Patent Grant
10464347
The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-107713 filed on May 31, 2017 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method and a non-transitory recording medium storing the printing program.
There is known a printing apparatus configured to perform printing with respect to a print medium (packaging material, label, etc.) which is conveyed by a conveying apparatus such as a packaging machine, etc. Further, a technique for controlling a conveying velocity at a part or portion, of the print medium, at which printing by the printing apparatus is performed (hereinafter referred to as a “print position velocity”) is also suggested.
There is known a thermal printer which performs printing with respect to an elongated film conveyed by a bag form-fill-sealing machine. The thermal printer is provided with a platen roller, a pinch roller, a pair of moving roller (also referred to as a “moving mechanism”), and a sensor. The platen roller is connected to a motor via a clutch. The platen roller is rotated by allowing the clutch to be in a connected state in a state that the motor is rotating, and conveys the elongated film in a state that the elongated film is pinched between the pinch roller and the platen roller. While the printing is executed by the thermal printer, the moving mechanism is moved along a X direction either toward a X1 side or toward a X2 side, in accordance with a relationship between a conveying velocity of the elongated film by the bag form-fill-sealing machine and a conveying velocity of the elongated film by the rotation of the platen roller. The sensor is capable of detecting that the moving mechanism is arranged at a reference position X0 which is a position at the end on the X1 side in the X direction.
In a case that the printing is ended, the thermal printer maintains the clutch at the connected state and stops the rotation of the motor. In this case, the moving mechanism is moved toward the X1 side in response to the decrease in the force toward the X2 side which is received by the moving mechanism from the elongated film which is being conveyed. In a case that the sensor detects that the moving mechanism has moved up to the reference position X0, the thermal printer switched the clutch to a non-connected state. By doing so, the thermal printer causes the moving mechanism to stop at the reference position X0.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing apparatus including: a frame; a platen supported by the frame and configured to face a thermal head; a moving mechanism supported by the frame, the moving mechanism being movable in a moving range along a specified direction. The moving mechanism includes: a first roller positioned upstream of the platen in a conveyance path of a print medium; a second roller positioned downstream of the platen in the conveyance path; and a supporting member rotatably supporting the first roller and the second roller. The moving mechanism is configured such that a part, of the conveyance path, between the platen and the first roller becomes short in a case that the moving mechanism is moved toward a first side in the specified direction, and that the part, of the conveyance path, between the platen and the first roller becomes long in a case that the moving mechanism is moved toward a second side, opposite to the first side, in the specified direction. The printing apparatus further includes: a motor provided on the frame; a transmitting mechanism connected to the motor and the moving mechanism, the transmitting mechanism being configured to move the moving mechanism toward the first side in accordance with driving of the motor toward one direction, and being configured to move the moving mechanism toward the second side in accordance with driving of the motor toward the other direction; a clutch provided on the transmitting mechanism, the clutch transmitting a driving force of the motor to the moving mechanism under a condition that the clutch is in a connected state, and the clutch not transmitting the driving force to the moving mechanism under a condition that the clutch is in a cutoff state; a sensor configured to detect a position of the moving mechanism and to output a signal in accordance with the detected position; and a controller configured to execute: starting rotation of the motor toward the other direction in a state that conveyance of the print medium by an external apparatus is stopped and that the clutch is in the connected state; performing determination as to whether the moving mechanism is located at an end, on the second side, of the moving range, based on the signal outputted from the sensor; and stopping the rotation of the motor toward the other direction, under a condition that the controller determines that the moving mechanism is located at the end on the second side of the moving range.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing method including: starting rotation of a motor to move a moving mechanism toward a second side in the specified direction, in a state that a clutch provided on a transmitting mechanism is in a connected state and that conveyance of a print medium by an external apparatus is stopped. The transmitting mechanism connects the moving mechanism and the motor, the moving mechanism is movable in a moving range along a specific direction, and has: a first roller positioned upstream of a platen in a conveyance path of the print medium, the platen facing a thermal head, and a second roller positioned downstream of the platen in the conveyance path. The moving mechanism is configured such that a part, of the conveyance path, between the platen and the first roller becomes short in a case that the moving mechanism is moved toward a first side, opposite to the second side, in the specified direction, and that the part, of the conveyance path, between the platen and the first roller becomes long in a case that the moving mechanism is moved toward the second side, opposite to the first side, in the specified direction. The method further includes: performing determination as to whether the moving mechanism is located at an end on the second side of the moving range, based on a signal output from a sensor configured to detect a position of the moving mechanism and to output the signal in accordance with the detected position; and stopping the rotation of the motor which has been started, under a condition that determination is made that the moving mechanism is located at the end on the second side of the moving range.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a printing program for causing a computer of a printing apparatus to execute: starting rotation of a motor to move a moving mechanism toward a second side in the specified direction, in a state that a clutch provided on a transmitting mechanism is in a connected state and that conveyance of a print medium by an external apparatus is stopped. The transmitting mechanism connects the moving mechanism and the motor, the moving mechanism is movable in a moving range along a specified direction, and has: a first roller positioned upstream of a platen in a conveyance path of the print medium, the platen facing a thermal head, and a second roller positioned downstream of the platen in the conveyance path, and the moving mechanism is configured such that a part, of the conveyance path, between the platen and the first roller becomes short in a case that the moving mechanism is moved toward a first side, opposite to the second side, in the specified direction, and that the part, of the conveyance path, between the platen and the first roller becomes long in a case that the moving mechanism is moved toward the second side, opposite to the first side, in the specified direction. The printing program causes a computer of a printing apparatus to further execute: performing determination as to whether the moving mechanism is located at an end on the second side of the moving range, based on a signal outputted from a sensor configured to detect a position of the moving mechanism and to output the signal in accordance with the detected position; and stopping the rotation of the motor which has been started, under a condition that determination is made that the moving mechanism is located at the end on the second side of the moving range.
A publicly known printing apparatus executes a printing with respect to a print medium on the platen roller. The print medium on the platen roller is moved in accordance with the movement of the moving mechanism. Accordingly, there arises such a situation that, when the printing apparatus starts the printing, a position or a location of the printing medium at which the printing is to be performed is changed depending on the position of the moving mechanism, in some cases. Therefore, in order to execute the printing with high precision with respect to a specified position of the print medium, it is preferred that the printing is started in a state that the moving mechanism is arranged at a predetermined position (for example, the reference position X0 in the above-described thermal printer).
However, in the publicly known thermal printer, the moving mechanism is moved up to the reference position X0 by the force received by the moving mechanism from the print medium which is conveyed by the conveying apparatus. Accordingly, in a state that the conveyance of the print medium by the conveying apparatus is stopped, the moving mechanism does not receive the force from the print medium, and thus is not moved up to the reference position X0. This makes it impossible to cause the moving mechanism to move up to the reference position X0 before the conveyance of the print medium by the conveying apparatus is started or resumed. Accordingly, for example, in a case that the conveyance of the print medium is started in this state and that the printing is started, the position of the moving mechanism at a time at which the conveyance of the print medium is started is not clear, thereby giving rise to such a possibility that the printing apparatus might be incapable of performing the printing at a specified position of the print medium.
An object of the present disclosure is, for example, to provide a printing apparatus, a printing method and a printing program capable of arranging the moving mechanism at a reference position before starting the conveyance of the print medium.
An embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. A printing apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus of the thermal transfer type. In the following, the upper side, the lower side, the left side, the right side, the front side and the rear side of the printing apparatus 1 will be defined so that the explanation of the drawings will be easily understood. The upper side, the lower side, the left side, the right side, the front side and the rear side of the printing apparatus 1 correspond to the upper side, the lower side, the left obliquely upper side, the right obliquely lower side, the left obliquely lower side and the right obliquely upper side, respectively, as depicted in
<General Configuration of Printing Apparatus 1>
As depicted in
The printing apparatus 1 has a printing section 2 and a conveying section 7. The printing section 2 is arranged on the upper side with respect to (at a position above) the conveying section 7. The printing section 2 controls a printing function with respect to the print medium 8. More specifically, the printing section 2 presses the ink ribbon 9 against the print medium 8 by a thermal head 28 and a platen roller 29, while conveying the ink ribbon 9 in the ribbon assembly 90. The printing section 2 transfers an ink of the ink ribbon 9, which is being conveyed, to the print medium 8 by heating the thermal head 28 in this state. The conveying section 7 controls a function of controlling the conveying velocity, of the print medium 8, which is being conveyed by the external apparatus 100, at a position of the platen roller 29 (also referred to as a “print position velocity”). More specifically, the conveying section 7 moves a moving mechanism 71 arranged in a conveyance path of the print medium 8 (referred to as a “medium path P”) to thereby adjust a length of an upstream part or portion, of the medium path P, on the upstream side of the platen roller 29 in the medium path P, and a length of an downstream part or portion, of the medium path P, on the downstream side of the platen roller 29 in the medium path P. By doing so, the conveying section 7 changes the print position velocity with respect to the conveyance position velocity.
<Frame 10>
As depicted in
Surfaces of the first side walls 11, 13 oriented to face toward the second side walls 12, 14, respectively, are referred to as first facing surfaces 11A, 13A, respectively. A surface of the first side wall 11 on the opposite side to the first facing surface 11A is referred to as a first opposite surface 11B. A surface of the first side wall 13 on the opposite side to the first facing surface 13A is referred to as a first opposite surface 13B. Surfaces of the second side walls 12, 14 oriented to face toward the first side walls 11, 13, respectively, are referred to as second facing surfaces 12A, 14A, respectively. A surface of the second side wall 12 on the opposite side to the second facing surface 12A is referred to as a second opposite surface 12B. A surface of the second side wall 14 on the opposite side to the second facing surface 14A is referred to as a second opposite surface 14B.
An opening 11C penetrating the first facing surface 11A and the first opposite surface 11B therethrough in the front-rear direction is formed in the first side wall 11. An opening 12C penetrating the second facing surface 12A and the second opposite surface 12B therethrough in the front-rear direction is formed in the second side wall 12. Each of the openings 11C and 12C is rectangular-shaped. A guide groove 13C penetrating the first facing surface 13A and the first opposite surface 13B therethrough in the front-rear direction is formed in the first side wall 13. A guide groove 14C (see
The first side walls 11, 13 are connected to each other with attaching members 15A, 15B and non-illustrated screws. The second side walls 12, 14 are connected to each other with attaching members 15C, 15D (see
<Printing Section 2>
As depicted in
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In the following, a part or portion which is different from the casing 2A and the platen roller 29 in the printing apparatus 1 is referred to as a bracket 1C.
<Conveying Section 7>
As depicted in
<Moving Mechanism 71>
The moving mechanism 71 has a first supporting member 72A (see
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<Motor 77, Transmitting Mechanism 6, Clutch 68>
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In a case that the clutch 68 is in the connected state and that the shaft 77B is rotated in accordance with the driving of the motor 77, the driving force of the motor 77 is transmitted to the driving shaft 63 via the second pulley 65, the belt 66, the first pulley 64 and the clutch 68. The pinion gear 62 connected to the driving shaft 63 moves the rack gear 61 in the left-right direction in accordance with the rotation of the driving shaft 63. With this, the moving mechanism 71 is moved in the left-right direction. In a case that the shaft 77B of the motor 77 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the moving mechanism 71 moves leftwardly. In a case that the shaft 77B of the motor is rotated in the clockwise direction, the moving mechanism 71 moves rightwardly.
As depicted in
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<First Sensor 41>
As depicted in
Note that in order to detect, by the first sensor 41, the position of the end part on the second side of the first supporting member 72a, in the case that the moving mechanism 71 is arranged at the reference position Sb, it is preferred that a boundary position on the first side of the detecting range of the detector 41A is coincident with the reference position Sb. There is such a possibility, however, that the boundary position on the first side of the detecting range of the first sensor 41A might be fluctuated or varied with respect to the reference position Sb, due to any assembly error of the first sensor 41, any individual difference in the first sensor 41, any noise, etc. In view of this, the position in the left-right direction at which the first sensor 41 is arranged is adjusted such that the reference position Sb is included in the detecting range even in a case that any fluctuation (variation) is occurred. As a result, there is such a case that the boundary position on the first side of the detecting range of the detector 41A is arranged at any position between the reference position Sb and a position which is separated away from the reference position Sb toward the first side by a predetermined length. Namely, in a case that the end part on the second side of the first supporting member 72A is located within a range (detecting range) up to the position which is separated away from the reference position Sb toward the first side by the predetermined length, the first sensor 41 detects the end part on the second side of the first supporting member 72A by the detector 41A.
<Second Sensor 42>
As depicted in
<Guide Roller 76>
As depicted in
In the following, the guide roller 76C is referred to as a “third roller 76C” and the guide roller 76D is referred to as a “fourth roller 76D”, in some cases. As depicted in
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Further, the second rotation axis 29X of the platen roller 29 is arranged in the center in the left-right direction of the moving range S. Accordingly, the distance L11 and the distance L21 are same with each other, and the distance L12 and the distance L22 are same with each other.
As depicted in
On the other hand, as depicted in
<Overview of Printing Operation by Printing Apparatus 1>
An explanation will be given about the overview of a printing operation by the printing apparatus 1, with reference to
As depicted in
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In a case that the printing apparatus 1 receives the print signal, the printing apparatus 1 rotates the shafts 21 and 22 (see
The thermal head 28 is heated. As depicted in
After the print image G(1) is printed, the heating of the thermal head 28 is stopped. As depicted in
The print medium 8 is conveyed, and the next eye mark m(2) is detected by the optical sensor 101 (see
After the print image G(2) is formed, the heating of the thermal head 28 is stopped. As depicted in
<Control of Print Position Velocity Wp by Movement of Moving Mechanism 71>
There is such a case that the conveyance position velocity Wt of the print medium 8 by the external apparatus 100 is decelerated. In this case, in a case that the print position velocity Wp of the print medium 8 becomes not more than a predetermined velocity Vth, there is such a possibility that the printing apparatus 1 might not be able to maintain a satisfactory printing quality. The reason for this is that the ribbon velocity V is adjusted with respect to (based on) the print position velocity Wp; and thus if the print position velocity Wp is not more than the predetermined velocity Vth, a narrower region of the ink ribbon 9 is heated by the thermal head 28 for a long period of time than in another case that the print position velocity Wp is not less than the predetermined velocity Vth. In this case, the temperature of the heated region of the ink ribbon 9 is increased to be higher than an appropriate temperature, and an image is reversely transferred onto the print medium 8 and/or the ink ribbon 9, any bleeding and/or faintness of the ink, etc. is/are easily occurred. The predetermined velocity Vth is a value determined by the characteristics of the thermal head 28 and the ink ribbon 9, and is assumed to be stored in advance in the storing section 32 at a time of shipment of the printing apparatus 1 from the factory. Note that the predetermined velocity Vth may be appropriately set by a user via the operating section 36 (see
Accordingly, in a case that the print position velocity Wp of the print medium 8 becomes not more than the predetermined velocity Vth, the printing apparatus 1 allows the clutch 68 to be in the connected state and causes the motor 77 to rotate toward the one direction. With this, the moving mechanism 77 is moved toward the first side (see
On the other hand, in response to the moving mechanism 71 caused to move from the reference position toward the first side, the medium path P between the platen roller 29 and the second roller 73B becomes long (see
In view of the above-described situation, the printing apparatus 1 moves the moving mechanism 71 toward the second side so as to arrange the moving mechanism 71 at the reference position, after a printing operation for a print image G(i−1) is ended and before a printing operation for a next print image G(i) is started. This is performed specifically in a following manner. For example, the printing apparatus 1 allows the clutch 68 to be in the cutoff state after the printing operation for the print image G(i−1) is ended and before the printing operation for the next print image G(i) is started. Note that even after the clutch 68 is allowed to be in the cutoff state, the print medium 8 is continuously conveyed by the external apparatus 100. In this case, as depicted in
<Electrical Configuration of Printing Apparatus 1>
An explanation will be given about the electrical configuration of the printing section 2 and the conveying section 7 of the printing apparatus 1. As depicted in
The controller 31 includes a CPU controlling the printing section 2 and the conveying section 7; a ROM storing respective kinds of initial parameters; a RAM temporarily storing information; etc. The controller 31 is electrically connected to the storing section 32, the operating section 36, the driving circuit 37, the communication I/F 38 and the connection I/F 39 via a non-illustrated interface circuit.
The storing section 32 stores a program of a processing executed by the controller 31, a print data, a variety of kinds of setting information, etc. The program, the print data, and the variety of kinds of setting information may be read, for example, from a USB memory connected to the communication I/F 38 (to be described later on). Further, in a case that a SD card is connectable to the communication I/F 38 as will be describe later on, the program, print data and variety of kinds of setting information may be read from the SD card connected to the communication I/F 38. The controller 31 may store the read program, print data and variety of kinds of setting information in the storing section 32. The variety of kinds of setting information may be input, for example, via the operating section 36 (to be described in the following). The controller 31 may store the input variety of kinds of setting information in the storing section 32.
The operating section 36 is an interface (a button, a touch panel, etc.) to which a variety of kinds of information can be input. The driving circuit 37 includes, for example, a circuit, etc., configured to output a signal to each of the motors 33 to 35 and the thermal head 28. The motors 33 to 35 are each a stepping motor which is rotated synchronizing with a pulse signal. The motor 33 rotates the shaft 21. The motor 34 rotates the shaft 22. The motor 35 moves the thermal head 28 between the print position 28A (see
The driving circuit 40 includes a circuit configured to detect a signal output from the controller 31 of the printing section 2 via the connection I/F 39 and the connection I/F 44, and to output the detected signal to the motor 77 and the clutch 68. Further, the driving circuit 40 includes a circuit configured to detect a signal output from each of the first sensor 41 and the second sensor 42, and to output the detected signals to the controller 31 via the connection I/F 44 and the connection I/F 39; etc. The connection I/F 44 is an interface element configured to perform communication based on a variety of kinds of universal standard.
In the following, an operation or action in which the controller 31 outputs a signal to the motors 33 to 35 via the driving circuit 37 is simply referred to that “the controller 31 outputs a signal to the motors 33 to 35”; an operation or action in which the controller 31 outputs a signal to the motor 77 and the clutch 68 via the connections I/F 39 and 44 and the driving circuit 40 is simply referred to that “the controller 31 outputs a signal to the motor 77 and the clutch 68”; and an operation or action in which the controller 31 detects a signal output from each of the first sensor 41 and the second sensor 42 via the driving circuit 40, the connection I/F 44 and the connection I/F 39 is simply referred to that “the controller 31 detects a signal output from each of the first sensor 41 and the second sensor 42”.
The first sensor 41 outputs, to the driving circuit 40, a signal in accordance with the presence/absence of detection of the first supporting member 72A by the detector 41A. A signal output from the first sensor 41 in a state that the first supporting member 72A is detected by the detector 41A is referred to as an “ON signal”. A signal output from the first sensor 41 in a state that the first supporting member 72A is not detected by the detector 41A is referred to as an “OFF signal”. In a case that the shaft 422 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the platen roller 29, the second sensor 42 outputs a signal in accordance with the rotation amount of the shaft 422 to the driving circuit 40.
The motor 77 is, for example, a so-called AC speed control motor in which a velocity detecting sensor is built in an AC motor. The motor 77 rotates the shaft 77B toward the one direction or the other direction, in accordance with a driving signal output from the driving circuit 40. A driving signal in a case of rotating the shaft 77B of the motor 77 toward the one direction is referred to as a “driving-toward-one-direction signal”. A driving signal in a case of rotating the shaft 77B of the motor 77 toward the other direction is referred to as a “driving-toward-other-direction signal”. Note that it is allowable to use, as the motor 77, a stepping motor configured to rotate synchronizing with a pulse signal. The clutch 68 is switched between the connected state and the cutoff state depending on a switching signal.
<Main Processing>
An explanation will be given about a main processing with reference to
An explanation will be given about the initialization processing with reference to
Timing (1): before the conveyance of the print medium 8 by the external apparatus 100 is started, namely, in a case that both of the print position velocity Wp and the conveyance position velocity Wt are 0; and
Timing (2): before the print signal is received, more specifically, after the power of the printing apparatus 1 is switched ON and before the print signal is received from the external apparatus 100 for the first time and the printing operation is started.
As depicted in
As depicted in
Note that in a case that the end part on the second side of the first supporting member 72A is arranged in the detecting range, the first sensor 41 outputs the ON signal in response to the detection of the first supporting member 72A by the detector 41A. Accordingly, also after the end part on the second side of the first supporting member 72A has been detected by the detector 41A, the moving mechanism 71 is continuously being moved toward the second side while the end part on the second side of the first supporting member 72A is being moved in the detecting range toward the second side. In this case, the platen roller 29 is continuously rotated. On the other hand, in a case that the moving mechanism 71 reaches the reference position, the movement of the moving mechanism 71 toward the second side is stopped. In this case, the rotation of the platen roller 29 is also stopped.
The controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S79). The controller 31 specifies, based on the detected signal, whether the platen roller 29 is continuously rotating after the first supporting member 72A has been detected by the detector 41A of the first sensor 41. More specifically, in a case that the Hi signal and the Low signal are alternately output in a repeated manner from the second sensor 42, the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is continuously rotating. On the other hand, in a case that the Hi signal or the Low signal is continuously output from the second sensor 42, the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is stopped. In a case that the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is rotating, the controller 31 determines that the moving mechanism 71 is continuously moving toward the second side (S81: NO). In this case, the controller 31 returns the processing to step S79. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S79), and repeats the determination of step S81.
In a case that the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is not rotating, the controller 31 further determines whether a state that the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued for a second predetermined time (for example, 100 μs). In a case that the controller 31 determines that the state that a continuous time during which the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued is less than the second predetermined time (S81: NO), the controller 31 returns the processing to step S79. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S79), and repeats the determination of step S81. In a case that the controller 31 determines that the state that the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued for the second predetermined time, the controller 31 determines that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and has stopped (S81: YES). In this case, the controller 31 stops the output of the driving-toward-other-direction signal with respect to the motor 77 which has been started by the processing in step S73. The rotation of the shaft 77B of the motor 77 toward the other direction is stopped (S83). Note that the clutch 68 is maintained to be in the connected state.
As described above, the second sensor 42 outputs the rotation amount of the platen roller 29 in a state that the conveyance of the print medium 8 by the external apparatus 100 is stopped and that the clutch 68 is allowed to be in the connected state and the motor 77 is rotated toward the other direction, thereby functioning as a sensor capable of detecting the movement (or stopping) of the moving mechanism 71.
The controller 31 starts the output of the driving-toward-one-direction signal with respect to the motor 77. The shaft 77B of the motor 77 is started to rotate toward the one direction (S85). Since the clutch 68 is maintained in the connected state, the transmitting mechanism 6 transmits the rotation driving force of the motor 77 to the moving mechanism 71. The moving mechanism 71 is moved from the reference position toward the first side.
As depicted in
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The controller 31 calculates the rotating velocity of the shaft 77B based on the driving-toward-other-direction signal output to the motor 77 within the third predetermined time after the rotation of the shaft 77B of the motor 77 toward the one direction has been started by the processing of step S85. The controller 31 multiplies the calculated rotation velocity of the shaft 77B by an outputting time during which the driving-toward-other-direction signal is output, thereby calculating the rotation amount of the shaft 77B toward the other direction. The controller 31 calculates the rotation amount of the driving shaft 63 based on the calculated rotation amount of the shaft 77B and the ratio of the diameter of the first pulley 64 to the diameter of the second pulley 65. The controller 31 calculates a moving amount (referred to as a “second moving amount M2”) of the moving mechanism 71, based on the calculated rotation amount of the driving shaft 63 and the gear ratio of the rack gear 61 and the gear ratio of the pinion gear 62 (S89).
The controller 31 determines whether the difference between the first moving amount M1 calculated by the processing in step S87 and the second moving amount M2 calculated by the processing in step S89 is not more than a predetermined value (S91). In a case that the controller 31 determines that the difference between the first moving amount M1 and the second moving amount M2 is more than the predetermined value (S91: NO), the controller 31 advances the processing to step S93. In this case, for example, there is possibility that any one of the following phenomena (a) to (c) might occur. Namely:
(a) the motor 77 steps out (provided that the motor 77 is a stepping motor);
(b) a phenomenon that the print medium 8 is slipped with respect to the platen roller 29 to thereby cause idle turning; and
(c) the belt 66 is detached from the first pulley 64 and the second pulley 65.
The controller 31 outputs an error signal, indicating that the moving mechanism 71 is not moved to an intended position, to the external apparatus 100 via the communication I/F 38 (S93). The controller 31 ends the initialization processing and returns the processing to the main processing (see
As depicted in
In a case that the detected signal is the ON signal, the controller 31 determines that the first supporting member 72A is detected by the detector 41A of the first sensor 41 (S105: YES). In this case, the controller 31 advances the processing to step S107. The controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S107). Based on the detected signal, the controller 31 specifies whether or not the platen roller 29 is rotating after the first supporting member 72A has been detected by the detector 41A of the first sensor 41. In a case that the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is rotating, the controller 31 determines that the end part on the second side of the first supporting member 72A of the moving mechanism 71 is continuously moving in the detecting range toward the second side (S109: NO). In this case, the controller 31 returns the processing to step S107. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S107), and repeats the determination of step S109.
In a case that the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is not rotating, the controller 31 further determines whether the state that the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued for the second predetermined time. In a case that the controller 31 determines that the state that the continuous time during which the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued is less than the second predetermined time (S109: NO), the controller 31 returns the processing to step S107. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S107), and repeats the determination of step S109. In a case that the controller 31 determines that the state that the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued for the second predetermined time, the controller 31 determines that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and has stopped (S109: YES). In this case, the controller 31 stops the output of the driving-toward-other-direction signal with respect to the motor 77 which has been started by the processing in step S101. The rotation of the shaft 77B of the motor 77 toward the other direction is stopped (S111). The controller 31 ends the initialization processing, and returns the processing to the main processing (see
As depicted in
The controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S17), and determines whether the moving mechanism 71 is stopped at the reference position (S19). Note that the controller 31 determines, by the processing of step S109 (see
The controller 31 outputs the switching signal to the clutch 68, so as to allow the clutch 68 to be in the connected state (S21). Note that the controller 31 has already output, to the clutch 68, the switching signal for allowing the clutch 68 to be in the connected state by the processing of step S71 (see
The controller 31 determines whether the controller 31 receives the print signal, output from the external apparatus 100, via the communication I/F 38 (S23). In a case that the controller 31 determines that the controller 31 does not receive the print signal (S23: NO), the controller 31 returns the processing to step S23. The controller 31 repeats the determination whether the controller 31 has received the print signal. The conveyance of the print medium 8 is started by the external apparatus 100. In response to the start of the conveyance of the print medium 8, the eye mark m is detected by the optical sensor 101. The external apparatus 100 outputs the print signal to the printing apparatus 1. In a case that the controller 31 determines that the controller 31 has received the print signal via the communication I/F 38 (S23: YES), the controller 31 starts the printing operation for one block (S25).
The specific of the printing operation is as follows. The controller 31 drives the motors 33 and 34 (see
While the controller 31 is executing the printing operation, the controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S27). The controller 31 calculates a rotation amount per unit time of the shaft 422 of the rotary encoder 42A based on the detected signal. The controller 31 calculates the rotating velocity of the platen roller 29 based on the calculated rotation amount per unit time of the shaft 422 and the ratio of the diameter of the rotating plate 42B to the diameter of the platen roller 29. The controller 31 calculates the moving velocity at a position, of the print medium 8, at which the print medium 8 makes contact with the platen roller 29, namely the print position velocity Wp, based on the calculated rotation velocity of the platen roller 29 and the diameter of the platen roller 29.
The controller 31 determines whether the calculated print position velocity Wp is not more than the predetermined velocity Vth (S29). In a case that the controller determines that the calculated print position velocity Wp is not more than the predetermined velocity Vth (S29: YES), the controller 31 advances the processing to step S31. The controller 31 starts the output of the driving-toward-one-direction signal to the motor 77 so as to accelerate the print position velocity Wp. The shaft 77B of the motor 77 starts to rotate toward the one direction (S31). Since the clutch 68 is maintained at the connected state (see S21), the transmitting mechanism 6 transmits the rotation driving force of the motor 77 to the moving mechanism 71. The moving mechanism 71 is moved from the reference position toward the first side. Note that the controller 31 adjusts the driving-toward-one-direction signal which is output to the motor 77 such that the moving velocity of the moving mechanism 71 in the case that the moving mechanism 71 is moved toward the one direction becomes not less than ½ the predetermined velocity Vth. The print position velocity Wp becomes greater than the conveyance position velocity Wt, and is accelerated until the print position velocity Wp becomes not less than the predetermined velocity Vth. The controller 31 advances the processing to step S33. On the other hand, in a case that the controller 31 determines that the calculated print position velocity Wp is greater than the predetermined velocity Vth (S29: NO), the controller 31 advances the processing to step S33.
The controller 31 determines whether the printing operation for one block has been ended (S33). In a case that the controller 31 determines that the printing operation for one block has not been ended (S33: NO), the controller 31 returns the processing to step S27. After the first predetermined time has passed, the controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S27), and repeats the determination of step S29.
In a case that the printing operation for one block has been ended (S33: YES), the controller 31 stops the heating of the thermal head 28. The controller 31 moves the thermal head 28 from the print position 28A up to the print stand-by position 28B. The controller 31 stops the rotations of the shafts 21 and 22 to thereby stop the conveyance of the ink ribbon 9 (see
As depicted in
The controller 31 obtains the print position velocity Wp calculated during the execution of the printing processing. Here, idealistically, the print position velocity Wp becomes a value obtained by adding, to the conveyance position velocity Wt, a value obtained by doubling the moving velocity of the moving mechanism 71 (hereinafter referred to as an “assumed velocity”). The controller 31 determines whether the obtained print position velocity Wp is not less than the assumed velocity (S53). In a case that the controller 31 determines that the print position velocity Wp is less than the assumed velocity (S53: NO), the controller 31 advances the processing to step S61. In this case, the moving velocity of the moving mechanism 71 calculated based on the signal output from the second sensor 42 consequently does not correspond to the moving velocity of the moving mechanism 71 calculated based on the rotating velocity of the motor 77. In this case, for example, there is possibility that any one of the above-described phenomena (a) to (c) might occur. In such a case, the controller 31 outputs the error signal, indicating that the moving mechanism 71 is not moved to the intended position, to the external apparatus 100 via the communication I/F 38 (S61). The controller 31 returns the processing to step S13 (see
On the other hand, in a case that the controller 31 determines that the obtained print position velocity Wp is not less than the assumed velocity (S53: YES), the controller 31 advances the processing to step S55.
The controller 31 outputs the switching signal to the clutch 68 and allows the clutch 68 to be in the cutoff state (S55). In a case that the controller 31 has started the rotation of the shaft 77B of the motor 77 by the processing of step S31 (see
The controller 31 determines whether an operation for switching off the power source of the printing apparatus 1 is executed (S59). In a case that the controller 31 determines that the operation for switching off the power source of the printing apparatus 1 is executed (S59: YES), the controller 31 ends the main processing. In a case that the controller 31 determines that the operation for switching off the power source of the printing apparatus 1 is not executed (S59: NO), the controller 31 returns the processing to step S13 (See
As depicted in
The controller 31 detects the signal output from the second sensor 42 (S17). The controller 31 specifies, based on the detected signal, whether or not the platen roller 29 is rotating after the first supporting member 72A has been detected by the detector 41A of the first sensor 41. In a case that the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is not rotating (S19: NO), the controller 31 determines that the moving mechanism 71 is continuously moving toward the second side (S19: NO). Namely, the moving mechanism 71 has not reached the reference position. In this case, the controller 31 advances the processing to step S43. An explanation about step S43 will be given later on.
In a case that the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is rotating, the controller 31 further determines whether the state that the platen roller 29 is rotating is continued for the second predetermined time. In a case that the controller 31 determines that the state that a continuous time during which the platen roller 29 is rotating is continued is less than the second predetermined time (S19: NO), the controller 31 advances the processing to step S43. The explanation about step S43 will be given later on.
In a case that the controller 31 determines that the state that the platen roller 29 is rotating is continued for the second predetermined time, the controller 31 determines that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and has stopped (S19: YES) (see
On the other hand, in a case that the controller 31 determines that the first supporting member 72A is not detected by the detector 41A of the first sensor 41 (S15: NO), or a continuous time during which the state that the platen roller 29 is rotating after the first supporting member 72A has been detected by the detector 41A is continued is less than the second predetermined time (S19: NO), the controller 31 determines whether the controller 31 has received the print signal, output from the external apparatus 100, via the communication I/F 38 (S43). In a case that the controller 31 determines that the controller 31 has not received the print signal (S43: NO), the controller 31 returns the processing to step S13.
On the other hand, in a case that the controller 31 determines that the controller 31 has received the print signal via the communication I/F 38 (S43: YES), the controller 31 advances the processing to step S45. In this case, consequently, the eye mark m is detected by the external apparatus 100 in a state that the moving mechanism 71 is not arranged at the reference position. In this case, there is such a possibility that it might not be possible to print the print image at a desired position in the print medium 8. The controller 31 outputs an error signal, indicating that the moving mechanism 71 is not arranged at the reference position, to the external apparatus 100 via the communication I/F 38 (S45). The controller 31 returns the processing to step S13.
In the initialization processing (S11) before the printing operation is started, the printing apparatus 1 allows the clutch 68 to be in the connected state (S71) in a state that the conveyance of the print medium 8 by the external apparatus 100 is stopped, and causes the motor 77 to rotate toward the other direction (S73). By doing so, the printing apparatus 1 moves the moving mechanism 71 toward the second side. The printing apparatus 1 determines whether the moving mechanism 71 is in a state of being arranged at the reference position, based on the signals outputted from the first and second sensors 41 and 42, respectively (S77, S81). In a case that the printing apparatus 1 determines that the moving mechanism 71 is in a state of having arrived at the reference position and having stopped there (S77: YES, S81: YES), the printing apparatus 1 stops the rotation of the motor toward the other direction (S83). By doing so, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of arranging the moving mechanism 71 at the reference position, before the conveyance of the print medium 8 is started. Further, in a case that the printing apparatus 1 receives the print signal from the external apparatus 100 after the initialization processing (S11) has been ended, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of starting the printing operation (S25) in the state that the moving mechanism 71 is arranged at the reference position. Accordingly, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of printing the print image (G) at a desired position of the print medium 8, with a high precision.
The printing apparatus 1 stops the rotation of the motor 77 while maintaining the clutch 68 at the connected state (S83). It can be said that this state is such a state that the moving mechanism 71 is capable of quickly starting the movement toward the first side, in response to the start of the rotation of the motor 77 toward the one direction. Accordingly, it is not necessary for the printing apparatus 1 to perform any control of the clutch 68 in a case that the movement of the moving mechanism 71 toward the first side is started by the processing of step S85. Accordingly, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of shortening the time required until the movement of the moving mechanism 71 toward the first side is started. Further, the printing apparatus 1 maintains the clutch 68 at the connected state, starts the printing operation (S25) in response to the receipt of the print signal from the external apparatus 100 (S23: YES), and moves the moving mechanism 71 toward the first side (S31). Accordingly, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of shortening the time since the print signal is received and until the movement of the moving mechanism 71 is started.
The detector 41A of the first sensor 41 is arranged at such a position that the reference position Sb is included in the detecting range. In a case that the end on the second side of the first supporting member 72A is arranged in the detecting range including the reference position Sb, the detector 41A detects the end on the second side of the first supporting member 72A. Due to this, in a case that the moving mechanism 71 is moved to the second side, there is such a possibility that even after the first detector 41A detects the end on the second side of the first supporting member 72A, the moving mechanism 71 has not reached the reference position and might be still moving toward the second side. On the other hand, in a case that the moving mechanism 71 is determined to be not moving, based on the signal outputted from the second sensor 42, this indicates that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and is stopped at the reference position. Accordingly, by using the first and second sensors 41 and 42, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of detecting, with a higher precision, that the moving mechanism 71 is located at the reference position. Accordingly, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of printing the print image G at the desired position of the print medium 8, with high precision.
The controller 31 specifies the first moving amount M1 of the moving mechanism 71 based on the signal outputted from the second sensor 42 (S87), after the rotation of the shaft 77B of the motor 77 toward the one direction has been started by the processing of S85. The controller 31 calculates the second moving amount M2 of the moving mechanism 71 based on the driving-toward-the-other-direction signal outputted to the motor 77 (S89). In a case that the difference between the first moving amount M1 and the second moving amount M2 is more than the predetermined value, there is a possibility that any one of the above-described phenomena (a) to (c) might occur. In these cases, for example, the moving mechanism 71 does not operate in some case, or the moving mechanism 71 is not moved up to an intended position in some cases. If such situation occurs, there is such a possibility that the printing apparatus 1 cannot maintain the print position velocity Wp which is more than the predetermined velocity Vth when the printing operation is started, and/or cannot realize a desired printing quality. In view of this, in a case that the difference between the first moving amount M1 and the second moving amount M2 is more than the predetermined value (S91: “NO”), the printing apparatus 1 transmits the error signal so as to notify that the moving mechanism 71 cannot be operated in a manner or mode required for maintaining the desired printing quality (S93). By doing so, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of notifying the external apparatus 100 of a state that the desired printing quality cannot be maintained in the print medium 8.
In a case that the printing apparatus 1 determines that the moving mechanism 71 has moved toward the first side up to the intended position (S91: YES), the printing apparatus 1 rotates the motor 7 toward the other direction (S101) so as to move the moving mechanism 71 to the second side towards the reference position. The printing apparatus 1 determines whether the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and has stopped at the reference position, based on the signals outputted from the first sensor 41 and the second sensor 42, respectively (S105, S109). In a case that the printing apparatus 1 determines that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and has stopped at the reference position, (S105): YES, S109: YES)), the printing apparatus 1 stops the rotation of the motor 77 (S111). In such a manner, after the printing apparatus 1 confirms that the moving mechanism 71 has moved toward the first side and has reached the intended position (S91: YES), the printing apparatus 1 is capable of moving the moving mechanism 71 appropriately toward the original reference position (S101 to S111).
Since the moving mechanism 71 is arranged at the reference position in a state that the rotation of the motor 77 is stopped, the moving mechanism 71 is in such a state that the moving mechanism 71 can be moved toward the first side and the printing can be started. In a case that the conveyance of the print medium 8 by the external apparatus 100 is started, and that the print signal is received from the external apparatus 100 (S23: YES), the printing apparatus 1 starts the printing operation (S25). At the same time, the printing apparatus 1 rotates the motor 77 toward the one direction in accordance with the relationship between the print position velocity Wp and the predetermined velocity Vth so as to move the moving mechanism 71 toward the first side (S31). Since the printing operation can be started in the state that the moving mechanism 71 is arranged at the reference position in the above-described manner, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of printing the print image G at a desired position in the print medium 8, with high precision.
The transmitting mechanism 6 rotates, with the driving shaft 63, the pinion gear 62 meshing with the rack gear 61 to thereby transmits the rotation driving force of the motor 77 to the moving mechanism 71. The clutch 68 is switchable between the connected state wherein the rotation driving force of the motor 77 is transmitted to the moving mechanism 71 and the cutoff state wherein the rotation driving force of the motor 77 is not transmitted to the moving mechanism 71. Accordingly, by allowing the clutch 68 to be in the cutoff state in a state before the printing operation is started, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of suppressing any unintended movement of the moving mechanism 71 before the printing operation is started.
<Modifications>
The present disclosure is not limited to or restricted by the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made to the present disclosure. A plate-shaped platen may be provided, instead of the platen roller 29. In this case, in order that intermittent printing can be performed, it is desired that a guide configured to guide the thermal head 28 in the left-right direction, and a moving mechanism and a motor configured to move the thermal head 28 along the guide are provide on the inside of the casing 2A. For example, a linear encoder capable of directly specifying the position in the left-right direction of the moving mechanism 71 may be provided, instead of the second sensor 42. The linear encoder may have a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element, and a scale having a linear shape. For example, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element may be provided on a front surface of the first supporting member 72A, namely, a surface, of the first supporting member 72A, which faces the first facing surface 13A of the first side wall 13. The scale may be provided on the first facing surface 13A of the first side wall 13. A light emitted from the light-emitting element may be reflected off the scale, and may be received by the light-receiving element. The linear encoder may specify the moving amount, of the first supporting member 72A, from the reference position with respect to the first side wall 13, based on the reflected light received by the light-receiving element. The controller 31 may specify the position of the moving mechanism 71, based on the specified moving amount from the reference position. The printing apparatus 1 may determine whether the moving mechanism 71 is arranged at the reference position, based only on the signal outputted from the first sensor 41. Namely, it is allowable that the controller 31 executes only the determinations by the processing of step S75 and the processing of step S77, and does not execute the determinations by the processing of step S79 and the processing of step S81. Alternatively, the printing apparatus 1 may determine whether the moving mechanism 71 is arranged at the reference position, based only on the signal outputted from the second sensor 42. Namely, it is allowable that the controller 31 executes only the determinations by the processing of step S79 and the processing of step S81, and does not execute the determinations by the processing of step S75 and the processing of step S77. A timing, at which the clutch 66 is allowed to be in the connected state by the processing of step S71 may be after the rotation of the motor toward the other direction by the processing of step S73 has been started.
In the initialization processing (S11), it is allowable that only the processings of the steps S71 to S83 are executed, and that the processings of the steps S85 to S111 are not executed. Note that the printing apparatus 1 stops the rotation of the motor 77 while maintaining the clutch 68 at the connected state (S83). It can be said that this state is such a state that the moving mechanism 71 is capable of quickly starting the movement toward the first side, in response to the start of the rotation of the motor 77 toward the one direction (S85). Accordingly, in a case that the printing apparatus 1 starts the printing processing (S25) in response to the receipt of the print signal from the external apparatus 100 (S23: YES), it is not necessary for the printing apparatus 1 to perform the control of the clutch 68 when the printing apparatus 1 starts the movement of the moving mechanism 71 toward the first side (S31). Accordingly, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of shortening the time required until the movement of the moving mechanism 71 toward the first side is started.
The transmitting mechanism 6 may rotate the platen roller 29 by transmitting the rotation driving force to the platen roller 29. In this case, the conveying section 7 preferably has a nip roller making contact with the platen roller 29. For example, by rotating the platen roller 29 in the counterclockwise direction in a state that the conveyance of the print medium 8 by the external apparatus 100 is stopped, the moving mechanism 71 which is held or pinched by the platen roller 29 and the nip roller can be moved toward the first side. On the other hand, for example, by rotating the platen roller 29 in the clockwise direction in a state that the conveyance of the print medium 8 by the external apparatus 100 is stopped, the moving mechanism 71 can be moved toward the second side.
It is allowable that after the controller 31 determines that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and has stopped at the reference position (S77: YES, S81: YES) and until the controller 31 stops the rotation of the motor 77, or after the controller 31 stops the motor, the controller 31 switches the state of the clutch 68 from the connected state into the cutoff state. In this case, it is allowable that, when the controller 31 rotates the motor 77 the next time (S85), the controller 31 switches the state of the clutch 68 into the connected state again. Namely, the controller 31 may allow the clutch 68 to be in the connected state while executing the control for rotating the motor 77, and the controller may allow the clutch 68 to be in the cutoff state at other times.
In a case that the controller 31 specifies that the platen roller 29 is not rotating based on the signal outputted from the second sensor 42, the controller 31 further determines whether or not the state that the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued for the second predetermined time. In a case that the controller 31 determines that the state that a continuous time during which the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued for the second predetermined time, the controller 31 determines that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and has stopped (S81, S109). In view of this, in a case that the platen roller 29 is not rotating, the controller 31 may determine that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position and has stopped, regardless of the continuous time during which the state that the platen roller 29 is not rotating is continued.
The controller 31 determines the relationship between the first moving amount M1 calculated based on the signal outputted from the second sensor 42 and the second moving amount M2 calculated based on the driving-toward-one-direction signal outputted to the motor 77 (S91). In view of this, the controller 31 may determine the relationship between the moving velocity of the print medium 8 calculated based on the signal outputted from the second sensor 42 and the moving velocity of the moving mechanism 71 calculated based on the driving-toward-one-direction signal outputted to the motor 77. In a case that the difference between the first moving amount M1 and the second moving amount M2 is greater than the predetermined value (S91: NO), the controller 31 may prohibit any subsequent printing operation thereafter by ending the initialization processing and the main processing.
In a case that the controller 31 determines that the moving mechanism 71 has moved toward the first side up to the intended position (S91: YES), the controller 31 may allow the clutch 68 to be in the cutoff state. With this, after the conveyance of the print medium 8 by the external apparatus 100 is started, the controller 31 may cause the moving mechanism 71 to move toward the second side up to the reference position by utilizing the force received by the moving mechanism 71 from the print medium 8. In this case, it is allowable that the controller 31 does not execute the processings of steps S101 to S111.
The controller 31 may determine whether the moving mechanism 71 is in the state of being arranged at the reference position, based only on the signal outputted from the first sensor 41. In this case, for example, the controller 31 detects the signal outputted from the first sensor 41 (S75); in a case that the outputted signal is the ON signal (S77: YES), then after the second predetermined time has elapsed, the controller 31 may determine that the moving mechanism 71 has reached the reference position (S81: YES). Note that in a case that the end on the second side of the first supporting member 72A is detected by the detector 41A of the first sensor 41 while the moving mechanism 71 is being moved toward the second side, there is a high possibility that the moving mechanism 71 might reach the reference position after elapse of the second predetermined time. Accordingly, by performing the determination as described above, the printing apparatus 1 is capable of easily detecting that the moving mechanism 71 is arranged at the reference position, without using the second sensor 42.
It is allowable that after the controller 31 stops the rotation of the motor 77 by the processing of step S111, the controller 31 outputs a notifying signal, notifying that the initialization processing has been completed, to the external apparatus 100. In a case that the external apparatus 100 receives the notifying signal, the external apparatus 100 may start the conveyance of the print medium 8. Afterwards, in a case that the eye mark m is detected by the optical sensor 101, the external apparatus 100 may output the print signal to the printing apparatus 1. In a case that the controller 31 receives the print signal from the external apparatus 100 (S23: YES), the controller 31 may allow the printing section 2 to execute the printing processing (S25).
The second sensor 42 may be disposed in the vicinity of the third roller 76C or the fourth roller 76D. The circumferential end part or portion of the rotating plate 42B of the second sensor 42 may make contact with the circumferential surface of the third roller 76C or the fourth roller 76D. The second sensor 42 may output a signal in accordance with the rotation of the third roller 76C or the fourth roller 76D to the controller 31. Note that the each of the third roller 76C and the fourth roller 76D is located between the first roller 73A and the second roller 73B in the medium path P. Accordingly, in a case that the print medium 8 is moved by the movement of the moving mechanism 71, each of the third roller 76C and the fourth roller 76D is rotated by the friction between itself and the print medium 8. Accordingly, even in a case that the second sensor 42 is attached to the third roller 76C or the fourth roller 76D, the second sensor 42 is capable of outputting the signal in accordance with the movement of the moving mechanism 71. Further, the ratio of the diameter of the third roller 76C or the fourth roller 76D to the diameter of the platen roller 29 is already known. Thus, it can be said that, even in a case that the second sensor 42 is attached to the third roller 76C or the fourth roller 76D, the second sensor 42 is capable of indirectly detecting the rotation amount of the platen roller 29 to thereby output the signal in accordance with the rotation amount of the platen roller 29.
The second sensor 42 outputs the signal in accordance with the rotation amount of the platen roller 29, thereby functioning as a sensor capable of detecting the movement (the moving amount, the moving velocity, the presence or absence of the movement) of the moving mechanism 71. Namely, the second sensor 42 indirectly specifies the movement of the moving mechanism 71 by detecting the rotation amount of the platen roller 29. In view of this, for example as depicted in
The first sensor 41 is provided on the end on the second side of the moving range S of the moving mechanism 71. More specifically, the first sensor 41 is provided at such a position that the reference position Sb is included within the detecting range of the detector 41A. In view of this, the position at which the first sensor 41 is arranged may be appropriately changed within the range satisfying the condition that the reference position Sb is included in the detecting range of the detector 41A. Accordingly, it is allowable that for example, a part or portion, of the first sensor 41, which is different from the detector 41A is not arranged at the end on the second side of the moving range S of the moving mechanism 71.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-107713 | May 2017 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5975777 | Nelson | Nov 1999 | A |
| 8454251 | Bhatia et al. | Jun 2013 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2001-270205 | Oct 2001 | JP |
| 2015-199205 | Nov 2015 | JP |
| 5935042 | Jun 2016 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180345689 A1 | Dec 2018 | US |
