The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-160836, filed Aug. 18, 2015 is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a transport device, a processed product producing method, and a transport control program.
To date, printers provided with an operating means for feeding roll paper have been known. For example, in JP-A-8-123114, a printer that allows roll paper to, upon pressing down of a rewind button or a paper feed button by a user, be rewound or fed until the detection of an identification code recorded on the roll paper is disclosed. In addition to such a printer disclosed in JP-A-8-123114, a printer that allows roll paper to, when an operating means is continuously pressed during a period longer than or equal to a constant period of time, be continuously transported while the operating means is pressed, and to, when the operating means is briefly pressed, be transported by a constant distance has been known.
In such conventional configurations, however, there is room for improvement in providing users with a flexible and instinctive operating means for instructing a transport distance, a transport velocity, and/or a transport direction.
An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that a transport device is provided which is easier to use than conventional transport devices.
According to one aspect of the invention, a transport device includes a transport section, a processing section, a detector, and a transport controller. The transport section transports a sheet. The processing section performs processing on the sheet. The detector detects a movement of a pointing instrument on a detection surface of the detector itself. The transport controller allows the sheet to be transported by a distance corresponding to the movement of the pointing instrument, and in a direction corresponding to the movement of the pointing instrument.
According to the one aspect of the invention, a user's operation of moving the pointing instrument on the detection surface enables the user to transport the sheet by a distance corresponding to the movement of the pointing instrument, and in a direction corresponding to the movement of the pointing instrument. With this configuration, therefore, users are able to flexibly allow such a transport device to transport a sheet through an instinctive operating means.
The movement of the pointing instrument may be defined by a direction in which the pointing instrument is moved on the detection surface and a distance by which the pointing instrument is moved on the detection means. These direction and distance may be a movement direction per unit time and a movement distance per unit time, or may be a trajectory and a total movement distance during a period from the contact of the pointing instrument with the detection surface until the release of the pointing instrument from the detection surface. Further, the movement of the pointing instrument may be defined by a direction in which the pointing instrument has been moved on the detection surface and a period of time (a contact duration time) from the contact of the pointing instrument with the detection surface until the release of the pointing instrument from the detection surface.
In the above transport device, the transport section may transport the sheet in a first direction, and the transport controller may allow the sheet to be transported by a distance proportional to a first-direction distance element constituting a distance of the movement of the pointing instrument on the detection surface, and corresponding to a distance element in a direction parallel to the first direction.
With this configuration, a user is able to, by moving the pointing instrument at least the first direction on the detection face, to allow the sheet to be moved by a distance proportional to a movement distance in the first direction.
Further, in the above transport device, the transport controller may allow the sheet to be transported at a velocity proportional to a velocity of the movement of the pointing instrument on the detection surface.
With this configuration, a user is able to instruct the transport velocity of the sheet by changing the velocity of the movement of the pointing instrument.
Further, in the above transport device, the detector may detect a configuration of the pointing instrument, and the transport controller may allow the sheet to be transported by a distance corresponding to the detected configuration of the pointing instrument.
With this configuration, a user is able to change the transport distance of the sheet by changing the configuration of the pointing instrument. In addition, it may be assumed that examples of the configuration of the pointing instrument include, but are not limited to, the number of the pointing instruments on the detection surface and a kind of the pointing instrument (for example, a human finger or a touch pen).
Further, in the above transport device, a display screen may be disposed so as to overlap the detection surface. Further, the transport controller may allow first scale marks indicating distances or second scale marks indicating distances and formed by enlarging the first scale marks to be displayed on the display screen. When the transport controller allows the sheet to be transported, on the basis of a second movement of the pointing instrument on the display screen on which the second scale marks are displayed, in the case where the second movement of the pointing instrument is the same as a first movement of the pointing instrument on the display screen on which the first scale marks are displayed, the transport controller may allow the sheet to be transported by a second distance corresponding to the second movement such that the second distance is shorter than a first distance corresponding to the first movement.
With this configuration, a user is able to create a situation that facilitates a minute adjustment of the transport distance of the sheet.
Further, in the above transport device, in response to a detection made by the detector and indicating a repetition of a specific movement of the pointing instrument on the detection surface, the transport controller may allow the sheet to be transported continuously after a release of the pointing instrument from the detection surface. Further, in response to a detection made by the detector and indicating stop of the pointing instrument on the detection surface, the transport controller may bring the transport of the sheet to stop.
With this configuration, a user is able to continue the transport of the sheet even after the release of the pointing instrument from the detection surface by repeating the specific movement of the pointing instrument. Further, with this configuration, a user is able to bring the transport of the sheet to stop by stopping the movement of the pointing instrument on the detection surface.
In addition, the invention encompasses a processed product producing method, a method for producing a processed product, a product resulting from processing on the sheet, transported in such a way as described above. Moreover, the invention encompasses a transport control program for allowing the above transport device to execute transport control. Further, the function of each of constituent elements set forth in appended claims is realized by hardware resources that allow the relevant function to be specified by hardware components themselves, hardware resources that allow the relevant function to be specified by programs, or a combination of these two kinds of hardware resources. Further, the function of each of the constituent elements is not limited to a function realized by hardware resources that are physically independent of one another.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the invention will be described referring to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that, in the figures, constituent elements associated with one another are denoted by the same reference sign, and duplicated description thereof will be omitted.
1.1 Configuration
Upon reception of a printing instruction from the host apparatus 100, in accordance with the printing instruction, a printing controller 21 allows a recording unit 23 to execute printing and allows a transport controller 22 to transport the sheet S. The printing controller 21 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a nonvolatile memory, a communication I/F circuit, and any other component, and allows the CPU to execute a printing control program recorded in the ROM or the nonvolatile memory using the RAM, so as to execute printing processing. The recording unit 23 discharges ink droplets onto the sheet S, which is moved between the recording unit 23 and a platen 24 by the transport controller 22, on the basis of signals output from the printing controller 21, so as to form an image on the sheet S. The printing controller 21 and the recording unit 23 correspond to the “processing section”.
Further, the printer 1 includes a touch panel 40. The touch panel 40 in this embodiment includes a display and a touch detection panel. Various images are displayed on the display under the control of the transport controller 22. The touch detection panel is disposed on the display so as to overlap the display. At present, there are various types of touch panels, and any appropriate type of touch panel among them may be employed as the touch panel 40. In the transport mode, a user is able to input an instruction in relation to a transport direction, a transport distance, or any other like setting item for the transport of the sheet S while shifting his or her finger on a display screen (i.e., a detection surface) of the touch panel 40. The touch panel 40 corresponds to the “detector”. In addition to such a human finger, any pointing instrument detectable by the detection surface, such as a touch pen, may be employed as the pointing instrument.
In the printing mode, the transport controller 22 controls the transport movement of the sheet S on the basis of an instruction from the printing controller 21. Further, in the transport mode, in response to a transport instruction input by a user via the touch panel 40, the transport controller 22 controls the transport movement of the sheet S. The transport controller 22 is constituted by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a nonvolatile memory, and any other component. The transport controller 22 allows the CPU to execute a transport control program recorded in the ROM or the nonvolatile memory using the RAM as needed, so as to realize the transport movement.
The printer 1 includes a paper feed roller 29, a transport roller 30, a paper ejection roller 32, a motor 27, and driven rollers 28A, 28B, and 28C. These components serve as the “transport section”, and the motor 27 drives the paper feed roller 29, the transport roller 30, and the paper ejection roller 32. The transport controller 22 provides a rotation direction, a rotation angle, and a rotation velocity to the motor 27, and then, allows the motor 27 to rotate. The driven roller 28A, the driven roller 28B, and the driven roller 28C are respectively disposed at a position opposite the paper feed roller 29 with the sheet S therebetween, a position opposite the transport roller 30 with the sheet S therebetween, and a position opposite the paper ejection roller 32 with the sheet S therebetween. Further, each of the driven rollers 28A, 28B, and 28C pushes and presses the sheet S integrally with a corresponding one of the paired rollers so that the sheet S is moved by a frictional force between the sheet S and each of the rollers.
The transport controller 22 controls the transport direction of the sheet S by controlling the rotation direction of the motor 27.
In this specification, a transport in a direction in which the sheet S having been fed from a roll paper 25 is transported toward the recording unit 23 side is called a positive-direction transport (a positive transport); while a transport in a direction in which the sheet S is transported from the recording unit 23 side toward the roll paper 25 side is called a negative-direction transport or a reverse-direction transport (a negative transport or a reverse transport). Further, the transport controller 22 controls the transport velocity of the sheet S by controlling the rotation velocity of the motor 27. Further, the transport controller 22 controls the transport distance of the sheet S by controlling the rotation angle of the motor 27. In addition, when executing the reverse transport, the transport controller 22 may perform control so as to allow the paper feed roller 29 to transport the sheet S in the reverse direction, and allow a motor (not illustrated) to rotate a shaft penetrating the core of the roll paper 25 so as to allow the sheet S to be wound again.
1.2 Transport Control Corresponding to Operation
Next, operations onto the touch panel 40 and transport control corresponding to each of the operations will be described step by step with reference to
In addition, in this specification, a swipe operation is defined as an operation that moves a finger in a state in which the finger is kept in contact with the display screen and that allows a duration time from the start of the contact until the end of the contact (i.e., a contact duration time) to be shorter than a predetermined first threshold time. Further, a drag operation is defined as an operation that moves a finger in a state in which the finger is kept in contact with the display screen and that allows a contact duration time to be longer than or equal to the first threshold time. Further, a touch and hold operation is defined as an operation that allows a finger to remain in contact with the same position on the display screen during a period of time longer than or equal to a predetermined second threshold time. The first threshold time and the second threshold time may be the same.
In the transport mode, scale marks 400 and a numerical value 400 are displayed, as shown in
When having transported the sheet S by the first distance L1, the transport controller 22 terminates the display of the numerical value 402. As a result, the content of the display on the display screen 40a returns to the state shown in
Subsequently, a continuous swipe operation will be described. When a user continuously performs a swipe operation with his or her single finger in a state in which the sheet is stopped, the transport of the sheet S enters a continuous transport state in which the transport of the sheet S is continuously executed even after the user has released his or her finger from the display screen to terminate the continuous swipe operation. Further, in the continuous transport state, the transport is executed at a velocity higher than the velocity (L1/T), at which, in response to one swipe operation, the sheet S is transported by the first distance L1. In this embodiment, the swipe operation corresponds to the “specific movement”.
Specifically, for example, in a state in which the sheet S is stopped (i.e., in the case where the display screen 40a is in a state illustrated in
During a period when the sheet S is transported by the first distance L1, when, as shown in
Next, a drag operation during a continuous transport will be described with reference to
Further, for example, in the case where the sheet S is in the positive-direction continuous transport state, when, as shown in
Further, in the case where the sheet S is in the continuous transport state, for example, when, as shown in
In addition, the execution of the sheet transport corresponding to the direction and the velocity of the drag operation is not limited to such an execution in the state in which the sheet S is in the continuous transport state. For example, even when the sheet S is in a stop state, the sheet S may be transported at a velocity corresponding to the velocity of the drag operation, and in a direction corresponding to the direction of the drag operation.
Further, in the case where a state in which a drag velocity in the direction parallel to the y-axis is lower than a predetermined first velocity is continued during a period of time longer than or equal to a predetermined first period of time, the transport controller may switch a current transport velocity to a velocity lower than the current transport velocity. A specific example will be described using
Further, when, as shown in
As described above, a user is able to input transport instructions into the printer 1 in an instinctive and flexible manner by moving his or her finger on the display screen 40a of the touch panel 40. Further, a user is able to allow the printer 1 to execute printing in accordance with a printing instruction from the host apparatus 100 after having adjusted the position of the sheet S, and thus, this configuration enables a user to obtain a printed product (corresponding to the “processed product”) having been subjected to printing on a desired position of roll paper.
It is to be noted that the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment and, naturally, various modifications may be made on the aforementioned embodiment within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention. For example, the transport device according to one aspect of the invention may be applied to a scanner (an image reading device). In the case where the transport device according to one aspect of the invention is applied to the scanner, image data obtained by reading an original document corresponds to the “processed product”. For example, a receipt or a film may be assumed as the original document. Further, the sheet is not limited to the roll paper, but may be cut paper, fanfold paper, or any other like paper.
Further, for example, the transport device according to one aspect of the invention may include a touch panel having no display function (for example, a touchpad or a track pad), and the sheet transport may be executed so as to allow the direction and the distance of the sheet transport to correspond to the movement of a pointing instrument on a detection surface of the relevant touch panel.
Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, an example in which, when a drag operation has been performed in the y-axis negative direction when a sheet is in a positive-direction continuous transport state, the sheet is allowed to be transported in the reverse direction has been described, but when a drag operation has been performed in the y-axis negative direction when a sheet is in the positive-direction continuous transport state, the transport of the sheet may be controlled such that the transport direction remains the positive direction and the transport velocity is reduced. When a drag operation in a direction reverse to a current transport direction has been performed when a sheet is in a continuous transport state, the velocity of the continuous transport may be reduced so as to correspond to the drag velocity.
In addition, for example, as shown in
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