JP2006159727A - PRINTING DEVICE HAVING CLEANING UNIT FOR FEEDING ROLLER AND CLEANING SYSTEM FOR FEEDING ROLLER - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly instruct a user on the timing of cleaning.
When an error recurs, the number of consecutive occurrences is counted, and when a predetermined number (for example, 3 times) is exceeded, it is determined that the roller section needs to be cleaned, and the user performs cleaning. Encourage implementation.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning method and system for a paper feed roller portion of an inkjet printer.

  Conventionally, a paper feed roller of an ink jet printer has a lot of fine paper dust adhered during many paper feed operations, leading to a reduction in paper feed performance.

  In order to solve this problem, some printers include a function of performing a paper feeding operation on a cleaning sheet coated with an adhesive material and cleaning the roller portion. Furthermore, there is a printer that transmits a dedicated command to the printing apparatus and performs a paper feed sequence specialized for cleaning, which is different from a normal paper feed operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, this cleaning execution timing is left to the user, and there are many users who do not perform cleaning even when paper feed errors frequently occur and who cannot find an appropriate cleaning timing. To do.
JP 2000-141818 A

  As seen in the above-described prior art, it is necessary to appropriately instruct the user when to perform cleaning. According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately instruct the timing of cleaning and to select whether or not to perform the cleaning based on the judgment of the user.

  First, when a paper feed error occurs, the number of occurrences can be managed. If the paper feed roller is in a good state, most of the causes of paper feed errors are out of paper. Since the user should be aware of this, in most cases, the user accurately recognizes that the paper has run out, adds the paper, and cancels (returns) the error. Therefore, paper feed errors do not occur continuously.

  On the other hand, when the paper feed roller is dirty, the presence or absence of the paper itself is rarely related, and the user recovers the paper feed error while thinking "Why does an error occur when there is paper?" Try to let them. However, errors often recur. The number of consecutive occurrences is counted, and when a predetermined number (for example, three times) is exceeded, it is determined that the roller portion needs to be cleaned, and the user may be prompted to perform cleaning.

  As described above, by carrying out the present invention, the roller section for paper feed can be cleaned appropriately and with usability. Thereby, a normally smooth paper feeding operation can be realized.

  In addition, since cleaning is performed only when selected by the user, it is possible to reduce the troublesomeness of the user and to reduce power consumption, so that it is possible to expect operation in consideration of the environment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a system according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the printing apparatus includes a CPU, RAM, and the like, a printing unit, an interface with the host, function keys, and a media detection sensor. Further, the host computer has an external storage device as a function required by a general computer, and a file management system is operating.

  Now, referring to the flow of FIG. 2, the process from the occurrence of a paper feed error to the execution of the paper feed roller unit cleaning process by the user's judgment will be followed in order.

  First, when a paper feed error occurs, the printing apparatus stops the paper feed process according to a predetermined sequence, and notifies the host that paper feed could not be performed. In response to this, the host increments the paper feed error occurrence count by 1, and determines whether or not a paper feed error has occurred three or more times in succession.

  By the way, this count number management method is a means of sending information managed on the printing device as information to the host, whether it is managed on the host memory or on the host file. But anything is fine.

  If the number of consecutive occurrences of paper feed errors is less than 3, as shown in FIG. 3, the user is instructed to set paper properly, and then the user waits for an error recovery operation. It only has to be.

  However, if the number of consecutive occurrences is 3 times or more, the possibility of a paper feed error due to contamination of the roller portion must be doubted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a message recommending cleaning to the user is displayed, and it is left to the user to decide whether or not to perform the cleaning operation.

  At this time, although there is no contamination of the roller part for some reason, there is a possibility that a paper feed error occurs and the user grasps the circumstances / cause. In such a case, since the user does not feel the necessity for cleaning, the host may be notified that cleaning is not performed.

  If the necessity of cleaning is felt, the cleaning may be performed according to the progress of the host.

It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of this invention. 3 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is an example of a display unit on a host according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is an example of a display unit on a host according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (1)

Communication means for exchanging print data and printing device operating status or printing device setting status with the host host, stacking portion for mounting printing media, and printing function by feeding media from the mounting portion A printing device comprising:
In the printing apparatus, means for cleaning the paper feeding roller section by performing a paper feeding operation on a cleaning sheet coated with an adhesive material within a certain range or a cleaning plate provided with a portion with high friction. A feeding roller cleaning system provided,
In the event of a paper feed error, the printing device notifies the host to that effect, so that the host can detect that a paper feed error has occurred in the printing device, the user interface for user error recovery, and a paper feed error Means for managing the number of consecutive occurrences or the number of consecutive times of the return operation; means for judging whether or not a paper feed error has continuously occurred by a number of times determined in advance by the management means; and When it is determined that a paper feeding error has occurred continuously for a predetermined number of times or more, the user is allowed to determine whether or not to execute the cleaning unit for the paper feeding roller unit. Feed roller cleaning system.

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