JP2003048364A - Method for detecting end of recording medium and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To interrupt recording operation of label by detecting the end of a recording medium in a label recorder without using any special means additionally. SOLUTION: The recorder comprises a section 1 for feeding a recording medium 3 pasted with labels 5 at a specified interval, a loop detecting means 6, a recording section 10 and a carrying section 11. When the end free recording medium 3 mounted on a roll shaft 2 is drawn out up to the end, a duration of tension being detected by the loop detecting means 6 is prolonged. When it exceeds a preset time and a label detecting means 16 detects a last label, end of the recording medium is detected and label recording is interrupted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium end detection method and recording in a recording apparatus having a recording medium supply section, a recording section for recording on the recording medium, and a conveying section for conveying the recording medium at a predetermined speed. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A label recording apparatus is an apparatus for continuously recording (printing) data in a recording area of a recording medium. A general label recording apparatus has a supply unit that rotatably mounts a roll-shaped recording medium, a recording unit that performs recording on the recording medium supplied from the supply unit, and conveys the recording medium to the recording unit at a predetermined speed. It is equipped with a transport unit.

Usually, a recording medium used for label recording is constituted by sticking a large number of label papers at predetermined intervals on the surface of a base material made of a tape-shaped release paper or the like, which is wound around a winding core. It is used in the form of a sheet. In the recording unit, recording is successively performed at the recording position of the label of the recording medium conveyed from the supply unit. In order to perform recording accurately at the recording position of the label, it is common to detect the position of the label part of the recording medium conveyed to the recording part one after another and record in synchronization with the detection signal. Label detecting means is provided in the front part of the recording section, and the recording timing of the recording means is determined by the detection signal.

A roll-shaped recording medium rotatably mounted in the supply unit is sent to the recording unit by the rotational drive of a roll supply motor connected to the roll shaft. The recording medium sent out is conveyed at a speed adapted to the recording speed by a conveying roller provided in the conveying section. Therefore, the feeding speed of the supply unit and the conveyance speed of the conveyance unit do not match instantaneously, so it is necessary to absorb the slack caused by the speed difference by some means. As a means for this, a loop detection means is provided between the supply section and the conveyance section, and the control section controls the start-stop of the roll supply motor according to the detection signal.

For example, when the conveying speed becomes lower than the feeding speed of the recording medium, a slack (loop) occurs in the recording medium. Therefore, the slack is detected by the loop detecting means, and the control means receiving the detection signal stops the roll supply motor. To do. Then, since the pulling out of the recording medium is stopped, the slack state shifts from the slack state to the tension state, and when it returns to the preset level, the control section again rotates the roll supply motor by the detection signal from the loop detection means. . In this way, the roll supply motor is controlled to be started and stopped so that slack and tension are alternately repeated on the recording medium for speed matching.

On the other hand, the roll-shaped recording medium wound around the winding core as described above is mounted on the roll shaft of the supply section. In general, the winding start (end) is not fixed to the core and is in a free state, that is, the end is free. Therefore, when the entire recording medium is pulled out, the end is separated from the core. In order to avoid unnecessary recording operation in the recording unit, when the end reaches the recording unit, it must be detected and the recording automatically stopped. Further, for example, it is desirable to display "no recording medium" on the operation panel.

As a conventional end detection method, (1) a method of detecting the end of the recording medium with a non-contact type sensor or a contact type sensor such as a limit switch arranged in the vicinity of the supply section, and (2) a surface of the recording medium A method in which the surface of the winding core is made different in color and the end is detected by using the difference in light reflectance between the two, (3)
There is a method in which a through hole is provided in a part of the winding core and a limit switch is provided on the roll shaft, and the end switch is detected by operating the limit switch when the recording medium runs out.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
The method of installing a sensor in the vicinity of the supply part in (1) is that the sensor must be installed in a narrow area and that a dedicated guide is provided to accurately detect the end that has just been pulled out and does not move much. There is a problem that the device becomes complicated and the configuration becomes complicated.

The method (2) of making the surface of the recording medium and the surface of the winding core different in color has a problem that the recording medium itself becomes special and the cost becomes high. Furthermore, since the sensor must be installed in a narrow space near the winding core, there is a problem that the usable sensors are limited.

Further, the method (3) in which a through hole is provided in a part of the core and the end is detected by a limit switch has a problem that the detection method and the core are special. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve these problems in the conventional end detection method, and an object thereof is to provide a new recording medium end detection method and recording apparatus.

[0011]

A method for detecting an end according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes a supply unit for a recording medium,
A recording unit for recording on a recording medium, and a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium at a predetermined speed, and an end-free roll-shaped recording medium is mounted on a roll shaft provided in the supply unit, and the recording medium is It is a method for detecting the end of a recording medium in a recording apparatus, in which the loop detecting means detects slack and tension of the recording medium when the recording medium is sequentially drawn and supplied to the recording unit. This detection method is characterized in that when the tension continuation time detected by the loop detection means exceeds a preset time, it is detected as the end of the recording medium.

In the above detection method, in the case where the recording medium is a label recording medium in which a large number of labels are adhered on a base material at predetermined intervals, and the recording unit is provided with a label detecting means for detecting the label, The tension continuation time detected by the loop detection means exceeds a preset time, and
When the label detecting means does not detect a label within a preset detection time interval, it can be detected as the end of the recording medium.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram when a method for detecting the end of a recording medium according to the present invention is applied to a label recording apparatus. In the figure, 1 is a supply unit, and 2 is a roll shaft for rotating a roll-shaped recording medium. Reference numeral 3 is a recording medium, which is adhered onto a base material on a roll. A core 3a is a core of a roll-shaped recording medium. Reference numeral 5 is a label, which is attached to the base material. Reference numeral 6 is a loop detection unit, 7 is a loop detection plate of the loop detection unit, 8 is a detection lever of the loop detection unit, and 9 is a sensor unit which detects the detection lever and outputs a detection signal. A recording unit 10 has a plurality of inkjet recording heads arranged therein. Reference numeral 11 denotes a transport unit that transports the recording medium. 12 is a recording head of the recording unit, 13 is a conveyance roller of the conveyance unit, 14 is a conveyance belt of the conveyance unit, and 15 is a pressing spur,
Correct the transport condition of the recording medium. Reference numeral 16 is a label detection unit that detects the leading edge of the label 5.

The supply unit 1 includes a roll shaft 2 rotatably supported by a main body (not shown) of the recording apparatus and a roll supply motor 20 (see FIG. 7) for rotating the roll shaft 2, and the roller shaft 2 is By rotating in the forward direction, the recording medium 3 is sent out to the transport unit 11 as indicated by the arrow. The recording medium 3 can be rewound by rotating the roller shaft 2 in the reverse direction.

The recording medium 3 wound in a roll shape on the winding core 3a is constituted by sticking labels 5 at predetermined intervals on the surface of a base material such as release paper with an adhesive or the like. The loop detection unit 6 is a loop detection plate 7 rotatably supported by the main body of the recording apparatus.
And a slender detection lever 8 connected to the rotation shaft side of the loop detection plate 7, and a sensor unit 9 for outputting a detection signal when the detection lever 8 is inserted and removed. The loop detection plate 7 is always biased by a spring (not shown) or the like so as to rotate clockwise.

The recording unit 10 records a monochrome or color label by, for example, an ink jet recording system, and the illustrated example is an example of color recording including a recording head 12 for four colors of black, yellow, magenta and cyan. .

The transport unit 11 includes a pair of transport rollers 13 and an endless transport belt mounted between the transport rollers 13.
14 and a plurality (three in this example) of pressing spurs 15 arranged above the conveyor belt 14. Further, a label detector 16 is provided at the front of the recording unit 10 (on the side of the supply unit 1). The label detection unit 16 optically detects the leading end portion or the trailing end portion of the label 5 by utilizing the difference in light reflectance between the base material and the label 5 in the recording medium 3, and sends the detection signal to the control unit. Output. The control unit can be composed of, for example, a microcomputer or a sequencer as described later.

Next, the operation of the above device will be described. The speed at which the roller shaft 2 sends out the recording medium 3 is always higher than the conveying speed by the conveying roller that matches the recording speed. Therefore, when both rollers are rotating, the supply unit 1
The slack of the recording medium 3 sent out from the tape gradually increases. FIG. 1 shows a state where the recording medium 3 is loosened to form a loop.

When the recording medium 3 loosens to form a loop,
The loop detection plate 7 is pushed up by the recording medium 3, whereby the detection lever 8 is inserted into the sensor unit 9 and a loop (slack) detection signal is output to the control unit 20 (see FIG. 7), and the control unit 20 causes the roller shaft to rotate. Stop 2. Even if the roller shaft 2 is stopped, the transport roller 13 rotates at a speed corresponding to the recording speed, so that the slack of the recording medium 3 becomes gradually smaller, and conversely, tension occurs.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the recording medium 3 is tensioned. When the recording medium 3 is in tension, the loop detection means 6
Since the loop (slack) detection signal from is stopped, the control unit 20 which received it restarts the roll supply motor to rotate the roller shaft 2. FIG. 3 shows the time elapse of the slack state and tension state of the recording medium and the time elapse of the rotation-stop of the roll shaft 2 when the start-stop control of the roller shaft 2 is repeated in this manner.

On the other hand, the recording medium 3 sent to the recording unit 10
Is recorded on the label 5 by the ink ejected from each recording head 12 while being conveyed by the conveying roller 13 at a conveying speed corresponding to the recording speed. At that time, the label position of the recording medium 3 which has reached the recording unit 10 is detected by the label detecting means 16, and the control unit which receives the detection signal detects each recording head.
The recording timing signal is output to 12 and recording is executed.

As described above, since the recording medium 3 is end-free with respect to the winding core 3a, the end of the recording medium 3 is finally separated from the winding core 3a when the feeding from the supply section 1 continues, and the recording medium 3 shown in FIG. It becomes a state. Then, the loop detection plate 7 of the loop detection means 6 rotates to the left like the recording medium 3 in the tensioned state, and the sensor unit 9 outputs the tensioned state, that is, the loop non-detection signal, and this state continues thereafter. To do.

FIG. 5 shows the state in which the recording medium 3 is separated from the winding core 3a, and FIG. 6 shows the recording medium 3.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a continuation of a tension state that occurs when the end of the label is separated from the winding core 3a and a label detection section 16 detecting operation of the label 5. Before the label recording device is stably operated, the slackened state and the tensioned state of the recording medium 3 are repeated in a constant cycle before the label recording device is released, but the tensioned state is continuously detected after the label medium is detached. The roller shaft 2 is controlled by the controller 20 from the roll supply motor 20.
Continue rotating until the drive stops.

FIG. 7 shows a control block diagram of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 70 denotes a PC of a host computer, which is a recording device and outputs information to be recorded.
82 is an interface I / F, which is a host computer 7
Communication between 0 and the control unit 80 is performed. 81 is the CPU of the processing unit,
The entire device is controlled based on the program stored in the memory. Reference numeral 88 is a recording control circuit for applying the recording data of the CPU 81 to the recording head. 12K, 12C, 12M and 12Y are recording heads. A display controller 90 displays an error, a set value, etc. on the display 91. An output port 86 controls the roll supply motor 20 and other motors via the driver circuit 87. 83 is program R
A program corresponding to the control procedure shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is stored in the OM, and is read by the CPU 81 and the program is executed. 85 is an input port, the label detection sensor 16,
It is provided for inputting signals from the loop detection sensor 9 and other sensors, and is read by the processing unit CPU 81. 89 is a timer for measuring the tension continuation time.

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus will be described based on the above control block diagram.

Recorded data is received by the control unit 80 from the host machine such as the PC 70, read by the CPU 81 of the processing unit via the interface 82, and the work RAM 84 of the memory.
Is temporarily stored in.

Predetermined recording data is work RAM
When it is aligned with 84, the CPU 81 causes the work R through the recording control circuit 88.
The print data read from the AM 84 is sequentially transferred to the print head 12. In this embodiment, the recording head 12 has four colors of K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow), and performs color recording on a recording medium such as a label.

A control program corresponding to the series of operations and the control flow shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is a program ROM.
The processing unit CPU is executed by the CPU 81 based on the program stored in the program ROM 83.

A label detection sensor 16 and a recording head for detecting labels attached to a long sheet of paper wound in a roll at equal intervals.
The output of the loop detection sensor 9 for detecting the loop (loosening) of the paper generated between the recording unit having 12 and the paper supply unit for supplying the roll paper by the roll supply motor is output from the CPU 81 through the input port 85 in substantially real time. Can be read.

The control unit 80 also discriminates a sensor or the like not shown here. The CPU 81 controls the drive of the roll supply motor 20 via the output port 86 and the driver circuit 87, and also a conveyance motor (not shown) for conveying the paper on the recording unit side.
Control of actuators such as is also performed in parallel.

Next, a method of detecting the sheet end of a long sheet will be described mainly with reference to a block diagram (FIG. 7) and operation flowcharts (FIGS. 8 and 9).

A first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. CPU receives print command from host PC90
81 starts the printing operation (S101), detects that the loop (loosening) of the paper between the paper supply side and the recording section side disappears (S102), and uses the PTM (program timer module) 89 of FIG. Set the loopless monitoring timer (S
103). Next, the roll feeding motor 20 is driven (S104), and in normal operation, the feeding speed on the feeding side is set to be higher than the feeding speed on the recording unit side. Therefore, a loop (slack) of the paper is detected within the specified time. (S105). Here, the loopless monitoring timer is reset (S106), and the driving of the roll supply motor is stopped (S107). (There is also a way to decelerate, but it is omitted here). Then, it is determined whether or not the printing operation is completed, and if it is not completed, the process returns to S102 and waits for the paper loop to disappear again. When a series of these operations are repeated and the printing operation is completed (S10
8) Then, the roll supply motor 20 is turned off (S109), and the process ends.

The above is the normal operation, but when the paper is finished, the loop detection sensor 9 cannot operate, so S
Even if the roll supply motor 20 is driven in 104, the loop (slack) of the paper is not detected and the no loop detection timer overflows, and the CPU 81 detects it (S111), and C
The PU 81 suspends all the operations (S112) and makes the display output of the roll paper end the display 91.

The display route and display data are transferred from the CPU 81 of FIG. 7 to the display controller 90 and displayed on the display 91.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described.

The difference from the first embodiment is that
The processing method at the end of paper is different. That is, after the loop-less monitoring timer detects the overflow by the CPU 81 (S
111) Further, the presence or absence of the remaining label is checked (S112), and if there is a remaining label, the printing operation is continued, and when the printing on the last label is completed, all the operations are interrupted (S113), and the roll paper end is displayed. The output is displayed on the display 91.

In other words, the second embodiment of the invention has the advantage that all the labels on the roll paper can be used up effectively.

[0038]

As described above, in the end detection method according to the present invention, when the tension continuation time detected by the loop detection means exceeds a preset time, it is detected as the end of the recording medium. As a feature, it is possible to detect the end of the recording medium only by using the means originally provided in the recording device without installing a special detection sensor or using a special recording medium unlike the conventional method. Therefore, useless recording operation can be avoided, and the economical effect is extremely excellent.

In the above detection method, in the case where the recording medium is a label recording medium in which a large number of labels are adhered on a base material at predetermined intervals, and the recording unit is provided with a label detecting means for detecting the labels, The tension continuation time detected by the loop detection means exceeds a preset time, and
When the label detecting means does not detect a label within a preset detection time interval, it can be detected as the end of the recording medium. In this case as well, the end of the recording medium can be detected more reliably only by using the means originally provided in the apparatus, thereby avoiding useless label recording.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram when a recording medium end detection method according to the present invention is applied to a label recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a recording medium 3 is tensioned.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a lapse of time in a slack state and a tension state generated on a recording medium and a lapse of time in rotation-stop of the roll shaft 2 when the start-stop control of the drive roller 4 is repeated.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the loop detection means 6 when the end of the recording medium 3 is separated from the winding core 3a.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a time lapse of the tension state and the rotation-stop of the roll shaft 2 that occur when the trailing end of the recording medium 3 separates from the winding core 3a.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a continuation of a tension state that occurs when the trailing end of the recording medium 3 is separated from the winding core 3a, and the label 5 detection operation by the label detection means 16.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Supply department 2 ... Roll axis 3 ... Recording medium 3a ... winding core 5 ... Label 6 ... Loop detection means 7… Loop detection plate 8… Detection lever 9… Loop detection sensor 10… Recording section 11… Conveyor 12… Recording head 13… Conveyor roller 14… Conveyor belt 15… Hold down spur 16… Label detection sensor 20… Roll supply motor 70… Host PC 80… Control unit 81 ... CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An end-free roll on a roll shaft provided in the supply unit, which has a supply unit for the recording medium, a recording unit for recording on the recording medium, and a conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium at a predetermined speed. A recording medium end detection method in a recording device, in which a loop detection means detects slack and tension of the recording medium when the recording medium is mounted, and the recording medium is sequentially pulled out and supplied to the recording unit. A method for detecting the end of a recording medium, characterized in that when the tension continuation time detected by the loop detecting means exceeds a preset time, it is detected as the end of the recording medium. 2. The recording medium is a label recording medium in which a large number of labels are adhered on a base material at predetermined intervals, and a label detecting unit for detecting the label is provided in the recording unit, and the label is detected by the loop detecting unit. When the label continuation time exceeds a preset time and the label detection means does not detect the label for a preset detection time interval, it is detected as the end of the recording medium. The method for detecting an end of a recording medium according to claim 1. 3. A recording medium supply unit, a recording unit for performing recording on the recording medium, and a conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium at a predetermined speed, and recording is performed by sequentially pulling out the recording medium provided in the supply unit. Detecting means for detecting the slack and tension of the recording medium when supplying the recording medium, a correcting means for detecting the slack by the detecting means and correcting the slack of the recording medium, and the detecting means. A recording apparatus comprising: means for detecting the end of the recording medium when the tension continuation time exceeds a preset time. 4. After detecting the end by the detecting means,
The recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising control means for stopping the supply control of the recording medium. 5. A recording medium supply unit, a recording unit that performs recording on the recording medium, and a conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium at a predetermined speed, and the recording medium provided in the supply unit is sequentially drawn to perform recording. Detecting means for detecting the slack and tension of the recording medium when supplying the recording medium, a correcting means for detecting the slack by the detecting means and correcting the slack of the recording medium, and the detecting means. The recording medium is a label recording medium in which a large number of labels are adhered at a predetermined interval on the base material, and the recording medium is a recording medium for detecting the label when the tension continuation time exceeds a preset time. A recording apparatus, comprising: a label detecting unit for detecting the end of the label recording medium based on a determination result from the determining unit and a signal from the label detecting unit.