JPH0482761A - Printer device with automatic printing pressure adjusting function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding the control of the execution timing of automatic print thickness adjustment in a printer device having an automatic print thickness adjustment function, automatic print thickness adjustment is performed when sheets of different thicknesses are continuously fed. The purpose is to recognize the difference between the paper thickness of the current paper and the paper thickness of the fed paper, and to perform automatic print thickness adjustment only when necessary. , a lever-type sensor depending on the paper thickness, and by utilizing the fact that the time difference between the detection times of these sensors is a function of the paper thickness, if the difference between the past time difference and the current time difference is large, the print head This process adjusts the gap between the paper and the platen according to the paper thickness.

(Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to control of execution timing of automatic print thickness adjustment in a printer device having an automatic print thickness adjustment function.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 5 shows one of the printer devices with automatic printing thickness adjustment function.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the example, and a sectional view showing details of the guide section above the gear rear. A guide rod 2 is mounted parallel to the platen 1, and an L-shaped guide rail 3 is mounted parallel to the guide rod 2. gear 1
Noah 4 travels back and forth along guide 2.3. The platen 1 includes a paper feed roller 10 that is pivoted to the frame of the device.
It is swingably supported by an arm 12 on a shaft 11, and is attached to the print head 5 so as to be movable toward and away from it. Rollers 13 are pivotally attached to both ends of the platen 1, and the platen 1, which is urged downward by its own weight or a spring, is supported by the rollers 13 coming into contact with the cam 6.

The cam 6 is fixed to a camshaft 14, and the camshaft 14 is mounted at a fixed position on a frame (not shown), and gears 15, 16
It is connected to a pulse motor 17 via. Therefore, when the cam 6 is rotated by the pulse motor 17, the platen 1 is pushed by the cam 6 and moves up and down. The contour curve of the cam 6 is a curve in which the amount of elevation of the platen 1 and the rotation angle of the cam 6 are proportional. The carrier 4 is slidably and rotatably supported by a guide rod 2 attached to a fixed position on the frame, and the guide rail 3 is held between the roller 20 and the sliding body 21 at the upper part of the carrier 4. The guide structure on the upper part of the carrier is shown in FIG. 6, in which the guide rail 3 is held between a roller 20 pivoted on the carrier 4 and a sliding body 21 urged toward the roller 20 by a spring 22. , allowing movement of the carrier 4 along the guide rod 2, and
Rotation of the carrier 4 around the guide rod 2 is restricted. 23 in FIG. 6 is a sleeve 7 which holds the sliding body 21 so as to be freely retractable. 24 is a spring holder.

The print head 5 is of an impact-don't-matrix type. The print head 5 is attached to the tip of an arm 4a that extends horizontally below the carrier 4. Therefore, when the carrier 4 rotates around the guide rod 2, the print head 5 approaches and moves away from the platen 1. Move forward and backward in the direction. The rotation of the carrier 4 around the guide rod 2 is regulated by a slider 20 and a sliding body 21 biased by a spring 22. That is, the print head 5 is urged toward the platen 1 by the spring 22, and its advancing end position is
This will be regulated by the rollers 20.

A detection piece 30 is fixed to the upper part of the carrier 4,
A sensor 7 having a pair of opposing light emitting device 31 and light receiving device 32 is arranged at a position slightly apart from the position of the tip of the detection piece 30 in a steady state. Note that printer devices with an automatic print thickness adjustment function are disclosed, for example, in
It is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 199969 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 137870/1983.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a paper conveyance system of a printer. When the line feed pulse motor rotates, platen 1. Paper feed roller 69. Paper feed rollers 70 to 71. The discharge roller 73 rotates. Note that the tractor 74 is used when producing continuous sheets.

Automatic feeding of the cut sheet 40 is performed as follows.

■ Hopper (not shown) rises.

■ The paper feed roller 69 rotates and the paper 40 is taken out from the hopper.

■ The leading edge of the paper 40 is fed to a predetermined position by the rotation of the paper feed rollers 70 and 71, and is then moved a predetermined distance (
paper 40 until the first line of paper is below the print head 5)
send.

Paper is ejected as follows.

■Platen1. Paper feed roller 72. Discharge roller 73
The paper 40 is conveyed by the rotation of.

(2) After the rear end of the paper 40 passes a predetermined position, the paper is further fed a predetermined distance and discharged to a stacker (not shown).

FIG. 8 shows an example of an electric circuit of a printer. Microprocessor 50 executes programs stored in control memory 52. The RAM 51 has a buffer for temporarily holding data, a work area, and the like. E2
FROM 53 stores data that is desired to be saved. The interface control circuit 54 controls data transfer with the computer of the main system. The microprocessor 50 sends data to the console panel 55 and driver & mechanism unit 56 via an output port 57, and also sends data to the console panel 55 via an input/output port 58.
5 and driver & mechanism section 56 (including output data of various sensors). Bidirectional driver/receiver 60 is for driving address signals, and bidirectional driver/receivers 61, 62 are for driving data signals. Address decoder 59
is for decoding the address signal.

Data is written to/read from a register etc. determined by this decoding result. Driver & Mechanism 5
6 includes a pulse motor for automatic print thickness adjustment, a carrier movement motor, a line feed pulse motor, and various sensors.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional technology, automatic print thickness adjustment is performed only for the first sheet of paper, and printing is performed using the head gap of the first sheet unless the second and subsequent sheets are not printed for a certain period of time. Therefore, under conditions where sheets of paper of different thickness are printed one after the other, the head
As the gap became wider, the print became thinner, and on thick paper, the head gap became narrower, causing problems such as the ink ribbon becoming loose. On the other hand, if the print thickness is automatically adjusted every time paper is fed, throughput will decrease.

The present invention was created in view of this point, and in the case where sheets of different thicknesses are continuously fed in a printer device having an automatic print thickness adjustment function, the paper when the automatic print thickness adjustment is performed is The purpose of this technology is to recognize the difference between the paper thickness of the paper and the paper thickness of the fed paper, and to automatically adjust the print thickness only when necessary.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention.
a guide 8182 that defines a conveyance path; a sensor 91 that detects the paper 40 on the conveyance path; Rotatable lever -90
, a sensor 92 that outputs an on or off signal according to the movement of the lever 90 , and a control device 100 having automatic print thickness adjustment execution timing determining means 110 and automatic print thickness adjustment processing means 120 .

The automatic print thickness adjustment execution timing determining means 110 calculates the time difference between the time when the output of the sensor 92 reaches a predetermined value and the time when the sensor 91 detects the presence of paper, and calculates the time difference between the current time difference and the past time difference. Based on this, it is determined whether automatic print thickness adjustment should be performed or not, and when it is determined that automatic print thickness adjustment should be performed, automatic print thickness adjustment processing means is activated.

The automatic print thickness adjustment processing means 120 is configured to perform processing for adjusting the distance between the platen 1 and the print head 5 according to the thickness of the paper currently being printed.

[Operation] When the leading end of the paper 40 collides with the oblique portion of the leading end of the lever 90, the leading end of the lever 90 descends.

When the amount of descent reaches a predetermined value, the output of the sensor 92 is switched from, for example, on to off. The leading position of the paper when switching from on to off is larger for thin paper than for thick paper.

Therefore, the time difference between the time when the output of the sensor 92 is turned off and the time when the sensor 91 detects the sheet becomes a function of the sheet thickness. By comparing the past time difference and the current time difference, it is possible to know whether the thickness of the paper has changed, and if the amount of change is large, automatic print thickness adjustment is performed.

(Example) Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the paper detection position in the present invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of each sensor in the present invention, and Fig. 4 is the execution of automatic print thickness adjustment in the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a timing control processing flow.

As shown in FIG. 3, the right end of the lever 90 is provided with a tongue portion 90a that extends upward.

The tongue portion 90a is bent at right angles to the paper feeding direction. A shielding piece 90b is provided at the left end of the lever 90. The lever 90 can rotate about the rotational fulcrum 90c. Although not shown, the transmission type sensor 92 has a light emitting section and a light receiving section. When the lever 90 is in the horizontal state, the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the transmission type sensor 90 are shielded by the shielding piece part 90b, and when the lever 90 is rotated clockwise from the horizontal state, the light emission from the transmission type sensor 92 is blocked. There is no shielding piece part 90b between the part and the light receiving part.

Although the reflective sensor 91 is arranged alongside the lever 90, it is not mechanically integrated with the lever 90.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the paper detection position in the present invention. The distance between the platen 1 and the print head 5 can be changed freely. An upper paper guide 81 and a lower paper guide 82 are provided, and the paper 40 is guided through the guides 81 and 8.
It is transported between the two. A notch is provided in a part of the lower paper guide, and a reflective sensor 91 is arranged below the notch. The lever 90 is arranged such that the tongue portion 90a of the lever 90 is positioned a predetermined distance apart from the position of the reflective sensor 91 in the paper feeding direction. The tip of the tongue portion 90a of the lever 90 is trapezoidal.

Paper 40 is fed from the left side. When the leading edge of the paper 40 passes over the reflective sensor 91, the detection waveform of the reflective sensor 91 changes from a high level to a low level. When the leading edge of the paper 40 hits the oblique side of the tongue portion 90a of the lever 90, the tongue portion 90a moves downward (see FIG. 3), and the detection waveform of the transmission type sensor 92 (synonymous with the lever type sensor detection waveform) changes from high level to low level. The difference between time T2 when the lever-type sensor detection waveform switches from high level to low level and time T1 when the reflection-type sensor detection waveform switches from high level to low level changes depending on the paper thickness, so compare this time difference. By doing this, you can know the change in paper thickness.

FIG. 2(a) is a diagram illustrating the paper detection position when the paper thickness is thin, and FIG. 2(b) is a diagram illustrating the paper detection position when the paper thickness is thick. Figure 2(a) and 211
As can be seen by comparing D(b), the value of the time difference (Tl-T,) when the paper thickness is large is smaller than the value of the time difference (Tl-T,) when the paper thickness is small. Become.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a control processing flow for the execution timing of automatic print thickness adjustment. A program for performing this process is stored in the ROM 52 (see FIG. 8).

■ Set N=O. N represents the number of sheets to be supplied.

■ Inhale paper.

■ Let T be the time when the reflective sensor detects the paper.

■ Let Tl be the time when the lever type sensor detects the paper. Note that the lever-type sensor refers to a sensor composed of a lever 90 and a transmission-type sensor 92.

■ Let ΔT(N) - Tl Tl.

■ Set N=N+1.

■ Check whether N>1. If NO, proceed to ■, then Y
If es, proceed to ■. That is, automatic print thickness adjustment (auto head gap) is performed unconditionally for the first sheet of paper.

■ Check whether ΔT (N) - 8T (N - 1) >A.

If Yes, proceed to ■; if No, proceed to [Phase].

In other words, if the difference from the previous paper is greater than the constant A,
Perform automatic print thickness adjustment again.

■ Perform automatic print thickness adjustment (auto to throat gear 1.p).

[Phase] Print.

■ Eject the paper.

■ Check whether there is a print command. If Yes, return to ■.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the difference between the thickness of the paper when automatic print thickness adjustment is performed and the thickness of the fed paper is checked, and the adjustment is performed only when necessary. It is possible to provide a printer device that performs automatic print thickness adjustment again and does not cause deterioration in print quality or loosening of ink ribbon without reducing throughput.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining the paper detection position in the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of each sensor in the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining the automatic detection position in the present invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view of an example of a printer device with an automatic print limit 8-way adjustment function, and Figure 6 shows details of the guide section above the carrier. A sectional view, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a paper conveyance system of a printer, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an electric circuit of the printer. 1...Platen, 2...Guide Rondo, 3...
L-shaped guide rail, 4... Carrier, 5... Print head, 6... Cam, 7... Photo sensor, 40...
...Paper, 50...Microprocessor, 51...
RAM, 52...Control memory, 53...E2 PRO
M, 54... Interface control D Wr, 55...
・Console machine, 56...driver & mechanism section,
57... Output boat, 58... Input boat, 69.
...Paper feed roller, 70 to 72...Paper feed roller, 73...Ejection roller, 74...Tractor, 81 and 82...Paper guide, 90...Lever 90a...
Tongue piece part, 90b... Shielding piece part, 90c... Rotation fulcrum, 91... Reflection type sensor, 92... Transmission type sensor. Diagram for explaining the principles of the present invention: Figure 1: Sheet route for T's August, Figure 2: Xi, September (-5 digit name, 5 mm) Figure 3: Automatic printing thickness control 9 Fruits 11 Guimin 7% Hayabusari Life Ding Kariri Flow Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] A guide (8) that defines a conveyance path for the paper (40) to be fed.
1, 82), a sensor (91) that detects the paper (40) on the conveyance path,
A lever (90) whose tip is on the conveyance path, the part that collides with the paper is oblique, and which can be rotated around a rotation axis, and a signal that is turned on or off depending on the movement of the lever (90). a control device (100) having automatic print thickness adjustment execution timing determination means (110) and automatic print thickness adjustment processing means (120); automatic print thickness adjustment execution timing determination means; (110) is
The time when the output of the sensor (92) reached a predetermined value and the sensor (
91) calculates the time difference from the time when paper presence was detected, determines whether automatic print thickness adjustment should be performed based on the current time difference and past time difference, and determines that it should be performed. The automatic print thickness adjustment processing means (120) is configured to activate the automatic print thickness adjustment processing means (120) according to the thickness of the paper currently being printed.
) A printer device having an automatic print thickness adjustment function, characterized in that the printer device is configured to perform processing for adjusting the distance between the printer device and the printer device.