Printing device

• US 20030077098A1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kosugi, Yasuhiko, Nunokawa, Hirokazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,008,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/582
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/009 Detecting type of paper, e.g. by automatic reading of a code that is printed on a paper package or on a paper roll or by sensing the grade of translucency of the paper
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/42 Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/02 Web rolls or spindles; Attaching webs to cores or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles

Abstract

An IC memory module 33 for storing paper-related information is embedded in a core 31 of a roll paper member 30. A control circuit 50 accesses the IC memory module 33 embedded in the core 31 of roll paper member 30 via a transmission-reception antenna 202 at a timing, for example, when a power source is turned on, the roll paper member 30 is replaced, and power source is turned off, and acquires the paper-related information. The control circuit 50 controls the printing processing by taking account of the information acquired from the IC memory module 33.

Claims

1. A printing device for printing to roll paper, which is provided with a memory device for rewritably storing information relating to the printing paper, said printing device comprising:

a printing control device for controlling the paper feed quantity of said roll paper for printing by using the information relating to the printing paper that is stored in said memory device.

2. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of the remaining quantity of roll paper for printing and the type of roll paper for printing is stored as said information relating to the printing paper in said memory device;

and

said printing control device controls the paper feed quantity of said roll paper for printing according to at least any one of said remaining quantity of roll paper for printing and said type of roll paper for printing stored in said memory device.

3. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein

at least the remaining quantity of roll paper for printing is stored as said information relating to the printing paper in said memory device;

and

when said printing control device makes a decision that the printing processing of printing data quantity to be printed cannot be completed with said remaining quantity of roll paper for printing, which is stored, based on said printing data quantity which has to be printed and said remaining quantity of roll paper for printing stored in said memory device, said printing control device interrupts the printing processing and informs to this effect.

4. A printing device according to any claim from claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

an information input-output device for executing in a non-contact mode writing and reading of said information relating to roll paper for printing with respect to said memory device.

5. A printing device according to any claim from claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

an information input-output device for executing in a contact mode writing and reading of said information relating to roll paper for printing with respect to said memory device.

6. A printing device for executing printing with respect to a roll paper member and provided with a memory device for rewritably storing paper-related information which relates to roll paper for printing, said printing device comprising:

a holder unit for rotatably holding said roll paper member;

a printing device antenna arranged in said holder unit so as to be able to transmit and receive signals with respect to said memory device at any timing;

an information read-write unit for executing reading and writing of said paper-related information with respect to said memory device via said printing device antenna; and

a printing control unit for executing printing processing by using said paper-related information that has been read out.

7. A printing device according to claim 6, wherein said roll paper member has hollow portions at least at both ends thereof, and said holder unit comprises:

a rotary body rotating together with said roll paper member and having a mounting end which is mounted in the hollow portion of said roll paper member and a support end having a round outer peripheral shape;

a roll paper antenna which is arranged along the outer periphery of the support end of said rotary body and connected to said memory device; and

a support body which has a round inner peripheral shape and rotatably supports said support end of said rotary body; and

wherein said printing device antenna is arranged along the peripheral direction over almost the entire periphery of said support body.

8. A printing device according to claim 6, wherein said roll paper member has hollow portions at least at both ends thereof, and said holder unit comprises:

a rotary body rotating together with said roll paper member and having a mounting end which is mounted in the hollow portion of said roll paper member and a support end having a round inner peripheral shape;

a roll paper antenna which is arranged along the inner periphery of the support end of said rotary body and connected to said memory device; and

a support body which has a round outer peripheral shape and rotatably supports said support end of said rotary body; and

wherein said printing device antenna is arranged along the peripheral direction over almost the entire periphery of said support body.

9. A printing device according to claim 6, wherein said roll member body has hollow portions at least at both ends thereof, those hollow portions having a round inner peripheral surface and have arranged therein in the peripheral direction thereof a roll paper antenna connected to said memory device and transmitting and receiving radio signals;

said holder unit has a support portion which rotatably supports the hollow portions of said roll paper member and has a cylindrical shape; and

said printing device antenna is arranged along the peripheral direction over almost the entire inner peripheral surface or outer peripheral surface of said support body.

10. A printing device according to claim 6, wherein said roll paper member has hollow portions at least at both ends thereof, and said holder unit comprises:

a rotary body mounted in the hollow portion of said roll paper member and rotating together with said roll paper member;

a support body rotatably supporting said rotary body; and

a roll paper antenna arranged in said rotary body in a position opposite said support body and connected to said memory device; and

wherein said printing device antenna has a surface area larger than that of said roll paper antenna and is arranged opposite said support body.

11. A roll paper member comprising:

a roll paper for printing;

a memory device for rewritably storing paper-related information which relates to said roll paper for printing; and

a transmission-reception device for transmitting and receiving signals which is connected to said memory device.

12. A roll paper member according to claim 11, wherein said transmission-reception device comprises an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals.

13. A roll paper member according to claim 12, further comprising:

a core having said roll paper for printing wound thereon, and wherein said antenna is arranged along the peripheral direction of said core.

14. A roll paper member according to claim 12, further comprising:

a core having a hollow portion with said roll paper for printing wound thereon, and wherein said antenna is arranged along the peripheral direction of the outer peripheral surface or inner peripheral surface of said core.

15. A roll paper member according to claim 12, further comprising:

a core having said roll paper for printing wound thereon and comprising a flange portion covering the end surface of said roll paper for printing, and wherein said antenna is arranged in the flange portion of said core.

16. A roll paper member according to claim 12, further comprising:

a housing body containing therein said roll paper for printing, and wherein said memory device is provided in said housing body.

17. A roll paper member according to any claim from claims 12 to 16, wherein said paper-related information includes at least any one information from the information on the remaining quantity of said roll paper for printing, production year, month, and date of said roll paper for printing, type of said roll paper for printing, and production lot of said roll paper for printing.

18. A printing method using a roll paper member provided with a memory device for rewritably storing paper-related information which relates to roll paper for printing, said printing method comprising:

reading the paper-related information which is stored in said memory device; and

executing the printing processing by using said paper-related information that has been read out and controlling the paper feed quantity of said roll paper for printing.

19. A printing method according to claim 18, wherein

at least one of the remaining quantity of roll paper for printing and the type of roll paper for printing is stored as the information relating to the printing paper in said memory device;

and

said paper feed control of roll paper for printing is executed according to at least any one of said remaining quantity of roll paper for printing and said type of roll paper for printing stored in said memory device.

20. A computer-readable medium for recording a printing control program using a roll paper member provided with a memory device for rewritably storing at least one of the remaining quantity of roll paper for printing and the type of roll paper for printing as the paper-related information which relates to the roll paper for printing, wherein said printing control program executes with the computer the functions of:

reading the paper-related information which is stored in said memory device; and

controlling the paper feed quantity of said roll paper for printing to execute the printing processing by using at least one of the remaining quantity of roll paper for printing and the type of roll paper for printing of the paper-related information and.

21. A roll paper printing system comprising:

a roll paper for printing;

a roll paper member comprising detection means for detecting the remaining quantity of said roll paper for printing; and

a printing device provided with printing control means for executing the printing processing by taking account of said remaining quantity of paper that has been detected.