Printing press, printing press control program, and printing press control method

Abstract

To provide a printer which can detect the presence or absence of printing paper and opening / closing of a cover with a smaller number of components, and provide a printer control program for controlling the printer, and a printer control method.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a casing; a cover which forms a gap for feeding release paper when performing printing on an adhesive label together with the casing; a photoelectric sensor which has a first photoelectric sensor element mounted in the casing or the cover and a second photoelectric sensor element which is mounted in either the casing or the cover, in which the first photoelectric sensor element is not mounted; and a determination section which determines whether the cover is closed or opened on the basis of intensity of light detected by the first photoelectric sensor element or the second photoelectric sensor element and determines any one of a state in which the release paper and the adhesive label exist in the gap, a state in which only the release paper exists in the gap or a state in which the release paper and the adhesive label do not exist in the gap.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing press, a printing press control program, and a printing press control method. [Background technology]

[0002] In modern times, printing machines employing various printing methods are used in a variety of situations. An example of such a printing machine is the multifunction machine disclosed in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-176250

[0004] The multifunction device disclosed in Patent Document 1 outputs an OFF signal from a document sensor when no document is supported on an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) formed integrally with the document cover, and outputs an ON signal from the document sensor when no document is supported on the document cover. The multifunction device also uses an open / close interlocking actuator to detect whether the document cover is in the closed position or the open position.

[0005] However, since the above-mentioned multifunction device is equipped with both a document sensor and an opening / closing interlocking actuator, the number of parts increases, which may raise concerns about increased design difficulty, increased development costs, increased manufacturing costs, and increased difficulty in quality control. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a printing press that can detect the presence or absence of printing paper and the opening and closing of a cover using a smaller number of parts, as well as a printing press control program and printing press control method for controlling such a printing press. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a printing machine according to one aspect of the present invention includes a casing for storing a release paper to which an adhesive label is affixed, a cover that is opened when the release paper is stored in the casing and that is closed after the release paper has been stored in the casing, and that forms with the casing a gap through which the release paper and the adhesive label are fed when printing is performed on the adhesive label, a first photoelectric sensor element attached to the casing or the cover, and a photoelectric sensor element attached to the casing or the cover on which the first photoelectric sensor element is not attached, and that detects the release paper when the cover is closed. and a determination unit that executes an open / close determination process to determine whether the cover is in a closed state or an open state based on the intensity of light detected by the first photoelectric sensor element or the second photoelectric sensor element, and executes a paper feed determination process to determine whether the cover is in a state where the release paper and the adhesive label are present in the gap, a state where only the release paper is present in the gap, or a state where neither the release paper nor the adhesive label is present in the gap.

[0008] In addition, in a printing press according to one aspect of the present invention, the photoelectric sensor has the first photoelectric sensor element which is a light emitter attached to the casing, and the second photoelectric sensor element which is a light receiver attached to the cover.

[0009] In addition, in a printing press according to one aspect of the present invention, the photoelectric sensor has the first photoelectric sensor element which is a receiver attached to the casing, and the second photoelectric sensor element which is a light emitter attached to the cover.

[0010] In addition, in a printing machine according to one aspect of the present invention, the judgment unit judges that the cover is closed when the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the first photoelectric sensor element or the second photoelectric sensor element is equal to or lower than a predetermined open / close judgment voltage.

[0011] In addition, in a printing machine according to one aspect of the present invention, the judgment unit judges that the cover is open when the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the first photoelectric sensor element or the second photoelectric sensor element exceeds a predetermined open / close judgment voltage.

[0012] In addition, in a printing machine according to one aspect of the present invention, when the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the first photoelectric sensor element or the second photoelectric sensor element is equal to or less than a predetermined paper feed determination voltage, the judgment unit judges that only the release paper is present in the gap or that neither the release paper nor the adhesive label is present in the gap.

[0013] In addition, in a printing machine according to one aspect of the present invention, the judgment unit judges that the release paper and the adhesive label are present in the gap when the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the first photoelectric sensor element or the second photoelectric sensor element exceeds a predetermined paper feed judgment voltage and is equal to or lower than a predetermined opening / closing judgment voltage.

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, a printing press control program according to one aspect of the present invention executes an open / close determination process to determine whether the cover is closed or open, based on the intensity of light detected by either a first photoelectric sensor element attached to a casing in which a release paper to which an adhesive label is affixed is stored or a cover that is opened when the release paper is stored in the casing and closed after the release paper is stored in the casing, and that forms with the casing a gap through which the release paper and the adhesive label are fed when printing on the adhesive label, or a second photoelectric sensor element that is attached to the side of the casing or the cover on which the first photoelectric sensor element is not attached and that faces the first photoelectric sensor element at least when the cover is closed, and causes a computer to realize a determination function to execute a paper feed determination process to determine whether the release paper and the adhesive label are present in the gap, or a state in which only the release paper is present in the gap, or a state in which neither the release paper nor the adhesive label is present in the gap.

[0015] In order to achieve the above object, a printing press control method according to one aspect of the present invention performs an open / close determination process to determine whether the cover is closed or open, based on the intensity of light detected by either a first photoelectric sensor element attached to a casing in which a release paper to which an adhesive label is affixed is stored or a cover that is opened when the release paper is stored in the casing and closed after the release paper is stored in the casing, and that forms with the casing a gap through which the release paper and the adhesive label are fed when printing on the adhesive label, or a second photoelectric sensor element that is attached to the side of the casing or the cover on which the first photoelectric sensor element is not attached and that faces the first photoelectric sensor element at least when the cover is closed, and performs a paper feed determination process to determine whether the cover is in a state in which the release paper and the adhesive label are present in the gap, a state in which only the release paper is present in the gap, or a state in which neither the release paper nor the adhesive label is present in the gap. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing press that can be realized with a smaller number of parts, and a printing press control program and printing press control method for controlling the printing press. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a cover of the printing machine according to the embodiment is closed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a cover of the printing machine according to the embodiment is open. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light projector, a light receiver, and a printing press control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of a release paper and an adhesive label according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a process executed by a determination function according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by a printing machine according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing press according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] [Embodiment] A printing press, a printing press control program, and a printing press control method according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0019] First, an example of a printing press according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the cover of the printing press according to the embodiment is closed. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the cover of the printing press according to the embodiment is open. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a light emitter, a light receiver, and a printing press control device according to an embodiment. The printing press 1 is, for example, a thermal printer, and includes a casing 10, a cover 20, a hinge 30, and a photoelectric sensor 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing press 1 includes a printing press control device 50.

[0020] The casing 10 is a housing in which the components constituting the printing press 1 are stored, and in which the release paper R wound in roll form is stored. The cover 20 is a plate-shaped member that covers the space in which the release paper R wound in roll form is stored, and is attached to the casing 10 by a hinge 30 in a manner that allows it to swing. The cover 20 is closed as shown in FIG. 1 after the release paper R is stored in the casing 10. On the other hand, the cover 20 is opened as shown in FIG. 2 when the release paper R is stored in the casing 10. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the cover 20, together with the casing 10, forms a gap G through which the release paper R and the adhesive label L are fed when printing is performed on the adhesive label L affixed to the release paper R.

[0021] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a release paper and an adhesive label according to an embodiment. The release paper R is a paper with a release coating applied to at least one surface, and as shown in Fig. 4, adhesive labels L are attached at regular intervals to the release-coated surface. The adhesive labels L are pieces of paper with glue applied to one surface and printed on the unglued surface by the printer 1.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the photoelectric sensor 40 includes a light projector 41 and a light receiver 42.

[0023] The projector 41 is attached to the casing 10, for example, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The projector 41 is a light-emitting diode (LED) having an anode connected to one end of a resistor 41R and a cathode grounded, for example, as shown in Fig. 3, and outputs light. The projector 41 is an example of a first photoelectric sensor element attached to the casing 10.

[0024] The receiver 42 is attached to the cover 20, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The receiver 42 is, for example, a phototransistor with a collector connected to one end of a resistor 42R and an emitter grounded, as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver 42 faces the transmitter 41 when the cover 20 is closed. Therefore, when the cover 20 is closed, the light-receiving portion of the receiver 42 faces the light-outputting portion of the transmitter 41. The emitter voltage of the receiver 42, relative to the ground plane, increases as the intensity of the light received by the receiver 42 from the transmitter 41 increases. The receiver 42 receives the light output by the transmitter 41 and outputs voltage data to the printing press control device 50 indicating the emitter voltage, which is determined based on the light intensity. The receiver 42 is an example of a second photoelectric sensor element attached to the cover 20.

[0025] The printing press control device 50 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which reads and executes the printing press control program 500 shown in Fig. 3 to realize each function of the printing press 1 including the determination function 550. The printing press control program 500 is stored in advance in a main storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) mounted on the printing press 1.

[0026] 5 is a diagram for explaining the process executed by the determination function according to the embodiment. The determination function 550 executes an open / close determination process that determines whether the cover 20 is closed or open, based on the intensity of light detected by the light receiver 42.

[0027] Specifically, when the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the photoreceiver 42 is equal to or less than the predetermined open / close determination voltage shown in Fig. 5, the determination function 550 determines that the cover 20 is closed as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, when the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the photoreceiver 42 exceeds the predetermined open / close determination voltage shown in Fig. 5, the determination function 550 determines that the cover 20 is open as shown in Fig. 2.

[0028] In addition, the judgment function 550 executes a paper feed judgment process to determine whether the gap G is in a state where a release paper R and an adhesive label L are present, a state where only a release paper R is present in the gap G, or a state where neither a release paper R nor an adhesive label L is present in the gap G.

[0029] Specifically, when the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the light receiver 42 is equal to or less than a predetermined paper feed determination voltage, the determination function 550 determines that only the release paper R is present in the gap G, or that neither the release paper R nor the adhesive label L is present in the gap G. On the other hand, when the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the light receiver 42 exceeds the predetermined paper feed determination voltage and is equal to or less than a predetermined open / close determination voltage, the determination function 550 determines that the release paper R and the adhesive label L are present in the gap G. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the paper feed determination voltage is set to a voltage lower than the open / close determination voltage.

[0030] Next, an example of processing executed by the printing press 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the printing press according to the embodiment.

[0031] In step S10, the determination function 550 determines whether the output voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage for determining whether the voltage is open or closed. If the determination function 550 determines that the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the optical receiver exceeds the predetermined voltage for determining whether the voltage is open or closed (step S10: YES), the process proceeds to step S20. On the other hand, if the determination function 550 determines that the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the optical receiver is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage for determining whether the voltage is open or closed (step S10: NO), the process proceeds to step S30.

[0032] In step S20, the determination function 550 determines that the cover 20 is open.

[0033] In step S30, the determination function 550 determines that the cover 20 is closed.

[0034] In step S40, the determination function 550 determines whether the output voltage exceeds a predetermined paper feed determination voltage and is equal to or less than a predetermined open / close determination voltage. If the determination function 550 determines that the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the light receiver exceeds the predetermined paper feed determination voltage and is equal to or less than the predetermined open / close determination voltage (step S40: YES), the process proceeds to step S50. On the other hand, if the determination function 550 determines that the voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the light receiver is equal to or less than the predetermined paper feed determination voltage (step S40: NO), the process proceeds to step S60.

[0035] In step S50, the determination function 550 determines that a release paper and an adhesive label are present in the gap, and ends the process.

[0036] In step S60, the determination function 550 determines that only a release paper is present in the gap, or that neither a release paper nor an adhesive label is present in the gap, and ends the process.

[0037] The printing press 1 according to the embodiment has been described above. The printing press 1 includes the casing 10, the cover 20, the photoelectric sensor 40, and the determination function 550.

[0038] The casing 10 is a housing that stores the release paper R to which the adhesive label L is affixed. The cover 20 is a member that is opened when the release paper R is stored in the casing 10, and is closed after the release paper R is stored in the casing 10, and that forms a gap G with the casing 10 through which the release paper R and the adhesive label L are fed when printing is performed on the adhesive label L.

[0039] The photoelectric sensor 40 has a first photoelectric sensor element attached to the casing 10 or the cover 20, and a second photoelectric sensor element attached to the casing 10 or the cover 20 on which the first photoelectric sensor element is not attached, and facing the first photoelectric sensor element at least when the cover 20 is closed.

[0040] The determination function 550 executes an open / close determination process to determine whether the cover 20 is closed or open, based on the intensity of light detected by the first photoelectric sensor element or the second photoelectric sensor element. The determination function 550 also executes a paper feed determination process to determine whether the gap G is in a state where the release paper R and the adhesive label L are present, a state where only the release paper R is present in the gap G, or a state where neither the release paper R nor the adhesive label L is present in the gap G.

[0041] This allows the printing press 1 to execute both the open / close determination process and the paper feed determination process described above using the light projector 41, the light receiver 42, and the determination function 550. In other words, the printing press 1 does not need to be equipped with mechanical elements such as actuators to execute the open / close determination process, and does not need to be equipped with additional components such as sensors to execute the paper feed determination process. Therefore, the printing press 1 can detect the presence or absence of printing paper and the open / close state of the cover with fewer components, thereby reducing the difficulty of design, development costs, manufacturing costs, difficulty of quality control, etc.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the printing machine 1 is a thermal printer and the adhesive label L is thermal paper, but this is not limiting. The printing machine 1 may be a printer other than a thermal printer. In this case, the adhesive label L is preferably a piece of paper that matches the printing method adopted by the printing machine 1. Furthermore, the printing machine 1 may be a printing machine that prints on printing paper other than the release paper R to which the adhesive label is affixed.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the case where the light projector 41 is attached to the casing 10 and the light receiver 42 is attached to the cover 20 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light projector 41 may be attached to the cover 20 and the light receiver 42 may be attached to the casing 10.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the case where the first photoelectric sensor element is the light-emitter 41 and the second photoelectric sensor element is the light-receiver 42 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the first photoelectric sensor element may be the light-receiver 42 and the second photoelectric sensor element may be the light-emitter 41.

[0045] At least a part of the determination function 550 shown in Fig. 3 may be realized by hardware including a circuitry such as a large-scale integration (LSI), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a graphics processing unit (GPU). Alternatively, at least a part of the determination function 550 shown in Fig. 3 may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. These pieces of hardware may be integrated into one or may be separated into multiple pieces.

[0046] Furthermore, the printing press control device 50 described above may be installed in a printing press other than the printing press 1. For example, the printing press control device 50 may be installed in a printing press 1a shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a printing press according to an embodiment. The printing press 1a is, for example, a thermal printer, and as shown in FIG. 7, includes a casing 10a, a cover 20a, and a photoelectric sensor 40a.

[0047] The casing 10a is a housing in which the components constituting the printing press 1a are stored, and in which the release paper R wound in roll form is stored. The cover 20a is a plate-shaped member that covers the space in which the release paper R wound in roll form is stored. As shown in FIG. 7, the cover 20a is opened or closed by sliding relative to the casing 10a. When the cover 20a is closed as shown in FIG. 7, the cover 20a, together with the casing 10a, forms a gap G through which the release paper R and the adhesive label L are fed when printing is performed on the adhesive label L affixed to the release paper R.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 7, the photoelectric sensor 40a includes a light emitter 41a and a light receiver 42a. The light emitter 41a is an example of a first photoelectric sensor element attached to the casing 10a as shown in FIG. 7, and outputs light. The light receiver 42a is an example of a second photoelectric sensor element attached to the cover 20a as shown in FIG. 7, and receives the light output by the light emitter 41a. As shown in FIG. 7, the cover 20a is opened or closed by sliding relative to the casing 10a. Therefore, the light receiver 42a faces the light emitter 41a whether the cover 20a is closed or opened. Therefore, the light receiving portion of the light receiver 42a faces the light outputting portion of the light emitter 41a whether the cover 20a is closed or opened.

[0049] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the printing press, printing press control program, and printing press control method are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications, substitutions, combinations, and / or design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0050] Furthermore, the effects of the above-described embodiments of the present invention are described as examples. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention may also achieve other effects that a person skilled in the art can recognize from the description of the above-described embodiments in addition to the above-described effects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1, 1a...printing press, 10, 10a...casing, 20, 20a...cover, 30...hinge, 40, 40a...photoelectric sensor, 41, 41a...light emitter, 42, 42a...light receiver, 50...printing press control device, 500...printing press control program, 550...determination function, G...gap, R...release paper, L...adhesive label, 41R, 42R...resistor

Claims

1. a casing for storing a release paper on which an adhesive label is attached; a cover that is opened when the release paper is stored in the casing, and that is closed after the release paper is stored in the casing, and that forms with the casing a gap through which the release paper and the adhesive label are fed when printing is performed on the adhesive label; a photoelectric sensor including one light-emitter attached to the casing and one light-receiver attached to the cover and facing the one light-emitter at least when the cover is closed; a determination unit that executes an open / close determination process to determine whether the cover is in a closed state or an open state based on the intensity of light detected by the one light receiver, and executes a paper feed determination process to determine whether the cover is in a state where the release paper and the adhesive label are present in the gap, a state where only the release paper is present in the gap, or a state where neither the release paper nor the adhesive label is present in the gap; Equipped with The determination unit If a sensor output voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the one light receiver is equal to or less than a predetermined open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the cover is closed; If the sensor output voltage exceeds the open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the cover is open; When the sensor output voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined paper feed determination voltage that is set lower than the opening / closing determination voltage, it is determined that only the release paper is present in the gap, or that neither the release paper nor the adhesive label is present in the gap, When the sensor output voltage exceeds the paper feed determination voltage and is equal to or lower than the open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the release paper and the adhesive label are present in the gap. printing machine.

2. a photoelectric sensor including one light projector attached to a casing in which a release paper having an adhesive label affixed thereto is stored, and one light receiver attached to a cover that is opened when the release paper is stored in the casing and closed after the release paper has been stored in the casing, and that forms with the casing a gap through which the release paper and the adhesive label are fed when printing on the adhesive label, and that faces the one light projector at least when the cover is closed; The paper feed determination process includes: If a sensor output voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the one light receiver is equal to or less than a predetermined open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the cover is closed; If the sensor output voltage exceeds the open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the cover is open; When the sensor output voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined paper feed determination voltage that is set lower than the opening / closing determination voltage, it is determined that only the release paper is present in the gap, or that neither the release paper nor the adhesive label is present in the gap, When the sensor output voltage exceeds the paper feed determination voltage and is equal to or lower than the open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the release paper and the adhesive label are present in the gap. Printing press control program.

3. a photoelectric sensor including one light projector attached to a casing in which a release paper having an adhesive label affixed thereto is stored, and one light receiver attached to a cover that is opened when the release paper is stored in the casing and closed after the release paper has been stored in the casing, and that forms with the casing a gap through which the release paper and the adhesive label are fed when printing on the adhesive label, and that faces the one light projector at least when the cover is closed, the photoelectric sensor comprising: one light projector attached to a casing in which a release paper having an adhesive label affixed thereto is stored; and one light receiver attached to a cover that is opened when the release paper is stored in the casing and closed after the release paper has been stored in the casing, and that forms with the casing a gap through which the release paper and the adhesive label are fed when printing on the adhesive label, the one light receiver facing the one light projector when the cover is closed, the photoelectric sensor comprising: The paper feed determination process includes: If a sensor output voltage output based on the intensity of light detected by the one light receiver is equal to or less than a predetermined open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the cover is closed; If the sensor output voltage exceeds the open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the cover is open; When the sensor output voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined paper feed determination voltage that is set lower than the opening / closing determination voltage, it is determined that only the release paper is present in the gap, or that neither the release paper nor the adhesive label is present in the gap, When the sensor output voltage exceeds the paper feed determination voltage and is equal to or lower than the open / close determination voltage, it is determined that the release paper and the adhesive label are present in the gap. Printing press control method.

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