JP2007136717A - Method for printing and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a print by using inexpensive rolled paper at a high speed as in a case using a sheet of paper. <P>SOLUTION: A recording medium is drawn from rolled paper constituted of a wound long recording medium and is cut to form a sheet of paper in a prescribed size. The sheet of paper is housed in a prescribed stacker section. The sheet of paper is supplied from the stacker section to an image recording section, and then an image is recorded to form a print. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing method and printer apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium to create a print. More specifically, the present invention relates to a printing method and printer apparatus capable of performing rapid print creation using an inexpensive roll-shaped recording medium. About.

  In various printing apparatuses such as ink jet printers, electrophotographic printers, and photographic printers, a recording medium such as an image receiving medium or a photosensitive material is supplied mainly as a so-called sheet paper (cut sheet) that has been cut into a print size in advance. A so-called roll paper (sheet roll) formed by winding a long recording medium is known.

The supply of the recording medium by sheet paper can easily cope with print creations of various sizes and types, and the print medium can be quickly produced without a cutting step of the recording medium. On the other hand, since the sheet paper previously cut according to the print size is used, the printing cost is increased.
On the other hand, the supply of the recording medium by roll paper is suitable for mass-producing prints of the same size, and the cost of the recording medium is easy. On the other hand, since it is necessary to cut the recording medium for each print, it is not possible to create a print as quickly as compared to creating a print from sheet paper.

Also, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a printer device having a sheet paper supply unit and a roll paper supply unit is also known.
However, even with such a printer device that can produce prints from both sheet paper and roll paper, it is still expensive to produce prints from sheet paper, and print production from roll paper is inefficient. This is the same.

JP 2000-127357 A

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is possible to quickly produce a low-cost print as in the case of using roll paper as in the case of using sheet paper. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a printing method and a printer apparatus that can also make different types of prints from one roll paper as required.

  In order to achieve the above object, the printing method of the present invention is a sheet in which a recording medium is drawn from a roll paper formed by winding a long recording medium loaded in a predetermined position and cut into a target size. Printing is characterized in that paper is generated, the sheet is stored in a predetermined loading unit, the sheet is supplied from the loading unit to the image recording unit, and image recording is performed to create a print. Provide a method.

  Further, the printer device of the present invention includes a roll paper loading unit for loading roll paper obtained by winding a long recording medium, and a long recording medium drawn from the recording roll paper. Cutting means for making a sheet paper of a size to be stored, a sheet paper supply unit for storing the sheet paper, and a recording means for recording an image on the recording medium, and pulling out the recording medium from the roll paper loading unit, Sheet paper is generated by the cutting means, stored in the sheet paper supply unit, and when printing is output, the sheet paper is supplied from the sheet paper supply unit to the recording means, Provided is a printer device that records an image and outputs it as a print.

In such a printing method and printer apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the sheet paper supply unit has detection means for detecting the number of sheet papers to be stored. In this case, the sheet paper stored by the detection means When it is detected that the number of sheets is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the recording medium is automatically pulled out from the roll paper loading unit, and a predetermined number of sheet sheets preset by the cutting unit are generated, and the sheet paper supply It is preferable to accommodate in the part. In addition, there is provided an input instruction unit having a function of instructing the generation of sheet paper or further the number of sheets to be generated. In response to an input instruction from the input instruction unit, the recording medium is pulled out from the roll paper loading unit and the cutting is performed. It is preferable that a predetermined number of sheets set in advance by the means or the number of sheets instructed to be input are generated and stored in the sheet sheet supply unit.
Further, it is preferable to have a processing means for processing the recording medium. In this case, the processing means preferably performs a process for imparting gloss to the surface of the print. In this case, the processing means A recording medium disposed between the roll paper loading unit and the cutting unit and transported by the processing unit as necessary when the recording medium is transported from the roll paper loading unit to the cutting unit for generating the sheet paper. Further, in this case, when the sheet paper is supplied from the sheet paper supply unit to the recording means, the image is recorded on the sheet paper, and output as a print, if necessary. Thus, it is preferable to process the recording medium by the processing means.
Further, the recording medium processing unit is provided between the roll paper loading unit and the cutting unit, and when the recording medium is conveyed from the roll paper loading unit to the cutting unit for generating the sheet paper, It is preferable to process the recording medium by the processing means as necessary,
In addition, it is preferable that the sheet paper supply unit includes a plurality of sheet paper storage units and a distribution unit that distributes the sheet paper to the sheet paper storage units.
Further, the cutting means cuts the recording medium in the X direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the long recording medium, and the recording medium cuts in the Y direction which is the longitudinal direction of the long recording medium. It is preferable that the XY cutter has a cutting portion that cuts, and prior to cutting by the cutting means, the recording medium drawn from the roll paper is cut in the X direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the long recording medium. Thus, it is preferable to have a pre-cutter as a long sheet-like recording medium.
A first conveyance path from the roll paper loading unit to a print discharge position; and a second conveyance path branched from the first conveyance path by a branching unit to reach the sheet paper supply unit, The recording means is disposed between the branch portion of the first transport path and the discharge position, and the cutting means is disposed between the recording means and the discharge position of the first transport path, and the roll paper loading section When the recording medium is pulled out from the sheet, the sheet is generated by the cutting unit, and is stored in the sheet paper supply unit, the recording medium is conveyed to the cutting unit by the first conveying path, and is cut by the cutting unit. It is preferable that the sheet paper is conveyed through the first conveyance path in a direction opposite to the previous direction, and accommodated in the sheet paper supply unit from the second conveyance path, and further the conveyance path of the recording medium In addition, there is a means to reverse the front and back Preference is.

According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, for example, at night or during print creation, the roll paper is cut and a large number of sheet papers are created and stored in a predetermined loading unit. This is done using sheet paper made from roll paper. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform quick print creation that does not require cutting of the recording medium equivalent to the case of using sheet paper at the same low cost of the recording medium as that of using roll paper.
Preferably, as a cutting means for cutting the roll paper, an XY cutter capable of cutting the recording medium in the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the roll paper is used to make sheets of various sizes from one roll paper. Paper can be generated, and it is possible to create a print with a very high degree of freedom.
Further, preferably, by having a surface treatment means, an underlying layer or a glossy layer is formed on the roll paper or the sheet paper, when necessary, when creating the sheet paper from the roll paper or at the time of creating the print. Thus, a print using a different recording medium can be created from one roll paper.

  Hereinafter, a printing method and a printer apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 conceptually shows an example of a printer apparatus of the present invention that implements the printing method of the present invention.
The printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 draws a long recording medium P from the roll paper Pr loaded in the loading unit, cuts it with a cutting means, generates a sheet paper Pc, and supplies a large number of sheet papers Pc to a predetermined supply. The sheet paper Pc is supplied from the supply unit, and as an example, an image is recorded by ink jetting to be printed.

As an example, such a printer 10 includes a roll paper loading unit 12, a sheet paper supply unit 14, a surface processing unit 16, an image recording unit 18, a pre-cutter 20, an XY cutter 22 serving as a cutting unit, A front / back reversing unit 24 and a print discharge unit 26 are provided.
In addition, the printer 10 branches from the first conveyance path 32 by the first conveyance path 32 that is the conveyance path of the recording medium P from the roll paper loading unit 12 to the discharge unit 26 and the branch unit 34 to supply sheet paper. A second transport path 36 that is a transport path of the recording medium P reaching the section 14 is formed. The surface processing unit 16, the image recording unit 18, the pre-cutter 20, the XY cutter 22, and the front / back reversing unit 24 are arranged in the first conveyance path 32.

Furthermore, the printer 10 includes a control unit 28 that controls and manages the operation of the entire apparatus, and an operation unit that inputs various operations and instructions in the printer 10 (not shown). This operation means is an instruction for generating sheet paper Pc, which will be described later, and an instruction for inputting the number of sheets to be generated.
The operation means is not particularly limited, and all known operation means used in various printers, copiers, etc., such as operation means using a touch panel, operation means using buttons, etc. Is possible.

  In addition to the members illustrated and described above, the printer 10 includes conveying means such as a conveying roller pair that conveys the recording medium P (roll paper and / or sheet paper), a recording medium conveying guide, and recording as necessary. You may have the various members which various known printers, such as a sensor which detects a medium, have.

The roll paper loading unit 12 is a part for rotatably loading a roll paper Pr (sheet roll) formed by winding a long recording medium P in a roll shape. The roll paper loading unit 12 is provided with a pair of drawing rollers 40 that draws the recording medium P from the roll paper Pr.
In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the long recording medium P, that is, the conveyance direction of the recording medium P is defined as the Y direction, and the direction orthogonal to the Y direction, that is, the width direction of the long recording medium P is defined as the X direction.

In the roll paper loading unit 12, the method for loading the roll paper Pr is not particularly limited, and any of various loading methods implemented by a known printer using the roll paper Pr such as a photographic printer can be used.
As an example, at a predetermined loading position, both ends of the winding axis of the roll paper Pr (both ends in the X direction) are rotatably supported, and the roll paper Pr is sandwiched by large-diameter flanges at both ends in the X direction. Examples include a method of placing the flange on two rotatable rollers that extend in the X direction and are arranged in the Y direction at a predetermined loading position.

  Further, the recording medium P wound as the roll paper Pr is not particularly limited, and is a recording paper dedicated to inkjet having a plain paper (plain paper) and an image receiving layer (ink receiving layer) that are widely used for creating a so-called document. Any known recording medium (image receiving medium) such as paper, ink jet recording paper for photographic image quality printing having an ink-philic thermoplastic resin layer, a thermoplastic resin particle layer, and the like can be used.

The long recording medium P wound around the roll paper Pr is nipped and conveyed by the drawing roller pair 40.
As a result, the roll paper Pr rotates and the long recording medium P is pulled out from the roll paper Pr, and downstream (hereinafter, both the first transport path 32 and the second transport path 36 are downstream in the direction toward the discharge unit 26. , Reverse direction is upstream).

A pre-cutter 20 is disposed downstream of the roll paper loading unit 12 (drawing roller pair 40).
The pre-cutter 20 is an X cutter that cuts the recording medium P drawn from the roll paper loading unit 12 (roll paper Pr) in the X direction, and is a known guillotine cutter, for example.
As will be described later, in the illustrated example, the pre-cutter 20 does not cut the recording medium P for each sheet of paper Pc (print), but generates a predetermined number of sheets of paper Pc when generating the sheet of paper Pc. After the recording medium P having a length of 1 is pulled out from the roll loading unit 12, the recording medium P is cut.

In the first transport path 32, the front / back reversing unit 24 is disposed downstream of the pre-cutter 20 via the branching unit 34.
The front / back reversing unit 24 is a part for performing front / back reversal of the recording medium P transported through the first transport path 32, and includes a reverse transport path 42 and a guide member 44. The reverse conveyance path 42 is a substantially Y-shaped conveyance path that branches from the first conveyance path 32 by connecting the upper end portion of the Y shape to the first conveyance path 32. On the other hand, the guide member 44 is a conveyance guide that acts on the first conveyance path 32 and the reverse conveyance path 42.

The front / back reversing unit 24 in the illustrated example performs the front / back reversal of the recording medium P by a so-called switchback method.
When the front / back reversing unit 24 reverses the recording medium P, first, the guide member 44 is caused to act on the first transport path 32 so that the recording medium P transported through the first transport path 32 is reversed transport path 42. Carry in (before the Y-shaped branch). Next, the recording medium carried into the reverse conveyance path 42 by causing the guide member 44 to act on the reverse conveyance path 42 and the first conveyance path 32 so as to go in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P in the first conveyance path 32 at the time of carry-in. By reversely feeding (discharging) P, the recording medium P conveyed through the first conveyance path 32 is reversed.

In the first transport path 32, the surface treatment unit 16 is disposed downstream of the front / back reversing unit 24.
The surface processing unit 16 uses the sheet paper Pc when transporting a long recording medium P from the roll paper loading unit 12 to the XY cutter 22 to generate a sheet paper Pc described later. When creating the printed print, surface treatment of the image recording surface of the recording medium P is performed as necessary. The position of the surface treatment unit 16 is not limited to this, and various positions such as downstream of the image recording unit 18 can be used. Preferably, the first conveyance path 32 (roll paper loading unit) is used. Between the cutting means and the cutting means, and more preferably on the downstream side of the front / back reversing means.
By having such a surface treatment unit 16, for example, even if the roll paper Pr is plain paper, different types of recording media P can be obtained by the surface treatment, and various print creations can be handled. .

The surface treatment performed by the surface treatment unit 16 is not particularly limited, and any of various surface treatments performed by an ink jet printer or various printers can be used.
For example, the formation of an image receiving layer (ink receiving layer) that enables high-quality image recording, the formation of a glossy image receiving layer for imparting gloss to a print and making it a photographic quality print, coloring, etc. Examples are formation of formations.
The glossy image-receiving layer for obtaining a photographic image quality print includes, for example, an ink image-receiving layer made of an ink-philic thermoplastic resin, and thermoplastic resin particles disclosed in JP-A-2005-35050. An ink image-receiving layer made of or the like is exemplified.
Any of these surface treatments may be performed by known methods used in the manufacture of various recording media (image receiving media) and various printers. Further, in the present invention, the surface treatment unit 16 may perform a plurality of types of surface treatments, and has a plurality of surface treatment units such as two surface treatment units 16 sandwiching the image recording unit 18. Also good.

  The image recording unit 18 performs image recording (printing) on the sheet paper Pc by ink jet to obtain a print.

In the printer of the present invention, the image recording method in the image recording unit 18 may be a known method performed by an ink jet printer.
Therefore, the image recording unit 18 uses a line head having nozzles in the entire region in the X direction where there is a possibility of recording, and arranges / fixes the line head so that the nozzle row and the X direction coincide with each other, thereby recording the recording medium. Even in the case of performing image recording of the so-called FWA (Full Width Array) system in which image recording is performed while continuously conveying (scanning transporting) P, the recording head is moved to the carriage (scanning means) with the nozzle rows aligned in the Y direction. A so-called PWA (Partial Width Array) system in which the recording medium P is intermittently transported in the Y direction and the recording head is scanned in the X direction while the transport of the recording medium P is stopped. It is also possible to perform image recording.

  In the present invention, the image recording method by the image recording means is not limited to inkjet, and a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material is used as recording paper, and the silver salt photographic light-sensitive material is exposed imagewise with recording light such as a light beam. After the latent image is recorded, an image recording method in which a wet development process is performed, an image recording method by electrophotography, an image recording method by thermal recording, a photosensitive thermal development recording material as a recording paper, and a recording light such as a light beam Various known image recording methods, such as an image recording method in which a photosensitive heat source image recording material is exposed imagewise to record a latent image and then a heat source image is applied, can be used.

The XY cutter 22 cuts the long recording medium P supplied from the roll paper loading unit 12 in the X direction or further in the Y direction to obtain a sheet paper (cut sheet) Pc of a desired size (sheet). Paper Pc is generated).
In the illustrated example, the XY cutter 22 cuts the recording medium P to be conveyed in the Y direction by a rotary cutter or the like, and a slitter 22a as a cutting part in the Y direction, and the recording medium P in the X direction. And a guillotine cutter 22b as a direction cutting portion.

  In the printer 10 of the illustrated example, as a preferable aspect, by using an XY cutter 22 capable of cutting the recording medium P in both the X direction and the Y direction as cutting means, generation of sheet paper Pc of various sizes is possible. This makes it possible to create a variety of prints.

In the printer 10, the XY cutter 22 is not always limited to cutting in both the X direction and the Y direction. The size of the recording medium P in the X direction (hereinafter, the size of the recording medium P in the X direction is referred to as “X”). If “width” is the same as the target sheet paper Pc, the sheet paper Pc may be generated by cutting only the guillotine cutter 22b.
In the XY cutter 22, a plurality of sheet papers Pc may be cut out in the X direction by the slitter 22a. At this time, the plurality of sheet papers Pc in the X direction may have the same width or different widths.

The XY cutter 22 is not limited to use only for generating the sheet paper Pc, and after the image is recorded on the sheet paper Pc, the sheet paper Pc is cut by the XY cutter 22 (cutout of print). It is also possible to create a print.
Therefore, for example, the printer 10 records an image smaller than the sheet paper Pc, and finally cuts the print size with the XY cutter 22, and creates a print having a size different from that of the sheet paper Pc. For so-called multi-sided print creation, a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of prints are recorded on the sheet paper Pc, and finally the sheet paper Pc is cut in the X direction and / or Y direction to obtain individual prints. Is also available.
Here, when the printer 10 supports multi-sided layout, it is preferable to provide a single-row mechanism to be described later also downstream of the XY cutter 22.

The discharge unit 26 includes a tray 48, and the sheet paper Pc on which an image is recorded by the ink jet in the image recording unit 18 is discharged as a print to the tray 48.
Alternatively, a known sorter having a large number of shelves for stacking / accommodating prints may be arranged in the discharge unit 26, and sorting may be performed for each item.

As described above, the branch section 34 is provided upstream of the front / back reversing section 24 of the first transport path 32 (between the pre-cutter 20 and the front / back reversing section 24). The second conveyance path 36 is provided by branching.
In addition, a sheet paper supply unit 14 is provided at the most upstream portion (the end opposite to the discharge unit 26) of the second conveyance path 36.

  The branch portion 34 includes a conveyance path that branches in a substantially Y shape, a conveyance guide for the conveyance path, a pair of conveyance rollers, a switching unit that switches the conveyance path and guides the recording medium P to the intended conveyance path, and the like. This is a means for switching / guidance of the conveyance path of the sheet-like material.

In the illustrated printer 10, when the long recording medium P is sent out from the roll paper loading unit 12 and the sheet paper Pc is generated by the XY cutter 22, the branching unit 34 uses the first conveyance path 32. The conveyance path of the recording medium P is switched so that it is conveyed downstream.
Further, when the sheet paper Pc generated by cutting with the XY cutter 22 is accommodated in the sheet paper supply unit 14, the branching unit 34 conveys upstream from the first conveyance path 34 to the second conveyance path 36. As described above, the conveyance path of the recording medium P is switched.
Further, when creating a print, the branching unit 34 switches the conveyance path of the recording medium P so as to be conveyed from the second conveyance path 34 to the first conveyance path 34 toward the downstream.

The sheet paper supply unit 14 is a part that stores the sheet paper Pc generated by cutting the long recording medium P by the XY cutter 22.
In the printer 10 of the illustrated example, the sheet paper supply unit 14 includes two storage units 50 and 52 that stack and store sheet papers. In the present invention, the number of storage portions for the sheet paper Pc is not limited to two, but may be one or three or more.

In addition, the second transport path 36 is branched at the branching section 54 into a transport path 36 a reaching the storage section 50 and a transport path 36 b reaching the storage section 52 toward the upstream.
The branch portion 54 is a known sheet-like material conveyance path switching / guide means similar to the branch portion 34. When the generated sheet paper Pc is stored in the sheet paper supply unit 14, the branching unit 54 switches the conveyance path of the sheet paper Pc according to the size and type, and the sheet paper Pc is stored in the storage unit 50 or the storage unit 52. Guide to the corresponding side of (transport path 36a or transport path 36b). Further, when creating a print, the branching unit 54 switches the conveyance path in accordance with the sheet paper Pc used for creating the print, and guides the sheet paper Pc to the predetermined path downstream from the conveyance path 36a or the conveyance path 36b. To do.
That is, in the illustrated example, the branching unit 54 distributes the storage destination of the sheet paper Pc in the sheet paper supply unit 14 to the storage unit 50 or the storage unit 52 according to the size or type of the generated sheet paper Pc. It has become.

  The accommodation unit 50 and the accommodation unit 52 are both well-known sheet paper Pc accommodation units that are used in various printers, copiers, and the like to stack and accommodate sheet paper Pc (sheet-like material). In addition, the storage unit 50 and the storage unit 52 may use a so-called cassette (magazine) in which a housing for storing the sheet paper PC is detachable.

The storage unit 50 and the storage unit 52 are provided with a detection unit 56 that detects the number of sheet sheets Pc to be stored. The detecting means 56 is not particularly limited, and means for detecting the stacking height of the sheet paper Pc by using a sensor or the like to detect the number of sheet paper Pc, and counting (counting) the number of sheets stored and discharged. ) To detect the number of sheets of sheet paper Pc, and all the known means for detecting the number of sheets used in various printers and copiers can be used.
The detecting means 56 is not limited to one that can always detect the number of sheets Pc to be stored. For example, depending on the sheet paper Pc generation timing set in the printer 10, the sheet paper Pc is generated only when the number of sheet papers Pc stored in the storage unit 50 and the storage unit 52 becomes a predetermined number or less. Any sheet can be used as long as it can detect only that the number of sheet sheets Pc stored in the storage unit 50 and the storage unit 52 is equal to or less than a predetermined number.

A transport roller pair 58 is disposed on the transport path 36a, and a transport roller pair 60 is disposed on the transport path 36b.
The sheet paper Pc stored in the storage section 50 and the storage section 52 is stored together by using suction means such as a discharge roller and a suction cup that press the sheet paper Pc and discharge the sheet paper Pc from the storage section by friction force. A known sheet feeding means (not shown) used in various printers and copiers, such as a means for discharging the sheet paper Pc from the section, is discharged from the storage section 50 or the storage section 52, and is fed to the transport roller pair 58 or Supplied to the transport roller pair 60 and transported to the downstream branch section 54.

Here, in the printer 10, for example, a turntable that rotates in the direction of the conveyance surface is disposed downstream of the branching portion 54, such as between the branching portion 54 and the branching portion 34, and the sheet paper Pc is transferred to the turntable. Then, by rotating 90 ° in the plane direction, the vertical and horizontal directions of the sheet paper Pc stored in the storage unit 50 and the storage unit 52 may be changed.
Thereby, the degree of freedom such as the width of the roll paper Pr and the size of the sheet paper Pc with respect to the storage unit 50 and the storage unit 52 of the sheet paper supply unit 14 can be improved.

As described above, in the printer 10. A plurality of sheet papers Pc may be generated in the X direction by the XY cutter 22.
Here, the sheet paper Pc cannot be properly stored in the storage unit 50 or the storage unit 52 if the plurality of rows remain in the X direction. Therefore, when the printer 10 supports the generation of a plurality of sheet papers Pc in the X direction as described above, a plurality of sheets of sheet papers Pc in the X direction are similarly arranged downstream of the branching unit 54 in one row. A single row mechanism is arranged to form a row.

As the single-row mechanism for the sheet paper Pc, all known single-row mechanisms for sheet-like materials can be used.
As an example, divided conveyance means capable of independently conveying the sheet paper Pc in each row in the X direction, and single row conveyance means such as a pair of conveyance rollers and a belt conveyor which are arranged downstream thereof and are movable in the X direction. And a single-row mechanism that combines the above. In this single row mechanism, the other rows are stopped by the divided conveying means, and one row in the X direction is conveyed by the divided conveying means and the single row conveying means, and then the other row is simply removed from the divided conveying means. After transporting to the lined conveying means and stopping, if necessary, after releasing the other conveying roller pair etc., move the single lined conveying conveying means in the X direction to the same position as the previous line, By restarting the conveyance by the single-line conveyance conveyance means, a plurality of columns in the X direction are changed to a single column.

  These turntables and single row mechanisms may be arranged upstream of the branching portion 54, but in this configuration, it is necessary to provide a turntable or single row mechanism for each branched transport path. The apparatus becomes complicated and expensive, which is not preferable.

  The printer 10 in the illustrated example basically has the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, the printing method and the printer apparatus of the present invention will be described in more detail by describing the operation of the printer 10.

  In the printer 10, print production is performed using the sheet paper Pc. A long recording medium P obtained by drawing out the roll paper Pr from the generation of the sheet paper Pc for print production is used for the XY cutter 22. Cut by cutting.

The generation timing of the sheet paper Pc is not particularly limited, and various timings can be used.
As an example, when the generation instruction of the sheet paper Pc is instructed by the operation unit, when a predetermined number of sheet papers Pc are discharged from the storage unit 50 or the storage unit 52, the sheet paper stored in the storage unit 50 or the storage unit 52 is stored. When the detection means 56 detects that Pc has become a predetermined number or less, when the operation of the printer 10 is stopped, such as when the power is turned off, at every preset time (fixed or selective setting) such as 0:00 Two or more combinations of the timings are exemplified. Also, two or more of these timings may be set and selected using the operation means.
The printer 10 automatically generates the sheet paper Pc when a predetermined timing is reached, except for an input instruction for generating the sheet paper Pc using the operation unit.

Further, the number of sheets generated in one generation of sheet paper Pc is not particularly limited, and may be a predetermined number set in advance, or may be a number specified by the operation means. Any number of sheets may be selectable.
It should be noted that the setting of the number of sheets of sheet paper Pc may be changed / selected as appropriate. Furthermore, the number of sheets of sheet paper Pc may be set differently depending on the above-described generation timing.

For example, it is detected by the detection means 56 that the sheet paper Pc stored in the storage section 50 and / or the storage section 52 has reached a predetermined number, or the user inputs an instruction to generate the sheet paper Pc using the operation means. Then, the drawing roller pair 40 conveys the recording medium P, thereby pulling out the long recording medium P from the roll paper Pr.
The conveyance of the recording medium P by the pair of drawing rollers 40 is stopped when the recording medium P that reaches downstream from the pre-cutter 20 reaches a predetermined length.
When conveyance of the recording medium P by the drawing roller pair 40 is stopped, the pre-cutter 40 is operated to cut the recording medium P from the roll paper Pr to obtain a long sheet-like recording medium P.

  The cutting timing of the long recording medium P by the pre-cutter 20 is not particularly limited, and various timings can be used. As an example, every time the recording medium P corresponding to a predetermined number of sheet papers Pc is pulled out from the roll paper loading unit 12 (roll paper Pr), the length of the recording medium P downstream from the drawing roller pair 40 becomes a predetermined length. For example, the time when the recording medium P corresponding to the total number of sheets Pc generated at this timing is pulled out is exemplified. Further, any one of the three timings may be selected.

  The long recording medium P cut by the pre-cutter 20 is transported downstream in the first transport path 32. The conveyance of the recording medium P stops when the upstream end reaches the downstream side of the slitter 22a of the XY cutter 22 through the branching section 34, the surface processing section 16 and the image recording section 18.

Here, when the long recording medium P is transported to the XY cutter 22, the surface processing unit 16, as necessary, the surface such as the formation of the image receiving layer or the glossy layer as described above. Perform processing.
When the surface treatment is performed on the sheet paper Pc by performing the surface treatment in the state of the long sheet-like recording medium P (that is, before cutting out the individual sheet paper Pc) instead of the sheet paper Pc as described above. In comparison, surface treatment can be performed easily and with simple control.

Further, when generating a sheet paper Pc that is determined to be written on the back side of the print, such as when generating a sheet paper Pc for a postcard, the long recording medium P up to the XY cutter 22 is used. The image recording unit 18 may record an image such as a postal code entry column during the transfer.
In the case where the recording medium P is an object having an image receiving layer or the like, the image recording unit 18 records an image after the front / back reversing unit 24 performs the front / back reversal. The image recording by the image recording unit 18 may be performed when the recording medium P is cut to generate the sheet paper Pc, and the sheet paper Pc is conveyed upstream.

When the long recording medium P is conveyed until the upstream end reaches the downstream side of the slitter 22a of the XY cutter 22, the recording medium P is then conveyed upstream upstream of the previous conveyance. At the same time, the width of the sheet paper Pc generated by cutting the recording medium P in the Y direction by the slitter 22a is set, and further, the recording medium P is cut in the X direction by the guillotine cutter 22b. Is generated.
Here, since it is necessary to stop the conveyance at the time of cutting with the guillotine cutter 22b, the conveyance of the recording medium P is intermittent until the cutting with the X cutter is completed.

As described above, when the size in the X direction of the recording medium P before cutting is the size of the sheet paper Pc, cutting by the slitter 22a that is a Y cutter is not necessary.
In the present invention, a plurality of sheet papers Pc may be generated in the X direction by cutting with the slitter 22a. At this time, the plurality of sheet papers Pc in the X direction may have the same width or different widths. Good.

  In the present invention, the cutting by the XY cutter 22 is not limited to the case where the recording medium P is transported upstream, and the cutting is performed by the XY cutter 22 while the recording medium P is transported downstream. Thus, the sheet paper Pc may be generated. Alternatively, cutting by the slitter 22a may be performed at the time of conveyance downstream, and cutting by the guillotine cutter 22b may be performed at the time of conveyance upstream.

In this way, the sheet paper Pc generated by cutting the long recording medium P while transporting it upstream is moved upstream of the first transport path 32, contrary to the transport of the previous long recording medium P. It is transported, guided by the branching section 34 and transported to the second transport path 36. Further, the sheet paper Pc transported to the second transport path 36 is transported upstream, and guided to the transport path 36a or the transport path 36b that reaches the storage section according to the size of the sheet paper Pc at the branching section 54 and accommodated. It accommodates in the part 50 or the accommodating part 52.
Note that the sheet paper Pc can be stored in the storage unit 50 and the storage unit 52 by a known method such as storage by the opposite of the sheet-fed operation or storage by dropping from above.

  Here, as described above, when the image recording unit 18 performs image recording on a long recording medium P or sheet paper Pc, the sheet paper Pc cut by the XY cutter 22 is conveyed upstream. At this time, it is preferable that the sheet paper Pc is supplied to the sheet paper supply unit 14 after the front / back reversing unit 24 performs the front / back reversal.

In addition, when the first transport path 32 or the second transport path 36 has a turntable, the sheet paper Pc is rotated by 90 ° and stored in the storage unit 50 or the storage unit 52 as necessary. You may change the vertical and horizontal directions.
Further, when a plurality of sheet papers Pc are generated in the X direction, the single-row mechanism makes the plurality of rows of sheet papers Pc in the X direction, and then the sheet paper Pc is stored in the storage unit 50 or the storage unit 52. To accommodate.

  On the other hand, when the printer 10 creates a print, the sheet paper supply unit 14 supplies the sheet paper Pc having a size corresponding to the print instructed to be created from the storage unit 50 or the storage unit 52. The supplied sheet paper Pc is conveyed downstream through the conveyance path 36a or the conveyance path 36b of the second conveyance path 36 by the conveyance roller pair 58 or the conveyance roller pair 60, and further conveyed from the branch portion 54 to the branch portion 34. .

  Further, the sheet paper Pc to be used for print preparation is guided to the first transport path 32 by the branching section 34, and an image is recorded on the sheet paper Pc by the image recording section 18 while transporting the first transport path 32 downstream. To do. When the image recording unit 18 performs image recording by the FWA method using a line head, the conveyance in the first conveyance unit 32 during image recording is continuous, and the image recording unit 18 uses a carriage. In the case of performing image recording by the PWA method, the conveyance in the first conveyance unit 32 at the time of image recording is intermittent.

  Here, in the printer 10, surface treatment may be performed by the surface treatment unit 16 as necessary prior to image recording by the image recording unit 18. At this time, if the surface treatment unit 16 is disposed downstream of the image recording unit 18, the surface treatment is performed after the image recording.

In the printer 10, the print for which image recording has been completed in the image recording unit 18 is conveyed further downstream and discharged to the tray 48 of the discharge unit 26.
Here, at this time, if necessary, the sheet paper Pc on which an image is recorded by the XY cutter 22 may be cut and discharged to the tray 48 of the discharge unit 26 as a target print size. Further, when multi-sided printing is performed to record a plurality of images on a single sheet of paper Pc, the sheet paper Pc is cut by the XY cutter 22 to cut out individual prints, and the tray of the discharge unit 26 To 48.

As is clear from the above description, in the present invention, the roll paper Pr is loaded into the printer, and the long recording medium P drawn from the roll paper Pr is cut into the sheet paper Pc. Since an image is recorded and a print is created, a rapid print creation using a sheet paper Pc can be performed using a low-cost roll paper Pr.
Further, as a preferred mode, since the printer 10 has the XY cutter 22, it is possible to generate sheet paper Pc of various sizes from one roll paper Pr, and a highly flexible print creation is performed here. In addition, it is possible to cope with multi-sided printing and creation of prints of various sizes from one-size sheet paper Pc as required. Further, by having the pre-cutter 20 that is an X cutter, it is not necessary to unwind the extra recording medium P conveyed to the XY cutter 22, and the long recording medium P supplied to the XY cutter 22 is used. Since the length of can be adjusted, workability can be further improved.
In addition, since the printer 10 of the illustrated example has the surface treatment unit 16 as a preferred embodiment, printing using a different recording medium P from one roll paper Pr is possible by forming an underlayer or a glossy layer on plain paper. Can also be created.

The preferred example of the printer 10 includes a pre-cutter 20 that is an X-cutter and an XY cutter 22 that is a cutting unit that cuts out a sheet paper Pc from a long recording medium P. It is not limited to.
For example, inconveniences such as the need to rewind an extra recording medium occur, but the pre-cutter 20 may not be provided, but only the XY cutter 22 as a cutting means may be provided.
When only the roll paper Pr having the same width of the sheet paper Pc is used, the cutting unit may have only an X cutter that cuts the recording medium in the X direction. Also at this time, the pre-cutter 20 may be provided.
Further, although the surface treatment or the like is difficult, a configuration in which cutting means for cutting out the sheet paper Pc from the long recording medium P may be arranged at the position of the pre-cutter 20 in the illustrated example.

  The printer 10 in the illustrated example has a first transport path 32 and a second transport path 36, and transports the recording medium P drawn from the roll paper Pr downstream in the first transport path 32, and the XY cutter 22. After cutting into sheet paper Pc, the sheet paper Pc is transported upstream and stored in the sheet paper supply unit 14 from the first transport path 32 through the second transport path 36. The present invention is not limited to this, and various configurations can be used in which a long recording medium P is pulled out from the roll paper Pr, cut into sheet paper Pc, and stored in the sheet paper supply unit.

For example, as indicated by a dotted line L in FIG. 1, a conveyance path from the roll paper loading unit 12 (roll paper Pr) directly to the sheet paper supply unit 14 is formed, and cutting is performed in the middle of the conveyance path. An X cutter or XY cutter as a means is arranged, the long recording medium P sent out from the roll paper Pr is cut into a sheet paper Pc, and the sheet paper Pc is conveyed and stored in the sheet paper supply unit 14. The configuration can also be suitably used.
Therefore, in the case of this configuration, the conveyance path from the roll paper supply unit 12 to the branching unit 34 of the first conveyance path 32 and the branching unit 34 are not necessary, and the direct conveyance from the roll paper loading unit 12 In addition to the conveyance path leading to the sheet paper supply unit 14, only the conveyance path from the sheet paper supply unit 14 to the discharge unit 26 may be provided.

In this configuration as well, a pre-cutter that cuts the roll paper Pr to form a long sheet-like recording medium P may be provided prior to the cutting of the sheet paper Pc by the cutting means.
Furthermore, a surface treatment unit and a front / back reversing unit may be provided in the middle of the conveyance path from the roll paper loading unit 12 directly to the sheet paper supply unit 14.

Although the printing method and printer apparatus of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. .
For example, in the illustrated printer 10, a back printing unit that records a so-called back print on the back side of the print may be provided between the front / back reversing unit 24 and the discharge unit. Further, the surface treatment unit 16 may be provided downstream rather than upstream of the image recording unit 18.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a printer that uses the printer device of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 12 Roll paper loading part 14 Sheet paper supply part 16 Surface processing part 18 Image recording part 20 Precutter 22 XY cutter 24 Front / back inversion part 26 Discharge part 28 Control part 32 1st conveyance path 34,54 Branch part 36 2nd Conveyance path 40 Pull-out roller pair 42 Reverse conveyance path 44 Guide member 48 Tray 50, 52 Storage section 56 Detection means 58, 60 Conveying roller pair

Claims (14)

  The recording medium is pulled out from the roll paper obtained by winding a long recording medium loaded at a predetermined position, and a sheet paper cut to a target size is generated. The sheet paper is placed in a predetermined loading unit. A printing method comprising: storing the sheet paper from the loading unit to the image recording unit, recording the image, and creating a print. A roll paper loading unit for loading roll paper obtained by winding a long recording medium, and a cutting means for cutting the long recording medium drawn from the recording roll paper to obtain a sheet paper of a desired size A sheet paper supply unit that stores the sheet paper, and a recording unit that records an image on the recording medium,
When a recording medium is pulled out from the roll paper loading unit, a sheet paper is generated by the cutting unit, and stored in the sheet paper supply unit, and printing is performed, the recording unit outputs the recording medium from the sheet paper supply unit. A printer apparatus, wherein sheet paper is supplied to the printer, and an image is recorded on the sheet paper and output as a print.   The printer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet paper supply unit includes a detecting unit that detects the number of sheet sheets to be stored.   When it is detected by the detection means that the number of sheet sheets to be stored is less than or equal to a predetermined number, the recording medium is automatically pulled out from the roll paper loading section, and a predetermined number of sheet papers preset by the cutting means The printer device according to claim 3, wherein the printer device is generated and accommodated in the sheet paper supply unit. An input instruction means having a function of instructing generation of sheet paper or further generation of sheet paper;
In response to an input instruction from the input instruction unit, the recording medium is pulled out from the roll paper loading unit, a predetermined number of sheets set in advance by the cutting unit or the number of sheets specified by the input is generated, and the sheet paper is generated. The printer device according to claim 2, wherein the printer device is housed in a supply unit.   The printer apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a processing unit that performs processing on the recording medium.   The printer apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit performs a process of imparting gloss to the print surface. The processing means is disposed between the roll paper loading unit and the cutting means,
8. The printer apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the recording medium is conveyed from the roll paper loading unit for generating the sheet paper to the cutting unit, the processing unit processes the recording medium as necessary. .   Claims: When the sheet paper is supplied from the sheet paper supply unit to the recording means, and an image is recorded on the sheet paper and output as a print, processing of the recording medium is performed by the processing means as necessary. The printer apparatus in any one of 6-8.   10. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet paper supply unit includes a plurality of sheet paper storage units and a distribution unit that distributes the sheet paper to each of the sheet paper storage units.   The cutting means cuts the recording medium in the X direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the long recording medium, and the cutting that cuts the recording medium in the Y direction that is the longitudinal direction of the long recording medium The printer apparatus according to claim 2, which is an XY cutter having a section.   Prior to cutting by the cutting means, a pre-cutter is provided that cuts the recording medium drawn from the roll paper in the X direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the long recording medium to form a long sheet-shaped recording medium. Item 12. The printer device according to any one of Items 2 to 11. A first transport path from the roll paper loading unit to the print discharge position, and a second transport path that branches from the first transport path at the branching unit and reaches the sheet paper supply unit,
The recording means is disposed between the branch portion of the first transport path and the discharge position, and the cutting means is disposed between the recording means of the first transport path and the discharge position;
Pulling out the recording medium from the roll paper loading unit, generating sheet paper by the cutting unit, and storing the sheet paper in the sheet paper supply unit, the recording medium is conveyed to the cutting unit by the first conveyance path, The sheet according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein after the sheet is cut by the cutting means, the sheet is conveyed in the direction opposite to the first conveyance path, and is accommodated in the sheet paper supply unit from the second conveyance path. A printer apparatus according to claim 1.   The printer apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a front / back reversing unit in a conveyance path of the recording medium.

Images