid out, but also in the reverse direction in which the thermal tape 21 is rewound.

[0031] The platen roller 7 is rotated by the driving force of the transport motor 32, and transports the heat-sensitive tape 21 along the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction, transport direction) of the heat-sensitive tape 21. When the transport motor 32 rotates in the forward direction, the platen roller 7 pays out the heat-sensitive tape 21 from the medium adapter 20, and when the transport motor 32 rotates in the reverse direction, the platen roller 7 rewinds the heat-sensitive tape 21 that has been paid out from the medium adapter 20.

[0032] That is, in the printing device 1, the control circuit 12 is a control unit that controls the platen roller 7 by controlling the feed motor 32 via the feed motor drive circuit 31. The feed motor 32 and the platen roller 7 are a feed unit that feeds the thermal tape 21.

[0033] The encoder 33 outputs a signal to the control circuit 12 in response to the rotation (drive) of the feed motor 32 or the platen roller 7. The encoder 33 may be provided on the rotation shaft of the feed motor 32 or on the rotation shaft of the platen roller 7. The control circuit 12 can specify the feed amount of the thermal tape 21 based on the signal from the encoder 33. The control circuit 12 can also specify the rotation speed of the feed motor 32 or the platen roller 7 based on the signal from the encoder 33. The rotation speed of the feed motor 32 or the platen roller 7 is also the rotation speed of the feed section that feeds the thermal tape 21. The expression "rotation speed of the feed motor 32 or the platen roller 7" includes the rotation period and rotation angle (for example, the rotation angle per a predetermined time) of the feed motor 32 or the platen roller 7.

[0034] The cutter motor drive circuit 34 drives the cutter motor 35 under the control of the control circuit 12. The full cutter 9 is operated by the power of the cutter motor 35 and cuts the thermal tape 21 to create tape pieces. The half cutter 10 is operated by the power of the cutter motor 35 and cuts the layers of the thermal tape 21 other than the separator.

[0035] In the printing device 1 configured as above, it is possible to detect the tape width of the thermal tape 21 (thermal tape 21 sandwiched between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8) set in the transport section (platen roller 7) without providing a separate detection means such as a sensor. This point will be specifically described below with reference to Figs. 4 to 8.

[0036] 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a state where the thermal tape 21 is sandwiched between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the tape width of the thermal tape 21 and the friction between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, when the thermal tape 21 is sandwiched between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8, the contact area between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8 varies depending on the tape width of the sandwiched thermal tape 21. In detail, the larger the tape width of the thermal tape 21, the smaller the contact area between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8, and the smaller the tape width of the thermal tape 21, the larger the contact area between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the larger the tape width of the thermal tape 21, the smaller the friction between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8, and the smaller the tape width of the thermal tape 21, the larger the friction between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8.

[0037] For this reason, when the control circuit 12 controls the feed motor 32 to rotate the platen roller 7, a difference in the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 occurs due to a difference in the tape width of the thermal tape 21 held between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8 (a difference in friction between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8). Since the rotation of the platen roller 7 is linked to the rotation of the feed motor 32, a difference in the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 also means a difference in the rotation speed of the feed motor 32.

[0038] Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal waveform (hereinafter referred to as "encoder signal waveform") from the encoder 33 when the control circuit 12 controls the conveyor motor 32 to rotate the platen roller 7. Fig. 7 shows, from the top, the encoder signal waveform when the thermal tape 21 is not sandwiched between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8 (hereinafter referred to as "no tape"), the encoder signal waveform when the thermal tape 21 with a small tape width is sandwiched between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8 (hereinafter referred to as "small tape width"), and the encoder signal waveform when the thermal tape 21 with a large tape width is sandwiched between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8 (hereinafter referred to as "large tape width").

[0039] In these encoder signal waveforms, the period of one rotation of the conveyor motor 32 is largest when there is no tape (when the friction between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8 is largest), as shown in FIG. 7, and is smaller when the thermal tape 21 is sandwiched between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8 (hereinafter referred to as the case where there is tape) as the tape width becomes larger (when the friction between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8 becomes smaller). Also, as shown in FIG. 7, if the period of one rotation of the conveyor motor 32 when there is no tape is taken as a reference value, when there is tape, the difference between the period of one rotation of the conveyor motor 32 and the reference value becomes larger as the tape width becomes larger. That is, the rotation speed of the conveyor motor 32 is slowest when there is no tape, and is faster when there is tape as the tape width becomes larger. The same is true for the rotation speed of the platen roller 7.

[0040] Therefore, in the printing device 1, when detecting the tape width of the thermal tape 21 (thermal tape 21 stored in the printing device 1) set on the transport section (platen roller 7), the control circuit 12 controls the transport motor 32 to transport the thermal tape 21, measures (determines) the rotational speed of the platen roller 7 (or the transport motor 32) based on a signal from the encoder 33 at this time, and derives the tape width of the thermal tape 21 set on the transport section (platen roller 7) based on the rotational speed.

[0041] Specifically, the printing device 1 stores in advance in the ROM 13 the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) when there is no tape (which is also the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) when the thermal tape 21 is not set on the conveying section (platen roller 7)) as a reference rotation speed, and also stores in advance in the ROM 13 the difference between the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) when the thermal tape 21 has each tape width and the reference rotation speed. Note that the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) when there is no tape and when the thermal tape 21 has each tape width is acquired based on a signal from the encoder 33 when the conveying motor 32 is controlled to rotate the platen roller 7. When detecting the tape width of the thermal tape 21 set on the transport section (platen roller 7), the control circuit 12 controls the transport motor 32 to transport the thermal tape 21, measures (specifies) the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or transport motor 32) based on a signal from the encoder 33 at this time, calculates the difference between the rotation speed and a reference rotation speed stored in ROM 13, and derives the tape width of the thermal tape 21 set on the transport section (platen roller 7) based on the difference and the difference for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width stored in ROM 13. This makes it possible to detect the tape width of the thermal tape 21 set on the transport section (platen roller 7) without providing a separate detection means such as a sensor. The control signal given to the conveying motor 32 when the reference rotation speed is acquired, the control signal given to the conveying motor 32 when the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width is acquired, and the control signal given to the conveying motor 32 when conveying the thermal tape 21 whose tape width is to be detected are the same control signal. This also means that the energy control performed on the conveying motor 32 (or the energy given to the conveying motor 32) is the same when the reference rotation speed is measured and when the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) is measured when the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) is made to convey the thermal tape 21 set on the conveying unit (platen roller 7).Hereinafter, a print control process including such a process for detecting the tape width will be described with reference to FIG.

[0042] 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a print control process, and a part of the process shows an example of a method for deriving the width of the print medium. Note that this print control process is a process performed by the control circuit 12 as a result of the processor executing a program stored in the ROM 13, and is a process that starts when the printer 1 receives a print instruction input from the input unit 3, for example.

[0043] 8 is started, the control circuit 12 first starts tape forward transport (step S1). Here, the control circuit 12 controls the transport motor 32 to start transporting the thermal tape 21 in the forward direction.

[0044] Next, the control circuit 12 performs speed measurement (step S2). Here, the control circuit 12 measures (specifies) the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveyor motor 32) based on a signal from the encoder 33.

[0045] Next, the control circuit 12 performs tape width determination (step S3). Here, the control circuit 12 calculates the difference between the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) measured (specified) in step S2 and the reference rotation speed stored in the ROM 13, and determines (derives) the tape width of the thermal tape 21 being conveyed based on the calculated difference and the differences for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width stored in the ROM 13. In this determination (derival), for example, a difference closest to the calculated difference is specified from the differences for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width stored in the ROM 13, and the tape width for the specified difference is determined (derived) as the tape width of the thermal tape 21 being conveyed.

[0046] Next, the control circuit 12 performs tape reverse feeding to the position at the start of printing (step S4). Here, the control circuit 12 controls the feeding motor 32 to feed the thermal tape 21 in the reverse direction until the leading edge of the thermal tape 21 returns to the position at the start of printing (for example, the position of the photosensor 11).

[0047] Next, the control circuit 12 performs printing processing for one sheet (step S5). Here, the control circuit 12 controls the transport motor 32 and the thermal head 8 based on the print data and the tape width determined (derived) in step S3 to print a print pattern for one sheet on the thermal tape 21 line by line according to the print data, and then controls the cutter motor drive circuit 34 to perform processing to cut the thermal tape 21 with the half cutter 10.

[0048] Next, the control circuit 12 judges whether or not printing has been completed for the number of sheets to be printed (step S6). Here, the control circuit 12 judges whether or not printing of the print pattern for the number of sheets to be printed has been completed on the thermal tape 21. If the judgment result in step S6 is NO, the process returns to step S5.

[0049] On the other hand, if the determination result in step S6 is YES, the control circuit 12 performs a full cut process (step S7). Here, the control circuit 12 controls the cutter motor driving circuit 34 to cause the full cutter 9 to cut the thermal tape 21. When step S7 ends, the print control process shown in FIG. 8 ends.

[0050] According to the printing device 1 described above, the tape width of the thermal tape 21 can be detected without providing a separate detection means such as a sensor, so that it is possible to reduce production costs.

[0051] The above-described embodiments are illustrative examples for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The printing device, the print medium width deriving method, and the program can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0052] In the above embodiment, a specific example was shown in which the reference rotation speed (the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) when there is no tape) and the difference between the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) and the reference rotation speed for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width are stored in the ROM 13 in advance. However, instead of this, the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width may be stored in the ROM 13 in advance. In this case, the control circuit 12 may control the conveying motor 32 to convey the thermal tape 21, measure (identify) the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) based on a signal from the encoder 33 at this time, and derive the tape width of the thermal tape 21 being conveyed based on the rotation speed and the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width stored in the ROM 13. In this derivation, for example, the rotation speed closest to the measured (specified) rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) is specified from the rotation speeds of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width stored in the ROM 13, and the tape width for the specified rotation speed is derived as the tape width of the thermal tape 21 being conveyed. According to such a modified example, it is possible to reduce the amount of data stored in the ROM 13 and also to reduce the amount of processing involved in deriving the tape width.

[0053] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a specific example was shown in which the printing device 1 has an input unit 3 and a display unit 6, but the printing device 1 does not have to have an input unit 3 or a display unit 6, and may receive printing data, printing instructions, etc. from an electronic device other than the printing device.

[0054] 7, an example has been described in which the cycle for one rotation of the conveyor motor 32 is used, but the cycle to be used is not limited to this. If the cycle for one rotation of the conveyor motor 32 is a cycle corresponding to a pulse count number of 4 in the encoder signal waveform, a cycle other than the cycle for one rotation of the conveyor motor 32 (a cycle corresponding to a pulse count number of 4 in the encoder signal waveform), such as a cycle corresponding to a pulse count number of 2 in the encoder signal waveform, may be used. The same applies when the encoder 33 is provided on the rotation shaft of the platen roller 7.

[0055] In the above embodiment, a specific example was given in which the reference rotation speed (the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) when there is no tape) and the difference between the rotation speed of the platen roller 7 (or the conveying motor 32) and the reference rotation speed for the thermal tape 21 of each tape width were stored in the ROM 13 in advance, but instead, a table showing the time corresponding to each pulse count number of the encoder signal waveform for each tape width of the thermal tape 21 may be stored in the ROM 13 in advance as a table for deriving the tape width of the thermal tape 21. In this case, the control circuit 12 may control the conveying motor 32 to convey the thermal tape 21, and derive the tape width of the thermal tape 21 being conveyed based on the signal from the encoder 33 at this time and the table stored in the ROM 13.

[0056] 9 is a diagram illustrating a table showing the time corresponding to each pulse count number of the encoder signal waveform for each tape width of the thermal tape 21. This table shows the time T corresponding to each pulse count number of 2, 4, and 6 for each tape width of 6 mm, 12 mm, and 18 mm. According to this table, for example, if the time corresponding to the pulse count number of 2 from the signal from the encoder 33 is T4 (or the time closest to T4), it can be derived from the table that the tape width of the thermal tape 21 is 12 mm.

[0057] The invention as described in the claims of the original application is set forth below. [Appendix 1] A conveying unit that conveys the print medium; a control unit that derives a width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit based on a rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit; A printing device comprising: [Appendix 2] The printing apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores a reference rotation speed of the conveying unit and a difference between the reference rotation speed and the rotation speed of the conveying unit when the print medium having each width direction length is conveyed by the conveying unit, The control unit derives the width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit based on a difference between a rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit and the reference rotation speed stored in the memory unit, and a difference for the print medium in each width direction length stored in the memory unit. 2. The printing device according to claim 1 . [Appendix 3] The printing apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores the rotation speed of the conveying unit when the conveying unit conveys the print medium having each width direction length, The control unit derives the width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit based on the rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit and the rotation speed of the print medium for each width direction length stored in the storage unit. 2. The printing device according to claim 1 . [Appendix 4] The reference rotation speed is the rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium is not set in the transport unit. 3. A printing device as described in claim 2. [Appendix 5] The energy control performed on the transport unit is the same when the reference rotation speed is measured and when the rotation speed of the transport unit is measured when the print medium set on the transport unit is transported by the transport unit. 5. The printing device according to claim 2 or 4. [Appendix 6] A width direction length of the print medium is derived based on a rotation speed of the transport section when the print medium set in the transport section is transported by the transport section. A method for deriving a width of a printing medium. [Appendix 7] A width direction length of the print medium is derived based on a rotation speed of the transport section when the print medium set in the transport section is transported by the transport section. A program that causes a processor to execute a process. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 Printing device 2. Equipment casing 2a Media adapter housing 2b Outlet 3. Input section 4 Lid 4a Button 5. Windows 6 Display section 7 Platen roller 8 Thermal Head 8a Heating element 9 Full Cutter 10 Half Cutter 11 Photo sensor 12 Control circuit 13 ROM 14 RAM 15 Display driver circuit 16 Head drive circuit 17 Thermistor 20 Media Adapter 21 Thermal Tape 31 Transport motor drive circuit 32 Conveyor motor 33 Encoder 34 Cutter motor drive circuit 35 Cutter motor

Claims

1. A conveying unit that conveys the print medium; a control unit that derives a width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit based on a rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit; a storage unit that stores a reference rotation speed, which is the rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium is not set in the transport unit, and a difference between the rotation speed of the transport unit and the reference rotation speed when the print medium of each width length is transported by the transport unit; Equipped with The control unit calculates a difference between a reference rotation speed stored in the memory unit and a rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit, identifies a difference closest to the calculated difference from among the differences for the print medium of each width direction length stored in the memory unit, and derives the width direction length for the identified difference as the width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit. A printing device comprising:

2. An encoder that outputs a signal in response to rotation of a conveyance motor of the conveyance unit is further provided, The difference between the rotation speed of the transport section when the print medium is transported by the transport section and the reference rotation speed is the difference between the period of one rotation of the transport motor when the print medium is transported by the transport section and the period of one rotation of the transport motor in a state in which the print medium is not set in the transport section.

2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. The energy control performed on the transport unit is the same when the reference rotation speed is measured and when the rotation speed of the transport unit is measured when the print medium set on the transport unit is transported by the transport unit.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

4. The method includes a step of deriving a width direction length of the print medium based on a rotation speed of the transport section when the print medium set in the transport section is transported by the transport section, The process of deriving the width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit includes calculating a difference between a reference rotation speed, which is stored in a memory unit and is the rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit, and a rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit; identifying a difference closest to the calculated difference from the differences between the rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium of each width direction length stored in the memory unit is transported by the transport unit and the reference rotation speed; and deriving the width direction length for the identified difference as the width direction length of the print medium set in the transport unit. A method for deriving a width of a printing medium.

5. a processor is caused to execute a process of deriving a width direction length of the print medium based on a rotation speed of the transport unit when the print medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit; The process of deriving the width direction length of the printing medium set in the transport unit includes calculating the difference between a reference rotation speed, which is stored in a memory unit and is the rotation speed of the transport unit when the printing medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit, and the rotation speed of the transport unit when the printing medium set in the transport unit is transported by the transport unit; identifying the difference closest to the calculated difference from the differences between the rotation speed of the transport unit when the printing medium of each width direction length stored in the memory unit is transported by the transport unit and the reference rotation speed; and deriving the width direction length for the identified difference as the width direction length of the printing medium set in the transport unit. A program characterized by:

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