Recording Systems and Post-Processing Devices

Abstract

To solve the problem that when a capacity of a buffer part is increased in order to secure an accumulation amount, a device is inevitably enlarged in size.SOLUTION: A recording system is provided with: a first conveying part that conveys media in a continuous state; a recording part that performs recording on the media being conveyed by the first conveying part; a second conveying part that conveys the media; a post-processing part that performs predetermined post-processing to the media being conveyed by the second conveying part; and a buffer part, provided between the first conveying part and the second conveying part, which can accumulate the media conveyed from the first conveying part and supply the media to the second conveying part. In a recording period of time during which the recording part performs recording on the media, the second conveying part conveys the media at a first conveying speed. In a non-recording period of time during which the recording part does not perform recording on the media, after the recording period of time, the second conveying part conveys the media at a second speed lower than the first conveying speed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording system and a post-processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] A known configuration has a recording unit that records on a medium such as continuous, long label paper, and a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the recorded medium, and includes a buffer unit in the transport path of the medium from the recording unit to the post-processing unit to temporarily store the medium and control slack and tension of the medium.

[0003] Also disclosed is a label creation device equipped with a laser processing device and a printing device (see Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, the laser processing device is provided with a processing-side feed mechanism, and the printing device is provided with a printing-side feed mechanism, and the processing-side feed mechanism and the printing-side feed mechanism form a media feed unit that feeds media, which is a long strip-shaped sheet, using a roll-to-roll method. A buffer unit is provided between the laser processing device and the printing device, and the buffer unit temporarily accumulates media fed from the laser processing device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-64541 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a configuration where the upstream section, buffer section, and downstream section are connected by a media transport path as described above, the upstream recording section may transport media back after recording has been completed due to user requests or process regulations. This return transport is also called backfeed. Backfeeding allows the media to be returned upstream a distance equal to the amount of media accumulated in the buffer section. Because media flows downstream from the buffer section, ensuring a sufficient backfeed distance required an increase in buffer capacity, but increasing buffer capacity leads to an increase in the size of the device including the buffer. In light of these issues, improvements that contribute to ensuring the backfeed distance are needed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The recording system comprises a first transport unit that transports continuous media, a recording unit that records on the media transported by the first transport unit, a second transport unit that transports the media, a post-processing unit that performs predetermined post-processing on the media transported by the second transport unit, and a buffer unit that is provided between the first transport unit and the second transport unit and is capable of storing the media transported from the first transport unit and supplying the media to the second transport unit, wherein during a recording period in which the recording unit records on the media, the second transport unit transports the media at a first transport speed, and during a non-recording period after the recording period in which the recording unit does not record on the media, the second transport unit transports the media at a second transport speed that is slower than the first transport speed.

[0007] A post-processing device that accepts media transported by a recording device that records on continuous media and performs predetermined post-processing on the media includes a transport unit that transports the media, a post-processing unit that performs the post-processing on the media transported by the transport unit, and a buffer unit that can accumulate the media transported from the recording device and supply the media to the transport unit, wherein the transport unit transports the media at a first transport speed during a recording period in which the recording device records on the media, and sets the transport speed of the media to a second transport speed that is slower than the first transport speed during a non-recording period after the recording period in which the recording device does not record on the media. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a simplified part of the configuration of a recording system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a buffer unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of each of the recording apparatus and the post-processing apparatus in a simplified manner. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram for explaining a first control mode and a second control mode. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a mode switching control process executed by the recording apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are merely examples for explaining the present embodiment. Because the drawings are examples, the proportions and shapes may not be accurate, the drawings may not match each other, and some parts may be omitted.

[0010] 1. System configuration description: 1 shows a simplified view of part of the configuration of a recording system 10 according to this embodiment, viewed from a direction intersecting a transport path F for a medium 30. The recording system 10 generally includes a recording device 20 that records on a continuous medium 30, and a post-processing device 50 that performs predetermined post-processing on the medium 30. A transport path F for the medium 30 is formed between the recording device 20 and the post-processing device 50. The transport path F is formed by a first transport unit 22, a buffer unit 40, and a second transport unit 51, as described below.

[0011] The medium 30 is, for example, paper, but may also be any sheet-like medium capable of being recorded on, such as film or fabric. The medium 30 may also be label paper having a backing and a label removably attached to the backing. The recording device 20 uses a feeder 21 to hold a roll of the medium 30A, which is a continuous roll of the medium 30. The recording device 20 drives the feeder 21 with a motor to rotate the roll of the medium 30A and feed the medium 30 downstream along the transport path F. Hereinafter, the upstream and downstream of the transport path F are simply referred to as upstream and downstream. In FIG. 1, the feeder 21 is located at the most upstream position, and the post-processing device 50 is located downstream of the recording device 20. Transport basically refers to transporting the medium 30 from upstream to downstream. However, the recording system 10 can also perform backfeeding, which is transporting the medium 30 back from downstream to upstream.

[0012] The recording device 20 has a first transport unit 22 that transports the medium 30 unwound from the roll medium 30A. In the example of FIG. 1, the first transport unit 22 has a first roller pair consisting of a transport roller 22a and a driven roller 22b, and a second roller pair consisting of a transport roller 22c and a driven roller 22d. Each roller pair transports the medium 30 by rotating with the medium 30 sandwiched between the rollers that form the pair. The first roller pair is located upstream of the second roller pair.

[0013] A platen 23 is disposed between the first roller pair and the second roller pair as a surface for supporting the transported medium 30. A recording unit 24 is supported above the platen 23 and performs recording on the medium 30 transported by the first transport unit 22. The recording unit 24 is a means for performing recording by ejecting liquid such as ink using an inkjet method. In the example of FIG. 1, the recording unit 24 has recording heads 24C, 24M, 24Y, and 24K. Each of the recording heads 24C, 24M, 24Y, and 24K has a plurality of nozzles, and is capable of ejecting dots of liquid from each nozzle.

[0014] The recording head 24C is a recording head that ejects cyan (C) ink. The recording head 24M is a recording head that ejects magenta (M) ink, the recording head 24Y is a recording head that ejects yellow (Y) ink, and the recording head 24K is a recording head that ejects black (K) ink. The recording heads 24C, 24M, 24Y, and 24K eject inks of the colors C, M, Y, and K onto the medium 30 transported on the platen 23, thereby recording a color image on the medium 30. The arrangement order of the recording heads 24C, 24M, 24Y, and 24K along the transport path F does not have to be as shown in FIG. 1. Naturally, the recording unit 24 can also eject inks of colors other than C, M, Y, and K inks or liquids other than ink onto the medium 30.

[0015] The first transport unit 22 may have a cylindrical rotatable drum instead of the platen 23, supporting the medium 30 on the circumferential surface of the drum and transporting the medium 30 to be recorded on by the recording unit 24. The first transport unit 22 may have rollers 22e and 22f downstream of the second roller pair, and may further form a transport path F downstream of the second roller pair. The medium 30 on which recording has been performed by the recording unit 24 is guided by the rollers 22e and 22f and transported further downstream.

[0016] The medium 30 transported downstream by the first transport unit 22 is received by the post-processing device 50. The post-processing device 50 includes a second transport unit 51 that transports the medium 30, a post-processing unit 52 that performs post-processing on the medium 30 transported by the second transport unit 51, and a buffer unit 40 that can accumulate the medium 30 transported from the recording device 20 and supply the medium 30 to the second transport unit 51. In other words, the buffer unit 40 is provided between the first transport unit 21 and the second transport unit 51. The second transport unit 51 transports the medium 30 accumulated in the buffer unit 40 further downstream.

[0017] 1, the second conveying section 51 has a third roller pair consisting of a conveying roller 51a and a driven roller 51b, and a fourth roller pair consisting of a conveying roller 51c and a driven roller 51d. The third roller pair is disposed upstream of the fourth roller pair. A post-processing section 52 is disposed between the third roller pair and the fourth roller pair. Needless to say, the arrangement and number of rollers in each of the first conveying section 22 and the second conveying section 51, and the shape of the conveying path F guided by them, do not have to be as shown in FIG.

[0018] The present embodiment is intended to include a wide range of post-processing units 52. Some specific examples of post-processing are listed below. The post-processing performed by the post-processing unit 52 is, for example, a recording process in which a second recording is performed on the medium 30 on which recording has been performed by the recording unit 24. In this case, the post-processing unit 52 is a means for performing recording and printing, and as the second recording, for example, prints a protective film or performs decorative printing using a special recording agent on the image on the medium 30 recorded by the recording unit 24. The post-processing unit 52 may also adhere gold foil as the second recording to the medium 30 after recording by the recording unit 24.

[0019] The post-processing performed by the post-processing unit 52 is, for example, an inspection process in which the medium 30 on which the recording unit 24 has performed the recording is read by a reading unit and inspected. In this case, the post-processing unit 52 also functions as a reading unit such as a scanner, camera, or colorimeter, and can read the image on the medium 30 recorded by the recording unit 24 and perform various other inspections based on the reading results, such as inspection of color, brightness, tilt, misalignment, character quality, etc. The post-processing unit 52 may display the results of such inspections on a predetermined display so that the user can visually confirm them.

[0020] The post-processing performed by the post-processing unit 52 is, for example, a cutting process that cuts the medium 30 on which recording has been performed by the recording unit 24. In this case, the post-processing unit 52 is a cutter that is movable relative to the medium 30, and cuts the medium 30 in required units, such as an image recorded on the medium 30, a group of multiple images, or a page. The cutting process may not only be a process of dividing the medium 30 with a cutter, but may also be a process of making cuts in the medium 30 to make it easier to divide later. Furthermore, when the medium 30 is label paper, the cutting process may be a process of cutting the label on which the image has been recorded into a specific shape without cutting the backing paper.

[0021] The post-processing performed by the post-processing unit 52 is, for example, a heating process that heats the medium 30 on which recording has been performed by the recording unit 24. In this case, the post-processing unit 52 is a heater that heats the medium 30. The heating is, for example, heating to dry the ink. The post-processing unit 52 may also be a means for heating a predetermined material and pressing it onto the medium 30 in order to laminate the medium 30.

[0022] In addition, the post-processing performed by the post-processing unit 52 may include various processes such as punching holes in the medium 30, binding with staples, and folding. The portion of medium 30 that has been post-processed by post-processing unit 52 is transported further downstream by transport rollers 51c. In Figure 1, the transport path F downstream of transport rollers 51c is not shown.

[0023] 2. Description of the buffer section 40: FIG. 2 shows an example of a buffer unit 40. The buffer unit 40 has multiple fixed rollers 41 and a dancer roller 43. The multiple fixed rollers 41 are aligned in a straight line with spaces between them, and each is rotatable at a fixed position. The dancer roller 43 is composed of multiple rotatable movable rollers 42 aligned in a straight line with spaces between them. The entire dancer roller 43 is rotatable around a shaft 44 on one end side. In FIG. 2, the dancer roller 43 is shown by a dashed line when it is farthest from the fixed roller 41. When the dancer roller 43 is farthest from the fixed roller 41, the buffer unit 40 is using its entire capacity to store media 30.

[0024] Direction A1 indicates the direction in which the medium 30 is sent from the first conveying unit 22 to the buffer unit 40, and direction A2 indicates the direction in which the medium 30 is supplied from the buffer unit 40 to the second conveying unit 51. Note that the buffer unit 40 itself does not have the ability to move the medium 30, so the movement of the medium 30 downstream from the buffer unit 40 by the conveying force of the second conveying unit 51 is expressed as "the medium 30 being supplied from the buffer unit 40 to the second conveying unit 51." As shown in FIG. 2, the medium 30 is wound alternately around the fixed roller 41 and the moving roller 42. When the amount of medium 30 transported per unit time by the first conveying unit 22 is greater than the amount of medium 30 transported per unit time by the second conveying unit 51, the dancer roller 43 rotates away from the fixed roller 41 as the amount of medium 30 accumulated in the buffer unit 40 increases.

[0025] Conversely, if the amount of medium 30 transported per unit time by first transport unit 22 is less than the amount of medium 30 transported per unit time by second transport unit 51, dancer roller 43 rotates in a direction approaching fixed roller 41 in response to a decrease in the amount of medium 30 accumulated in buffer unit 40. Buffer unit 40 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2 as long as it includes a dancer roller that can move in response to an increase or decrease in the amount of accumulated medium 30.

[0026] 3. Control system description: FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram showing the configuration of the control systems of the recording device 20 and the post-processing device 50. The recording device 20 has a recording control unit 25 and a first transport motor 26. The first transport motor 26 is the power source for the first transport unit 22, and referring to FIG. 1, drives the feeding mechanism 21, transport roller 22a, and transport roller 22c. The recording control unit 25 is the controller for the recording device 20 and is composed of a processor, memory, programs stored in the memory, etc. The processor performs processing in accordance with the program. The recording control unit 25 controls recording by the recording unit 24 to record an image on the medium 30. The recording control unit 25 also controls the rotation speed and rotation position of the first transport motor 26 to cause the first transport unit 22 to transport the medium 30.

[0027] The post-processing device 50 includes a post-processing control unit 53, a second transport motor 54, and a position sensor 45. The second transport motor 54 is the power source for the second transport unit 51, and, referring to FIG. 1, drives transport rollers 51a and 51c. The post-processing control unit 53 is a controller for the post-processing device 50 and is composed of a processor, memory, programs stored in the memory, and the like. The post-processing control unit 53 controls the post-processing unit 52 to perform post-processing on the medium 30. The post-processing control unit 53 also controls the rotation speed and rotation position of the second transport motor 54 to cause the second transport unit 51 to transport the medium 30. Naturally, the transport of the medium 30 by the second transport unit 51 is a transport necessary for the post-processing performed by the post-processing unit 52. Therefore, for example, the transport may be continuous, intermittent transport that repeats transport and stops, or an operation that includes temporary backfeed and ultimately transports the medium downstream.

[0028] The position sensor 45 detects the position of the dancer roller 43 rotating around the shaft 44 (hereinafter referred to as the dancer roller position), and outputs the detection result of the dancer roller position to the post-processing control unit 53. The post-processing control unit 53 is capable of executing a "first control mode" in which it controls the second conveying unit 51 in accordance with the detection result of the dancer roller position by the position sensor 45. In addition, the post-processing control unit 53 is capable of executing a "second control mode" different from the first control mode to control the second conveying unit 51. Although not shown in the figure, the recording system 10 has general components such as a user interface for accepting operations from the user, a display for displaying visual information, and a communication interface for communicating with external devices.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the first and second control modes, showing a speed control circuit 55. The speed control circuit 55 may be considered part of the post-processing control unit 53. The speed control circuit 55 has a subtractor 56, a speed determination unit 57, a second speed instruction unit 58, a switching unit 59, and a motor driver 60. The post-processing control unit 53 inputs a target position of the dancer roller 43 to the subtractor 56. The target position is, for example, an intermediate position between the position where the dancer roller 43 is closest to the fixed roller 41 and the position where the dancer roller 43 is farthest from the fixed roller 41. The dancer roller 43 shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 is located at approximately the intermediate position.

[0030] The subtractor 56 also receives the dancer roller position, which is the detection result from the position sensor 45. The subtractor 56 then inputs the position deviation, which is the difference between the target position and the dancer roller position, to the speed determination unit 57. The speed determination unit 57 determines the conveying speed V1 of the second conveying unit 51 in accordance with the input position deviation and outputs it to the switching unit 59. The speed determination unit 57 determines the conveying speed V1 in accordance with the input position deviation, for example, by referring to a speed profile that predefines the correspondence relationship between the position deviation and the conveying speed V1. Therefore, the conveying speed V1 is not constant.

[0031] In general, when the dancer roller position is closer to the fixed roller 41 than the target position, the speed determination unit 57 slows the conveying speed V1 to increase the amount of media 30 accumulated in the buffer unit 40. On the other hand, when the dancer roller position is farther from the fixed roller 41 than the target position, the speed determination unit 57 speeds up the conveying speed V1 to decrease the amount of media 30 accumulated in the buffer unit 40. By determining the conveying speed V1 in this way based on the position deviation, in the first control mode, the dancer roller position is stabilized so that it is at or near the target position. Stabilizing the dancer roller position near the target position prevents the media 30 from sagging in the buffer unit 40 and excessive tension from being applied to the media 30.

[0032] As described above, the transport of the medium 30 by the second transport unit 51 for post-processing may be intermittent transport or may include backfeed. Therefore, the transport speed V1 may be understood as the speed at which the second transport unit 51 transports the medium 30 from upstream to downstream. The transport speed V1 corresponds to the "first transport speed."

[0033] The switching unit 59 receives the conveying speed V1 from the speed determination unit 57 and also receives a predetermined conveying speed V2 from the second speed instruction unit 58. The conveying speed V2 corresponds to the "second conveying speed." In this embodiment, the conveying speed V1 is greater than the conveying speed V2. The conveying speed V1 determined by the speed determination unit 57 is not constant, but the conveying speed V2 is set to be slower than the minimum value of the range of the conveying speed V1 that can be determined by the speed determination unit 57. Here, it is assumed that the conveying speed V2=0.

[0034] The switching unit 59 has switches SW1 and SW2, and selectively outputs conveying speeds V1 and V2 to the motor driver 60. By turning switch SW1 ON, the switching unit 59 outputs conveying speed V1 to the motor driver 60, and by turning switch SW2 ON, the switching unit 59 outputs conveying speed V2 to the motor driver 60. The switching unit 59 receives a switching signal transmitted from the recording control unit 25 of the recording device 20. Here, when the switching signal is OFF, the switching unit 59 turns switch SW1 ON and switch SW2 OFF. On the other hand, when the switching signal is ON, the switching unit 59 turns switch SW1 OFF and switch SW2 ON.

[0035] The motor driver 60 inputs the conveying speed from the switching unit 59 and sets the rotation speed of the second conveying motor 54 to that conveying speed. The second conveying motor 54 is a DC motor, and the motor driver 60 controls the rotation speed of the second conveying motor 54, i.e., the conveying speed of the second conveying unit 51, by supplying a pulse-width-modulated drive signal to the second conveying motor 54 in accordance with the input conveying speed. Therefore, the mode in which conveying speed V1 is input to the motor driver 60 and the conveying speed of the second conveying unit 51 is set to conveying speed V1 is the first control mode. On the other hand, the mode in which conveying speed V2 is input to the motor driver 60 and the conveying speed of the second conveying unit 51 is set to conveying speed V2 is the second control mode.

[0036] Because the conveying speed V2 = 0, in the second control mode, conveyance by the second conveying unit 51 is stopped. In the second control mode, the control that attempts to stabilize the dancer roller position at the target position, as in the first control mode, does not function, and the dancer roller 43 simply moves in accordance with the conveyance of the medium 30 by the first conveying unit 22. With this configuration, the recording control unit 25 can switch the control of the second conveying unit 51 in the post-processing device 50 from the first control mode to the second control mode, or from the second control mode to the first control mode, by switching the switching signal sent to the switching unit 59 ON / OFF.

[0037] 4. Relationship between recording and control mode: Next, the relationship between recording by the recording unit 24 and the first and second control modes will be described. In the recording system 10, during a "recording period" in which the recording unit 24 records on the medium 30, the second transport unit 51 transports the medium 30 at a transport speed V1, and during a "non-recording period" after the recording period in which the recording unit 24 does not record on the medium 30, the second transport unit 51 transports the medium 30 at a transport speed V2.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the mode switching control process that the recording control unit 25 executes according to a program. In step S100, the recording control unit 25 starts recording on the medium 30. That is, the recording control unit 25 drives the first transport motor 26 to start transporting the medium 30 by the first transport unit 22, and causes the recording unit 24 to perform recording by ejecting ink or the like onto the medium 30. In this embodiment, the content of the recording performed by the recording device 20 is not important. The recording control unit 25 only needs to control the recording unit 24 and the first transport unit 22 so as to repeatedly record images on the medium 30 as it is being transported, in units of pages, labels, or groups of labels, as arbitrarily designated by the user.

[0039] After starting recording in step S100, the recording control unit 25 repeatedly determines whether recording is complete (step S110). When recording of the number of copies designated in advance by the user is complete, the recording control unit 25 determines "Yes" in step S110 and proceeds to step S120. The number of copies here refers to, for example, the number of copies when one copy is considered to be one page, one label, or a set of multiple labels. However, the meaning of "one copy" is not particularly important. The recording control unit 25 may determine "Yes" in step S110 when the user instructs that recording is complete. In any case, it is sufficient for the recording control unit 25 to determine that recording is complete.

[0040] The period from the start of step S100 until the determination of "Yes" in step S110 is the recording period. The period from the determination of "Yes" in step S110 until the recording device 20 starts recording again is the non-recording period.

[0041] In step S120, the recording control unit 25 switches the switching signal output to the switching unit 59 from OFF to ON. Before determining "Yes" in step S110, the recording control unit 25 keeps the switching signal OFF. As a result of step S120, the post-processing control unit 53 switches the control of the second conveying unit 51 from the first control mode that was in effect during the previous recording period to the second control mode. In the second control mode, the conveying speed V2 is applied, and conveying of the medium 30 by the second conveying unit 51 is stopped. In this way, the control mode is switched from the first control mode to the second control mode at the timing when the recording period is switched to the non-recording period. Note that when conveying of the medium 30 by the second conveying unit 51 is stopped, the post-processing control unit 53 may also temporarily stop post-processing by the post-processing unit 52.

[0042] In step S130, the recording control unit 25 begins decelerating the first transport unit 22 to stop transport of the medium 30 by the first transport unit 22. That is, the recording control unit 25 decelerates the first transport motor 26 to set its rotational speed to zero. As a result of step S130, transport by the first transport unit 22 stops (step S140). It takes some time from step S130 to step S140. Therefore, the position on the medium 30 where image recording by the recording unit 24 last completed (hereinafter referred to as the recording completion position) continues to be transported downstream until transport by the first transport unit 22 completely stops in step S140.

[0043] In step S150, the recording control unit 25 controls the first transport motor 26 to cause the first transport unit 22 to backfeed the medium 30. For example, the recording control unit 25 causes the first transport unit 22 to backfeed the medium 30 until the recording completion position returns to a predetermined confirmation position P on the transport path F. In the example of FIG. 1, the confirmation position P is set downstream of the transport roller 22c and upstream of the roller 22e. Whether the recording completion position has returned to the confirmation position may be detected by a sensor (not shown), or the user may notify the recording control unit 25.

[0044] The user can visually check the image at the recording completion position where the recording has been completed and the image in the vicinity thereof, evaluate the image recording results, and make adjustments or settings related to recording by the recording device 20 as necessary. By turning the switch signal ON in step S120, the second conveying unit 51 stops. As a result, the medium 30 accumulated in the buffer unit 40 no longer flows downstream, and during the deceleration period from when the first conveying unit 22 begins to decelerate in step S130 until it completely stops (step S140), all of the medium 30 for the distance conveyed by the first conveying unit 22 is accumulated in the buffer unit 40. Therefore, by the time step S150 is executed, the amount of medium 30 necessary for backfeeding is secured in the buffer unit 40, making it possible to reliably backfeed the medium 30 to the confirmation position P.

[0045] In step S160, the recording control unit 25 switches the switching signal output to the switching unit 59 from ON to OFF, thereby ending the flowchart in FIG. 5. As a result, the post-processing control unit 53 switches the control of the second conveying unit 51 from the second control mode to the first control mode. Therefore, the post-processing control unit 53 can resume transport of the medium 30 by the second conveying unit 51 at the transport speed V1, and resume post-processing by the post-processing unit 52 on the remaining images and their vicinity on the medium 30. According to this explanation, setting the transport speed of the second conveying unit 51 to transport speed V2 during the non-recording period does not necessarily mean that the transport speed of the second conveying unit 51 is set to transport speed V2 throughout the entire non-recording period.

[0046] 5. Summary: As described above, according to this embodiment, the recording system 10 includes a first transport unit 22 that transports a continuous medium 30, a recording unit 24 that records on the medium 30 transported by the first transport unit 22, a second transport unit 51 that transports the medium 30, a post-processing unit 52 that performs predetermined post-processing on the medium 30 transported by the second transport unit 51, and a buffer unit 40 that is provided between the first transport unit 22 and the second transport unit 51 and is capable of accumulating the medium 30 transported from the first transport unit 22 and supplying the medium 30 to the second transport unit 51. During a recording period in which the recording unit 24 records on the medium 30, the second transport unit 51 transports the medium 30 at a first transport speed, and during a non-recording period after the recording period in which the recording unit 24 does not record on the medium 30, the second transport unit 51 transports the medium 30 at a second transport speed that is slower than the first transport speed.

[0047] According to the above configuration, when switching from a recording period to a non-recording period, the conveying speed of the second conveying unit 51 decreases from the first conveying speed to the second conveying speed, so that the amount of medium 30 accumulated in the buffer unit 40 during the non-recording period is greater than during the recording period. Therefore, assuming that the first conveying unit 22 backfeeds the medium 30 after stopping during the non-recording period, the amount of medium 30 necessary for backfeeding is more likely to accumulate in the buffer unit 40. In other words, by increasing the amount of storage within the capacity of the buffer unit 40, it is possible to appropriately perform backfeeding without increasing the capacity of the buffer unit 40 itself, and it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the device including the buffer unit 40.

[0048] If post-processing device 50 remains in the first control mode even during non-recording periods, dancer roller 43 attempts to maintain the target position, which is the intermediate position, and only about half of the capacity of buffer unit 40 is used to store media 30. Therefore, to ensure a larger storage amount, it was necessary to increase the capacity of buffer unit 40 itself, but in this embodiment, this need is eliminated by switching from the first control mode to the second control mode.

[0049] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second conveying speed may be set to zero. According to the above configuration, when the recording period switches to the non-recording period, conveyance by the second conveyance unit 51 stops, and all of the medium 30 conveyed during the non-recording period for the distance until the first conveyance unit 22 stops is accumulated in the buffer unit 40. Therefore, the amount of medium 30 necessary for backfeeding is reliably secured in the buffer unit 40.

[0050] However, the second conveying speed is not limited to 0. The second conveying speed may be a constant value other than 0 that is slower than the minimum value of the speed range that the first conveying speed can take. Even if the second conveying speed is not 0, as long as it is reliably slower than the first conveying speed, the effect of increasing the amount of medium 30 accumulated in the buffer unit 40 during non-printing periods can be achieved.

[0051] According to this embodiment, the post-processing is, for example, a recording process in which a second recording is performed on the medium 30 on which the recording unit 24 has performed the recording. Alternatively, the post-processing may be, for example, an inspection process in which the medium 30 on which the recording unit 24 has performed the recording is read by a reading unit and inspected. Alternatively, the post-processing may be, for example, a cutting process in which the medium 30 on which the recording unit 24 has performed the recording is cut. Alternatively, the post-processing may be, for example, a heat treatment for heating the medium 30 on which the recording unit 24 has performed the recording. That is, this embodiment can be applied to a configuration that executes various post-processing operations.

[0052] This embodiment discloses not only the recording system 10 but also inventions in various categories, such as each device constituting the system, a method including steps executed by the system or each device, and a program that causes a processor to execute the method. For example, a post-processing device 50 that accepts media 30 transported by a recording device 20 that records on continuous media 30 and performs predetermined post-processing on the media 30 includes a second transport unit 51 that is a transport unit that transports the media 30, a post-processing unit 52 that performs post-processing on the media 30 transported by the transport unit, and a buffer unit 40 that can accumulate media 30 transported from the recording device 20 and supply the media 30 to the transport unit, and the transport unit transports the medium 30 at a first transport speed during a recording period when the recording device 20 records on the medium 30, and during a non-recording period after the recording period when the recording device 20 does not record on the medium 30, the transport speed of the medium 30 is set to a second transport speed that is slower than the first transport speed.

[0053] The recording unit 24 may be any means capable of recording on the medium 30. The recording unit 24 has, for example, a carriage that mounts the recording heads 24C, 24M, 24Y, and 24K and that can move parallel to the surface of the medium 30. The recording device 20 may perform recording by ejecting ink from the recording heads 24C, 24M, 24Y, and 24K while moving the carriage toward the medium 30 whose transport by the first transport unit 22 has temporarily stopped. The recording method employed by the recording unit 24 is not limited to the inkjet method. The recording unit 24 may also employ, for example, an electrophotographic method in which toner is deposited on the medium 30 to perform recording. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10...recording system, 20...recording device, 21...feeding machine, 22...first transport section, 22a, 22c...transport rollers, 23...platen, 24...recording section, 24C, 24M, 24Y, 24K...recording head, 25...recording control section, 26...first transport motor, 30...medium, 40...buffer section, 41...fixed roller, 43...dancer roller, 45...position sensor, 50...post-processing device, 51...second transport section, 51a, 51c...transport rollers, 52...post-processing section, 53...post-processing control section, 54...second transport motor, 55...speed control circuit, 56...subtractor, 57...speed determination section, 58...second speed instruction section, 59...switching section, 60...motor driver

Claims

1. a first conveying unit that conveys a continuous medium; a recording unit that records on the medium transported by the first transport unit; a second transport unit that transports the medium; a post-processing unit that performs predetermined post-processing on the medium transported by the second transport unit; a buffer unit provided between the first transport unit and the second transport unit, capable of storing the medium transported from the first transport unit and supplying the medium to the second transport unit; During a recording period in which the recording unit records on the medium, the second transport unit transports the medium at a first transport speed; a second transport unit configured to transport the medium at a second transport speed slower than the first transport speed during a non-recording period after the recording period in which the recording unit does not record on the medium;

2. 2. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the second transport speed is zero.

3. 3. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing is a recording process for performing a second recording on the medium on which the recording unit has performed the recording.

4. 3. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing is an inspection process in which the medium on which the recording unit has recorded is read by a reading unit and inspected.

5. 3. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing is a cutting process for cutting the medium on which the recording has been performed by the recording unit.

6. 3. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing is a heat treatment for heating the medium on which the recording unit has performed the recording.

7. A post-processing device that receives a medium conveyed by a recording device that records on a continuous medium and performs predetermined post-processing on the medium, a conveying unit that conveys the medium; a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the medium transported by the transport unit; a buffer unit capable of storing the medium transported from the recording device and supplying the medium to the transport unit, The conveying unit is conveying the medium at a first conveying speed during a recording period in which the recording device records on the medium; a second conveying speed slower than the first conveying speed during a non-recording period after the recording period in which the recording device does not record on the medium;

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