Printer and control method

A printer which transports a sheet of paper from a paper tray inserted in the printer to perform printing includes: an insertion/removal sensing unit configured to sense insertion and removal of the paper tray; a transport failure sensing unit configured to sense a transport failure of the sheet of paper; and a print control unit configured to, if, when a transport failure is sensed by the transport failure sensing unit, the print control unit determines that transport of the sheet of paper is transport performed directly after the insertion/removal sensing unit sensed insertion of the paper tray, issue a notification for prompting a user to perform an operation relating to the paper tray.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-099322, filed May 18, 2016 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to printers which feed paper from paper trays, and more specifically, to a printer, or the like which enables accurate sensing of an error caused by a paper tray and correction of the error at an early stage.

2. Related Art

In a known printer of a paper tray system, an error, such as a so-called paper jam, has been determined based on a sensing result of a sensor disposed in a transport path of paper and/or on a carriage of a print head. When the occurrence of such an error is determined, in the known printer, an announcement is made to prompt a user to open a rear panel and/or an upper panel of the known printer so as to check for a paper jam, and the like.

Moreover, in the known printer, when the paper tray runs out of paper, a notification announcing that the paper tray runs out of paper is issued.

Note that JP-A-2013-63553 describes, as a related technique, an ink jet recording device which can maintain high accuracy of the position of an image recording range whether a tray is moved or not, wherein when it is detected that a paper feed tray is moved, a reset part resets the count value of the counter.

However, when paper is not appropriately loaded in the paper tray, or when a paper stack is disarranged when inserting the paper tray, a transport failure may occur, but notification of such an error caused by the paper tray is not issued traditionally.

This error cannot be confirmed even when the rear panel and/or the upper panel of the printer are/is opened, and the error may not be able to be readily corrected. Moreover, in this case, the printer is repeatedly operated, which may cause, for example, uneven wear of a roller.

Note that JP-A-2013-63553 fails to describe a means to solve these problems.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the disclosure is that a printer, or the like which feeds paper from a paper tray and which enables accurate sensing of an error caused by the paper tray and correction of the error at an early stage is provided.

One aspect of the disclosure is a printer which transports a sheet of paper from a paper tray inserted in the printer to perform printing, the printer including: an insertion/removal sensing unit configured to sense insertion and removal of the paper tray; a transport failure sensing unit configured to sense a transport failure of the sheet of paper; and a print control unit configured to, if, when a transport failure is sensed by the transport failure sensing unit, the print control unit determines that transport of the sheet of paper is transport performed directly after the insertion/removal sensing unit sensed insertion of the paper tray, issue a notification for prompting a user to perform an operation relating to the paper tray.

According to the one aspect, an error relating to the paper tray can be accurately sensed, and a possibility of correction of the error at an early stage can be increased, which thereby eliminates a risk that the printer is repeatedly operated, and thus, for example, uneven wear of a roller occurs.

In the one aspect, the printer preferably further includes a transported sheet counter configured to count the number of sheets of paper transported after the insertion/removal sensing unit has sensed the insertion of the paper tray, wherein when a value of the transported sheet counter is zero, the print control unit determines that the transport of the sheet of paper is transport performed directly after the insertion/removal sensing unit sensed the insertion of the paper tray.

According to this configuration, the determination is made based on the value of the transported sheet counter. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not printing (transport of a sheet of paper) is printing performed directly after the paper tray was inserted.

Moreover, in the one aspect, the transport failure is preferably sensed by determining absence of the sheet of paper in a transport path of the sheet of paper by the transport failure sensing unit.

According to this configuration, the transport failure is accurately determined.

Moreover, in the one aspect, the notification issued by the print control unit is preferably a notification for prompting a user to perform at least a removal/insertion operation of the paper tray or an operation of returning the sheet of paper stored in the paper tray to a storage position.

According to this configuration, a set error of the paper tray can be corrected accurately and at an early stage.

Another aspect of the disclosure is a method for controlling a printer which transports a sheet of paper from a paper tray inserted in the printer to perform printing, wherein an insertion/removal sensing unit configured to sense insertion and removal of the paper tray; and a transport failure sensing unit configured to sense a transport failure of the sheet of paper are provided, the method including issuing, if, when a transport failure is sensed by the transport failure sensing unit, it is determined that transport of the sheet of paper is transport performed directly after the insertion/removal sensing unit sensed insertion of the paper tray, a notification for prompting a user to perform an operation relating to the paper tray.

Further objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent from the embodiments of the disclosure described below.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such embodiments do not restrict the technical scope of the disclosure. In the drawings, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals or symbols.

FIG. 1is a view illustrating the configuration of a printer according to an embodiment to which the disclosure is applied. A printer2shown inFIG. 1is a printer to which the disclosure is applied. The printer2feeds a sheet of paper4stored in a paper tray3to perform printing. If at the time of the printing, a transport failure of the sheet of paper4occurs, and the printing is printing performed for the first time after the paper tray3was inserted, the printer2determines that the transport failure can be an error having a connection with the paper tray3, and the printer2issues a notification for prompting a user to perform a removal/insertion operation of the paper tray3and/or an operation of setting the sheet of paper4stored in the paper tray3in a correct position. Such control enables accurate sensing of an error caused by the paper tray3in the printer2and correction of the error at an early stage.

As described above, the printer2is, for example, an ink jet printer which performs printing on the sheet of paper4which is a cut sheet of paper stored in the paper tray3. The printer2is installed in, for example, the back room of a convenience store and can be used to print out instruction contents and various types of information transmitted via a network from a head office.

A host device1shown inFIG. 1is, for example, a host computer for issuing a print request to the printer2. The host device1is connected to the printer2via a network or a cable so as to be able to communicate with the printer2. In response to a print request, the host device1transmits print data to the printer2.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the printer2includes a control unit21, a mechanism unit22, a display unit23, a transported sheet counter24, paper detection sensors25A and25B, a tray insertion and removal sensor26, and other components.

The control unit21is a unit that controls each of the components of the printer2. Although not shown in the figure, the control unit21includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, an ASIC, NVRAM, and the like as hardware structures. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the control unit21includes a counter control unit211and a print control unit212as functional structures.

The counter control unit211is a unit that controls the value of the transported sheet counter24. The counter control unit211increments the value (by one) each time a sheet of paper4is transported from the paper tray3. When the paper tray3is pulled out of a tray accommodation part222a, the counter control unit211resets the value (to 0).

The print control unit212is a unit that controls the operation of the mechanism unit22upon reception of a print request from, for example, the host device1to cause the printer2to transport a sheet of paper4from the paper tray3and to perform printing on the sheet of paper4. When a transport failure occurs, the print control unit212also performs a process of issuing an error notification to a user.

The counter control unit211and the print control unit212each include a program which records process contents, a CPU for performing processing according to the program, RAM, and other components.

The mechanism unit22includes a transport mechanism222configured to transport the sheet of paper4and a print mechanism221configured to perform printing on the sheet of paper4which was transported.

The display unit23is a unit that displays information to a user. The display unit23may be configured as, for example, a liquid crystal display unit. When an error is sensed, information regarding the error is displayed on the display unit23. In this way, a notification is issued to a user.

The transported sheet counter24is a component that counts (stores) the number of sheets of paper4transported from the paper tray3. Specifically, the transported sheet counter24is a counter that counts the number of sheets of paper transported after the tray insertion and removal sensor26has sensed insertion of the paper tray3.

The paper detection sensor25A (transport failure sensing unit) and the paper detection sensor25B are sensors that detect whether or not the sheet of paper4is present on a transport path222g. For example, existing optical sensors can be used as the sensors25A and25B. Note that attachment positions of the paper detection sensors25A and25B will be described later. Based on determination results of the paper detection sensors25A and25B, the transport failure of the sheet of paper4is sensed.

The tray insertion and removal sensor26(insertion/removal sensing unit) is a sensor that detects insertion/removal of the paper tray3into/from the tray accommodation part222a. When the paper tray3is pulled out of a body (the tray accommodation part222), the tray insertion and removal sensor26can sense two states, i.e., a state in which the paper tray3inserted in the tray accommodation part222is started to be pulled out (a state in which the paper tray3is moved even a small distance (by several millimeters) from an inserted position, hereinafter referred to as a pulled-out state) and a state in which the paper tray3is completely pulled out from the body (the tray accommodation part222). Note that as the tray insertion and removal sensor26, an existing mechanical sensor, an existing contact type sensor, or the like can be used.

FIG. 2is a side view schematically illustrating a mechanism of the printer2.FIG. 2shows a state in which the paper tray3is inserted in the tray accommodation part222a. The paper tray3is movable in directions indicated by an arrow X shown inFIG. 2. The paper tray3is moved in these directions, thereby being inserted into and removed from the tray accommodation part222a. The movement of the paper tray3is sensed (detected) by the tray insertion and removal sensor26which is described above.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, sheets of paper4are loaded (stored) in the paper tray3. When printing is performed, the sheets of paper4are fed to the transport path222gby a pickup roller222bone by one. Each sheet of paper4that is fed is moved by sheet transporting rollers222c, and then, the sheet of paper4is transported to a print position by sheet feeding rollers222d. As illustrated inFIG. 2, at the print position, a print head221band a platen221care disposed, and ink is ejected from a nozzle of the print head221bto the sheet of paper4transported to the print position, thereby performing printing. Note that the print head221bis mounted on a carriage221athat moves in a sub-scan direction.

The sheet of paper4, after the printing has been performed, is transported by sheet discharging rollers222eto a discharge port222fand is then discharged from the discharge port222f.

Note that the tray accommodation part222a, the pickup roller222b, the sheet transporting rollers222c, the sheet feeding rollers222d, and the sheet discharging rollers222eare included in the transport mechanism222, and the carriage221a, the print head221b, and the platen221care included in the print mechanism221.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the paper detection sensor25A is disposed so as to detect the sheet of paper4at a position in front of the sheet feeding rollers222din the transport path222g(a position located slightly upstream of the sheet feeding rollers222d), and the paper detection sensor25B is disposed on the carriage221aand is arranged to detect the sheet of paper4at a position in the vicinity of the print head221bin the transport path222g.

InFIG. 2, an area from a Y point to a Z point in the transport path222gis referred to as an A area, and an area located downstream of the Z point is referred to as a B area.

When the sheet of paper4which is supposed to be detected by the paper detection sensor25A is not detected, a failure such as a paper jam in the A area or a failure relating to the paper tray3is suspected. When the sheet of paper4is transported to the paper detection sensor25A without failure, but the sheet of paper4which is supposed to be detected by the paper detection sensor25B is not detected, a failure in the B area is suspected.

The printer2having a configuration as described above has features of error detection and an error notification during print processing. The error detection and the error notification will be specifically described below. In particular, the printer2has features of detecting an error regarding the paper tray3and providing notification of the error.

FIGS. 3 and 4are each a view illustrating a state in which an error relating to the paper tray3occurs. InFIGS. 3 and 4, an arrow F indicates a transport direction of the sheet of paper4. In a state shown inFIG. 3, the sheet of paper4lies beyond the paper tray3in the direction indicated by the arrow F (see XX inFIG. 3). In a state shown inFIG. 4, an end of the sheet of paper4in a direction indicated by the arrow F is pinched between the paper tray3and other sheets of paper4(see YY inFIG. 4). In the states shown in both of the figures, the sheet of paper4cannot be appropriately transported (cannot be delivered).

Next, a count process of the transported sheet counter24used in sensing (determining) an error relating to the paper tray3will be described.

FIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processes of the counter control unit211. The counter control unit211constantly checks whether or not pulling out of the paper tray3is sensed by the tray insertion and removal sensor26(step S1ofFIG. 5), and if the pulling out of the paper tray3is sensed (if Yes is determined in step S1ofFIG. 5), the counter control unit211resets the transported sheet counter24so that the value of the transported sheet counter24is set to 0 (step S2ofFIG. 5).

If the pulling out of the paper tray3is not sensed (if No is determined in step S1ofFIG. 5), the procedure proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the counter control unit211checks whether or not the sheet of paper4is transported. Specifically, for example, when the determination result of the paper detection sensor25A changes from presence of paper to absence of paper, the counter control unit211determines that one sheet of paper4is transported.

Then, if the sheet of paper4is transported (if Yes is determined in step S3ofFIG. 5), the counter control unit211increments the value (count value) of the transported sheet counter24(by one) (step S4ofFIG. 5). Then, the procedure returns to step S1.

If the sheet of paper4is not transported (if No is determined in step S3ofFIG. 5), the procedure returns to step S1.

In this way, the counter control unit211increments the value of the transported sheet counter24each time the sheet of paper4is transported, and when the paper tray3is pulled out, the counter control unit211resets the value of the transported sheet counter24to 0.

Next, processes in performing printing, in particular, error sensing and an error notification in performing the printing will be described.FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processes performed by the print control unit212. Here, a process of one sheet of paper4will be described.

First, the print control unit212receives print data from, for example, the host device1(step S11ofFIG. 6).

Next, the print control unit212causes the printer2to perform a process of transporting the sheet of paper4stored in the paper tray3to a print position (step S12ofFIG. 6). Specifically, the print control unit212controls the transport mechanism222so as to pick up the sheet of paper4from the paper tray3and transport the sheet of paper4until a top edge of the sheet of paper4comes to a predetermined position (cueing position) downstream of the sheet feeding rollers222d.

Then, the print control unit212checks during the transport, whether or not the paper detection sensor25A senses (detects) the sheet of paper4which is supposed to be transported (step S13ofFIG. 6). As a result of the check, if the paper detection sensor25A senses (detects) the sheet of paper4(if Yes is determined in step S13ofFIG. 6), the print control unit212determines that the sheet of paper4is appropriately transported and causes the printer2to perform a normal printing process (step S14ofFIG. 6). In the normal printing process, the print control unit212causes the printer2to transport the sheet of paper4to the print position as described above, to perform printing by the print head221b, and then, to discharge the sheet of paper from the discharge port222f. Note that during this process, if a failure (error) occurs in which the paper detection sensor25B does not sense (detect) the sheet of paper4, the print control unit212determines the occurrence of the failure in the B area and issues to a user a notification of the occurrence of the error and a method for correcting the error, and the like. Specifically, the print control unit212displays on the display unit23, a notification that, for example, a paper jam has occurred in the B area and that a user should open the upper panel (the upper panel of the printer2which is installed) to remove the sheet of paper4. When this process in step S14is completed, the processing of the one sheet of paper4is terminated.

However, in step S13, as a result of the check, if the paper detection sensor25A does not sense (detect) the sheet of paper4(if No is determined in step S13ofFIG. 6), the print control unit212determines that the sheet of paper4has not been transported appropriately (a transport failure), that is, that any error has occurred, and the print control unit212performs a process of locating a position (area) where the error has occurred. Specifically, the print control unit212checks whether or not the value of the transported sheet counter24is 0 (step S15ofFIG. 6).

As a result of the check, if the value of the transported sheet counter24is not 0 (if No is determined in step S15ofFIG. 6), the print control unit212determines that printing (transport of the sheet of paper4) is not printing performed directly after the paper tray3was inserted, and the print control unit212determines that the error has occurred in the A area. This is because since the printing is not printing performed directly after the paper tray3was inserted, and several sheets of paper4have thus already been appropriately transported, the error is unlikely an error relating to the paper tray3. Then, the print control unit212issues to a user a notification of an A area error (step S16ofFIG. 6). Specifically, for example, the print control unit212displays on the display unit23, an announcement that an error such as a paper jam in the A area has occurred and that the rear panel (the rear panel of the printer2in an installed state, on the right side inFIG. 2) should be opened to remove the sheet of paper4. The processing of the one sheet of paper4is terminated with the process in step S16.

However, as a result of the check, if the value of the transported sheet counter24is 0 (if Yes is determined in step S15ofFIG. 6), the print control unit212determines that printing (transport of the sheet of paper4) is printing performed directly after the paper tray3was inserted (directly after the tray insertion and removal sensor26sensed the insertion of the paper tray3), and the print control unit212determines that an error relating to the paper tray3(a set error of the paper tray3) is suspected. Then, the print control unit212issues to a user a notification of the set error of the paper tray3(step S17ofFIG. 6).

Specifically, for example, the print control unit212issues a notification that the error has occurred around the paper tray3, and the print control unit212displays an announcement on the display unit23to prompt a user to perform an operation relating to the paper tray3. The operation relating to the paper tray3includes a removal/insertion operation of the paper tray3, and/or an operation of returning the sheet of paper4stored in the paper tray3to a correct storage position. The processing of the one sheet of paper4is terminated with the process in step S17.

Note that even when the occurrence of an error is directly after the insertion of the paper tray3, the error may have no connection with the paper tray3and may be the A area error. Therefore, if the error is not corrected by the above-described operation relating to the paper tray3performed after the notification of the set error of the paper tray3, a notification of the A area error may be issued in the same manner as in step S16.

In the above-described example, the notification of the error is displayed on the display unit23. However, the notification of the error may be provided by voice from a voice generation unit (not shown) included in the printer2, transmission of notification information to the host device1, or the like. Alternatively, the notification of the error may be performed by a combination of these methods.

Note that whether or not the set error of the paper tray3occurs largely depends on how a user handles the paper tray3. Therefore, for a user whose handling of the paper tray3causes a relatively few set errors, the process relating to the set error of the paper tray3may be omitted. That is, in the process based onFIG. 6, if No is determined in step S13, the procedure proceeds to step S16in all cases.

As described above, in the printer2according to the present embodiment, the transported sheet counter24is reset when the paper tray3is pulled out so as to determine, based on the value of the transported sheet counter24, whether or not printing (transport of the sheet of paper4) is printing performed directly after the paper tray3was inserted, and if, when the occurrence of a transport failure is determined based on the detection result of the paper detection sensor25A, it is determined that the printing (transport of the sheet of paper4) is printing performed directly after the paper tray3was inserted, the transport failure can be a set error of the paper tray3, and thus, a notification of the set error is issued. Therefore, the set error of the paper tray3, notification of which is not issued traditionally, can be accurately sensed. Moreover, since the notification of the set error of the paper tray3is issued, the error is highly possibly corrected at an early stage, which also eliminates a risk that the printer is repeatedly operated, and thus, for example, uneven wear of a roller occurs.

As described above, since the determination is made based on the value of the transported sheet counter24, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not printing (transport of sheet of paper4) is printing performed directly after the paper tray3was inserted.

Moreover, the transport failure is accurately determined based on the detection result of the paper detection sensor25A.

Moreover, a notification of a set error of the paper tray3includes information for prompting a user to perform, for example, an operation relating to the paper tray3, specifically, a removal/insertion operation of the paper tray3and/or an operation of returning the sheet of paper4stored in the paper tray3to a correct storage position, and therefore, the set error of the paper tray3can be corrected accurately and at an early stage.

Note that in the present embodiment, the printer2is an ink jet system printer, but the disclosure is applicable to printers in other print systems.

The extent of protection of the disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments but extends to the disclosure in the claims and equivalent thereof.