Printing apparatus, control method of printing apparatus, and storage medium

A printing apparatus includes: a conveyance unit; a print head; and a slitter disposed on a downstream relative to the print head and configured to cut the printing medium in a conveyance direction in accordance with the conveyance by the conveyance unit, wherein the slitter is configured to cut a leading edge portion of the printing medium in accordance with the conveyance of the printing medium, wherein, after the leading edge portion of the printing medium is cut by the slitter, the conveyance unit is configured to convey the printing medium in an opposite direction of the conveyance direction up to a printing start position, and wherein the print head is configured to start printing the image on the printing medium, which has been conveyed in the opposite direction of the conveyance direction up to the printing start position and of which the leading edge portion has been cut.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a control method of a printing apparatus, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

A printing apparatus provided with a printing unit for printing an image on a printing medium and a cutting unit for cutting the printing medium on which an image has been printed is known. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-13438 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) discloses a printed product discharge device provided with a slitter for cutting a long printing medium in parallel to the conveyance direction of the printing medium. The slitter disclosed in Document 1 is a pair of left and right slitters that are respectively movable in the width direction of the printing medium.

According to Document 1, a conveying portion conveys the printing medium so that the leading edge of the printing medium reaches the slitter. Further, both of the left and right ends of the printing medium are cut by the slitter in accordance with conveyance by the conveying portion.

As described in Document 1, in such a mode of cutting a printing medium in parallel to the conveyance direction by conveying the printing medium so that the printing medium enters a slitter, there is a possibility that the printing medium buckles at the timing of entering the slitter. Buckling causes various abnormalities such as deterioration in cutting accuracy, wrinkles and folds in the printing medium, and clogging with the printing medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention includes: a conveyance unit configured to convey a printing medium in a conveyance direction; a print head configured to print an image on the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; and a slitter disposed on a downstream relative to the print head in the conveyance direction and configured to cut the printing medium in the conveyance direction in accordance with the conveyance by the conveyance unit, wherein the slitter is configured to cut a leading edge portion of the printing medium in accordance with the conveyance of the printing medium by the conveyance unit, wherein, after the leading edge portion of the printing medium is cut by the slitter, the conveyance unit is configured to convey the printing medium in an opposite direction of the conveyance direction up to a printing start position, and wherein the print head is configured to start printing the image on the printing medium, which has been conveyed in the opposite direction of the conveyance direction up to the printing start position and of which the leading edge portion has been cut.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an explanation is given of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention. Further, every combination of the characteristics explained in the present embodiments is not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. The same reference sign is assigned for explanation of the identical configuration. In addition, relative positions, shapes, and the like, of the constituent elements described in the embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention to the range of the examples.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an inkjet printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The inkjet printing apparatus100(hereinafter simply referred to as the printing apparatus100) performs printing on a printing medium that has a shape of a long sheet. In the present embodiment, the printing medium is a roll sheet1. The roll sheet1held in the printing apparatus100is conveyed to the downstream side through a conveyance path formed by the upper guide6and the lower guide7. The roll sheet1is nipped by the conveyance roller8and the pinch roller9and conveyed to an image printing unit. The image printing unit is configured to include the print head2, the carriage3on which the print head2is mounted, and the platen10disposed at a position facing the print head2. The roll sheet1is conveyed onto the platen10by the conveyance roller8. Ink is ejected by the print head2onto the roll sheet1conveyed to the image printing unit, so as to print an image.

The carriage3is supported so as to be able to perform a sliding motion along the guide shaft4and a guide rail (not illustrated in the drawing) that are disposed in parallel to each other in the printing apparatus100. The carriage3includes the reflection type detection sensor12facing the platen10, so as to be able to detect the reflectivity of a spot position. That is, in a case where the platen10is black and the roll sheet1is white, the reflectivity of the platen10and the roll sheet1are greatly different. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the platen10is present or the roll sheet1is present at the spot position by use of the detection sensor12. It is possible to detect the leading edge of the roll sheet1by utilizing the fact that, while the roll sheet1is conveyed by the conveyance roller8, the reflectivity greatly changes in a case where the leading edge of the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction passes through the spot position of the detection sensor12.

The carriage3scans in the X direction along the guide shaft4while holding the print head2, and the print head2ejects ink while the carriage3scans, so as to perform printing on the roll sheet1. After a scan by the carriage3to perform printing on the roll sheet1, the conveyance roller8conveys the roll sheet1by a predetermined amount, and the carriage3scans on the roll sheet1again to perform printing. In this way, by repeating printing and conveying, the entire printing is completed. Furthermore, since the detection sensor12is mounted on the carriage3, the positions of the paper edges in the width direction (X direction) of the roll sheet1can also be detected by the reciprocating operation of the carriage3. Instead of the above-described serial system, the printing system may be a full line system in which an image is printed while a roll sheet1is continuously conveyed, by use of a long print head that extends in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the roll sheet1.

On the downstream side relative to the carriage3in the conveyance direction of the roll sheet1, there is provided the cutter5for cutting the roll sheet1in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction, and, on the further downstream side, there is provided the slitter13for cutting the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction. On the downstream side relative to the slitter13, there is provided the discharging guide11for discharging the roll sheet1that has been cut.

The cutter5includes a cutter unit300(seeFIG. 2) as a cutting mechanism for cutting the roll sheet1and a unit for moving the cutter unit300along the X direction. Furthermore, the slitter13includes a slitter unit303(seeFIG. 2) as a cutting mechanism for cutting the roll sheet1and a unit for moving the slitter unit303along the X direction.

FIG. 2is a top view for explaining the cutter5and the slitter13including the slitter units303L and303R. In the present specification, “L” and “R” at the end of the reference signs indicate a member on the left side (that is, +X side) and a member on the right side (that is, −X side) on the drawings, respectively. In the present specification, such an end of a reference sign may be omitted in a case of members that are the same on the left side and the right side.

The guide rail101is configured to guide the cutter carriage200in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the roll sheet1. The cutter carriage200integrally connects the cutter unit300and the belt102. Furthermore, the belt102is configured to bridge the motor pulley107and the tensioner pulley108disposed on the left and right sides of the guide rail101and is configured to be moved by the cutter motor103connected to the motor pulley107. The cutter motor103is provided with the cutter encoder104. The cutter encoder104counts the number of pulses corresponding to driving of the cutter motor103. Based on the origin position of the cutter carriage200and the number of pulses obtained by the cutter encoder104, it is possible to control the movement position of the cutter unit300in the X1 and X2 directions.

The cutter unit300includes the upper movable blade301and the lower movable blade302, so that the roll sheet1is cut at the contact point of the upper movable blade301and the lower movable blade302while the cutter unit300moves in the X1 direction. Furthermore, the upper movable blade301and the lower movable blade302are connected to the cutter motor103via the belt102and the cutter carriage200and are configured to be rotationally driven. In a case where the roll sheet1is cut, the roll sheet1is cut while the lower movable blade302and the upper movable blade301, which is in contact with the lower movable blade302, rotate together. In the example ofFIG. 2, the cutter unit300performs cutting from the first end1aof the roll sheet1to the second end1bof the roll sheet1. The first end1aof the roll sheet1is an end on the stand-by position P1side of the cutter unit300. After the roll sheet1is cut, the cutter carriage200is reversed at a predetermined reversing position. Further, the cutter carriage200moves to a position that is the stand-by position P1to stand by for the next cutting operation. Although the cutter unit300is mounted on the cutter carriage200in the example of the present embodiment, the cutter unit300may be mounted on the carriage3that moves the print head2, etc., for example.

The slitter13is disposed on the downstream side relative to the cutter5in the conveyance direction of the roll sheet1. The slitter13is able to move a slitter unit303to a given position in the X1 and X2 directions and is able to cut the roll sheet1in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction (+Y direction) by use of the slitter unit303. In the present embodiment, an explanation is given of a configuration in which two slitter units303are mounted. That is, an explanation is given of the example in which the slitter units303L and303R are mounted. The slitter units303L and303R have the same configuration with the components that are left-right reversals in the X1 and X2 directions. InFIG. 2, for the sake of simplification, reference signs are mainly assigned to the components of the slitter unit303L.

FIGS. 3A and 3BandFIG. 4are diagrams for explaining details of the slitter unit303L.FIG. 3Ais a schematic top view of the slitter unit303L, andFIG. 3Bis a schematic side view of the slitter unit303L. The slitter unit303L includes the slitter upper movable blade304L and the slitter lower movable blade305L. The slitter upper movable blade304L and the slitter lower movable blade305L are disposed so as to have a round blades overlap amount313L in the vertical direction and have a predetermined amount of angle (intersect angle) θ relative to the conveyance direction Y, which is the cutting direction. The roll sheet1is cut at the contact point311L of the slitter upper movable blade304L and the slitter lower movable blade305L. The slitter upper movable blade304L is connected to the slitter driving motor16L via a gear.

In a case where the slitter upper movable blade304L is rotated by the driving force of the slitter driving motor16L, the slitter upper conveyance roller320L, which is connected coaxially with the slitter upper movable blade304L, rotates as well. The outer diameter of the slitter upper conveyance roller320L is in contact with the outer diameter of the slitter lower conveyance roller321L, which is connected coaxially with the slitter lower movable blade305L, at the roller nip point312L. Thus, by driving with friction transmission, while the roll sheet1is conveyed by the slitter upper conveyance roller320L and the slitter lower conveyance roller321L, the upper and lower blades rotate together to cut the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction. Since the slitter driving motor16L is provided with the slitter driving encoder310L, it is possible to control the slitter driving motor16L with a predetermined rotation speed and a predetermined rotation amount. The slitter driving motor16L is controlled to drive at a driving amount (specifically, a rotation speed and a rotation amount), which is synchronized with and corresponding to the conveyance amount by the conveyance roller8.

The slitter unit303L includes the slitter moving motor14L and is configured such that driving force is transmitted to the slitter moving roller306L via a gear. The slitter moving roller306L abuts on the slitter guide rail307, and the slitter unit303L is configured to be movable in the X1 and X2 directions by friction between the front surface of the slitter moving roller306L and the slitter guide rail307. In other words, the slitter upper movable blade304L, the slitter lower movable blade305L, the slitter upper conveyance roller320L, and the slitter lower conveyance roller321L are integrally movable along the slitter guide rail307.

Although the slitter moving roller306L is driven with friction in the present embodiment, the slitter moving roller306L may have a rack and pinion configuration with a slitter moving roller serving as a pinion and a slitter guide rail serving as a rack.

Next, an explanation is given of general operation of cutting by the slitter13. First, the slitter units303L and303R are moved to cutting positions, and the roll sheet1is conveyed by the conveyance roller8while the conveyance motor51and the slitter driving motors16L and16R are driven at the same speed. In a case where the leading edge of the roll sheet1reaches the contact points311L and311R of the slitter13, the roll sheet1is cut by the slitter upper movable blades304L and304R and the slitter lower movable blades305L and305R on the left and right sides. Furthermore, the roll sheet1is nipped and conveyed by the slitter upper conveyance rollers320L and320R and the slitter lower conveyance rollers321L and321R on the left and right sides while being cut, so as to be discharged through the discharging guide11.

Additionally, cutting by the slitter13can be performed together with image printing. The slitter units303move from the stand-by positions to predetermined cutting positions in the X1 and X2 directions according to the setting by the user. Then, the roll sheet1is conveyed by the conveyance roller8while the conveyance motor51and the slitter driving motors16L and16R are driven at the same speed. In the image printing unit, in response to forward or return scanning of one line by the carriage3for printing an image, the roll sheet1is conveyed by the conveyance roller8and the pinch roller9by a predetermined pitch. Then, the carriage3is moved again to perform image printing of the next line. In a case where printing proceeds and the leading edge of the roll sheet1reaches the contact points311, the roll sheet1is cut by the slitter upper movable blades304L and304R and the slitter lower movable blades305L and305R that are rotating. Furthermore, the roll sheet1is nipped and conveyed by the slitter upper conveyance rollers320L and320R and the slitter lower conveyance rollers321L and321R while being cut. Then, the image printing ends and the cutting by the slitter units303ends. Subsequently, the slitter units303move to the predetermined stand-by positions. The roll sheet1is conveyed to the cutting position where the cutter5can cut the roll sheet1and is cut by the cutter5, so as to be discharged through the discharging guide11.

The configuration of the slitter13described above is merely an example. That is, the slitter13may have any configuration as long as the slitter13is movable in the width direction of the roll sheet1and is able to cut the conveyed roll sheet1in the conveyance direction at a given position of the width direction. Further, there may be a mode in which the slitter upper conveyance rollers320and the slitter lower conveyance rollers321, the slitter upper movable blades304, and the slitter lower movable blades305are independently driven.

FIG. 5is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printing apparatus100. The printing apparatus100includes a control unit400. Furthermore, the control unit400includes a CPU411, a ROM412, a RAM413, and a motor driver414. The control unit400implements control of a conveyance motor51, a cutter motor103, a slitter moving motor14, a slitter driving motor16, a carriage motor52, and a print head2. The control unit400obtains signals from a conveyance roller encoder112, a cutter encoder104, a slitter moving encoder309, a slitter driving encoder310, a carriage encoder19, and a detection sensor12. Furthermore, the control unit400controls the various motors and the print head2, based on the signals.

<Cutting Operation and Printing Operation of the Comparative Example in which Sheet Jamming Occurs>

Next, an explanation is given of the operation of the comparative example in which sheet jamming easily occurs. After that, the operation of the present embodiment is explained.

As described above, in the printing apparatus100, the cutter5is disposed on the downstream side relative to the print head in the conveyance direction of the roll sheet1. The cutter5is disposed on the upstream side relative to the slitter13. In such an arrangement configuration, after completion of image printing and cutting by the slitter13, the roll sheet1is cut by the cutter5in an intersecting direction, which intersects the conveyance direction.

That is, the operation of the comparative example is schematically explained as follows.

(S1) An image is printed at the leading edge of the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction.

(S2) The leading edge of the roll sheet1, on which the image has been printed, is cut by the slitter13.

(S3) The printing of the image and the cutting by the slitter13are performed concurrently with each other.

(S4) The printing is completed up to the rear edge position of the image.

(S5) The cutting by the slitter13is completed up to the position to be cut, which is the rear edge of the printed subject.

(S6) The roll sheet1, on which the printing and the cutting in the conveyance direction have been completed, is reversely conveyed so that the position to be cut, which is on the roll sheet1, matches the cutting position of the cutter5.

(S7) Cutting in the intersecting direction is performed by the cutter5.

Here, at the timing where the leading edge of the roll sheet1enters the slitter units303of the slitter13in (S2) as described above, there is a possibility that the leading edge of the roll sheet1is not properly fed into the slitter upper movable blades304and the slitter lower movable blades305. For this reason, sheet jamming easily occurs because of buckling of the roll sheet1.

<Cutting Operation and Printing Operation of the Present Embodiment>

According to the control performed in the present embodiment, predetermined operation is performed prior to the operation of (S1), and operation that is partially different from the operation of (S2) is performed, as compared to the above-described comparative example. Specifically, the following operation is performed prior to the operation of (S1).

(SA) Predetermined portions of the leading edge of the roll sheet1are cut by the slitter13in a state where there is not an image printed on the roll sheet1.

(SB) The roll sheet1, of which the predetermined portions of the leading edge have been cut, is reversely conveyed up to the printing start position of the image.

Furthermore, the operation of (S2) is replaced with the following operation of (S2)′.

(S2)′ The portions extending from the predetermined portions of the leading edge of the roll sheet1, on which the image has been printed, are cut by the slitter13.

That is, in the present embodiment, the operation of making a cut by a slitter unit303of the slitter13is performed at a leading edge portion of the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction. Thereafter, the roll sheet1is rewound, and the printing operation of an image and the cutting operation by the slitter13are performed. Since the cuts have already been made, the leading edge of the roll sheet1smoothly enters the slitter units303at the timing where the leading edge re-enters the slitter units303. That is, at the timing where the leading edge of the roll sheet1re-enters the slitter units303, the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1are properly fed into the slitter upper movable blades304and the slitter lower movable blades305of the slitter units303. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the roll sheet1from buckling at a timing where the roll sheet1enters a slitter unit303. In the following, the explanation is given with reference to the flowchart and the conceptual diagrams of the operation.

FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the cutting operation and the image printing operation in the present embodiment.FIGS. 7 through 15are conceptual diagrams of the operation according to the flowchart ofFIG. 6. Hereinafter, an explanation is given with reference toFIGS. 6 through 15. The processing ofFIG. 6is performed by the CPU411of the control unit400in the printing apparatus100retrieving a program code stored in the ROM412into the RAM413and executing the program code. Alternatively, a part or all of the steps inFIG. 6may be implemented by hardware such as an ASIC or an electronic circuit. The symbol “S” in the explanation of each process means that it is a step in the flowchart. The processing illustrated inFIG. 6is started in response to a print job, which is received by the printing apparatus100.

In S601, the control unit400moves the slitter units303R and303L to cutting positions in the intersecting direction, which intersects the conveyance direction, in accordance with the sheet width size of the printed subject based on the print job. That is, the control unit400drives the slitter moving motors14until the slitter units303R and303L move along the slitter guide rail307to the cutting positions in the intersecting direction.

In S602, the control unit400drives the slitter driving motors16while driving the conveyance motor51to convey the roll sheet1to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. In this state, in a case where the leading edge of the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction is conveyed up to the positions of the slitter units303R and303L, cutting by the slitter units303R and303L is started from the leading edge of the roll sheet1.

In S603, the control unit400cuts the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction from the leading edge of the roll sheet1by a predetermined length, then the control unit400stops conveying the roll sheet1and ends the cutting by the slitter13. That is, the control unit400performs cutting by the slitter units303R and303L by controlling the conveyance roller8and the pinch roller9to convey the roll sheet1until the cutting by the slitter units303R and303L reaches the positions corresponding to the predetermined length from the leading edge of the roll sheet1. Then, the control unit400stops the conveyance motor51and the slitter driving motors16at the timing where the roll sheet1is cut by the predetermined length from the leading edge. Although the roll sheet1is conveyed also by the slitter upper conveyance rollers320and the slitter lower conveyance rollers321as described above, a description of the conveyance by the slitter upper conveyance rollers320and the slitter lower conveyance rollers321is omitted for the sake of simplicity of explanation.

FIG. 7is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1are being cut by the slitter units303R and303L in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction. In the present embodiment, firstly, the leading edge portions (the portions with a predetermined length from the leading edge) of the roll sheet1are cut in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction by the slitter units303R and303L, instead of immediately starting the printing operation in response to the reception of the print job.

FIG. 8is a schematic side view of the slitter unit303L. An explanation is given of the predetermined length with reference toFIG. 8. As explained inFIG. 3, the slitter unit303L includes the slitter upper movable blade304L and the slitter lower movable blade305L that can be rotated by the slitter driving motor16L. That is, a slitter unit303includes a round blade. As illustrated inFIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the predetermined length mr from the leading edge of the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction corresponds to the radius sr of the slitter upper movable blade304L or the slitter lower movable blade305L. In a case where a cut is made from the leading edge by approximately the same length as the radius sr of the slitter upper movable blade304L or the slitter lower movable blade305L, the leading edge of the roll sheet1is properly fed into the slitter unit303at a timing where the roll sheet1re-enters the slitter unit303, as described later. The radius of the round blade is, for example, 6 to 20 mm. Here, it is assumed that the radius of the round blade is 10 mm.

Although it is assumed that the slitter upper movable blade304L and the slitter lower movable blade305L have the same radius in the explanation of the present embodiment, the radius of the slitter upper movable blade304L and the radius of the slitter lower movable blade305L may be different. In a case where the radius of the slitter upper movable blade304L and the radius of the slitter lower movable blade305L are different, the predetermined length may be the length corresponding to the round blade having the larger radius.

In S604, the control unit400reversely drives the conveyance motor51to rotate the conveyance roller8in the opposite direction, so as to convey the roll sheet1in the opposite direction (−Y direction) of the conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as reverse conveyance). The control unit400reversely conveys the roll sheet1up to the position where the printing based on the print data is started (hereinafter, referred to as the printing start position). The control unit400reversely conveys the roll sheet1up to the printing start position and then stops the conveyance motor51.

FIG. 9is a diagram illustrating a state in which the roll sheet1has been reversely conveyed up to the printing start position. Cuts are made at the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1.

In S605, the control unit400rotates the slitter driving motors16and prints the image on the roll sheet1. In other words, the control unit400performs printing of the image by use of the print head2while driving the conveyance motor51to convey the roll sheet1. That is, conveyance of the roll sheet1and printing of the image are performed alternately. In addition, by rotating the slitter driving motors16, the cutting of the roll sheet1in the conveyance direction is prepared.

FIG. 10is a diagram illustrating a state before the leading edge portions of the re-conveyed roll sheet1enters the slitter units303. An image is printed on the roll sheet1, on which cuts have been made at the leading edge portions. In a case where the printing of the image and the conveyance of the roll sheet1are continuously repeated in this state, the contact points311of the slitter units303reach the cut portions of the roll sheet1. Since the cuts have already been made, the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1and the portions extending immediately from the leading edge portions are properly fed into the slitter upper movable blades304and the slitter lower movable blades305of the slitter units303. Thereafter, conveyance of the roll sheet1, printing of the image, and cutting of the portions extending from the leading edge portions by the slitter units303are repeated.

In S606, the control unit400completes the printing operation up to the printing position corresponding to the rear edge in the conveyance direction.FIG. 11is a diagram illustrating a state in which printing of an image by use of the print head2has been completed. Since the print head2is disposed on the upstream side relative to the slitter13in the conveyance direction, the cutting of the roll sheet1by the slitter13up to the rear edge position to be cut has not been done at the timing where the printing of the image ends. Therefore, the roll sheet1is continuously conveyed and cut by the slitter13.

In S607, the control unit400conveys the roll sheet1up to the rear edge position to be cut, which corresponds to the rear edge of the printed subject, then the control unit400stops the slitter driving motors16upon reaching the rear edge position to be cut.

FIG. 12illustrates a state in which the roll sheet1has been further conveyed from the state ofFIG. 11up to such a position that the rear edge position to be cut, which corresponds to the printed subject1C, has been cut by the slitter units303. As illustrated inFIG. 12, in the present embodiment, the cutter5is disposed on the downstream side relative to the print head2in the conveyance direction, and the slitter13is disposed on the downstream side relative to the cutter5. Therefore, since the roll sheet1that has been cut by the slitter13up to the rear edge position to be cut is in a state of having been conveyed in the conveyance direction up to a position beyond the cutting position of the cutter unit300, the roll sheet1is reversely conveyed up to the scanning position of the cutter unit300.

In S608, the control unit400reversely conveys the roll sheet1, which has been cut by the slitter units303up to the rear edge position to be cut, up to the scanning position (cutting position) of the cutter unit300. That is, the roll sheet1is reversely conveyed such that the rear edge position to be cut is positioned on the scanning line of the cutter unit300.

FIG. 13illustrates a state in which the roll sheet1has been reversely conveyed such that the rear edge position to be cut is positioned on the scanning line of the cutter unit300. Then, the control unit400cuts the roll sheet1by use of the cutter unit300in an intersecting direction, which is orthogonal to the conveyance direction. That is, the control unit400drives the cutter motor103to cut the roll sheet1in the intersecting direction by use of the cutter unit300.

FIG. 14is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the roll sheet1, which has been conveyed such that the rear edge position to be cut is positioned on the scanning line of the cutter unit300, has been cut by the cutter unit300. The printed subject1C and the cut pieces1R and1L that have been cut are discharged by their own weight in S609. The control unit400reversely conveys the roll sheet1to prepare for the next printing.FIG. 15is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the printed subject1C and the cut pieces1R and1L have been discharged and the roll sheet1has been rewound.

Here, the explanation has been given with the example in which the rear edge position to be cut by the slitter units303R and303L in the conveyance direction of the roll sheet1is conveyed so as to be positioned on the scanning line of the cutter unit300. Furthermore, in the explanation of the example, the cutting by the cutter unit300is performed once. Here, the cutting by the cutter unit300may be performed twice. For example, the cutting by the slitter units303R and303L in S603may be performed up to a position beyond the rear edge position to be cut, which corresponds to the rear edge of the printed subject1C, by a predetermined length. Then, after the printing of the image, the roll sheet1that has been conveyed such that the rear edge position to be cut, which corresponds to the rear edge of the printed subject1C, is positioned on the scanning line of the cutter unit300may be cut by the cutter unit300in S608. Subsequently, the roll sheet1may be further conveyed by an amount corresponding to the predetermined length and cut again by the cutter unit300.

In the present embodiment, the printing start position of an image is determined with reference to the leading edge of the roll sheet1. That is, printing of an image is started from the leading edge of the roll sheet1. In the example illustrated inFIG. 10, etc., it is illustrated that the image includes a margin, and the actual image is printed behind the length of the margin. In a case where an image does not include a margin, the actual image is printed from the leading edge of the roll sheet1on which cuts have been made at the leading edge portions.

Here, for another example, the printing start position of an image may be set as a position changeable according to the leading edge portion of the roll sheet1on which a cut has been made. For example, some users may desire not to print an image at a position where a cut has been made. Thus, there may be a configuration in which whether the printing start position of an image is set as a position changeable according to the leading edge portion of the roll sheet1on which a cut has been made or not can be switched according to a setting by a user. In a case where the printing start position of an image is set as a position changeable according to the leading edge portion of the roll sheet1on which a cut has been made, the printing start position of the image is determined with reference to the rear edge of the cut area at the leading edge portion. That is, on the roll sheet1, the printing start position of the image is set as a position on the upstream side relative to the rear edge of the cut area in the conveyance direction. In this case, the cut area at the leading edge portion of the roll sheet1is a region where the image is not printed, and therefore the cut area at the leading edge portion of the roll sheet1is to be cut by the cutter5. That is, the cutter5cuts the roll sheet1in the intersecting direction at the rear edge position of the cut area at the leading edge portion of the roll sheet1. Thereafter, the cutter5cuts the roll sheet1in the intersecting direction at the rear edge position of the roll sheet1to be cut. That is, in S608, the control unit400performs the first cutting operation in which the roll sheet1is reversely conveyed until the rear edge positions of the cut areas reach the scanning position of the cutter unit300and the roll sheet1is cut by scanning of the cutter unit300. Thereafter, the control unit400performs the second cutting operation in which the roll sheet1is conveyed until the rear edge position of the roll sheet1to be cut reaches the scanning line of the cutter unit300and the roll sheet1is cut by scanning of the cutter unit300. As described above, cutting operation by the cutter5may be performed twice.

As explained above, in the present embodiment, in a case where processing based on a print job is performed, the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1are cut by the slitter units303in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction prior to printing operation by the print head2. Then, the printing operation and the cutting operation in the conveyance direction are performed on the roll sheet1on which the cuts have been made at the leading edge portions. Since the cuts have already been made in the above-described manner, it is possible for the leading edge of the roll sheet1to smoothly enter the slitter units303at the timing where the leading edge of the roll sheet1re-enters the slitter units303. That is, at the timing where the leading edge of the roll sheet1re-enters the slitter units303, the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1are properly fed into the slitter upper movable blades304and the slitter lower movable blades305of the slitter units303. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the roll sheet1from buckling at a timing where the roll sheet1enters a slitter unit303.

In the present embodiment, it should be noted that the conveyance by the conveyance motor51is performed at regular intervals from S605to S607. In a case where an image is printed by ejection of ink by use of the print head2as in the present embodiment, scanning and printing operation by the print head2and conveyance of the roll sheet1are alternately repeated at predetermined intervals in consideration of the time period for ink to permeate into the printing medium. In other words, in a case where the conveyance speed of the roll sheet1is partially changed, there is a possibility of unevenness of the printed image. For example, below is consideration of a mode in which the conveyance speed at the timing where a leading edge portion of the roll sheet1enters a slitter unit303is changed so as to prevent the roll sheet1from buckling. In this case, the timing where a leading edge portion of the roll sheet1enters a slitter unit303as illustrated inFIG. 10is during printing of an image on the roll sheet1. Here, in a case where the conveyance speed of the roll sheet1is changed, there is a possibility of unevenness of the printed image.

In the present embodiment, the cuts are made at the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1in advance, and then the roll sheet1is controlled to re-enter the slitter units303while an image being printed. The conveyance speed does not change between the timing of re-entry and the other timings of image printing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent unevenness of the printed image from occurring.

The conveyance speed of the roll sheet1from S602to S603may be different from the conveyance speed of the roll sheet1from S605to S607. This is because printing of the image is not performed in the control of S602to S603. Therefore, the conveyance speed of the roll sheet1from S602to S603may be controlled to be a speed that is suitable for cutting the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1. For example, the conveyance speed at the timing of making the cuts at the leading edge portions of the roll sheet1may be controlled to be temporarily faster than the conveyance speed of S605to S607. Alternatively, the rotation speed of the slitter driving motors16may be controlled to be faster.

Other Embodiments

In the above-described embodiment, the explanation is given with the example of a printing apparatus in which the carriage3scans in the X direction while holding the print head2, so as to perform printing operation. However, there may be a mode in which a print head that is provided with ejection openings corresponding to the size of a printing medium in the width direction, which may be termed as a line-type print head, is used.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-066225, filed Mar. 29, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference wherein herein in its entirety.