JPH1086464A - Recording apparatus and recording method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a recording apparatus and a method so that unnecessary processing caused by a dimensional difference of a recording material need not be performed. A sheet feed roller and a platen roller are provided.
4. In the transport path on which the recording material is transported by the paper discharge rollers 106, the presence or absence of the recording material is detected by the paper presence / absence sensor 103, and when the recording head 105 performs recording on the recording material, each roller 102 , 104, and 106, the size of the recording material in the transport direction is measured based on the transport amount of the recording material in the forward direction and the state of the paper presence / absence sensor 103, and the recording material is transported in the reverse direction to print the recording head 105. To perform recording on the recording material.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method thereof, and more particularly, to a recording apparatus which conveys a sheet-shaped recording material to perform recording and a recording method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional recording apparatus has a transport device for transporting a sheet-like recording material such as paper, and a paper presence / absence sensor for detecting whether or not paper is present in a transport path of the transport device. No means is provided for measuring the vertical width of the paper before recording, that is, the dimension in the transport direction. Therefore, in these recording apparatuses, the user is required to set and input the vertical width of the paper in advance, and determine a place where a page break is performed based on the set value.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional example, the vertical width of the paper actually used for recording is larger than the vertical width (dimension in the transport direction) of the paper set by the user. If it is small, it is not possible to know the difference before starting recording. For this reason, even if there is a difference in the vertical width, recording is started, and if recording is interrupted at the rear end of the paper, time and paper may be wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a recording apparatus and a recording apparatus capable of preventing a recording failure due to a dimensional error of a recording material and suppressing an increase in processing time. It is to provide a method.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, comprising: a transport path on which a recording material is transported by transport means;
In a recording apparatus including a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of the recording material and a recording head for performing recording on the recording material, the recording device may be configured to perform the recording based on a conveyance amount of the recording material by the conveyance unit and a state of the detection unit. It is characterized by including a dimension measuring means for measuring a dimension of the recording material in the transport direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, wherein a conveying path on which a recording medium is conveyed by conveying means, and a recording medium for conveying the recording medium in the conveying path. In a recording apparatus including a detection unit for detecting the presence / absence and a recording head for performing recording on the recording material, a recording medium is transported in a first direction by the conveyance unit and a state of the detection unit. A dimension measuring means for measuring a dimension of the recording material in the transport direction; and a second dimension reverse to the first direction.
Recording means for transporting the recording material in the direction of and recording on the recording material by the recording head.

Here, the dimension measuring means conveys the recording material by a predetermined distance and checks the state of the detecting means.
When there is the recording material, the conveyance of the predetermined distance is repeated to obtain an integrated value of the conveyance amount, and when the recording material runs out, the integrated value can be set to the dimension of the recording material.

Here, the size measured by the size measuring means is compared with a preset value, and when the size is different from the set value, an image of one page of the set value is enlarged according to the size. Alternatively, the image can be recorded on the recording material in a reduced size.

Here, the dimension measured by the dimension measuring means is compared with a preset value, and when the dimension is smaller than the set value, the dimension corresponding to the dimension in the one-page image of the set value is determined. The remaining portion can be recorded on the recording material, and the remaining portion can be recorded on another recording material.

Here, the dimension measured by the dimension measuring means is compared with a preset value. If the dimension is different from the set value, the recording material is discharged and the recording material is discharged to another recording material. An image of one page of values can be recorded.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting the presence or absence of the recording material by a detecting means in a transport path on which the recording material is transported by a transporting means. A dimension measuring step of measuring a dimension of the recording material in the transport direction based on a transport amount of the recording material by the transport unit and a state of the detection unit. It is characterized by having.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting presence or absence of a recording material in a conveyance path on which the recording material is conveyed by a conveying means. In a recording method for detecting and recording on the recording material by a recording head, a transport direction of the recording material based on a transport amount of the recording material in a first direction by the transport unit and a state of the detection unit. And a recording step of transporting the recording material in a second direction opposite to the first direction and performing recording on the recording material by the recording head. It is characterized by the following.

Here, in the dimension measuring step,
The recording material is conveyed by a predetermined distance and the state of the detection means is checked, and when the recording material is present, the conveyance of the predetermined distance is repeated to obtain an integrated value of the conveyance amount, and when the recording material runs out. The integrated value may be the dimension of the recording material.

Here, the dimension measured in the dimension measuring step is compared with a preset value, and when the dimension is different from the set value, an image of one page of the set value is enlarged according to the dimension. Alternatively, the image can be recorded on the recording material in a reduced size.

Here, the dimension measured in the dimension measuring step is compared with a preset value, and when the dimension is smaller than the preset value, the dimension corresponding to the dimension in the one-page image of the preset value is determined. The remaining portion can be recorded on the recording material, and the remaining portion can be recorded on another recording material.

Here, the dimension measured in the dimension measuring step is compared with a preset value, and when the dimension differs from the set value, the recording material is discharged and the setting is performed on another recording material. An image of one page of values can be recorded.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

First, a normal recording operation will be described. Paper as a recording material is supplied from a paper feed port 101 and supplied to a paper feed roller 1.
02, while being conveyed by the rotation of the platen roller 104 and the paper discharge roller 106, the image is recorded by the recording head 105 and then discharged from the paper discharge port 107. Paper feed roller 1 on the transport path from paper feed port 101 to paper discharge port 107
A paper presence / absence sensor 103 is provided at a predetermined position between the sheet 02 and the platen roller 104. Each roller is rotationally driven via a drive transmission system by the rotation of a transport motor. The paper feed roller 102, platen roller 104, and paper discharge roller 106 are rotatable in both directions.

The recording apparatus of the present invention has a mechanical structure shown in FIG.
It has a well-known configuration including an image input unit, an image processing unit, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a recording unit, and a conveyance control unit that is controlled by the CPU and executes a later-described vertical width detection algorithm.

The paper presence / absence sensor 103 is, for example, a limit switch having a movable part that moves in accordance with the presence or absence of paper, or may be a reflection type optical sensor. The paper presence / absence sensor 103 is turned off when paper is present at the position of the detection unit 103a, and is turned on when there is no paper.
When a paper having a vertical width (dimension in the transport direction) shorter than the value set in advance by the user is fed, the recording head 105 is operated as usual.
Continue recording by However, if the ON state of the paper presence sensor is detected during recording and it is detected that the image of one page of the set value paper cannot be completely printed within the vertical width of the actually supplied paper, the recording is interrupted. Perform processing. Alternatively, the recording may be performed as described later without interrupting the recording. The setting of the vertical width of the paper may not be performed directly by the user, but may be performed from a host machine such as a host computer.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for detecting the vertical width of the recording material.

The algorithm will be described. First, in step S1, a slight paper transport operation is performed. In step S2, it is determined whether the paper presence sensor is OFF, and steps S1 and S2 are repeated until the paper presence sensor is turned OFF. The above process is a process for detecting the leading edge position of the paper, and the paper carry amount in step S1 is an amount that can detect the leading edge position of the paper with necessary accuracy. When the paper presence / absence sensor is turned off in step S2, the cumulative paper transport amount F is reset to 0 in step S3, and the measurement of the vertical width of the paper is started.

When the measurement is started, in step S4,
A predetermined amount of paper transport operation is performed. In the following step S5, the carry amount F4 carried in step S4 is added to the accumulated paper carry amount F. In step S6, it is determined whether the paper presence sensor is ON.
To S6 are repeated. The above process is a process for obtaining the accumulated paper transport amount F of the recording material from the detection of the leading edge position of the paper to the detection of the trailing edge position, and the paper transport amount in step S4 is the rotation amount of the transport motor. And a known value that can be known from the drive transmission system, and is an amount that can detect the rear end position of the paper with required accuracy. In step S6, the paper presence sensor is
Since the accumulated paper transport amount F at the time of N is the vertical width of the paper, this value is output as the vertical width (dimension in the transport direction) of the paper in step S7.

In order to start recording after measuring the vertical width of the paper by applying the algorithm of FIG. 2 to the recording apparatus of FIG. 1, the paper is conveyed in the forward direction and the vertical width of the paper is measured. The recording head 1 is transported in the reverse direction and then transported again in the forward direction.
It is necessary to start the recording by the recording head 05 or to perform the recording by the recording head 105 while transporting the paper in the reverse direction after the measurement, and then transport the paper again in the forward direction and discharge the paper. In this method, it takes time to convey the paper for a purpose other than the measurement and recording operations. Therefore, it is necessary to perform this conveyance at a high speed to prevent a reduction in the processing speed.

In the present embodiment, recording is performed from the time when the paper presence sensor detects the front end of the paper to the time when the rear end is detected by using the existing paper conveyance device and the paper presence / absence sensor without providing a new device. By transporting the paper without using it, the vertical width of the paper can be measured.

In the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the vertical widths of all the sheets are measured, the processing speed is greatly reduced. Therefore, in order to avoid this, assuming that only paper of the same size is set, measure the vertical width of only the first sheet when starting printing, and reduce the vertical width after the second sheet. It is possible not to measure.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The printing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is designed so that the processing speed does not decrease even if high-speed paper conveyance is not performed for purposes other than the measurement and printing operations. In FIG.
The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 307 denotes a temporary discharge port, 30
Reference numeral 8 denotes a paper discharge port, and 309 denotes a sorting unit. In the recording apparatus of FIG. 3, in addition to the transport path from the paper supply port 101 to the paper output port 107, a transport path in the reverse direction from the paper output port 107 to the paper output port 308 through the position of the recording head 105 is prepared. ing.

The paper on which the algorithm of FIG. 2 has been executed is conveyed in the forward direction toward the temporary paper discharge port 307, and is conveyed through the sorting unit 309 until the rear end of the paper passes. Whether or not the trailing edge of the paper has passed the sorting unit 309 can be known based on the measurement result shown in FIG. 2 and the rotation amount of the transport motor. After the passage, recording is performed by the recording head 105 while the paper is conveyed in the opposite direction toward the paper discharge port 308. At this time, since the paper is discharged to the paper discharge port 308 side by the operation of the sorting unit 309, it is not necessary to convey the paper in the forward direction again only for the paper discharge operation without the recording operation. Therefore, the processing speed does not decrease.

Recording can be performed by using the vertical width information of the paper obtained by the algorithm of FIG. 2 in various forms. For example, it is conceivable that the information is used to insert a page break at an appropriate position without causing the user or the host machine to set the vertical width of the paper, thereby performing efficient recording.

Further, the length information of the actually supplied paper obtained by the algorithm of FIG. 2 is compared with a preset value, and if both are different, the following is considered. Can be First, the image of one page of the set value is enlarged or reduced according to the obtained vertical width dimension of the paper, and is recorded so as to fit within the vertical width of the paper. It is also conceivable that the currently supplied paper is discharged, the next paper is measured, and recording is started on that paper when the set value is measured. If the vertical width of the obtained paper is smaller than the set value, a portion of the image of one page of the set value which falls within the obtained size is recorded on this paper, and the remaining portion is supplied with the next paper. Recording on paper is conceivable.

Further, it is conceivable to notify at least one of the user and the host machine that the vertical width of the paper is different before performing these processes. After the notification, the user or the host machine may be instructed to perform subsequent processing.

In this embodiment, when the paper is transported until the trailing edge of the paper is detected for measuring the vertical width, an extra process of transporting the paper without a recording operation before or after actual recording is performed. In order to reduce the problem, after the measurement is completed, the paper is conveyed in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction at the time of the measurement, the recording is performed, and the paper can be discharged to the paper discharge port as it is. For this reason, there is an advantage that the processing speed does not decrease even if high-speed paper conveyance is not performed for purposes other than the measurement and recording operations.

Further, in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, when the currently supplied paper is discharged without recording, the unrecorded paper is discharged to the temporary discharge port 307 so that the unrecorded paper is discharged. It is also conceivable to separate paper from recorded paper.

The method of the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the method of the present invention can also be applied to a case where the method is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the method of the present invention into a system or an apparatus, the system or apparatus can receive the effects of the method of the present invention. Become.

[0038]

As described above, claims 1 and 7 can be used.
According to the invention, the dimension of the recording material in the transport direction can be measured, and even if the dimension of the recording material in the transport direction is different from a preset value, the recording is performed halfway of the recording material. In addition to preventing the recording material from being wasted and wasting the recording material and wasting time, even if the recording material of various dimensions is set in the device, the appropriate There is a feature that recording can be performed by a recording method.

According to the second and eighth aspects of the present invention,
The same effect as the first and seventh aspects of the present invention can be obtained while suppressing a reduction in processing speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm for detecting a vertical width of a recording material.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 paper feed port 102 paper feed roller 103 paper presence sensor 103a detection unit 104 platen roller 105 recording head 106 paper discharge roller 107 paper discharge port 307 temporary paper discharge port 308 paper discharge port 309 sorting unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A transport path on which a recording material is transported by transport means, a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the recording material in the transport path, and a recording head for performing recording on the recording material. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dimension measuring unit configured to measure a dimension of the recording material in a transport direction based on a transport amount of the recording material by the transport unit and a state of the detection unit. 2. A transport path on which a recording material is transported by transport means, a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the recording material in the transport path, and a recording head for performing recording on the recording material. A dimension measuring unit that measures a dimension of the recording material in the transport direction based on a transport amount of the recording material in a first direction by the transport unit and a state of the detection unit; And a recording unit that conveys the recording material in a second direction opposite to the direction described above and performs recording on the recording material by the recording head. 3. The dimension measuring means conveys the recording material by a predetermined distance to check the state of the detecting means, and when the recording material is present, repeats the conveyance of the predetermined distance to accumulate the conveyance amount. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value is obtained, and when the recording material runs out, the integrated value is used as the dimension of the recording material. 4. A comparison between the dimension measured by the dimension measuring means and a preset value, and when the dimension is different from a set value, an image of one page of the set value is enlarged or enlarged according to the dimension. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus records the recording material in a reduced size. 5. A comparison between the dimension measured by the dimension measuring means and a preset value, and when the dimension is smaller than the preset value, the image corresponding to the dimension in the one-page image of the preset value is determined. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion is recorded on the recording material, and a remaining portion is recorded on another recording material. 6. A method for comparing the dimension measured by the dimension measuring means with a preset value, and when the dimension is different from the set value, discharging the recording material and setting the set value to another recording material. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image of one page is recorded. 7. A recording method for detecting presence / absence of the recording material by a detection unit in a conveyance path on which the recording material is conveyed by a conveyance unit and performing recording on the recording material by a recording head. A dimension measuring step of measuring a dimension of the recording material in the transport direction based on a transport amount of the recording material by the unit and a state of the detection unit. 8. A recording method for detecting presence / absence of the recording material by a detecting means in a conveyance path on which the recording material is conveyed by a conveying means and performing recording on the recording material by a recording head. A dimension measuring step of measuring a dimension of the recording material in the transport direction based on a transport amount of the recording material in the first direction by the unit and a state of the detection unit; A recording step of transporting the recording material in the direction 2 and recording on the recording material by the recording head. 9. In the dimension measuring step, the recording material is conveyed by a predetermined distance to check the state of the detecting means, and when the recording material is present, the conveyance of the predetermined distance is repeated to integrate the conveyance amount. 9. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein a value is obtained, and when the recording material runs out, the integrated value is used as the dimension of the recording material. 10. A comparison between the dimension measured in the dimension measuring step and a preset value, and when the dimension is different from the set value, an image of one page of the set value is enlarged or enlarged according to the dimension. 10. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein the recording material is recorded on the recording material after being reduced. 11. A comparison between the dimension measured in the dimension measuring step and a preset value, and when the dimension is smaller than the preset value, the image corresponding to the dimension in the one-page image of the preset value is determined. 10. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein a portion is recorded on the recording material, and a remaining portion is recorded on another recording material. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dimension measured in the dimension measuring step is compared with a preset value, and when the dimension is different from the set value, the recording material is discharged and the set value is transferred to another recording material. 10. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein an image of one page is recorded.