Paper feed control device, image forming device and printing system

Abstract

To provide a paper feeding control device allowing easy operation of a medium detection part corresponding to the set medium.SOLUTION: A paper feeding control device has at least one medium detection part arranged at a medium feeding part and detecting the fed medium, a printing processing part Pr3 printing to the medium, and a setting control part Pr1 acquiring set information of the fed medium. The printing processing part Pr3, before starting printing, discloses a guide image showing a position of the medium detection part, corresponding to the set information. An operator can recognize necessity of moving the medium detection part, and can realize how to move the medium detection part, and can easily operate the medium detection part, corresponding to the set medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper feed control device, an image forming apparatus, and a printing system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image forming devices such as printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and multifunction devices, for example, electrophotographic color printers, are provided with an image forming unit, in which an LED head exposes the surface of a photosensitive drum uniformly charged by a charging roller to form an electrostatic latent image, which is then developed with toner supplied from a toner cartridge to form a toner image, which is then transferred to paper as a medium by a transfer roller and fixed to the paper by a fixing unit to form an image, thereby printing.

[0003] Incidentally, there is a paper feed control device that, when different types of paper are set in a printer, detects marks formed on the paper using a sensor that serves as a media detection unit disposed in the printer, allowing printing to be performed in accordance with the set paper (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-133073 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional paper feed control device, the operator needs to move the sensor that detects the mark formed on the paper to match the position of the mark, but some operators do not know that they need to move the sensor, or even if they know that they need to move the sensor, they do not know how to move it, making the sensor difficult to operate.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the problems of the conventional paper feed control devices and to provide a paper feed control device, image forming device, and printing system that can easily operate the media detection unit according to the media set. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, the paper feed control device of the present invention has at least one media detection unit arranged in the media supply unit that detects the medium being fed, a setting management unit that acquires setting information for the medium being fed, a print processing unit that prints on the medium, and a print data control unit that creates first print data and sends it to the print processing unit.

[0008] Then, the print data control unit creates second print data including a guide image indicating the position on the medium where the medium detection unit is to be placed according to the setting information, and transmits the second print data to the print processing unit. Furthermore, the print processing unit performs printing based on the second print data before performing printing based on the first print data. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the paper feed control device has at least one media detection unit arranged in a media supply unit that detects the medium being fed, a setting management unit that acquires setting information for the medium being fed, a print processing unit that prints on the medium, and a print data control unit that creates first print data and sends it to the print processing unit.

[0010] Then, the print data control unit creates second print data including a guide image indicating the position on the medium where the medium detection unit is to be placed according to the setting information, and transmits the second print data to the print processing unit. Furthermore, the print processing unit performs printing based on the second print data before performing printing based on the first print data.

[0011] In this case, printing based on the second print data is performed before printing based on the first print data, and a guide image showing the position of the medium detection unit according to the setting information is displayed, so the operator not only knows that the medium detection unit needs to be moved, but also knows how to move it, allowing the operator to easily operate the medium detection unit according to the loaded medium. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a host computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a guide print execution confirmation screen in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first example of the printed content of a guide in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of the printed content of the guide in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example of the printed content of the guide in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the printed content of the guide in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the guide print execution confirmation screen in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of a host computer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a mark position setting screen in the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the printed content of a guide in the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: a paper feed control device, a printer as an image forming device, and a printing system are described;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a printer that comprises a printing unit 11 as the main body of an image forming apparatus, a feeder unit (not shown) that supplies long sheets of paper as a medium to the printing unit 11, in this embodiment label paper, and a paper supply unit Sp that is disposed between the feeder unit and the printing unit 11 and serves as a medium supply unit that supplies label paper from the feeder unit to the printing unit 11. Marks such as black marks, holes drilled through the label paper from the front to the back, etc. are formed in advance at predetermined locations on the label paper as identification indicators for identifying the label paper.

[0016] In this embodiment, label paper is used as the medium, but continuous paper folded at a predetermined length, cut paper cut to a predetermined length, etc. Marks, holes, etc. are formed in predetermined locations on the continuous paper, roll paper, cut paper, etc.

[0017] The feeder unit is equipped with a feeding device that holds a roll of label paper formed by winding label paper of any size (width and length) and thickness so that it can rotate freely, and that feeds out the label paper as it rotates.The label paper fed from the feeding device is supplied to the paper feed unit Sp from a paper feed opening h1 formed at the end of the paper feed unit Sp, and is transported along a paper transport path Rt that serves as a media transport path formed across the paper feed unit Sp and the printing unit 11.

[0018] The paper feed section Sp includes a lower guide section 16 that guides label paper below the paper transport path Rt, an upper guide section 17 that is arranged so as to be able to swing freely relative to the lower guide section 16 by a hinge hg and that guides the label paper above the paper transport path Rt, a transport roller pair m1 as a first transport member consisting of a roller ra arranged in the lower guide section 16 and a roller rb arranged in the upper guide section 17, and a cutter unit Cu arranged downstream of the transport roller pair m1 on the paper transport path Rt.

[0019] The upper guide portion 17 functions as a jam release cover for opening the paper transport path Rt when a paper jam occurs in the paper feed portion Sp.

[0020] The cutter unit Cu is equipped with an identification index detection unit Um that detects the marks, holes, etc. on the label paper supplied through the paper feed port h1 and fed to the printing unit 11, a pair of transport rollers m2 that serves as a second transport member that transports the label paper, and a rotary cutter 23 that is arranged downstream of the pair of transport rollers m2 and cuts the label paper to a predetermined length. The identification index detection unit Um is equipped with at least one medium detection unit, and in this embodiment, includes a mark sensor ms1 that serves as a first medium detection unit arranged below the paper transport path Rt, and a mark sensor ms2 that serves as a second medium detection unit arranged above the paper transport path Rt and facing the mark sensor ms1.

[0021] The label paper cut by the cutter unit Cu is sent to the printing unit 11.

[0022] In the printing unit 11, Cs is the housing of the printing unit 11, Bd is the main body of the printer 10 formed within the housing Cs, i.e., the device main body, and 20 is a control board unit arranged at the bottom of the device main body Bd and constituting the main part of the control device of the printer 10.

[0023] The housing Cs is composed of a front wall Wf, a back wall Wr, a top wall Wt, etc., and a pair of conveying rollers m3 as a third conveying member is arranged adjacent to the front wall Wf, and an outlet h2 is formed adjacent to the back wall Wr to discharge label paper on which an image has been formed in the printing unit 11 out of the device main body Bd.

[0024] Downstream of the pair of transport rollers m3 on the paper transport path Rt is a write sensor s1, which serves as a medium detection unit for image formation to detect the leading edge of the label paper and set the start position for writing the image on the label paper, and downstream of the write sensor s1 is an image forming unit Q1.

[0025] The image forming section Q1 includes a plurality of image forming units 21Y, 21M, 21C arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side of the paper transport path Rt, in this embodiment three image forming units 21Y, 21M, 21C for yellow, magenta, and cyan, a photosensitive drum 22 as an image carrier arranged in each of the image forming units 21Y, 21M, 21C, an LED head Hd as an exposure device arranged opposite the photosensitive drum 22, and a transfer unit u1 arranged below each of the image forming units 21Y, 21M, 21C.

[0026] Each of the LED heads Hd exposes the photosensitive drum 22 based on print data, selectively irradiating the surface of the photosensitive drum 22 with light, and forms an electrostatic latent image as a latent image.

[0027] Further, 30 is a fixing unit as a fixing device arranged downstream of the image forming section Q1 on the paper transport path Rt, and the fixing unit 30 includes a heating roller 31 as a first fixing member and a pressure roller 32 as a second fixing member.

[0028] Further, downstream of the fixing unit 30 on the paper transport path Rt, a discharge sensor s2 is disposed as a discharge medium detection unit that detects the trailing edge of the label paper, and downstream of the discharge sensor s2, a pair of discharge rollers m4 as a discharge member is disposed adjacent to the spine wall Wr.

[0029] Next, the image forming units 21Y, 21M, and 21C will be described. The image forming units 21Y, 21M, and 21C have the same structure except for the color of the toner used as the developer, which will be described later. Therefore, only the image forming unit 21Y will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0030] The image forming units 21Y, 21M, and 21C each include a main body of the image forming unit 21Y, 21M, or 21C, i.e., a unit main body 33, and a toner cartridge Ct as a developer storage section that is detachably arranged on each unit main body 33, and each toner cartridge Ct stores toner of the respective color.

[0031] Within the unit main body 33, there are arranged the photosensitive drum 22 which is rotatably arranged, a charging roller 34 as a charging device which is rotatably arranged in contact with the photosensitive drum 22, a developing roller 36 as a developer carrier which is rotatably arranged in contact with the photosensitive drum 22, a supply roller 38 as a developer supply member which is rotatably arranged in contact with the developing roller 36, a developing blade 39 as a developer regulating member which is arranged in pressure contact with the developing roller 36, and a cleaning blade 41 as a first cleaning member which is arranged in contact with the photosensitive drum 22.

[0032] Next, the transfer unit u1 will be described.

[0033] The transfer unit u1 includes a drive roller R1, a driven roller R2, a belt 26 that is stretched so as to be freely movable between the drive roller R1 and the driven roller R2 and that transports the label paper as it moves, a transfer roller 27 as a transfer member that is rotatably arranged opposite each photosensitive drum 22 via the belt 26, and a cleaning blade 28 as a second cleaning member that is arranged opposite the belt 26.

[0034] Next, the operation of the printer 10 having the above configuration will be described.

[0035] The label paper fed from the feeder unit is fed to the paper supply section Sp, transported by a transport roller pair m1, and supplied to the printing unit 11. Then, inside the device main body Bd, the label paper is transported by a transport roller pair m2 and sent to the cutter unit Cu, where it is cut at a predetermined timing.

[0036] The cut label paper is sent to the image forming section Q1 by the conveying roller pair m3, and is transported by the belt 26 in the image forming section Q1, and is transported between the photosensitive drum 22 of each image forming unit 21Y, 21M, 21C and the transfer roller 27 of the transfer unit u1.

[0037] In each of the image forming units 21Y, 21M, and 21C, the surface of the photosensitive drum 22 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 34 and exposed to light by the LED head Hd, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 22.

[0038] In addition, the toner supplied from each toner cartridge Ct into the unit main body 33 is charged as the supply roller 38 rotates and is then supplied to the developing roller 36, where it is formed into a thin layer by the developing blade 39 and electrostatically attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 22 to form a toner image of each color.

[0039] Then, in the transfer unit u1, as a predetermined transfer voltage is applied to each transfer roller 27, the toner images of each color formed on each photosensitive drum 22 are transferred onto the label paper in succession by electrostatic force, forming a color toner image on the label paper.

[0040] The label paper is then sent to the fixing unit 30, where the color toner image is heated by the heating roller 31 and fixed to the label paper by pressure roller 32, forming a color image on the label paper. The label paper is discharged from the fixing unit 30 by a pair of discharge rollers m4 and out of the device main body Bd through the discharge port h2.

[0041] Next, a printing system for printing on label paper will be described.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a host computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] 3, Sy is a printing system, 10 is a printer, PC is a host computer that serves as an information processing device and as a higher-level device of the printer 10, and Nt is a network that connects the printer 10 and the host computer PC. In this embodiment, the network Nt is a wireless or wired LAN (Local Area Network).

[0044] Next, the control device of the printer 10 will be described.

[0045] 1, reference numeral 10 denotes the printer, 50 denotes a control unit, 51 denotes a communication unit that connects printer 10 to a host computer PC via network Nt and receives print data and the like from the host computer PC and sends printer 10 status information to the host computer PC, 53 denotes a read-only memory (ROM) as a first storage unit, 54 denotes a random access memory (RAM) as a second storage unit, 56 denotes an operation panel as an operation and display unit, s1 denotes a write sensor, s2 denotes an ejection sensor, ms1 denotes a mark sensor that detects marks formed on the back side of label paper and holes formed by penetrating the label paper, and ms2 denotes a mark sensor that detects marks, holes, and the like formed on the front side of label paper. Both mark sensors ms1 and ms2 are composed of transmissive or reflective optical sensors and include a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit.

[0046] Furthermore, Hd is an LED head, M1 is a conveying motor as a conveying drive unit that rotates the conveying roller pairs m1 to m3, the discharge roller pair m4, etc., M2 is a drive motor as an image formation drive unit that rotates the photosensitive drum 22 and rotates the charging roller 34, the developing roller 36, the supply roller 38, etc. in conjunction with each other, M3 is a transfer motor as a transfer drive unit that rotates the drive roller R1 and runs the belt 26, thereby rotating the driven roller R2 in conjunction with it, and Cu is a cutter unit.

[0047] The control unit 50 includes a CPU, input / output ports, a timer, etc. as a calculation device (not shown), and controls the entire printer 10, and performs various processes based on programs (software), control data, etc. recorded in ROM 53.

[0048] In addition to the programs, the ROM 53 stores setting values, thresholds, etc. required for the control unit 50 to perform the various processes. It also stores paper information consisting of each size of label paper, and in this embodiment, each value of the label paper information.

[0049] In this embodiment, a rewritable flash ROM or the like is used as the ROM 53.

[0050] The RAM 54 stores bitmap data generated by editing and expanding the print data as expanded data, as well as temporarily stores various information generated as the program is executed. The RAM 54 also functions as a work area when the CPU performs calculations.

[0051] The operation panel 56 includes an operation unit 58 consisting of switches, keys, etc., through which the operator inputs instructions to the printer 10, and a display unit 59 consisting of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) screen, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., for displaying the status of the printer 10. By operating the operation unit 58, the operator of the printer 10 can display various screens on the display unit 59 and select or change setting items displayed on the display unit 59. To this end, the display unit 59 displays various information, messages, etc. on the LED screen or LCD depending on the status of the printer 10. Note that if the operation panel 56 is formed of a touch panel, the display unit 59 also functions as an operation unit.

[0052] The control unit 50 includes a setting management unit Pr1, an image processing unit Pr2, a print processing unit Pr3, a transport processing unit Pr4, a sensor reading control unit Pr5, a cut processing unit Pr6, a notification processing unit Pr7, and the like.

[0053] The setting management unit Pr1 performs setting management processing and manages the settings of the printer 10.

[0054] The image processing unit Pr2 performs image processing, and when it receives print data from the host computer PC, it converts and edits the command information of the print data so that it can be printed by the print processing unit Pr3, expands the print data, and sends the expanded data to the print processing unit Pr3. In addition, if the print data includes setting information for a cut type, which will be described later, the image processing unit Pr2 also sends the setting information for the cut type to the print processing unit Pr3.

[0055] The print processing unit Pr3 performs printing processing, reads decompressed data from RAM 54, sends it to the LED head Hd, drives the LED head Hd, and operates a printer engine (not shown) within the device main body Bd, prints on label paper cut by the cutting unit Cu, and forms an image on each label on the label paper.

[0056] The transport processing unit Pr4 performs transport processing, drives the transport motor M1, and transports the label paper on the paper transport path Rt.

[0057] The sensor reading control unit Pr5 performs sensor reading control processing, reading the sensor output of the write sensor s1 to detect the presence or absence of label paper, and reading the sensor output of the mark sensors ms1 and ms2 to compare the sensor output with various threshold values ​​to detect information about the label paper on the paper transport path Rt, or in this embodiment, the label on the label paper backing.

[0058] The cutting processing section Pr6 performs cutting processing, and cuts the label paper using a cutting unit Cu based on the detection results of the mark sensors ms1 and ms2, or each time the label paper has been conveyed a predetermined distance.

[0059] The notification processing unit Pr7 performs notification processing, forms various screens on the display unit 59, and displays messages on the screen.

[0060] Next, the control device of the host computer PC will be described.

[0061] 4, PC is a host computer, 61 is a communication unit that connects the host computer PC to the printer 10 via the network Nt and receives status information from the printer 10 and sends print data to the printer 10, 62 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that is made up of a microprocessor or the like and controls all the devices connected via the system bus Bs, controls the host computer PC as a whole, and performs various processes based on programs (software), control data, etc. recorded in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 65 that serves as a second storage unit in the host computer PC, as will be described later, and 63 is an operation / display unit. The operation / display unit 63 has an operation unit 71 that allows an operator to input instructions to the host computer PC, and a display unit 72 that is made up of a CRT screen or the like for displaying the status of the host computer PC.

[0062] Also, 64 is a RAM as a first storage unit in the host computer PC, and 65 is the HDD.

[0063] Various data are temporarily read from and written into the RAM 64 .

[0064] In addition to the programs, the HDD 65 also stores setting values, threshold values, etc. required for the CPU 62 to perform the various processes.

[0065] Reference numeral 68 denotes a printer driver, which is a program that is installed in an OS (Operating System) recorded on the HDD 65 and controls the printer 10.

[0066] The printer driver 68 is made to function as a print data creation unit Pr11, a print setting management unit Pr12 as a setting management unit, a guide print data creation unit Pr13, and the like, which perform various processes in the CPU 62.

[0067] The print data creation unit Pr11 performs print data creation processing and creates print data using information input from an application running on the host computer PC.

[0068] The print setting management unit Pr12 performs print setting management processing as a setting management process, and manages setting information for the label paper to be fed.

[0069] In this embodiment, the reference for cutting label paper is set as the cut type; when cutting the label paper based on holes formed in the label paper, the cut type is set as hole; when cutting the label paper based on black marks formed on the back side of the label paper, the cut type is set as black mark (back); when cutting the label paper based on black marks formed on the front side of the label paper, the cut type is set as black mark (front); and when cutting the label paper based on having transported the label paper a certain distance, the cut type is set as length.

[0070] In other words, when the detailed setting screen of the printer driver 68 is displayed on the display unit 72, if the operator operates the operation unit 71 to change the cut type setting in accordance with a change in the label paper set in the feeder unit, the print setting management unit Pr12 acquires and manages the changed cut type setting as setting information for the label paper.

[0071] The guide print data creation unit Pr13 performs a guide print data creation process to create a guide for operating the printer 10 before printing on the label paper, and in this embodiment, creates guide print data in advance for positioning mark sensors ms1 and ms2 at positions where marks, holes, etc. are formed on the label paper.

[0072] When printing a guide, there is no need to print it in accordance with the label paper setting information, so the length is always set as the cut type.

[0073] The mark sensors ms1 and ms2 of the printer 10, the control unit 50, etc., and the printer driver 68 of the host computer PC, etc., constitute a paper feed control device.

[0074] Next, the operation of the printing system Sy will be described.

[0075] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the printing system in the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a guide printing execution confirmation screen in the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is a diagram showing a first example of the printed content of the guide in the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is a diagram showing a second example of the printed content of the guide in the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 9 is a diagram showing a third example of the printed content of the guide in the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the printed content of the guide in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] In this case, in the printer 10, a roll of label paper without marks, holes, etc. is set in the feeder unit, the cut type is set to length, and in the host computer PC, the print setting management unit Pr12 acquires and recognizes the setting information that the cut type is set to length.

[0077] When an operator operates the operation unit 71 of the operation / display unit 63 of the host computer PC to create a print details screen (not shown) on the display unit 72 for printing an application, and changes the cut type setting on the print details screen, the operation / display unit 63 sends a cut type change notification to the print setting management unit Pr12 (step S1).

[0078] When the print setting management unit Pr12 receives a cut type change notification from the operation / display unit 63 and acquires the cut type setting information, it forms the guide printing execution confirmation screen ds1 shown in Figure 6 on the display unit 72 (step S2), and displays a message mg1 on the guide printing execution confirmation screen ds1 prompting the operator to decide whether or not to print a guide, such as "The position of the mark sensor needs to be changed. Do you want to print a sensor position guide?", as well as a "Yes" button bt1 and a "No" button bt2.

[0079] When the operator presses the "Yes" button bt1, the operation / display unit 63 sends a request to print a guide to the print setting management unit Pr12, i.e., a guide printing request (step S3). At this time, the guide printing request also includes the setting information of the changed cut type. Then, when the print setting management unit Pr12 sends a guide printing execution request to the print data creation unit Pr11 (step S4), the print data creation unit Pr11 sends a request to create guide print data to the guide print data creation unit Pr13, i.e., a guide print data creation request (step S5). At this time, the guide print data creation request also includes setting information for the changed cut type.

[0080] When the guide printing data creation unit Pr13 receives the request to create guide printing data, it determines whether the changed cutting type is hole, black mark (back) or black mark (front), creates guide printing data according to the changed cutting type (step S6), and sends it to the printing data creation unit Pr11 (step S7).

[0081] Next, when the print data creation unit Pr11 receives the guide print data from the guide print data creation unit Pr13, it sends a request to send the guide print data to the printer 10 as print data, i.e., a print data transmission request, to the communication unit 61 (step S8), and the communication unit 61 sends the print data to the printer 10 (step S9).

[0082] When the printer 10 receives the print data, the communication unit 51 sends the print data to the image processing unit Pr2 (step S10), and the image processing unit Pr2 performs image processing (step S11), edits and expands the print data, and sends a print request together with the expanded data and the setting information for the cut type set to the length to the print processing unit Pr3 (step S12), requesting printing.

[0083] The print processing unit Pr3 performs the print processing (step S13), and before printing on the label paper, sends the expanded data to the LED head Hd (Figure 1), prints a guide on the label of the label paper, and guides the positions of the mark sensors ms1 and ms2 according to the cut type setting information.

[0084] The print processing unit Pr3 then requests the cutting processing unit Pr6 to cut the label paper based on the cut type setting (step S14). Therefore, the cutting processing unit Pr6 cuts the label paper when the label paper with the guide printed on the label has been conveyed a certain length. The guide printed on the label paper will differ depending on the changed cut type, as shown in Figures 7 to 10.

[0085] That is, when hole is set as the cut type, the label paper is cut based on the hole formed in the label paper, so as shown in FIG. 7, the character string Tt1 of "Cut type: Hole", which is the name of the guide, is printed at the top of the printing surface pr1, and an image Im1 is formed as a guide image in the center of the printing surface pr1 by facing the mark sensor ms1 below the hole h3 formed in the label paper P and the mark sensor ms2 above the hole h3, and the image Im1 is displayed below the printing surface pr1. Hole location A guide message gd1 is generated to guide the operator to the positions of the mark sensors ms1 and ms2, such as "Please move the upper and lower sensors to the position indicated by the arrows."

[0086] Furthermore, when the cut type is set to black mark (back), the label paper P is cut based on the black mark Bm formed on the back of the label paper P. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the character string Tt2 of the guide name "cut type: black mark (back)" is formed at the top edge of the print surface pr2, and an image Im2 is formed in the center of the print surface pr2 by facing the mark sensor ms1 to the black mark Bm formed on the right edge of the back of the label paper P and facing the mark sensor ms2 to the center of the front of the label paper P. The image Im2 is displayed at the bottom of the label, and the message "※Lower sensor Mark position of the media to be used *Please move the upper sensor away from the lower sensor.", etc., is generated to guide the operator to the positions of the mark sensors MS1 and MS2.

[0087] When the cut type is set to black mark (front), the label paper P is cut based on the black mark Bm formed on the front of the label paper P. As shown in FIG. 9, the character string Tt3 of the guide name "cut type: black mark (front)" is formed at the top of the print surface pr3, and an image Im3 is formed in the center of the print surface pr3 by facing the mark sensor ms1 to the center of the back of the label paper P and the mark sensor ms2 to the black mark Bm formed on the left edge of the front of the label paper P. The image Im3 is then displayed at the bottom of the label. Mark position of the media to be used *Please move the lower sensor away from the upper sensor.", etc., is generated to guide the operator to the positions of the mark sensors MS1 and MS2.

[0088] Furthermore, when length is set as the cut type, the label paper P is cut based on the fact that it has been transported a certain distance, and as shown in Figure 10, a character string Tt4 of "cut type: length", which is the name of the guide, is formed at the top edge of the printed surface pr4, and an image Im4 is formed in the centre of the printed surface pr4, with mark sensor ms1 facing the centre of the back side of the label paper P and mark sensor ms2 facing the left edge of the front side of the label paper P, and a guide message gd4 is formed below the label to guide the operator to the positions of mark sensors ms1 and ms2, such as "*Please move the lower sensor to the centre *Please move the upper sensor to the edge".

[0089] In the images Im1 to Im4, if it is not necessary for mark sensor ms1 to face hole h3 or mark Bm, mark sensor ms1 is drawn so that it is positioned in the center in the width direction of label paper P. In this embodiment, being positioned in the center means, for example, being located within 100±50 mm from the left edge of label paper P when the width of label paper P is 200 mm.

[0090] Therefore, when it becomes necessary to detect the hole h3 and the mark Bm, the distance over which the mark sensor ms1 is moved can be shortened, thereby improving the operability of the mark sensors ms1 and ms2.

[0091] Next, a sequence diagram will be described. Step S1: The operation / display unit 63 sends a cut type change notification to the print setting management unit Pr12. Step S2: The print setting management unit Pr12 displays a guide print execution confirmation screen ds1 on the display unit 72. In step S3, the operation / display unit 63 sends a guide printing execution request to the print setting management unit Pr12. In step S4, the print setting management unit Pr12 sends a guide print execution request to the print data creation unit Pr11. In step S5, the print data creation unit Pr11 sends a guide print data creation request to the guide print data creation unit Pr13. In step S6, the guide print data creating section Pr13 creates guide print data according to the changed cutting type. Step S7: The guide print data generator Pr13 sends the guide print data to the print data generator Pr11. Step S8: The print data creation unit Pr11 sends a print data transmission request to the communication unit 61. Step S9: The communication unit 61 sends the print data to the printer 10. In step S10, the communication unit 51 sends the print data to the image processing unit Pr2. In step S11, the image processing unit Pr2 performs image processing. In step S12, the image processing unit Pr2 sends a print request to the print processing unit Pr3. In step S13, the print processing unit Pr3 performs the print processing. In step S14, the print processing unit Pr3 requests the cutting processing unit Pr6 to cut the label paper P.

[0092] In this manner, in this embodiment, before printing begins, images Im1 to Im4 are formed that indicate the positions at which mark sensors ms1 and ms2 should be placed, according to the setting information for the label paper P. This not only lets the operator know that mark sensors ms1 and ms2 need to be moved, but also lets the operator know how to move them.

[0093] Therefore, the operator can easily operate the mark sensors ms1 and ms2 according to the label paper P that has been set.

[0094] In this embodiment, when the operator operates the operation unit 71 and changes the cutting type setting of the printer 10, the guide printing execution confirmation screen ds1 is displayed on the display unit 72. However, it is also possible to display the guide printing execution confirmation screen ds1 on the display unit 72 when the operator changes information about the label paper P to be set in the printer 10, for example, the width of the label paper P.

[0095] In addition, in this embodiment, when the operator changes the cutting type setting of the printer 10, a guide printing execution confirmation screen ds1 is displayed on the display unit 72, prompting the operator to decide whether or not to print the guide; however, the guide can also be printed without displaying the guide printing execution confirmation screen ds1 on the display unit 72.

[0096] In this embodiment, the operator changes the cut type setting by operating the operation unit 71 of the host computer PC, but the cut type setting can also be changed by operating the operation unit 58 of the printer 10.

[0097] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the guide print execution confirmation screen in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] In this case, when the setting management unit Pr1 of the printer 10 receives a cut type change notification from the operation panel 56, it forms a guide printing execution confirmation screen ds2 on the display unit 59, and displays a message mg2, such as "Guide Print?", prompting the operator to decide whether or not to print the guide, and the string k1 of "OK or CANCEL?" on the guide printing execution confirmation screen ds2.

[0099] When the operator presses the "OK" button, the operation and display unit 63 sends a request to print the guide to the print setting management unit Pr12, i.e., a request to print the guide, and the guide is printed based on the guide printing data previously recorded in ROM 53.

[0100] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which an operator operates an operation unit 71 of a host computer PC to set a pseudo mark Bmx (FIG. 14) as an identification index at a predetermined position on a display unit 72, and to place mark sensors ms1 and ms2 at the position of the pseudo mark Bmx. Components having the same structure as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the effects of the first embodiment are used to describe the effects of the invention resulting from having the same structure.

[0101] FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of a host computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0102] In this case, the printer driver 68 is made to function as a print data creation unit Pr11, a print setting management unit Pr22 as a setting management unit, a guide print data creation unit Pr23, and the like, which perform various processes in the CPU 62.

[0103] The print setting management unit 22 performs print setting management processing as a setting management process, and when a request to execute guide printing is notified from the operation / display unit 63, it forms a mark position setting screen ds3 (FIG. 14) described later on the display unit 72, and can form a pseudo mark Bmx that can be freely moved along the scroll bar Bsc displayed on the mark position setting screen ds3.

[0104] The guide print data creation unit Pr23 performs a guide print data creation process and creates guide print data based on the position of the pseudo mark Bmx set on the mark position setting screen ds3.

[0105] Next, the operation of the printing system Sy will be described.

[0106] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a printing system in the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a mark position setting screen in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the printed content of a guide in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0107] An operator operates the operation unit 71 of the operation and display unit 63 of the host computer PC, which is an information processing device and a higher-level device of the printer 10, which is an image forming device, to form a print details screen on the display unit 72 for printing an application.When the operator inputs the width of the label paper as the medium on the print details screen and changes the cut type setting, the operation and display unit 63 sends a cut type change notification to the print setting management unit Pr22 (step S21).

[0108] When the print setting management unit Pr22 receives a cut type change notification from the operation / display unit 63 and acquires the setting information for the label paper width and cut type, it forms the guide printing execution confirmation screen ds1 (Figure 6) on the display unit 72 (step S22), and displays a message mg1 on the guide printing execution confirmation screen ds1 prompting the operator to decide whether or not to print a guide, such as "The position of the mark sensor needs to be changed. Do you want to print a sensor position guide?", as well as a "Yes" button bt1 and a "No" button bt2.

[0109] When the operator presses the "Yes" button bt1, the operation / display unit 63 sends a guide printing execution request to the print setting management unit Pr22 (step S23). At this time, the guide printing execution request also includes setting information for the changed cut type.

[0110] When a guide printing execution request is sent from the operation / display unit 63, the print setting management unit Pr22 creates a mark position setting screen ds3 shown in FIG. 14 on the display unit 72 (step S24), and displays a message mg3 at the top of the mark position setting screen ds3, such as "Please set the position of the mark on the medium," to prompt the operator to set the position of the mark Bm formed on the actual label paper P on the mark position setting screen ds3. The mark position setting screen ds3 is opened by displaying, in the center of the mark position setting screen ds3, a scroll bar Bsc drawn to have the same length as the width of the label paper P in accordance with the information about the label paper P set in the printer 10, and an image Im5 as a guide image consisting of a cursor cas and pseudo marks Bmx drawn to be movable along the scroll bar Bsc. An "OK" button bt3 and a "Cancel" button bt4 are displayed at the bottom of the mark position setting screen ds3.

[0111] When the operator aligns the actual label paper P with the mark position setting screen ds3, operates the operation unit 71 to move the cursor cas, moves the pseudo mark Bmx to the position of the mark Bm formed on the label paper P as an identification indicator, and presses the "OK" button bt3, the operation and display unit 63 calculates the position of the pseudo mark Bmx, for example, a position a distance Lm away from the left edge of the label paper P, as mark position information.

[0112] When the operator presses the "OK" button bt3 again, the operation / display unit 63 sends a guide printing request to the print setting management unit Pr22, along with the mark position information and the width of the label paper set in the printer 10 (step S25). At this time, the guide printing request also includes the setting information for the changed cut type.

[0113] When the print setting management unit Pr22 sends a guide printing execution request to the print data creation unit Pr11 together with the mark position information and label paper width (step S26), the print data creation unit Pr11 sends a guide print data creation request to the guide print data creation unit Pr23 together with the mark position information and label paper width (step S27). At this time, the guide print data creation request also includes setting information for the changed cut type.

[0114] When the guide print data creation unit Pr23 receives a guide print data creation request from the print data creation unit Pr11 together with mark position information and the width of the label paper, if the setting of the changed cut type is other than length, it creates guide print data different from the previously created guide print data according to the mark position information (step S28) and sends it to the print data creation unit Pr11 (step S29).

[0115] That is, if the mark Bm on the actual label paper P is formed with its center positioned a distance Lm from the left edge of the label paper P, the guide print data is created so that the pseudo mark Bmx according to the cut type setting information is drawn with its center positioned a distance Lm from the left edge of the label paper P. Next, when the print data creation unit Pr11 receives the guide print data from the guide print data creation unit Pr23, it sends a print data transmission request to the communication unit 61 to send the guide print data to the printer 10 as print data (step S30), and the communication unit 61 sends the print data to the printer 10 (step S31).

[0116] When the printer 10 receives the print data, the communication unit 51 sends the print data to the image processing unit Pr2 (step S32), and the image processing unit Pr2 performs image processing (step S33), edits and expands the print data, and sends a print request together with the expanded data and setting information for the cut type set to the length to the print processing unit Pr3 (step S34), requesting printing.

[0117] The print processing unit Pr3 performs the print processing (step S35). Before printing on the label paper P, the print processing unit Pr3 sends the expanded data to the LED head Hd (Figure 1) as an exposure device, which prints a guide on the label of the label paper P and guides the positions of the mark sensors ms1 and ms2 as the first and second media detection units according to the cut type setting information.

[0118] The print processing unit Pr3 then requests the cutting processing unit Pr6 to cut the label paper P based on the length cut type setting (step S36). The cutting processing unit Pr6 cuts the label paper P when the label paper P with the guide printed on the label has been conveyed a certain length. The guide printed on the label paper P differs depending on the changed cut type. For example, if the cut type is set to black mark (front), it will look like the guide shown in FIG.

[0119] That is, when black mark (front) is set as the cut type in the print data, the label paper P is cut based on the black mark Bm formed on the front side of the label paper P, so the character string Tt5 of the guide name "cut type: black mark (front)" is formed at the top edge of the print surface pr5, and the mark sensor ms1 is positioned at the center of the back side of the label paper P, and the mark sensor ms2 is positioned at the center of the mark Bm formed at a distance Lm from the left edge of the front side of the label paper P, forming an image Im6 as a guide image, and the image is displayed at the bottom of the label. Mark position of the media to be used *Please move the lower sensor away from the upper sensor.", etc., is generated to guide the operator to the positions of the mark sensors MS1 and MS2.

[0120] Next, a sequence diagram will be described. In step S21, the operation / display unit 63 sends a cut type change notification to the print setting management unit Pr22. In step S22, the print setting management unit Pr22 displays a guide print execution confirmation screen ds1 on the display unit 72. In step S23, the operation / display unit 63 sends a guide printing execution request to the print setting management unit Pr22. In step S24, the print setting management section Pr22 displays the mark position setting screen ds3 on the display section 72. In step S25, the operation / display unit 63 sends a guide printing execution request to the print setting management unit Pr22. In step S26, the print setting management unit Pr22 sends a guide print execution request to the print data creation unit Pr11. In step S27, the print data creation unit Pr11 sends a guide print data creation request to the guide print data creation unit Pr23. In step S28, the guide print data creating section Pr23 creates guide print data that is different from the guide print data created in advance. In step S29, the guide print data creating unit Pr23 sends the guide print data to the print data creating unit Pr11. In step S30, the print data creation unit Pr11 sends a print data transmission request to the communication unit 61. In step S31, the communication section 61 sends the print data to the printer 10. In step S32, the communication unit 51 sends the print data to the image processing unit Pr2. In step S33, the image processing unit Pr2 performs image processing. In step S34, the image processing unit Pr2 sends a print request to the print processing unit Pr3. In step S35, the print processing unit Pr3 performs the print processing. In step S36, the print processing unit Pr3 requests the cutting processing unit Pr6 to cut the label paper P.

[0121] In this way, in this embodiment, a pseudo mark Bmx is formed on the guide image Im6 at the position of the mark Bm formed on the actual label paper P, so the operator can easily recognize the position to which the mark sensors ms1 and ms2 should be moved.

[0122] In the first and second embodiments, label paper P is set in printer 10, and mark sensors ms1 and ms2 are moved to the positions where marks Bm, holes h3, etc. are formed on label paper P. However, even if, for example, flexible continuous paper is set in printer 10 as the medium, mark sensors ms1 and ms2 can be moved to the positions where marks, holes, etc. are formed on the continuous paper in accordance with changes to the width of the continuous paper set in the feeder unit.

[0123] In this case, when the width of the continuous paper is changed, the print setting management units Pr12 and Pr22 acquire the setting information for the width of the continuous paper, and the guide print data creation units Pr13 and Pr23 create guide print data based on the setting information.

[0124] That is, for example, when the operator operates the operation unit 71 on the print setting screen of the printer driver 68 and sets the width of the continuous paper to 210.0 mm, the guide print data creation unit Pr13 creates guide print data so that mark Bm is formed on one edge of the printing surface pr3, for example the left edge, as shown in Figure 9, and sets the width of the continuous paper to 100.0 mm, and the guide print data creation unit Pr23 creates guide print data so that mark Bm is formed on one edge of the printing surface pr5, for example a predetermined distance toward the center from the left edge, as shown in Figure 15.

[0125] Instead of the operator operating the operation unit 71 to input the width of the continuous paper on the print setting screen of the printer driver 68, the width of the continuous paper can be detected by a sensor in the feeder unit.

[0126] Furthermore, even when cut paper is set as a medium in the printer 10, the mark sensors ms1 and ms2 can be moved to the positions where marks, holes, etc. are formed on the cut paper depending on the change in the orientation of the cut paper set in the feeder unit.

[0127] In this case, when the orientation of the cut paper is changed, the print setting management units Pr12 and Pr22 acquire the setting information of the cut paper orientation, and the guide print data creation units Pr13 and Pr23 create guide print data based on the setting information.

[0128] That is, for example, if the length of the cut paper is set to 210.0 mm and the width to 100.0 mm on the print setting screen of printer driver 68, when the operator operates operation unit 71 and sets the cut paper transport direction to horizontal feed, guide print data creation unit Pr13 creates guide print data so that mark Bm is formed on one edge of printing surface pr3, for example the left edge, as shown in Figure 9, sets the cut paper transport direction to vertical feed, and guide print data creation unit Pr23 creates guide print data so that mark Bm is formed on one edge of printing surface pr5, for example a predetermined distance toward the center from the left edge, as shown in Figure 15.

[0129] Instead of the operator operating the operation unit 71 to input the cut paper transport direction on the print setting screen of the printer driver 68, the feeder unit can detect the cut paper transport direction using a sensor.

[0130] In the above-described embodiments, the printer 10 has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimile machines, and multifunction machines.

[0131] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0132] 50 control section 68 Printer Driver Im1~Im5 Image ms1, ms2 mark sensors P Label paper Pr1 Settings management section Pr3 Print processing unit Sp paper feed section

Claims

1. (a) at least one medium detection unit disposed in the medium supply unit and configured to detect a medium being fed; (b) a setting management unit that acquires setting information for a medium to be fed; (c) a print processing unit that prints on a medium; (d) a print data control unit that creates first print data and transmits it to the print processing unit; (e) the print data control unit creates second print data including a guide image indicating a position on the medium where the medium detection unit is to be disposed in accordance with the setting information, and transmits the second print data to the print processing unit; (f) the print processing unit performs printing based on the second print data before performing printing based on the first print data; A paper feed control device characterized by:

2. The paper feed control device according to claim 1 , wherein the setting management unit acquires setting information associated with a change in the medium to be fed.

3. The paper feed control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the setting management unit acquires setting information associated with a change in width of the medium to be fed.

4. 4. The paper feed control device according to claim 1, wherein the setting management unit acquires setting information associated with a change in the orientation of the medium to be fed.

5. 5. The paper feed control device according to claim 1, wherein the medium detection unit is disposed at a position of an identification mark formed in advance at a predetermined location on the medium.

6. (a) the second print data includes a guide indicator that indicates a position at which the medium detection unit is to be disposed; 6. The paper feed control device according to claim 5, wherein (b) the position of the guide mark is substantially the same as the position of the identification mark in the width direction of the medium.

7. 7. The paper feed control device according to claim 5, wherein the medium detection portion that does not need to face the identification index is drawn in the guide image so as to be positioned in the center portion in the width direction of the medium.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising the paper feed control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A printing system comprising the image forming apparatus according to claim 8 and a host device.

10. In a printing system having a paper feed control device and a host device, (a) at least one medium detection unit disposed in the medium supply unit and configured to detect an identification mark of the medium being fed; (b) a setting management unit that acquires setting information for a medium to be fed; (c) a print processing unit that prints on the medium; (d) the host device has a display unit that displays a setting index that is moved according to the position of the identification index formed on the medium, (e) the setting indicator is movable within a predetermined area of ​​the display unit; (f) the length of the predetermined area in the width direction is approximately the same as the width of the medium to be fed; (g) the setting management unit acquires position information of the setting indicator in the predetermined area; (h) before printing, the print processing unit displays a guide image indicating a position to place the medium detection unit in accordance with the setting information and the position information; A printing system characterized by:

11. The printing system according to claim 10 , wherein the setting indicator is moved by a scroll operation.

Images