Image recording device

Abstract

To resolve a collision between a sheet and a processing unit that performs processing on the sheet in the time of initialization and prevent sheet jam.SOLUTION: A compound machine 10 comprises: a conveyance unit 30 which conveys a recording sheet 6 in the front-rear direction 8 along a conveyance path 21; a recording unit 17 which records an image on the recording sheet 6 conveyed by the conveyance unit 30; a cutting unit 80 which moves in the left-right direction 9 intersecting the front-rear direction 8 to cut the recording sheet 6 conveyed by the conveyance unit 30; and a control unit 100. The control unit 100 drives the conveyance unit 30 (S25) after performing a first movement operation (S22) of moving the cutting unit 80 to the outside of a sheet passage region of the conveyance path 21 with turn-on of power and reception of the user input as a trigger, and then performs a second movement operation (S31, S33) of moving the cutting unit 80 to the inside of the sheet passage region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having a mechanism for processing a sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] Printers having a sheet cutting mechanism are known as printers having a mechanism for processing sheets on which images are recorded. In printers having a sheet cutting mechanism, for example, a cutter carriage equipped with a cutter moves in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction to cut the sheet.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus that, when the power is turned on, determines whether to move the cutter unit to the home position depending on the position of the cutter unit detected by a cutter position detection means. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5862182 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Printers with a sheet cutting mechanism may move the cutter carriage back and forth from one end of its movement range to the other as part of the initialization process when the power is turned on. The reason for driving the transport unit is to eject any sheets remaining in the transport path. The reason for moving the cutter carriage back and forth is to check that no sheets or foreign objects remain within the cutter's movement range.

[0006] However, if the printer is turned off while the cutter carriage is cutting the sheet, the sheet being cut and the cutter carriage will stop in the conveyance path. Therefore, when the printer is turned on after that and the printer drives the conveyance unit during the initialization process, the sheet being cut, i.e., the sheet with the cutter of the cutter carriage in contact with it, will move, causing a problem of sheet jamming.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a means for eliminating collision between the processing unit that processes the sheet and the sheet during initialization, thereby preventing the sheet from jamming. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) The image recording device of the present invention comprises a conveying unit that conveys a sheet in a first direction along a conveying path, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, a processing unit that moves in a second direction intersecting the first direction and processes the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit, in response to a predetermined event, performs a first movement operation to move the processing unit outside the sheet passing area of ​​the conveying path, then drives the conveying unit, and then performs a second movement operation to move the processing unit into the sheet passing area.

[0009] According to the image recording device, during initialization, the processing section is moved out of the sheet passing area, and then the conveying section is driven to convey the sheet, thereby eliminating the collision and preventing the sheet from jamming even if the processing section and the sheet collide.

[0010] (2) Preferably, the control unit starts the first movement operation when power is turned on.

[0011] (3) Preferably, the control unit starts the first movement action in response to reception of a user input.

[0012] (4) Preferably, the control unit executes the first movement operation in response to determining, based on a signal related to the position of the sheet, that the sheet remains in the conveyance path.

[0013] (5) Preferably, the control unit executes an initialization process for the processing unit after starting the second moving operation.

[0014] (6) Preferably, the control unit executes an initialization process for the processing unit after starting the first moving operation.

[0015] (7) Preferably, in the initialization process, the control unit moves the processing unit to outside the sheet passage area and determines an origin position of the processing unit.

[0016] (8) Preferably, in the initialization process, the control unit supplies a drive current to the motor to move the processing unit toward the origin position for a predetermined time, and determines whether the processing unit needs to move back and forth within the sheet passage area based on the drive current during the predetermined time.

[0017] (9) Preferably, the control unit moves the processing unit at a first speed in the initialization process, and moves the processing unit at a second speed faster than the first speed in a processing operation for processing a sheet.

[0018] (10) Preferably, after the initialization process, the control unit stops the processing unit at a standby position closer to the sheet passage area than an origin position of the processing unit.

[0019] (11) Preferably, the processing unit has a cutter and a cutter carriage that carries the cutter and moves in the second direction.

[0020] (12) The image recording device of the present invention comprises a conveying unit that conveys a sheet in a first direction along a conveying path, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, a processing unit that moves in a second direction intersecting the first direction and processes the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes an initialization process for the processing unit when it detects an abnormality in the recording unit or the conveying unit.

[0021] According to the image recording device, when an abnormality in the recording unit or the transport unit is detected, initialization processing of the processing unit is executed, thereby making it possible to check whether there is a foreign object within the movement range of the processing unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the above configuration, collision between the sheet and the processing unit that processes the sheet can be eliminated during initialization, thereby preventing the sheet from jamming. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a multifunction peripheral 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the multifunction device 10. As shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the main components of the multifunction device 10. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the multifunction peripheral 10. As shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the disconnection process executed by the control unit 100. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the movement of the cutter carriage 82 when an abnormality is detected during the cutting process, where Figure 6(A) shows the movement of the cutter carriage 82 when an abnormality is detected while the cutter carriage 82 is moving to the return position, and Figure 6(B) shows the movement of the cutter carriage 82 when an abnormality is detected while the cutter carriage 82 is moving to the standby position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the initialization process executed by the control unit 100. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the process executed by the control unit 100 when a jam is detected. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a diagram for explaining abnormality detection based on the speed difference integral value, where Figure 9(A) shows an example of the actual movement speed and profile speed of the cutter carriage 82, and Figure 9(B) shows an example of the speed difference integral value. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The following describes a multifunction peripheral 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment described below is merely one example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the following description, the direction of travel from the start point of an arrow to the end point is expressed as a "direction," and the direction of travel on the line connecting the start point and end point of an arrow is expressed as a "direction." Furthermore, the up-down direction 7 is defined based on the state in which the multifunction peripheral 10 is installed and ready for use (the state shown in FIG. 1 ), the front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface in which the opening 13 is provided as the front, and the left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction peripheral 10 is viewed from the front. The up-down direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 are perpendicular to one another.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction device 10 (an example of an image recording device) includes a printer unit 11 and a scanner unit 12. The printer unit 11 is located at the bottom of the multifunction device 10, and the scanner unit 12 is located at the top of the multifunction device 10. The multifunction device 10 has a print function, a scan function, a copy function, a facsimile function, etc. The multifunction device 10 can be used independently or connected to an information device (not shown) such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet terminal.

[0026] The scan function is a function of transferring image data of an original document read by the scanner unit 12 to a computer or the like connected to the multifunction peripheral 10 by wire or wirelessly. The scan function also includes a function of transferring and storing the read image data in an external storage medium such as a memory card or USB memory. The copy function is a function of recording an image on recording paper 6 by the printer unit 11 based on the image data of the original document read by the scanner unit 12. The facsimile function includes a function of transmitting the image data read by the scanner unit 12 by facsimile via a telephone line or the like, and a function of recording received facsimile data on recording paper 6 by the printer unit 11. The printer unit 11 and the scanner unit 12 are controlled by the control unit 100 (see FIG. 4).

[0027] An operation unit 19 and a display unit 22 are located at the upper front surface of the multifunction device 10. The operation unit 19 has a plurality of operation keys and receives instructions input by the user using the operation keys. The display unit 22 displays various information about the multifunction device 10 on a screen. The display unit 22 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.

[0028] [Printer section 11] The configuration of the printer unit 11 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In Figure 2, the illustration of the paper feed cassette 14 is omitted for the sake of simplicity.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, printer unit 11 is located inside housing 20. Inside housing 20, paper feed cassettes 14 and 15, recording unit 17, cutting unit 80, and other components are arranged. An opening 13 is formed below operation unit 19 on the front surface of housing 20. Opening 13 is located approximately in the center in left-right direction 9 on the front surface of housing 20. Opening 13 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in left-right direction 9.

[0030] An access cover 16 is attached to the front of the housing 20 to the right of the opening 13. When the access cover 16 is opened, the cartridge installation space is exposed, and an ink cartridge 40 that stores ink can be installed or removed from the housing 20. The ink cartridge 40 supplies ink to the recording head 37 of the recording unit 17 through a tube 44.

[0031] The paper feed cassettes 14, 15 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 20 in the front-to-rear direction 8. When the paper feed cassette 14 is attached to the housing 20, it is located below the paper feed cassette 15. The paper feed cassettes 14, 15 store a plurality of recording papers 6 (an example of sheets) in a stacked state. A paper output tray 18 is located above the paper feed cassette 15. The paper output tray 18 supports the recording papers 6 discharged from the conveying path 21. Note that although the multifunction device 10 according to this embodiment has two paper feed cassettes 14, 15, the paper feed cassette 14 may be omitted.

[0032] 2, a conveying unit 30 is disposed inside the housing 20. The conveying unit 30 has a feed roller 32, a pair of PF rollers 25, a first pair of discharge rollers 27, and a second pair of discharge rollers 28. The conveying unit 30 conveys the recording paper 6 from the paper feed cassette 15 to the paper discharge tray 18 along a conveying path 21. The conveying path 21 is a so-called U-turn path that curves upward and forward from the paper feed cassette 15, makes a U-turn, and then extends linearly forward toward the paper discharge tray 18.

[0033] The feed roller 32 is located above the paper feed cassette 15. The feed roller 32 is mounted on the tip of an arm 33 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction 9. The base end of the arm 33 is rotatable around an axis 34. When the feed roller 32 rotates, the uppermost recording paper 6 of the multiple recording papers 6 stored in the paper feed cassette 15 is sent out to the conveying path 21.

[0034] The PF roller pair 25 is located near the downstream end of the curved portion of the conveying path 21 in the conveying direction. The PF roller pair 25 is rotatable about its axis in the left-right direction 9. The PF roller pair 25 rotates when the drive of the conveying motor 112 (see FIG. 4) is transmitted to it. The recording paper 6 is sandwiched between the PF roller pair 25 and conveyed below the recording head 37.

[0035] The first discharge roller pair 27 and the second discharge roller pair 28 are located downstream of the recording head 37 in the conveying direction on the conveying path 21. The first discharge roller pair 27 is located upstream of the second discharge roller pair 28 in the conveying direction. The first discharge roller pair 27 and the second discharge roller pair 28 are rotated by the drive of a conveying motor 112 (see FIG. 4). The recording paper 6 conveyed by the PF roller pair 25 is sandwiched between the first discharge roller pair 27 and the second discharge roller pair 28 and conveyed to the paper output tray 18.

[0036] 2, the recording unit 17 is located on the conveying path 21 between the PF roller pair 25 and the first discharge roller pair 27. The recording unit 17 has a carriage 35 located above the conveying path 21 and a recording head 37 mounted on the carriage 35. A platen 36 is located below the recording unit 17. The recording unit 17 records an image on the recording paper 6 conveyed by the conveying unit 30.

[0037] 2 and 3 is of a so-called inkjet type, in which cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are supplied from ink cartridges 40 through tubes 44 and ejected as tiny ink droplets. Ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 37 while the carriage 35 moves back and forth in the left-right direction 9. This causes an image to be recorded on the recording paper 6 transported on the platen 36 in the front-rear direction 8 (an example of a first direction).

[0038] As shown in Fig. 3, two guide frames 61, 62 extending in the left-right direction 9 are provided inside the housing 20. The guide frames 61, 62 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction 8. The carriage 35 is placed on the guide frames 61, 62 so as to straddle the guide frames 61, 62 and be movable in the left-right direction 9.

[0039] A belt drive mechanism 46 is disposed on the upper surface of the guide frame 62. The belt drive mechanism 46 has a configuration in which an endless, circular belt 49 with teeth on the inside is stretched between a first pulley 47 and a second pulley 48, which are disposed near both ends of the conveying path 21 in the left-right direction 9. The first pulley 47 and the second pulley 48 are disposed at both ends of the area in which the carriage 35 reciprocates. A driving force is input to the shaft of the first pulley 47 from a CR motor 113 (see FIG. 4), which serves as a drive source, to rotate the first pulley 47. The rotation of the first pulley 47 causes the belt 49 to rotate, and the second pulley 48 is driven by this rotation. Note that the belt 49 may be an endless, circular belt, or may be a belt with ends whose both ends are fixed to the carriage 35.

[0040] The carriage 35 is fixed to the belt 49. Although the connection portion between the carriage 35 and the belt 49 is not shown in detail in the drawings, the belt 49 is pulled slightly upward while connected to the carriage 35. This generates tension in the belt 49 that causes it to elastically return downward, and this tension elastically urges the carriage 35 toward the guide frames 61 and 62. As described above, when the belt 49 makes a circumferential movement, the carriage 35 moves back and forth on the guide frames 61 and 62. The recording head 37 is mounted on such a carriage 35, so that the recording head 37 can move in the left-right direction 9.

[0041] [Cutting section 80] 2 and 3, the cutting unit 80 is located above the conveying path 21 in front of the recording unit 17. When stopped, the cutting unit 80 is located to the left of the sheet passing area A1. The sheet passing area A1 is an area through which the recording paper 6 conveyed by the conveying unit 30 passes.

[0042] The cutting unit 80 moves in the left-right direction 9 (an example of a second direction) and cuts the recording paper 6 conveyed by the conveying unit 30 from left to right. The cutting unit 80 moves rightward from a standby position (the position of the cutting unit 80 shown in FIG. 3) to the left of the sheet passing area A1 to cut the recording paper 6. The cutting unit 80 has a cutter carriage 82 and a cutter 83 mounted on the cutter carriage 82. The cutter carriage 82 is supported by guide rails 98 that extend along the left-right direction 9 and are fixed to side frames 96 and 97, and moves in the left-right direction 9 while being guided by the guide rails 98. The cutting unit 80 is an example of a processing unit.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the cutter carriage 82 has a cutter holding portion 84 that holds the cutter 83, and a connecting portion 85 that is connected to the guide rail 98. The cutter holding portion 84 is located between the first discharge roller pair 27 and the second discharge roller pair 28. The cutter 83 is supported by the cutter holding portion 84 in a state where it protrudes downward from the lower end of the cutter holding portion 84. The cutter 83 has a disk shape, and is supported by the cutter holding portion 84 so as to be rotatable with its axis directed in the front-rear direction 8. The connecting portion 85 extends forward from the cutter holding portion 84 and is connected to the guide rail 98.

[0044] The cutter carriage 82 is driven by a drive mechanism 91. As shown in FIG. 3, the drive mechanism 91 has a drive pulley 92 and a driven pulley 93 arranged on the upper surface of the substrate 90, and an endless belt 94 wound around the drive pulley 92 and the driven pulley 93. The drive pulley 92 and the driven pulley 93 are arranged at both ends of the upper surface of the substrate 90 in the left-right direction 9. The drive pulley 92 and the driven pulley 93 rotate around an axis along the up-down direction 7. A driving force of a cutting motor 114 (see FIG. 4) is transmitted to the drive pulley 92. The endless belt 94 is connected to the cutter carriage 82. When the drive pulley 92 rotates, the driven pulley 93 is driven, and the endless belt 94 moves in a circular motion. The circular motion of the endless belt 94 moves the cutter carriage 82 in the left-right direction 9 along the guide rail 98.

[0045] A left wall 71 and a right wall 72 are provided on the upper surface of the base plate 90 to define the movement range of the cutter carriage 82 in the left-right direction 9. When the cutter carriage 82 moving leftward abuts against the left wall 71, it cannot move further left from that position. When the cutter carriage 82 moving rightward abuts against the right wall 72, it cannot move further right from that position. The cutter carriage 82 moves in the left-right direction 9 within the movement range defined by the left wall 71 and the right wall 72. Hereinafter, the movement range of the cutter carriage 82 will be referred to as the "cutter carriage movement range."

[0046] A fixed blade 95 is located below the cutter holding portion 84 of the cutter carriage 82. The fixed blade 95 is supported by side frames 96 and 97 and extends in the left-right direction 9 across the sheet passing area A1. The cutting edge of the fixed blade 95 abuts against the cutter 83 from behind. The recording paper 6 is cut by being sandwiched between the cutter 83 and the fixed blade 95.

[0047] [Configuration of the control unit 100 and peripheral parts] 4, the configuration of the control unit 100 and its peripherals of the multifunction peripheral 10 will be described. The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, and an EEPROM 104. The control unit 100 is connected to an ASIC 106 via a bus 105.

[0048] The ROM 102 stores programs and the like for controlling various operations of the multifunction device 10. The EEPROM 104 stores various data used when the above programs are executed. The RAM 103 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording various data used when the CPU 101 executes the above programs, and as an area for expanding data and programs. When the power to the multifunction device 10 is turned on, the programs stored in the ROM 102 are copied and transferred to the RAM 103. The CPU 101 executes the programs stored in the RAM 103. This allows the control unit 100 to perform various controls.

[0049] The ASIC 106 is connected to an operation unit 19 and a display unit 22. The operation unit 19 detects when an operation key is pressed and outputs a signal corresponding to the pressed operation key. The control unit 100 identifies the pressed operation key based on the signal output from the operation unit 19. The display unit 22 displays information related to the operation of the printer unit 11 or the scanner unit 12 on a screen based on instructions from the control unit 100.

[0050] A feeding motor 111, a conveying motor 112, a CR motor 113, and a cutting motor 114 are connected to the ASIC 106. Drive circuits for controlling these motors are incorporated in the ASIC 106. The control unit 100 outputs drive signals for rotating each motor to the drive circuits corresponding to the motors. The drive circuits output drive currents to the corresponding motors in response to the drive signals output from the control unit 100. This causes the corresponding motors to rotate. The control unit 100 controls the feeding motor 111 to rotate the feed roller 32 and feed the recording paper 6 to the conveying path 21. The control unit 100 controls the conveying motor 112 to rotate the roller pairs 25, 27, and 38 and cause the conveying unit 30 to convey the recording paper 6. The control unit 100 controls the CR motor 113 to rotate the first pulley 47 and move the carriage 35. The control unit 100 controls the cutting motor 114 to rotate the drive pulley 92 and move the cutter carriage 82. The cutting motor 114 is an example of a motor.

[0051] A recording head 37 is connected to the ASIC 106. The control unit 100 outputs a signal corresponding to image data to the recording head 37 via the ASIC 106. The recording head 37 ejects ink from a plurality of nozzles provided in the recording head 37 in response to the signal output from the control unit 100.

[0052] An image sensor 51 that reads an image of an original document in the scanner unit 12 is connected to the ASIC 106. Based on instructions from the control unit 100, the ASIC 106 outputs to the image sensor 51 an electrical signal for irradiating light from the light source and a timing signal for outputting image data from the photoelectric conversion element. Upon receiving the signal output from the ASIC 106, the image sensor 51 irradiates light onto the original document at a predetermined timing and outputs image data converted by the photoelectric conversion element.

[0053] A registration sensor 52 is connected to the ASIC 106. One or more registration sensors 52 are provided at the ends of the sheet passage area A1. The registration sensor 52 outputs a first signal when it detects a recording sheet 6 in the sheet passage area A1 of the conveying path 21. The control unit 100 determines whether or not a recording sheet 6 remains in the conveying path 21 based on the output signal of the registration sensor 52.

[0054] A first encoder 53 for detecting the operating status of the conveying unit 30 is connected to the ASIC 106. The first encoder 53 is provided, for example, coaxially with one of the rollers included in the first discharge roller pair 27 and rotatable together with the roller. The first encoder 53 alternately outputs high-level and low-level signals as the roller rotates. The control unit 100 detects the amount of rotation of the roller based on the output signal of the first encoder 53 and obtains the operating status of the conveying unit 30 based on the detected amount of rotation.

[0055] A second encoder 54 for detecting the position of the carriage 35 is connected to the ASIC 106. The second encoder 54 is provided, for example, coaxially with the first pulley 47 and rotatable together with the first pulley 47. The second encoder 54 alternately outputs high-level signals and low-level signals as the first pulley 47 rotates. The control unit 100 detects the amount of rotation of the first pulley 47 based on the output signal of the second encoder 54, and obtains the position of the carriage 35 based on the detected amount of rotation.

[0056] A third encoder 55 for detecting the position of the cutting unit 80 is connected to the ASIC 106. The third encoder 55 is provided, for example, coaxially with the drive pulley 92 and rotatable together with the drive pulley 92. The third encoder 55 alternately outputs high-level signals and low-level signals as the drive pulley 92 rotates. The control unit 100 detects the amount of rotation of the drive pulley 92 based on the output signal of the third encoder 55, and detects the position of the cutter carriage 82 based on the detected amount of rotation.

[0057] [Processing by control unit 100] The following describes a case where the control unit 100 performs the cutting process after performing the image recording process. The image recording process is a process in which the recording unit 17 records an image on the recording paper 6. The cutting process is a process in which the cutting unit 80 cuts the recording paper 6 on which the image has been recorded by the recording unit 17. The recording paper 6 on which the image has been recorded is cut, for example, in the center of the conveyance direction of the recording paper 6 (front-rear direction 8) in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction (left-right direction 9).

[0058] The control unit 100 drives the feed motor 111 to rotate the feed roller 32. As a result, the uppermost recording paper 6 stored in the paper feed cassette 15 is sent out to the conveying path 21. The control unit 100 drives the conveying motor 112 to rotate the PF roller pair 25. As a result, the recording paper 6 sent out from the paper feed cassette 15 to the conveying path 21 is conveyed below the recording head 37 by the PF roller pair 25 and is supported from below by the platen 36.

[0059] While the transport of the recording paper 6 is stopped, the control unit 100 drives the CR motor 113 to move the carriage 35 in the left-right direction 9. At this time, ink is ejected from the recording head 37 toward the recording paper 6. As a result, an image for one pass is recorded on the recording paper 6. The recording paper 6 is repeatedly transported and stopped, and a predetermined number of passes of images are recorded, thereby completing the recording of the image on the recording paper 6. When recording an image, the control unit 100 drives the transport motor 112 to rotate the first discharge roller pair 27. As a result, the recording paper 6 that has passed the platen 36 is transported below the cutting unit 80.

[0060] When the center of the recording paper 6 in the transport direction is transported below the cutting unit 80, the control unit 100 drives the cutting motor 114 to rotate the drive pulley 92. This causes the cutter carriage 82 to move rightward from the standby position along the guide rail 98. The recording paper 6 is sandwiched between the cutter 83 and the fixed blade 95 at the center position in the transport direction and cut in the left-right direction 9, cutting the recording paper 6 into two sheets. The two cut sheets of recording paper 6 are discharged from the transport path 21 to the paper output tray 18 by the second discharge roller pair 28.

[0061] [Disconnection process] The cutting process executed by the control unit 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5. Hereinafter, the left end of the cutter carriage movement range will be referred to as the origin, and the right end as the return position. A standby position for the cutter carriage 82 is set between the origin and the left end of the sheet passing area A1. The control unit 100 starts the cutting process when the center of the recording paper 6 in the transport direction reaches the position 8 of the cutter 83 in the front-rear direction. Before the control unit 100 starts the cutting process, the cutter carriage 82 is located at the standby position. In FIGS. 5 and 7, the cutter carriage 82 is indicated as "CR."

[0062] 5, at the beginning of the cutting process, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82, which is located at the standby position, to the turning-back position to the right (S11). While the cutter carriage 82 moves to the right, the recording paper 6 is cut from left to right along the left-right direction 9 by the cutter 83 mounted on the cutter carriage 82.

[0063] Next, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82, which is located at the return position, leftward to the standby position (S12). S12 is a process for returning the cutter carriage 82 to the standby position in preparation for the next cutting process. After executing S11 and S12, the control unit 100 normally ends the cutting process.

[0064] If the control unit 100 detects an abnormality while executing S11 (S11: abnormality detected), the control unit 100 proceeds to S13. If the control unit 100 detects an abnormality while executing S12 (S12: abnormality detected), the control unit 100 proceeds to S16.

[0065] While the cutter carriage 82 is moving, the speed of the cutter carriage 82 becomes constant within a certain region (hereinafter referred to as the constant speed region). The EEPROM 104 stores a threshold value Vth related to the speed of the cutter carriage 82 and a threshold value Sth related to the integral value of the difference between the speed of the cutter carriage 82 and its expected value. The threshold value Vth is smaller than the speed of the cutter carriage 82 while it is moving within the constant speed region.

[0066] The control unit 100 proceeds to S13 when it determines, while executing S11, that the speed of the cutter carriage 82 has become less than the threshold value Vth within the constant speed region. The control unit 100 also proceeds to S13 when it determines that the integral value of the difference between the speed of the cutter carriage 82 and its expected value has become equal to or greater than the threshold value Sth. Alternatively, the control unit 100 proceeds to S13 when it determines that the movement speed of the cutter carriage 82 has become less than the threshold value Vth within the constant speed region, or that the integral value has become equal to or greater than the threshold value Sth. While executing S12, the control unit 100 detects an abnormality in the same manner as while executing S11, and proceeds to S16 when an abnormality is detected.

[0067] In S13, the control unit 100 stops the cutter carriage 82. This stops the movement of the cutter carriage 82 to the folding back position and the cutting of the recording paper 6 by the cutter 83. Next, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 leftward to the standby position (S14). After executing S14, the control unit 100 proceeds to S19.

[0068] In S16, the control unit 100 stops the cutter carriage 82. This stops the movement of the cutter carriage 82 to the standby position. Next, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 rightward to the turning back position (S17). After executing S17, the control unit 100 proceeds to S19.

[0069] While executing S14, the control unit 100 detects an abnormality in the same manner as while executing S11, and proceeds to S15 in response to detecting an abnormality (S14: abnormality detected). In S15, the control unit 100 stops the cutter carriage 82. This stops the movement of the cutter carriage 82 to the standby position. After executing S15, the control unit 100 proceeds to S19.

[0070] While executing S17, the control unit 100 detects an abnormality in the same manner as while executing S11, and proceeds to S18 in response to detecting an abnormality (S17: abnormality detected). In S18, the control unit 100 stops the cutter carriage 82. This stops the movement of the cutter carriage 82 to the turning back position. After executing S18, the control unit 100 proceeds to S19.

[0071] If the control unit 100 detects an abnormality while the cutter carriage 82 is moving rightward from the standby position to the return position (S11: abnormality detected), it stops the cutter carriage 82 and moves the cutter carriage 82 leftward from that position to the standby position. In this case, the cutter carriage 82 moves as shown in FIG. 6(A).

[0072] If the control unit 100 detects an abnormality while the cutter carriage 82 is moving leftward from the turning back position to the standby position (S12: abnormality detected), it stops the cutter carriage 82 and moves the cutter carriage 82 rightward from that position to the turning back position. In this case, the cutter carriage 82 moves as shown in FIG. 6(B).

[0073] In S19, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 22 to display the fact that a jam has occurred. For example, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 22 to display a message indicating the occurrence of a jam or an error code corresponding to the occurrence of the jam. After executing S19, the control unit 100 abnormally ends the disconnection process.

[0074] The user of the multifunction device 10 recognizes that a jam has occurred by looking at the message or error code displayed on the display unit 22, and resolves the jam by, for example, removing the jammed recording paper 6. The user operates the operation unit 19 to input to the multifunction device 10 that the jam has been resolved. In this case, the control unit 100 executes the process for detecting a jam shown in FIG. 8.

[0075] In this way, the control unit 100 detects the occurrence of a jam when the cutter carriage 82 is reciprocated in steps S11 and S12. This notifies the user of the multifunction device 10 of the occurrence of a jam and urges the user to clear the jam. Therefore, after the user clears the jam, the multifunction device 10 can normally execute the cutting process.

[0076] [Initialization process] The initialization process of the disconnection unit 80 executed by the control unit 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The control unit 100 executes the initialization process shown in Fig. 7 when a predetermined event occurs. The control unit 100 executes the initialization process when the multifunction device 10 is powered on. The control unit 100 also executes the initialization process when a user input is received.

[0077] In Figure 7, the processes from S27 to S29 are referred to as simple initialization, and the processes from S31 to S39 are referred to as full initialization. As described in detail below, the control unit 100 performs full initialization when performing initialization after an error, and performs simple initialization when performing initialization not after an error. Furthermore, the control unit 100 stops simple initialization and performs full initialization in response to detecting an abnormality during execution of simple initialization. Before the control unit 100 starts the initialization process, the retry counts Na and Nb are set to zero.

[0078] The control unit 100 uses the count value stored in the EEPROM 104 to control the position of the cutter carriage 82. The control unit 100 sets the count value to a predetermined value when the cutter carriage 82 is stopped. When the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to the right, it counts up the count value based on the output signal of the third encoder 55. When the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to the left, it counts down the count value based on the output signal of the third encoder 55.

[0079] The position of the cutter carriage 82 is expressed by the count value. For example, a position where the count value is 10,000 is referred to as the "10,000 position." In the following explanation, as an example, the origin of the cutter carriage 82 is the "1000 position," the turning position of the cutter carriage 82 is the "30,000 position," and the standby position of the cutter carriage 82 is the "1200 position."

[0080] In the initialization process, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 at a slower speed than in the cutting process. In other words, in the initialization process, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 at a first speed, and in the cutting process, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 at a speed faster than the first speed.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 7, at the beginning of the initialization process, the control unit 100 determines whether any recording paper 6 remains in the conveying path 21 (S21). In S21, the control unit 100 determines that any recording paper 6 remains in response to the register sensor 52 outputting the first signal. The control unit 100 also determines that any recording paper 6 remains in response to the determination that the ejection of the recording paper 6 has not been completed based on the output signal of the first encoder 53. The control unit 100 also determines that any recording paper 6 remains in response to the determination that the carriage 35 is located in the conveying path 21 based on the output signal of the second encoder 54. If the control unit 100 determines that any recording paper 6 remains (S21: Yes), the control unit 100 proceeds to S22. If the control unit 100 determines that any recording paper 6 does not remain (S21: No), the control unit 100 proceeds to S26 without executing S22 to S25.

[0082] The output signal of the register sensor 52, the output signal of the first encoder 53, and the output signal of the second encoder 54 are examples of signals related to the position of the sheet. In S21, the control unit 100 determines whether the recording paper 6 remains in the conveying path 21 based on such signals related to the position of the sheet.

[0083] In S22, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 leftward by a large distance. In S22, the control unit 100 sets the current position of the cutter carriage 82 to "position 50000," and moves the cutter carriage 82 leftward to "position 1000." The position difference of 49000 at this time is longer than the length of the cutter carriage movement range. Therefore, in S22, the cutter carriage 82 moves leftward until it abuts against the left wall 71, and stops at the position where it abuts against the left wall 71.

[0084] Next, the control unit 100 sets the origin of the cutter carriage 82 (S23). In S23, the control unit 100 sets the position where the drive current of the cutting motor 114 increases to a predetermined current limit value during execution of S22 as the origin, and sets that position as the "position 1000."

[0085] Next, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to the standby position (S24). In S24, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to the "position 1200".

[0086] Next, the control unit 100 drives the conveying unit 30 to eject the recording paper 6 remaining in the conveying path 21 (S25). In S25, the control unit 100 drives the conveying motor 112 for a predetermined time to cause the conveying unit 30 to convey the recording paper 6. After executing S25, the control unit 100 proceeds to S26.

[0087] In S26, the control unit 100 determines whether the initialization process currently being executed is initialization process after an error. If in S26 the initialization process currently being executed is executed after a jam caused by the carriage 35 or the cutter carriage 82, the control unit 100 determines that it is initialization process after an error. If the control unit 100 determines that it is not initialization process after an error (S26: No), it proceeds to S27 and executes simple initialization (S27 to S29). If the control unit 100 determines that it is initialization process after an error (S26: Yes), it proceeds to S31 and executes full initialization (S31 to S39).

[0088] At the beginning of the simple initialization, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 a small distance to the left (S27). In S27, the control unit 100 sets the current position of the cutter carriage 82 to "position 1000" and moves the cutter carriage 82 to "position 300". After executing S27, the control unit 100 proceeds to S28. While executing S27, the control unit 100 detects an abnormality in the same manner as while executing S11, and in response to the detection of the abnormality (S27: abnormality detected), stops execution of S27 and proceeds to S31.

[0089] In S28, the control unit 100 sets the origin of the cutter carriage 82. In S28, the control unit 100 sets the position where the drive current of the cutting motor 114 increases to the current limit value during execution of S27 as the origin, and sets that position as the "position 1000."

[0090] Next, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to the standby position (S29). In S29, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to "position 1200". After executing S29, the control unit 100 proceeds to S41.

[0091] In S31, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 a large distance to the right. In S31, the control unit 100 sets the current position to "position 1000" and moves the cutter carriage 82 to "position 50000." The position difference of 49000 at this time is longer than the length of the cutter carriage movement range. Therefore, in S31, the cutter carriage 82 moves to the right until it abuts against the right wall 72, and stops at the position where it abuts against the right wall 72.

[0092] Next, the control unit 100 sets the return position of the cutter carriage 82 (S32). In S32, the control unit 100 sets the position where the drive current of the cutting motor 114 increases to the current limit value during execution of S31 as the "position of 30000."

[0093] Next, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 leftward by a large amount (S33). In S33, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to "position 500." The position difference of 29,500 at this time is longer than the length of the cutter carriage movement range. Therefore, in S33, the cutter carriage 82 moves leftward until it abuts against the left wall 71, and stops at the position where it abuts against the left wall 71.

[0094] Next, the control unit 100 acquires the current position of the cutter carriage 82 (S34). In S34, the control unit 100 acquires the count value of the position where the drive current of the cutting motor 114 has increased to the current limit value during execution of S33.

[0095] Next, the control unit 100 determines whether the cutter carriage 82 is located near the origin (S35). In S35, if the count value acquired in S34 is within the range of 1000±50, the control unit 100 determines that the cutter carriage 82 is located near the origin. If the control unit 100 determines that the cutter carriage 82 is located near the origin (S35: Yes), the control unit 100 proceeds to S36. If the control unit 100 determines that the cutter carriage 82 is not located near the origin (S35: No), the control unit 100 proceeds to S38.

[0096] In S36, the control unit 100 determines whether the number of retries Na is three or less. If the control unit 100 determines that the number of retries Na is three or less (S36: Yes), the control unit 100 proceeds to S37. In S37, the control unit 100 adds one to the number of retries Na. After executing S37, the control unit 100 proceeds to S31. If the control unit 100 determines that the number of retries Na is more than three in S36 (S36: No), the control unit 100 abnormally terminates.

[0097] In S38, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 a small distance to the left and sets the origin. In S38, the control unit 100 sets the current position of the cutter carriage 82 to "position 1000" and moves the cutter carriage 82 to "position 300" to the left. Furthermore, the control unit 100 sets the position where the drive current of the cutting motor 114 increases to the current limit value while S38 is being executed to "position 1000."

[0098] Next, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to the standby position (S39). In S38, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to "position 1200". After executing S37, the control unit 100 proceeds to S41.

[0099] If no abnormality has occurred in the multifunction device 10, the cutter carriage 82 will be stopped near the standby position when the control unit 100 executes S41. In S41, the control unit 100 determines whether the position of the cutter carriage 82 is near the standby position. For example, the control unit 100 determines that the position of the cutter carriage 82 is near the standby position when the count value is 1300 or less. When the control unit 100 determines that the position of the cutter carriage 82 is near the standby position (S41: Yes), it ends normally.

[0100] If the control unit 100 determines that the position of the cutter carriage 82 is not near the standby position (S41: No), it determines whether the number of retries Nb is 0 or less (S42). If the control unit 100 determines that the number of retries Nb is greater than 0 (S42: No), it abnormally terminates the process.

[0101] If the control unit 100 determines that the number of retries Nb is 0 or less (S42: Yes), the control unit 100 proceeds to S43. In S43, the control unit 100 adds 1 to the number of retries Nb. Next, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to the standby position (S44). In S44, the control unit 100 moves the cutter carriage 82 to the "position 1200". After executing S44, the control unit 100 proceeds to S41.

[0102] In this way, when the control unit 100 judges Yes in S21 and S26, it moves the cutter carriage 82 leftward outside the sheet passing area of ​​the conveying path 21 (S22), drives the conveying unit 30 to eject the recording paper 6 (S25), and then moves the cutter carriage 82 back and forth within the sheet passing area of ​​the conveying path 21 (S31, S33). S22 is an example of a first movement operation. S31 and S33 are examples of a second movement operation. S28 and S38 are examples of processing to determine the origin position of the processing unit.

[0103] After starting S22, the control unit 100 starts the initialization process of the cutting unit 80. Therefore, it can be said that the control unit 100 starts the initialization process of the cutting unit 80 after starting the first movement operation. Also, the control unit 100 starts the initialization process of the cutting unit 80 after starting S31. Therefore, it can also be said that the control unit 100 starts the initialization process of the cutting unit 80 after starting the second movement operation.

[0104] [Processing when jam is detected] The process executed by the control unit 100 when a jam is detected will be described with reference to Fig. 8. When the control unit 100 detects a jam in the conveying unit 30 or a jam in the carriage 35, the control unit 100 executes the process shown in Fig. 8.

[0105] At the beginning of the process when a jam is detected, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 22 to display the fact that a jam has occurred (S51), similar to S19 shown in Fig. 5. The user of the multifunction device 10 looks at the message or error code displayed on the display unit 22 and performs a process to resolve the jam (such as a process to remove the jammed recording paper 6).

[0106] Next, the control unit 100 determines whether the jam has been cleared (S52). In S52, the control unit 100 determines that the jam has been cleared, for example, in response to receiving an input from the user indicating that the jam has been cleared. The control unit 100 repeatedly executes S52 until it determines that the jam has been cleared (S52: No). In response to determining that the jam has been cleared (S52: Yes), the control unit 100 proceeds to S53.

[0107] In S53, the control unit 100 initializes the conveying unit 30. In S53, the control unit 100 drives the conveying motor 112 for a predetermined time. As a result, even if the recording paper 6 remains in the conveying path 21, the recording paper 6 is ejected to the outside of the conveying path 21.

[0108] Next, the control unit 100 initializes the recording unit 17 (S54). In S54, the control unit 100 drives the CR motor 113 for a predetermined time. As a result, the carriage 35 moves back and forth from the right end to the left end of the conveying path 21, and then stops at the standby position of the carriage 35.

[0109] Next, the control unit 100 executes a full initialization process for the cutting unit 80 (S55). In S55, the control unit 100 executes the processes from S31 onwards shown in Fig. 8. After executing S55, the control unit 100 ends the process when a jam is detected.

[0110] [Anomaly detection based on the integral value of the speed difference] 9, a method for detecting an abnormality in the movement of the cutter carriage 82 based on the integral value of the difference between the measured speed and the expected speed of the cutter carriage 82 (hereinafter referred to as the speed difference integral value) will be described. This method is performed in S11, S12, S14, and S17 shown in FIG.

[0111] The movement speed of the cutter carriage 82 when the cutter carriage 82 moves normally within the cutter carriage movement range (i.e., the expected value of the speed of the cutter carriage 82) is called the profile speed Velref(t). The profile speed Velref(t) is obtained before the multifunction peripheral 10 is completed and stored in the EEPROM 104.

[0112] The control unit 100 determines the actual movement speed Vel(t) when the cutter carriage 82 is moving (i.e., the measured value of the speed of the cutter carriage 82) based on the output of the third encoder 55. While the cutter carriage 82 is moving, the control unit 100 determines the speed difference integral value S by integrating the difference between the two speeds over a time interval dt based on the actual movement speed Vel(t) and the profile speed Velref(t) in accordance with equation (1) or equation (2). According to equation (1), the integral value of the absolute value of the difference between the two speeds is calculated. According to equation (2), the integral value of the difference between the two speeds is calculated.

number

[0113] In equations (1) and (2), ts indicates the calculation start time, and te indicates the calculation end time. The calculation start time ts is the time when the cutter carriage 82 passes a predetermined calculation start position. The calculation end time te is the time when the cutter carriage 82 passes a predetermined calculation end position. Figure 9(A) shows an example of the actual movement velocity Vel(t) and the profile velocity Velref(t). Figure 9(B) shows an example of the velocity difference integral value S.

[0114] As described above, the EEPROM 104 stores the threshold value Sth for the speed difference integral value S. The control unit 100 determines that the cutter carriage 82 is moving normally while the calculated speed difference integral value S is equal to or less than the threshold value Sth. The control unit 100 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the movement of the cutter carriage 82 when the speed difference integral value S exceeds the threshold value Sth.

[0115] By detecting abnormalities in the movement of the cutter carriage 82 based on the speed difference integral value S, it is possible to stop the cutter carriage 82 with high sensitivity when the actual movement speed Vel(t) of the cutter carriage 82 drops due to a jam or the like. On the other hand, when the cutter carriage 82 is moving normally, there is little sensitivity to momentary variations in the actual movement speed of the cutter carriage 82. Therefore, while the cutter carriage 82 is moving normally, the control unit 100 does not stop the movement of the cutter carriage 82.

[0116] [Effects of the embodiment] In the multifunction device 10 according to the above embodiment, the control unit 100, upon initialization, moves the cutting unit 80 out of the sheet passage area of ​​the conveying path 21, and then drives the conveying unit 30 to convey the recording paper 6. Therefore, even if the cutting unit 80 and the recording paper 6 collide with each other upon initialization, the collision can be resolved and a jam of the recording paper 6 can be prevented.

[0117] Furthermore, in the initialization process, the control unit 100, in response to determining based on a signal related to the sheet position that recording paper 6 remains in the conveyance path 21, moves the cutting unit 80 out of the sheet passing area of ​​the conveyance path 21 (S21, S22). Therefore, if there is no recording paper 6 in the sheet passing area A1 during initialization, the cutting unit 80 is not moved out of the sheet passing area, thereby reducing the time required for the initialization process.

[0118] Furthermore, in the initialization process, the control unit 100 moves the cutting unit 80 out of the sheet passing area and determines the origin position of the cutting unit 80 (S28, S38). By performing the movement of the cutting unit 80 out of the sheet passing area and the determination of the origin position of the cutting unit 80 in parallel in this way, the time required for the initialization process can be shortened.

[0119] Furthermore, in the initialization process, the control unit 100 supplies a drive current to the cutting motor 114 to move the cutting unit 80 toward the origin position for a predetermined time, and determines whether the cutting unit 80 needs to move back and forth within the sheet passing area based on the drive current for the predetermined time (S27). Therefore, by moving the cutting unit 80 outside the sheet passing area only when necessary, the time required for the initialization process can be shortened.

[0120] Furthermore, the control unit 100 moves the cutting unit 80 at a first speed during the initialization process, and moves the cutting unit 80 at a second speed that is faster than the first speed during the cutting operation. Therefore, if there is a foreign object within the movement range of the cutting unit 80, damage to the cutting unit 80 can be prevented. Furthermore, after the initialization process, the control unit 100 stops the cutting unit 80 at a standby position that is closer to the sheet passage area than the origin position of the cutting unit 80. Therefore, the cutting unit 80 can start cutting the recording paper 6 sooner.

[0121] [Variations] In the multifunction device 10 according to the above embodiment, the cutting unit 80 is arranged downstream of the recording unit 17 in the transport direction. In the multifunction device according to the modified example, the cutting unit may be arranged upstream of the recording unit in the transport direction. Also, in the multifunction device 10, the cutting unit 80 is arranged inside the housing 20. In the multifunction device according to the modified example, the cutting unit may be arranged outside the housing.

[0122] Furthermore, the multifunction device 10 is provided with a cutting unit 80 that cuts the recording paper 6 as the processing unit. The multifunction device according to the modified example may also be provided with a member that perforates the recording paper or a member that creases the recording paper as the processing unit. The processing unit may also be one that moves in the up-down direction 7. The processing unit may be one that moves in a direction that intersects with the sheet transport direction and processes the sheet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 6. Recording paper (sheet) 8...Anteroposterior direction (first direction) 9...Left and right direction (second direction) 10. Multifunction printer (image recording device) 17. Recording section 21. Transport path 30. Conveying section 80...Cutting section (processing section) 82···Cutter carriage 83···Cutter 100 Control unit 114 Cutting motor (motor)

Claims

1. a conveying unit that conveys a sheet in a first direction along a conveying path; a recording unit that records an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit; a processing unit that moves in a second direction intersecting the first direction and processes the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit; a control unit, The control unit, upon power-on or user input reception, determines that the sheet remains in the conveying path based on a signal related to the position of the sheet, and then performs a first movement operation to move the processing unit out of the sheet passing area of ​​the conveying path, drives the conveying unit to discharge the sheet, and then performs a second movement operation to move the processing unit into the sheet passing area of ​​the image recording device.

2. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit executes an initialization process for the processing unit after the second movement operation is started.

3. The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit executes an initialization process for the processing unit after the first movement operation is started.

4. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit, in the initialization process, moves the processing unit to outside the sheet passing area and determines the origin position of the processing unit.

5. An image recording device as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the control unit, during the initialization process, supplies a driving current to the motor to move the processing unit toward the origin position for a predetermined time, and determines whether the processing unit needs to move back and forth within the sheet passing area based on the driving current for the predetermined time.

6. An image recording device as described in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the control unit moves the processing unit at a first speed during the initialization process, and moves the processing unit at a second speed faster than the first speed during the processing operation to process the sheet.

7. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit stops the processing unit at a standby position closer to the sheet passing area than the origin position of the processing unit after the initialization process.

8. 8. The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes a cutter and a cutter carriage that carries the cutter and moves in the second direction.

Images