WEB-FEEDING APPARATUS

Abstract: Printing apparatus, comprising: a printing head (1) for printing on printing material (PP); advancing means (3, 30, 31), located downstream of the printing head (1), from the point of view of normal flow of printing material (PP) through the apparatus, operable to advance the printing material, capable of being driven automatically or under manual control, for feeding the printing material in the printing apparatus; tensioning means (4), for tensioning the printing material, located upstream of the printing head, having a driving roller (40) arranged to be driven by a tensioning motor (42); detecting means (32) for detecting distance by which the printing material is fed by the advancing means, operable to output a displacement signal (PS) indicating the detected feeding distance; and tensioning control circuitry (6), including a driving circuit (63) for driving the tensioning motor (42), operable to generate a tensioning drive signal enabling the driving circuit in response to such a displacement signal (PS) during manual operation of the advancing means; whereby the driving roller (40) of the tensioning means (4) is rotated by the tensioning motor (42) to tension printing material (PP) upstream of the advancing means (3, 30, 31) during manual operation of the advancing means.

Description: The present invention relates to printing apparatus. As is well known, printing apparatuses such as line printers are widely used as output devices which are included in the peripheral apparatuses of information processing systems. Fig. 1 is a schematic and synoptic Figure illustrating a previously proposed printing apparatus. With respect to the apparatus of Fig. 1, recording material, printing paper, PP (hereinafter, all references to 'printing paper' mean 'elongate printing paper' for simplicity) is pulled up from a hopper 5 located at a lower part of the apparatus, employing recording material advancing means, for example a tractor, provided at an upper part of the apparatus. The recording material PP is guided so as to pass between a printing head 1 and a platen 2 downstream of the hopper, and then to advance further downstream. Printing apparatus as seen in Fig. 1 permits easy setting of the recording material, namely printing paper PP, in the hopper 5 and can be employed in a high speed line printer. The printing apparatus is provided with a tractor 3 only at an upper part thereof, thus succeeding in realizing easy setting of printing paper into the hopper 5 and a simplified structure. While printing paper PP is advanced by means of tractor 3, which is driven by an advancing motor 30, pulling up the printing paper PP from the hopper 5, the printing paper PP is apt to flap between the printing head 1 and the hopper 5, probably reducing printing quality. To prevent such flapping tensioning means 4 is provided upstream of the printing head 1. For example, a pinch roller arrangement, comprising a pressing roller 41 and a friction roller 40, is provided between the printing head 1 and the hopper 5 in Fig. 1. The friction roller is braked or retarded by frictional force, but not driven by an external drive. The pinch roller arrangement pinches the printing paper PP between the two rollers, acting as a tension load for the printing paper PP advancing in the downstream direction. Thus, the printing paper PP passing between the printing head 1 and the platen 2 is subject to a static tensioning force of a predetermined magnitude, for suppressing flapping of the printing paper PP during its advance. As a result, irregular printing due to flapping is eliminated. Generally, the recording material advancing means, tractor 3, can be operated automatically or manually in conjunction with the printing head 1, under the control of a central controller which is not shown in Fig. 1. Positioning of the printing paper PP is carried out before printing, and is performed manually, suspending automatic operation of the printing apparatus. An operator advances the printing paper PP by rotating by hand a knob 31 fixed to a driving shaft of the tractor 3 to advance the tractor 3. Operation of motor 30 is suspended. When the printing paper PP is advanced manually, the printing paper PP may sometimes be slackened, as illustrated in the schematic synoptic Figure of Fig. 2. If an operator manually reverses the printing paper PP with the tractor 3 by rotating the knob 31 anti-clockwise, for example, a slackening 43 of the printing paper PP will appear at a position downstream of the tensioning means 4. In a similar manner, even in a case in which the printing paper PP is positively advanced with the tractor 3 by rotating the knob 31 clockwise, the printing paper PP may be slackened if such rotation is suspended suddenly. Such slackening cannot be eliminated in the previously proposed printing apparatus, resulting in problems of irregular printing, such as uneven printing, double printing, etc. As for manual operation of the tractor 3, there is an alternative to manual operation as described above. In this alternative the tractor 3 is driven by the motor 30 which is controlled by an operator, turning on and off a button switch for the motor 30, instead of suspending the motor 30 and advancing the tractor 3 by rotating the knob 31 by hand. However, with regard to slackening of the printing paper PP and associated problems, the cause of and the counter-measures taken against the problems are the same for both manual advancing methods. In the following description, therefore, unless otherwise mentioned, a reference to manual operation of the recording material advancing means refers to manual operation performed by rotating the knob 31 by hand. There is a requirement for printing apparatus having recording material advancing means which remove or mitigate the slackening problem described above. US-A 4 088 256 discloses a printing mechanism with two pairs of tractors, above and below a printing position. The tractors engage perforation tracks provided on both sides of a paper chart, to move the paper chart along the printing location. IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 22, No. 7, December 1979, pages 2616 and 2617, "DUAL-MOTOR FORMS FEED DRIVE", discloses an apparatus for feeding continuous forms using an upper tractor and a lower tractor, each with a motor, placed above and below a platen. To prevent slack between the two tractors, when the upper tractor is driven in a forward paper-feed mode, to feed the paper forward, the motor connected to the lower tractor provides a constant reverse torque, to exert a slight pull to tighten the forms to take out slack. In a reverse paper-feed mode, the upper tractor controls paper movement and the lower motor takes up slack. According to the present invention there is provided, printing apparatus, comprising: a printing head for printing on printing material; advancing means, located downstream of the printing head, from the point of view of normal flow of printing material through the apparatus, operable to advance the printing material, capable of being driven automatically or under manual control, for feeding the printing material in the printing apparatus; tensioning means, for tensioning the printing material, located upstream of the printing head, having a driving roller arranged to be driven by a tensioning motor; characterised by: detecting means for detecting distance by which the printing material is fed by the advancing means, operable to output a displacement signal indicating the detected feeding distance; and tensioning control circuitry, including a driving circuit for driving the tensioning motor, operable to generate a tensioning drive signal enabling the driving circuit in response to such a displacement signal during manual operation of the advancing means; whereby the driving roller of the tensioning means is rotated by the tensioning motor to tension printing material upstream of the advancing means during manual operation of the advancing means. Printing apparatus embodying the present invention affords recording material advancing means which facilitates the achievement of a good printing quality. Printing apparatus embodying the present invention affords means for eliminating or mitigating slackening of recording material in the apparatus during a positioning operation or like operation of the recording material. Printing apparatus embodying the present invention has recording material advancing means disposed upstream of a printing head, for example a dot printing head, and tensioning means disposed at a position downstream of the printing head. Moreover, displacement detecting means, which detects the displacement of the recording material, is provided. The tensioning means is controlled by a signal output from the displacement detecting means, and thereby necessary tension is applied automatically to the recording material even during manual operation. Printing apparatus embodying the present invention has means for advancing an elongate recording material (e.g. continuous, for instance fan-fold, printing paper), and a motor driven tensioning means for providing the recording material with an adequate tension during manual operation of the advancing means, and also during automatic operation thereof. Reference is made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a schematic and synoptic drawing, illustrating parts of a previously proposed printing apparatus; Fig. 2 is a schematic and synoptic drawing, illustrating generation of slackness in recording material in the printing apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic and synoptic drawing, illustrating in outline a printing apparatus embodying the present invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram, illustrating parts of a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram, illustrating parts of a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram, illustrating parts of a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a time chart of output signal pulses output from detecting means of the third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a schematic and synoptic drawing, further illustrating parts of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram, illustrating parts of a tension controller and an electromagnetic coil controller of the fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram, illustrating parts of a tensioning controller 6 of a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 11 is a time chart illustrating signals for effecting an advancing operation of a tractor and tensioning means of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and displacement of advancing printing paper PP. In Fig. 3, detecting means 32, typically a conventional rotary encoder for example, are shown fixed to an advancing motor 30 to detect rotational angular displacement thereof. A tensioning motor 42 is arranged to drive friction roller 40 in a direction as indicated by an arrow in the Figure (counterclockwise). When a signal PF, for automatic paper advancing sent from a tensioning controller 6 as a signal for driving advancing motor 30, is OFF and a NOTPF signal (see below) is ON, the recording material advancing means is advanced or reversed manually, and the advancing motor 30 which is mechanically linked to the advancing means is also rotated. Position signals PS are output from the detecting means 32 and transferred to the tensioning controller 6. The controller 6 controls the tensioning means 4 to drive in a direction such as to reverse the recording material for a time length corresponding to the rotational displacement of the advancing motor 30, namely the displacement of the tractor 3. In addition, tensioning means of this type, having a motor driven friction roller, are applicable to a positively advancing recording material assuring a non-slackening advancing. In summary, when the advancing means, the tractor, is operated manually and the printing paper PP is reversed or advanced, the displacement of the printing paper PP is detected by the detecting means 32, and the tensioning means 4 is driven in the reverse direction. As a result, an adequate tension is provided for the printing paper during manual positioning of the printing paper, and slackening of the printing paper which might otherwise occur can be eliminated, resulting in a more certain assurance of high quality printing. There are many types of printing apparatus. In the following description, however, embodiments of the present invention will be described in relation to a line printer apparatus. Nevertheless, it will be noted that the present invention can be embodied in printing apparatus of other than the line printer type. In operation of a line printer, three operational periods occur; that is, an image printing period, a paper feeding or advancing period, and a non-printing and non-feeding, namely, waiting period. During printing operation of the line printer, a printing period and a paper feeding period occur for each line printing. The waiting period is taken for initial paper positioning, try printing, etc. For controlling the overall operation of the line printer, these periods are identified by signals peculiar to each of the periods. Here, a PF signal, as can be seen later, is issued from a central controller of the apparatus from a printing controller during an advancing period. During a waiting period, a NOTPF signal is issued in place of the PF signal. The NOTPF signal, therefore, is issued when no other signals, namely, the PF signal, a printing signal, and an advancing signal ADVS (which will be described below) are issued to the advancing controller 7. Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention. A recording material advancing controller 7 controls printing paper PP to advance in accordance with a paper feeding signal PF or a non-feeding or waiting signal NOTPF sent from a central controller (not shown) of the associated apparatus. The advancing controller 7 includes a conventional position feedback controlling circuit which includes a timer, a motor drive circuit, a time comparator, a register, and a PF-NOTPF signal discrimination circuit. A tensioning controller 6 comprises an AND gate 60, a flip-flop circuit 61, a timer 62 and tensioning means driving circuit 63. During automatic operation of the recording material advancing means including tractor 3, the PF signal becomes ON, and the NOTPF signal becomes OFF. The PF signal enables the position feedback controlling circuit of the advancing controller 7, and drives an advancing motor 30. In this case, the advancing controller 7 receives position pulse signals PS from the encoder 32 fixed to a shaft of the advancing motor 30, and drives the advancing motor 30 through the position feedback controlling circuit, controlling the speed of the advancing motor 30. During manual operation of the recording material advancing means, the PF signal becomes OFF, and the NOTPF signal ON. Consequently, driving of the advancing motor 30 is suspended. The NOTPF signal is discriminated by the advancing controller 7 and fed to the tensioning controller 6, opening the AND gate 60, allowing a position signal PS to pass through the gate 60 to set the flip-flop circuit 61 at the next stage. A timer 62 starts measuring time when the flip-flop circuit 61 is set, keeping on the time measuring. After a predetermined time interval, the timer 62 stops and the flip-flop circuit 61 is reset. The set output of the flip-flop circuit 61 acts as a drive signal, enabling the driving circuit 63 to drive tensioning motor 42. Operations of the recording material advancing means will be described referring to Fig. 4. During automatic advancing operation of the printing paper PP, the NOTPF signal is OFF and the PF signal is ON. Thus, the tensioning controller 6 is not enabled. The advancing controller 7 outputs a drive signal originated by the PF signal to actuate the advancing motor 30 to drive tractor 3, advancing the printing paper PP automatically. Simultaneously, the advancing controller 7 receives position pulse signals PS generated by the encoder 32 directly coupled to the shaft of the advancing motor 30, for position feedback control of the advancing motor 30. In this case, the friction driving roller 40 and the pressing roller 41 of the tensioning means 4 apply adequate tension to the printing paper. The tension is caused by frictional force generated between the paper PP and the friction roller 40 with the aid of the pressing roller 41. As a result, the printing paper PP is advanced with adequate tension. During manual advancing operation, the advancing controller 7 ceases to output the driving signal to suspend the advancing motor 30, stopping the tractor 3 and the advancement of the printing paper PP. The advancing controller 7 allows the signal NOTPF to pass during manual operation and sends the signal to the next stage. Thereby, the signal opens the AND gate 60 of the tensioning controller 6. When the tractor 3 is driven manually by an operator, by means of the knob 31, to advance the printing paper PP, the advancing motor 30 is rotated simultaneously in conjunction with movement of the tractor 3, since the motor 30 is linked mechanically to the tractor 3. As a result, position pulse signals PS are output from the encoder 32. A position pulse signal PS is sent to the tensioning controller 6 and sets the flip-flop circuit 61 through the AND gate 60 which is opened by the NOTPF signal. Accordingly, the flip-flop circuit 61 provides a set output signal to the driving circuit 63, causing the tensioning motor 42 to rotate to drive the friction roller 40 to rotate in the tensioning direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. Thereby, the printing paper PP is frictionally driven upstream, namely in a downwards direction in Fig. 4. On the other hand, the timer 62 starts measurement of time with the set output of flip-flop circuit 61, and keeps on measuring for a predetermined period. After terminating the time measurement, the timer 62 resets the flip-flop circuit 61 and turns off the set output. Thereby, the driving signal given to the driving circuit 63 turns OFF, suspending driving of the tensioning motor 42. In this embodiment, the printing paper PP is manually reversed or advanced during manual operation of the recording material advancing means, the tractor 3. The tensioning controller 6 is triggered by a position pulse signal sent from the encoder 32, and enabled for a predetermined time interval which is set in the timer 62 in advance. During this the time interval, through the tensioning means 4, tensioning force is applied to the printing paper PP in a reverse direction, to eliminate slackening of the printing paper PP. An advantage of the first embodiment lies in the fact that the structure of tensioning controller 6 is extremely simple, although tensioning is provided for the printing paper PP only for a limited time interval, that is, a predetermined period. A further advantage is that the tensioning force applied to the printing paper PP can be applied during manual operation of the recording material advancing means for manual transfer of the recording material in both directions, advancing and reversing. Fig. 5 is a schematic synoptic illustration of a second embodiment of the present invention. The tensioning controller 6 comprises (compare Fig. 4) a counting circuit 64, a clock circuit 65, AND gates 66 and 68, and a zero detection circuit 67, in addition to the elements 60, 61 and 63 of Fig. 4. The counting circuit 64 counts up position pulse signals PS provided through AND gate 60 and counts down clock pulses output from clock circuit 65, which latter has a predetermined clock pulse cycle. The AND gate 66 is opened by the set output of the flip-flop circuit 61, allowing clock pulses from the clock circuit 65 to be input to a down-count terminal of the counting circuit 64. The zero detecting circuit 67 generates a zero detection output signal when the zero detection circuit 67 detects that the content of the counting circuit 64 has reached zero. The AND gate 68 is opened by the set output of the flip-flop circuit 61 to reset the flip-flop circuit 61. A printing controller 8 controls printing operation of the printing head 1. While a buffer 80 retains the printing data (pattern) of a signal writing (printing) line sent from the printing controller 8. A printing driver 81 drives the printing head 1 in accordance with the content of the buffer 80. In the second embodiment, a knob 31 is manually rotated for positioning the printing paper PP and the tensioning means 4 is driven for time intervals the sum of which is proportional to the total displacement of the printing paper PP, namely the displacement of recording material advancing means 4. Operations of the system of Fig. 5 will now be described. As with the first embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, since the automatically paper advancing signal PF is not output from the advancing controller 7 when manual control is effected, operation of the advancing motor 30 is suspended. The AND gate 60 is opened by the NOTPF signal transferred from the advancing controller 7. When the tractor 3 is driven manually by an operator under these conditions, by means of the knob 31, the advancing motor 30 which is mechanically linked to the tractor 3 is also rotated. As a result, position pulse signals PS are output from the encoder 32, setting the flip-flop circuit 61 through the AND gate 60. Accordingly, a driving signal is given to the driving circuit 63, driving the tensioning motor 42 and rotating the friction roller 40 in the tensioning direction. The position signals PS are counted up by the counting circuit 64 and simultaneously the AND gate 66 is opened. Thus, the counting circuit 64 also counts down, in accordance with clock pulses sent from the clock circuit 65 through the gate 66. Count contents of the counting circuit 64 are transferred to the zero detection circuit 67. When the count content of the zero detection circuit 64 is zero, a zero detection signal is generated in the zero detection circuit 67 and output therefrom, passing through AND gate 68, and resetting flip-flop circuit 61. Thereby, a reset output signal of the flip-flop circuit 61 is sent to the driving circuit 63 to disable the circuit. Thus, driving of the tensioning motor 42 is terminated. Meanwhile, a driving signal which is the set output of the flip-flop circuit 61 is simultaneously applied to the printing controller 8 as a printing inhibit signal INP, and inhibits enabling of the printing controller 8. Thus, printing operation of the printing head 1 is inhibited during rotation of the tensioning motor 42. The number of the position pulse signals PS sent from the encoder 30 is proportional to the displacement of printing paper PP advanced by the rotation of the knob 31. The tensioning motor 42, therefore, is driven to provide the printing paper PP with tensioning force for a period proportional to the displacement of the printing paper PP. Consequently, tensioning control as applied to the printing paper PP is adequately effected, resulting in elimination of problems, arising from slackening of the printing paper PP during manual advancing. In addition, over a period in which slackening of the printing paper PP might be present (while an adequate tensioning force is not applied to the printing paper PP), printing operation of the printing head 1 is inhibited (even when a further printing signal is input to the printing circuit 8). Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram, illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the items seen in Fig. 5, the tensioning controller 6 further comprises a reverse detection circuit 72, and an AND gate 69. The reverse detection circuit 72 detects reverse rotation of the advancing motor 30 by examining the time phase relationship between two pulse trains PS having a predetermined phase displacement. An output signal of the reverse detection circuit 72 (indicating detection of reverse rotation) opens the AND gate 69 allowing position pulse signals PS to reach the flip-flop circuit 61 and the counting circuit 64. In this embodiment, the tensioning means 4 is operated only when the printing paper PP is fed in a reverse direction, by rotation of the knob 31, in order to eliminate slackening of the printing paper PP which might arise easily when reversing printing paper PP. Operations of the third embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 are described with reference to the time chart of Fig. 7. The encoder 32 outputs trains of position pulses P1 and P2 which have the same time pitch but which are mutually displaced in phase, as illustrated in Fig. 7. When a NOTPF signal transferred from the advancing controller 7 becomes ON, the AND gate 60 is opened, allowing the position pulse signals P1 and P2 to reach the reverse detection circuit 72, for detecting reverse movement of the printing paper PP. The structure and operations required of the reverse detection circuit 72 will be readily apparent, but it will be described briefly for clarity. Position pulse signal P1 and position pulse signal P2 are displaced in phase from each other by π/2 and generated simultaneously in the encoder 32. A starting time point is defined as A, as indicated by a vertical line in the time chart of Fig. 7. During advancing operation, a position pulse signal P2(C) is generated first, followed by generation of a position pulse signal P1(D). However, in a reversing operation, a position pulse signal P2(B) comes first, being followed by a position pulse signal P1(E). Reversing rotation or advancing rotation of the advancing motor 30, therefore, can be discriminated by measuring a time interval between position pulse signals P1 and P2 using the reverse detection circuit 72. That is, during advancing rotation, the time interval t₃ up to the first position pulse signal P2 is longer than the time interval t₄ between the position pulse signal P2 and the next position pulse signal P1. It is apparent by viewing the time chart that this relationship is reversed for a reversing operation; that is, a time interval t₁ is shorter than a time interval t2. Thus reverse detection circuit 72 discriminates reversing rotation of the advancing motor 30 from advancing rotation of the same. During advancing rotation, the AND gate 69 remains closed, not setting the flip-flop circuit 61. Consequently, the tensioning means 4 is not driven and tension control of the printing paper PP is not effected. On the other hand, when reverse detection circuit 72 detects reversing rotation of the advancing motor 30, it outputs a reverse detection signal, opening the AND gate 69. Thereby, the position pulse signals sent through the AND gate 60 are applied to the flip-flop circuit 61 and the counting circuit 64 and the same operations as those of the second embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5 ate carried out: a driving signal is generated, for a time interval proportional to the number of position pulse signals occurring during the reverse rotation, from the flip-flop circuit 61, the tensioning motor 42 is driven through the driving circuit 63 of the tensioning means 4, and thus tensioning force is applied to the printing paper PP. Fig. 8 is a schematic synoptic figure illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment affords a means for preventing jamming of the printed paper PP in a case in which large reverse movements are effected, so that a large amount of printing paper PP is reversed or moved upstream. Recording material advancing means of a printing apparatus, generally, are provided with a paper end detector which detects when the printing paper PP taken from the hopper 5 is completely exhausted. As illustrated in Fig. 8, such a detector 50 comprises, for example, a pressing spring 44 and a switch 45 provided in opposition to the spring 44, so that the printing paper PP is pinched between spring and switch. When the printing paper PP is exhausted, the pressing spring 44 is activated to press the switch 45, causing output of an alarm signal indicating exhaustion of the printing paper PP. Thus, printing paper PP is always lightly pressed by the pressing spring 44. When a large reverse movement of the printing paper PP is carried out, therefore, the printing paper PP may jam at a position immediately downstream of the detector 50, hindering exact positioning of the printing paper PP. In order to prevent such jamming of the printing paper PP, the pressing spring 44 needs to be pulled up in the direction indicated by arrow X in Fig. 8 when the printing paper PP starts to reverse. When this is done the reversing printing paper PP will pass through the detector 50 freely and drop into the hopper 5. For this purpose, solenoid means 48 and a solenoid driving circuit 70 are provided in this embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of the tension controller 6 of this fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to that of the third embodiment, shown in Fig. 7, except for the addition of solenoid driving circuit 70. From Fig. 9, it will be apparent that the signal for driving the tensioning means driving circuit 63 is applied also to the solenoid driving circuit 70 to actuate the solenoid means 48. Thus, the tensioning motor 42 and the solenoid means 48 are actuated simultaneously. As a result, the pressing spring 44 is pulled up by the solenoid means, through a steel wire 47, allowing printing paper PP, when moved in reverse, to pass freely through the detector 50. Accordingly, jamming of printing paper PP is no longer generated. The above-described embodiments of the present invention have motor driven tensioning means for tensioning printing paper PP during manual operation of the printing paper advancing means (e.g. when the paper is manually reversed). However, such tensioning means can be applied also to positive advancing of the printing paper PP. In general, advancing means of a printing apparatus, such as a tractor 3, can be advanced or reversed, not only by hand but also by applying driving power thereto, as described above. A driving signal is output by switching a signal button, or by a program stored in a control circuit such as a printing controller 8, in order to position the relevant printing paper PP. With previous tensioning means, which are not power driven and thus provide printing paper PP with only a static tensioning force, it is difficult to eliminate the slackening of the printing paper PP completely. In some cases, additional advancing means, e.g. another tractor, is provided in a position upstream from a printing head with a view to eliminating this disadvantage, resulting in an increase in the cost of the printing apparatus, and complicated initial setting of the printing paper PP into the hopper and the advancing means. In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, tensioning means 4 provided in the preceding embodiments are also applied to tensioning printing paper PP which is positively advancing with the application of driving power. Such dynamic tensioning means can enable the printing paper PP to be stopped at a specified position faster and more exactly. Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram, illustrating the tensioning controller 6 of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In comparison with the fourth embodiment, shown in Fig. 9, an OR gate 71 is additionally provided in relation to the tensioning means driving circuit 63. Fig. 11 is a time chart illustrating signals for an advancing operation of tractor 3 and tensioning means 4, and displacement of the advancing printing paper PP. A signal PF, as shown in chart (b), is applied to the advancing controller 7, for a time interval t PF to drive the advancing motor 30, starting at time point A and terminating at time point B. In previous printing apparatus only a static tensioning force is applied to the printing paper PP. Consequently, advancing displacement of printing paper PP becomes turbulent as illustrated in chart (d), wherein advancing displacement is taken on the ordinate. Printing paper PP is advanced smoothly until the PF signal is terminated at time point C. However, due to the inertia of the printing paper PP, the tractor 3, and moving parts of the motor 30, and back rush of associated mechanisms, the printing paper PP is subject to hunting movement and is vibrated upward and downward as illustrated by the curve of time chart (d). In contrast, with a recording material advancing means as employed in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, an advancing signal ADVS is transferred from the central controller (not shown) or from a central controller (not shown), the printing controller 81, for example. The ADVS signal actuates the OR gate 71, driving directly the tensioning means driving circuit 63. The ADVS signal starts before the termination of the PF signal, starting at time point C and terminating at time point D. The time interval t AD1 between time point C and B, is determined in consideration of the inertia of the moving parts of the motor 30, the tractor 3, etc. The time interval t AD2 between the time point B and D is determined in consideration of back rush of associated mechanisms of the advancing means such as the tractor 3. In this manner, the printing paper PP is advanced with stable movement without any flapping thereof and is more exactly positioned. Advancing displacement of printing paper PP in the fifth embodiment is illustrated in time chart (e). In the case shown in Fig. 11, the advancing means is set in a waiting state after the completion of the positioning operation of the printing paper PP. If there is no further input of a PF signal and printing information stored in preceding stage such as the buffer 80, then the non-feeding signal NOTPF is ON, as shown in chart (a). In each embodiment of the present invention described above, the tensioning controller 6 has been described in terms of hardware, but it is apparent for the man skilled in the field that the function of the tensioning controller can be executed by software such as a processor for advancing controller 7. Moreover, the displacement detecting means described above have been indicated to be a rotary encoder, used primarily for position feedback controlling of the advancing motor 30. However, there are other possibilities and detecting means such as an exclusive encoder, etc., may be applicable. In printing apparatus embodying the present invention, having advancing means such as a tractor disposed downstream of a printing head for feeding recording material, tensioning means for providing recording material with adequate tension in order to eliminate slackening of the recording material, particularly during manual feeding operation thereof, are provided. The tension is provided by a motor-driven driving roller which is disposed upstream the printing head, and rotated in a tension-providing direction by a tensioning motor. A rotary encoder, for example, is fixed to the rotating portion of a motor for driving the tractor, outputting position pulse signals indicating the displacement of the advancing means. The tensioning motor is driven in response to the position pulse signals by a position feedback control performed through a control circuit according to predetermined time schedule. This tensioning means is also applicable to an automatically advancing recording material to attain the same advantage. An embodiment of the present invention provides printing apparatus, comprising: a printing head for printing an image on a printing material, being controlled by a printing control circuit; advancing means locating downstream said printing head for advancing said printing material being driven automatically by actuating an advancing motor during automatic advancing operation of said advancing means and being driven manually by suspending said advancing motor during manual feeding operation of said advancing means; tensioning means for providing said printing material with tension, locating upstream said printing head, and having a driving roller driven by a tensioning motor; detecting means for detecting the feeding distance of said advancing means, thus outputting a displacement signal indicating said feeding distance detected thereby; and tensioning control circuit including a driving circuit for driving said tensioning motor, generating a tension driving signal to enable said tensioning driving circuit in response to said displacement signal during manual operation of said advancing means, thus said driving roller of said tensioning means being rotated by said tensioning motor to provide said printing material existing upstream said advancing means with tension during manual feeding operation of said advancing means. An embodiment of the present invention provides printing apparatus, comprising: a printing head for printing an image on a printing material being controlled by a printing control circuit; advancing means locating downstream said printing head for advancing said printing material, being driven automatically or manually; tensioning means for providing said printing material with tension, locating upstream said printing head, and having a driving roller driven by a tensioning motor; detecting means for detecting the feeding distance of said advancing means, thus outputting a displacement signal indicating said feeding distance detected thereby; and tensioning control circuit including a driving circuit for driving said tensioning motor, generating a tensioning means driving signal to enable said tensioning driving circuit in response to said displacement signal during manual operation of said advancing means, thus said driving roller of said tensioning means being rotated by said tensioning motor to provide said printing material which is advancing downstream automatically and existing upstream said advancing means with tension during automatic feeding operation of said advancing means.

Claims: Printing apparatus, comprising: a printing head (1) for printing on printing material (PP); advancing means (3, 30, 31), located downstream of the printing head (1), from the point of view of normal flow of printing material (PP) through the apparatus, operable to advance the printing material, capable of being driven automatically or under manual control, for feeding the printing material in the printing apparatus; tensioning means (4), for tensioning the printing material, located upstream of the printing head, having a driving roller (40) arranged to be driven by a tensioning motor (42); characterised by: detecting means (32) for detecting distance by which the printing material is fed by the advancing means (3, 30, 31), operable to output a displacement signal (PS) indicating the detected feeding distance; and tensioning control circuitry (6), including a driving circuit (63) for driving the tensioning motor (42), operable to generate a tensioning drive signal enabling the driving circuit in response to such a displacement signal (PS) during manual operation of the advancing means (3, 30, 31); whereby the driving roller (40) of the tensioning means (4) is rotated by the tensioning motor (42) to tension printing material (PP) upstream of the advancing means (3, 30, 31) during manual operation of the advancing means. Printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning control circuit (6) is operable to generate a tensioning drive signal during automatic operation of the advancing means (3 30, 31), so that the driving roller (40) of the tensioning means is rotated by the tensioning motor (42) to tension printing material (PP) upstream of the advancing means (3, 30, 31) during automatic operation of the advancing means. Printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the printing material (PP) is elongate printing paper and the advancing means is a tractor (3). Printing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the printing head (1) is a dot printing head. Printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the detecting means (32) is a rotary encoder fixed to a rotating member of a printing material advancing motor (30) of the advancing means (3, 30, 31), the rotary encoder providing the displacement signal (PS) as a train of signal pulses, the number of pulses provided being proportional to the feeding distance of the advancing means. Printing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tensioning means (4) further comprises a pressing roller (41) arranged to cooperate with the driving roller (40) driven by the tensioning motor (42), to pinch the printing material (PP). Printing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tensioning control circuitry (6) is arranged to be enabled immediately after receiving a NOTPF signal, indicating that the printing apparatus is in a waiting period, sent from a central control circuit of the printing apparatus, simultaneously with a displacement signal (PS) from the detecting means (32), for commencing to provide driving power for driving the tensioning means (4). Printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tensioning control circuitry (6) is arranged to continue providing such driving power, after commencement, for a predetermined time interval. Printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tensioning control circuitry (6) is arranged to continue providing such driving power, after commencement, for a time interval or time intervals the total duration of which is proportional to the feeding distance of said advancing means (3, 30, 31). Printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the displacement signal (PS) provided from the detecting means (32) comprises two trains of pulse signals (P1, P2) having the same time pitch but with a fixed phase displacement one relative to the other, so that direction of the movement of the advancing means (3, 30, 31) can be identified. Printing apparatus as claim in claim 9 or 10, wherein the tensioning control circuitry (6) is such that it commences to supply such driving power only when the direction of movement of the advancing means (3, 30, 31) is identified as a reverse direction (opposite to normal advancing direction). Printing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising: a hopper (5), at an upstream extremity of the apparatus, from the point of view of normal flow of printing material (PP) through the apparatus, for accommodating a source of the printing material; pinching means (50), for pinching the printing material, located between the hopper (5) and the tensioning means (4), comprising a pressing spring (44) for pressing on the printing material and a counter plate (46) disposed in opposition to the pressing spring (44) to pinch the printing material (PP) between spring and plate, solenoid means (48) mechanically linked with the pressing spring (44); and a solenoid driving circuit (70) for actuating the solenoid means (48), being connected to the tensioning control circuit (6) and arranged so that the solenoid driving circuit is actuated by a tensioning drive signal from the tensioning control circuitry (4), whereby the pressing spring (44) is pulled apart from the counter plate (46) when the solenoid means (48) is actuated, providing a space between spring (44) and plate (46) sufficient to allow reverse moving printing material (printing material being fed upstream) to pass freely. Printing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the printing head (1) is arranged so as to be deactuated by the tensioning drive signal, by way of a printing control circuit, so that printing on the printing material (PP) is inhibited during manual operation of the advancing means (3, 30, 31). Printing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an advancing motor (31) of the advancing means (3, 30, 31), actuated for driving the advancing means for automatic feed of printing paper (PP), is deactuated when the advancing means is driven under manual control. Printing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tensioning control circuitry (6) is operable to generate a tensioning drive signal in relation to an automatic operation of the advancing means (3, 30, 31), such that the driving roller (40) of the tensioning means (4) is rotated by the tensioning motor (42) to tension the printing material (PP) upstream of the advancing means (3, 30, 31) for a time interval overlapping the end of a period of automatic feed of the printing paper.

Inventors: ABE, AKIHIRO FUJITSU LTD. PATENT DEPARTMENT, KAMATA, AKINORI FUJITSU LTD. PATENT DEPARTMENT
Applicants: FUJITSU LIMITED
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B41J15
IPC codes: B65H23, B65H20, B41J15, G06K15