JP2020069732A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent printing from being temporarily stopped or being restricted by the change when the position of a printing device with respect to a print medium is changed in the width direction of a long ink ribbon. Providing a system.
A control unit of a printing system including a printing apparatus, a moving mechanism, and a control unit prints an image at a timing when a print instruction is acquired during a printing period (S24). The control unit controls the first motor to rewind the ink ribbon during the print preparation period (S29, S31, S35, S37). After printing, the control unit moves the printing device in the width direction of the ink ribbon when the number of regions used for printing images arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon on the ink ribbon is less than a predetermined number (S28, S34). The control unit moves the printing apparatus in the width direction of the ink ribbon according to the movement instruction acquired during the print preparation period (S39). The control unit updates the predetermined number when the printing apparatus is moved in S39 (S48).
[Selection diagram] Fig. 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system.

  In a printing apparatus for printing on a print medium (packaging material, label, etc.) conveyed by a conveying device such as a packaging machine, a technique for saving an ink ribbon used for printing has been proposed ( For example, see Patent Document 1). The printing system of Patent Document 1 includes a printing device and a guide rail member. The printing device includes a thermal head. The thermal head heats the ink ribbon mounted on the printing device to print an image on the print medium. The guide rail member extends in the width direction of the elongated ink ribbon. The printing system uses the first area of the ink ribbon when the printing apparatus prints one image at a predetermined position on the printing medium and then prints the printing apparatus during the print preparation period before printing the next image. The ink ribbon is rewound by moving it along the guide rail member. When printing the next image, the printing system uses the second region of the ink ribbon to print the image in place on the print medium. The first area and the second area are arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon. As described above, the printing system prints an image by sequentially using a plurality of regions arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon to reduce the unused region of the ink ribbon and save the ink ribbon.

JP, 2009-96001, A

  In the printing system, when the position of the printing device with respect to the print medium in the width direction of the ink ribbon is changed during the print preparation period, the same number of regions as before the position change is arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon. You may not be able to use the ink ribbon. In such a case, an error may be issued from the printing device, printing may be temporarily stopped, or the position change of the printing device may be restricted so as not to generate the error.

  An object of the present invention is to, when the position of a printing device with respect to a print medium is changed in the width direction of a long ink ribbon, temporarily stop printing or limit the change due to the change. It is to provide an avoiding printing system.

  In a printing system according to an aspect of the present invention, a first mounting portion for mounting a first roll around which a long ink ribbon is wound, and the ink ribbon unwound from the first roll are wound up. A second mounting portion for mounting the second roll, and a thermal head adjacent to a transport path of the ink ribbon from being fed out from the first mounting portion until being wound up by the second mounting portion, A printing device having a first motor that rotates the first mounting part and the second mounting part, and a second motor, and the printing device is driven by the power of the second motor along the width direction of the ink ribbon. And a control unit capable of controlling each of the thermal head, the first motor, and the movement mechanism, the control unit heating the thermal head according to print data, and A print control unit that controls one motor to print an image, and the print control unit that prints one image by the print control unit and then prints the first image during the print preparation period until the next image is printed. A first transport control unit that rewinds the ink ribbon by controlling a motor, and after the one image is printed by the print control unit, the ink ribbon is lined up in the width direction of the ink ribbon, When the number of areas used for printing an image is less than a predetermined number, the second motor is controlled to control the area used for printing the next image and the area used for printing the one image. A position smaller than the length of the ink ribbon in the width direction, a first movement control unit that moves the printing device along the width direction of the ink ribbon to a position where does not overlap, and the printing in the print preparation period. Device with ink An instruction acquisition unit that acquires an instruction to move the bon in the width direction, and a second movement control that moves the printing device in the width direction of the ink ribbon according to the movement instruction acquired by the instruction acquisition unit. Unit and the second movement control unit function as an updating unit that updates the predetermined number when the printing apparatus is moved.

  In the printing system according to this aspect, when the printing device is moved by the second movement control unit, the update unit updates a predetermined number. Therefore, the printing system can prevent the printing from being paused or the movement of the printing device being restricted due to the movement of the printing device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a printing system 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the printing device 2. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printing system 1. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example in which a maximum of four images G are arranged in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A and printed. It is a flowchart of a main process. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the printing device 2 with respect to the bracket 6. 6 is a flowchart of print mode processing. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of states (a) to (e) for explaining the relative position of the ink ribbon 9A with respect to the print medium P when printing is performed using an unused area in the width direction of the ink ribbon 9A.

<Outline of printing system 1>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The printing system 1 is a system for performing thermal transfer type printing. The printing system 1 prints on the print medium P (see FIG. 2) conveyed by the external device 8 (see FIG. 3). A specific example of the external device 8 is a packaging machine that conveys a packaging material. In this case, for example, the printing system 1 is used by being incorporated in a part of a transport line on which the print medium P is transported by the packaging machine.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes a printing device 2, a bracket 6, a controller 7 (see FIG. 3), and a platen roller Q. Hereinafter, in order to facilitate understanding of the description of the drawings, upper, lower, left, right, front, and rear of each component included in the printing system 1 are defined. The upper side, the lower side, the left side, the right side, the front side, and the rear side of the printing device 2 and the bracket 6 are respectively the upper side, the lower side, the diagonally left upper side, the diagonally right lower side, the diagonally left lower side, and the diagonally right upper side in FIG. Correspond. In FIG. 1, the conveyance direction of the print medium P coincides with the left-right direction. The print medium P is conveyed leftward (in the direction of arrow Y1) by the external device 8.

<Cassette 9>
In the printing system 1, printing is performed on the printing medium P with the cassette 9 mounted in the cassette mounting unit 20 of the printing device 2. The printing device 2 executes printing by heating the ink ribbon 9A (see FIG. 2) of the cassette 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette 9 has a lid 91, shafts 92A to 92F, a supply roll 90A, and a winding roll 90B. The shafts 92A to 92F are spindles that can rotate around a rotation axis that extends in the front-rear direction. The shafts 92A to 92F extend rearward from the rear surface of the lid 91.

  The shafts 92A and 92F are arranged in the left-right direction above the center of the lid 91 in the vertical direction. A spool 921 to which one end of a long ink ribbon 9A is connected is attached to the shaft 92A. A spool 922 to which the other end of the ink ribbon 9A is connected is attached to the shaft 92F. The ink ribbon 9A is wound around each of the spools 921 and 922 in a roll shape. The supply roll 90A is configured by winding the ink ribbon 9A around the spool 921. By winding the ink ribbon 9A around the spool 922, a take-up roll 90B is formed.

  The ink ribbon 9A is unwound from the supply roll 90A by the printing device 2 and wound around the winding roll 90B. The shaft 92B is provided in the upper right corner of the lid 91. The shaft 92C is provided in the lower right corner of the lid 91. The shaft 92D is provided in the lower left corner of the lid 91. The shaft 92E is provided in the upper left corner of the lid 91. The ink ribbon 9A stretched between the supply roll 90A and the take-up roll 90B comes into contact with a part of the peripheral surface of each of the shafts 92B to 92E.

<Platen roller Q>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the platen roller Q has a cylindrical shape. The platen roller Q is rotatable around a rotation shaft extending in the front-rear direction. The printing device 2 is arranged above the platen roller Q. The platen roller Q sandwiches the print medium P and the ink ribbon 9A with the thermal head 24 of the printing apparatus 2. The platen roller Q contacts the print medium P conveyed by the external device 8 from below and presses the print medium P against the ink ribbon 9A.

<Printing device 2>
The printing device 2 is a thermal transfer type thermal printer. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printing device 2 includes a supply unit 22, a winding unit 23, a thermal head 24, a control board (not shown), first motors 26 and 27, a third motor 28, and the like. When the cassette 9 shown in FIG. 2 is mounted in the cassette mounting unit 20 of the printing apparatus 2, the shaft 92A is connected to the supply unit 22 and the shaft 92F is connected to the winding unit 23. The supply roll 90A wound around the spool 921 of the shaft 92A is attached to the supply unit 22. The winding roll 90B wound around the spool 922 of the shaft 92F is mounted on the winding unit 23.

  The first motors 26 and 27 are stepping motors. The first motor 26 is capable of rotating the supply roll 90A mounted on the supply unit 22 by rotating the supply unit 22. The first motor 27 is capable of rotating the take-up roll 90 mounted on the take-up unit 23 by rotating the take-up unit 23. When the first motors 26 and 27 rotate while the cassette 9 is attached to the printing device 2, the ink ribbon 9A is guided between the supply roll 90A and the take-up roll 90B while contacting the shafts 92B to 92E. It is conveyed in the printing device 2.

  Specifically, when the supply roll 90A and the take-up roll 90B rotate in the forward rotation direction which is the counterclockwise direction when the printing apparatus 2 in FIG. 2 is viewed from the front, the ink ribbon 9A is unwound from the supply roll 90A. And is wound around the winding roll 90B. When the supply roll 90A and the take-up roll 90B rotate in the reverse direction, which is the clockwise direction when the printing apparatus 2 in FIG. 2 is viewed from the front, the ink ribbon 9A is unwound from the take-up roll 90B and the supply roll 90A. To be wound up.

  The thermal head 24 is a line thermal head having a plurality of heating elements linearly arranged in the front-rear direction. The thermal head 24 is adjacent to the transport path F of the ink ribbon 9A from when the thermal head 24 is unwound from the supply unit 22 to when it is wound up by the winding unit 23. The thermal head 24 contacts the portion of the ink ribbon 9A conveyed from the supply roll 90A of the cassette 9 toward the take-up roll 90B, which is stretched between the shafts 92C and 92D, from above. The thermal head 24 sandwiches the print medium P and the ink ribbon 9A between the thermal head 24 and the platen roller Q arranged below the printing device 2. The thermal head 24 prints on the print medium P by heating the ink ribbon 9A while pressing the ink ribbon 9A against the print medium P.

  The third motor 28 is a stepping motor. The third motor 28 moves the thermal head 24 vertically between the head positions 24A and 24B via a gear. The thermal head 24 moves downward to approach the platen roller Q, and moves upward to move away from the platen roller Q. The moving direction (vertical direction) of the thermal head 24 is orthogonal to the carrying direction (horizontal direction) of the ink ribbon 9A carried between the shafts 92C and 92D. The head position 24B is a position where the thermal head 24 comes into contact with the ink ribbon 9A and urges the ink ribbon 9A toward the platen roller Q. The head position 24A is a position where the thermal head 24 is disposed above the head position 24B and releases the bias of the ink ribbon 9A to the platen roller Q.

<Bracket 6>
As shown in FIG. 1, the bracket 6 moves the printer 2 in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A, that is, in the front-back direction that is orthogonal to the left-right direction that is the transport direction of the print medium P (see FIG. 2). The bracket 6 has a second motor 62, a first sensor 63, a second sensor 64, and a switch 65. The support portion 61 has a substantially box shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The lead screw is arranged inside the support portion 61 and extends in the front-rear direction. The support part 61 has a lead screw and a ball screw (not shown) therein. The ball screw is screwed on the lead screw and moves in the front-rear direction according to the rotation of the lead screw. The ball screw is connected to the connecting portion 21 provided at the right end of the printing device 2. The second motor 62 is a stepping motor, and the rotating shaft is connected to the rear end portion of the lead screw. The printing device 2 moves in the front-rear direction when the ball screw moves in the front-rear direction by the rotation of the lead screw driven by the second motor 62. The first sensor 63 is an absolute sensor provided at one end (front end) of the movable range R of the printing device 2. The output value of the first sensor 63 is used for the process of detecting the current position of the printing device 2 from the reference origin B based on the rotation amount of the second motor 62. The second sensor 64 is a proximity sensor provided at the other end (rear end) of the movable range R of the printing device 2. The switch 65 is a push button switch provided on the front surface of the bracket 6 for inputting an instruction to the bracket 6.

<Controller 7>
As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 7 mediates transmission and reception of data between the printing device 2 and the external device 8. The controller 7 outputs the data necessary for the printing device 2 to execute printing to the printing device 2. A specific example of the data output from the controller 7 to the printing device 2 is print image data. The controller 7 transmits the signal output from the external device 8 to the printing device 2. Examples of signals output from the external device 8 include a conveyance start signal / conveyance stop signal for the print medium P, a speed signal indicating the conveyance speed of the print medium P, and a print signal for notifying the print timing for the print medium P.

<Electrical configuration>
The electrical configuration of the printing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing device 2 includes a control unit 2A, a storage unit 2B, a communication interface 2C, a thermal head 24, first motors 26 and 27, and a third motor 28. The control unit 2A, the storage unit 2B, and the communication interface 2C are mounted on a control board (not shown). The control unit 2A is electrically connected to the storage unit 2B, the communication interface 2C, the thermal head 24, the first motors 26 and 27, and the third motor 28.

  The control unit 2A executes the main process (see FIG. 4) by reading and executing the program stored in the storage unit 2B. The storage unit 2B stores a program for the control unit 2A to execute the main process. The communication interface 2C is an interface element for performing communication between the printing device 2 and the controller 7. The communication interface 2C is connected to the controller 7 via a communication cable.

  The thermal head 24 energizes the heating element to generate heat according to a control signal from the control unit 2A. The first motor 26 rotates the supply unit 22 by rotating according to the pulse signal output from the control unit 2A. The first motor 27 rotates the winding unit 23 by rotating according to the pulse signal output from the control unit 2A. The third motor 28 rotates in response to the pulse signal output from the control unit 2A to move the thermal head 24 in the vertical direction.

  The second motor 62 of the bracket 6, the sensors 63 and 64, and the switch 65 are electrically connected to the control unit 2A. The second motor 62 moves in the front-back direction by rotating according to the pulse signal output from the control unit 2A. The sensors 63 and 64 each input the detection result to the control unit 2A. The switch 65 inputs an instruction for the bracket 6 to the control unit 2A.

  The controller 7 has a control unit 2A, a storage unit 7B, and communication interfaces 7C and 7D. The communication interface 7C is an interface element for performing communication between the printing device 2 and the controller 7. The communication interface 7C is connected to the printing device 2 via a communication cable. The communication interface 7D is an interface element for communicating between the external device 8 and the controller 7. The communication interface 7D is connected to the external device 8 via a communication cable. The storage unit 7B stores data necessary for the printing device 2 to perform printing. The control unit 2A is electrically connected to the storage unit 7B and the communication interfaces 7C and 7D. The control unit 2A reads out data necessary for the printing apparatus 2 to execute printing from the storage unit 7B and outputs the data to the printing apparatus 2 via the communication interface 7C. The control unit 2A detects a signal acquired from the external device 8 via the communication interface 7D and outputs the signal to the printing device 2 via the communication interface 7C.

  The external device 8 has a control unit 8A, an operation panel 8B, and a communication interface 8C. Instructions for the external device 8 are input to the operation panel 8B. The communication interface 8C is an interface element for communicating between the external device 8 and the controller 7. The communication interface 8C connects to the controller 7 via a communication cable. The control unit 8A is electrically connected to the operation panel 8B and the communication interface 8C. The control unit 8A receives an instruction input to the operation panel 8B. The control unit 8A outputs various signals to the controller 7 via the communication interface 8C.

  The main processing shown in FIG. 5 executed by the control unit 2A will be described using the specific example shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, in a specific example, an image G including an alphabetic character “A” and a rectangle surrounding the character is printed in order using a maximum of four regions arranged in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A. This is the case. In the main process, the printing device 2 is moved in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A with respect to the print medium P by the bracket 6 during the print preparation period, and each image G is sequentially printed at the same position on the print medium P. In the specific example, in the middle of the main process, a change in the print position of the print medium P in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A is accepted according to an instruction from the operator. In the following description, the arrangement of the images G in the transport direction Y1 is also called a row, and the arrangement of the images G in the width direction Y2 is also called a column. A region of Y row and X column is also referred to as a region (Y, X). A program including an instruction for executing the main process is stored in the storage unit 2B. After starting the printing apparatus 2, the control unit 2A loads the program on the RAM of the storage unit 2B and executes the following processing. The control unit 2A drives the printing apparatus 2 in any of the three operation modes of the preparation mode M1, the setting mode M2, and the printing mode M3, and executes the processing. The length W_p of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2 that can be used to print the image G is the length of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2 (excluding the margins at the ends), the length of the thermal head 24 in the width direction Y2, And the relative position of the ink ribbon 9A and the thermal head 24 in the width direction Y2. In order to simplify the description, in the following description, the usable range N of the ink ribbon 9A is the entire extension range of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2, and the usable range N of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2. Let the length be the length W_p.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 2A drives in the preparation mode M1 after the power is turned on, and determines whether or not the origin B of the printing device 2 has been detected in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A. Yes (S1). The control unit 2A determines that the origin B has not been detected, for example, when the origin detection flag is OFF. The initial value of the origin detection flag is OFF. When the origin B of the printing device 2 has not been detected (S1: NO), the control unit 2A executes origin detection processing (S2). Specifically, the control unit 2A controls the second motor 62 to move the printing device 2 toward one end (front end) of the movable range R. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the first sensor 63 is detected, the control unit 2A detects the origin B (front side movable limit), controls the second motor 62, and controls the printing device 2. Stop moving. The control unit 2A sets the origin detection flag to ON.

  If the origin has been detected (S1: YES), or after S2, the control unit 2A determines whether the movable range R of the printing device 2 in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A has been detected (S3). .. For example, when the movable range detection flag is OFF, the control unit 2A determines that the movable range R has not been detected. The initial value of the movable range detection flag is OFF. When the movable range R of the printing device 2 has not been detected (S3: NO), the control unit 2A executes the movable range detection process (S4). Specifically, the control unit 2A controls the second motor 62 to move the printing device 2 toward the other end (rear side movable limit, movable limit W) of the movable range R of the printing device 2. As shown in FIG. 6B, when the second sensor 64 is detected, the control unit 2A detects the movable range R of the printing device 2 and controls the second motor 62 to cause the printing device 2 to move. Stop moving. The control unit 2A acquires the drive amount of the second motor 62 from the origin B detected in S4 as the length of the movable range R. The control unit 2A sets the movable range detection flag to ON and stores the length R_max of the movable range R.

  The control unit 2A refers to the current position of the printing device 2 and the setting information of the home position D of the printing device 2 stored in the storage unit 2B, and determines whether the printing device 2 is located at the home position D (S5). .. The home position D is narrower than the movable range R, which is set within the movable range R of the printing device 2 in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A, and is one end (rear end) of the continuous usable range J. Is. Home position D may be set in advance and stored in storage unit 2B, or may be set by the user. After the movable range R is detected, the printing device 2 is at the movable limit W and is not located at the home position D (S5: NO). In this case, the control unit 2A controls the second motor 62 to move the printing device 2 toward the home position D, as shown in FIG. 6C (S6). The control unit 2A updates the current position of the printing device 2 according to the drive amount of the second motor 62, and when the updated current position reaches R_home indicating the position of the home position D of the printing device 2, The second motor 62 is controlled to stop the movement of the printing device 2.

  When the printer 2 is in the home position D (S5: YES), or after S6, the control unit 2A switches the operation mode from the preparation mode M1 to the setting mode M2. The control unit 2A determines whether an instruction to change the setting of the home position D is detected (S7). When the operator wants to change the setting of the home position D, he or she operates the switch 65 or the external device 8 to input an instruction to change the setting of the home position D. When the instruction to change the setting of the home position D is detected (S7: YES), the control unit 2A changes the setting of the home position D according to the detected instruction, shifts the processing to S6, and then the operation mode. Is switched from the setting mode M2 to the preparation mode M1. When the instruction to change the home position D is not detected (S7: NO), the controller 2A determines whether the instruction to replace the ink ribbon 9A has been input (S9). When the remaining amount of the ink ribbon 9A is less than the specified value, the operator removes the cassette 9 from the cassette mounting portion 20 and inputs an instruction to replace the ink ribbon 9A by removing the ink ribbon 9A in use.

  When the instruction to replace the ink ribbon 9A is detected (S9: YES), the control unit 2A executes the ink ribbon replacement process. After the operator mounts the cassette 9 on the cassette mounting unit 20, the control unit 2A confirms the remaining amount of the ink ribbon 9A and ends the ink ribbon replacement process. After the replacement process of the ink ribbon 9A is completed, the control unit 2A returns the process to S1 and switches the operation mode from the setting mode M2 to the preparation mode M1. In S1, it is determined that the origin B has been detected based on the origin detection flag (S1: YES), and the above-described origin detection processing is not executed and the processing of S3 is executed. In S3, it is determined that the movable range R has been detected based on the movable range detection flag (S3: YES), and the process of S5 is executed without executing the above-described movable range detection process.

  When the instruction to replace the ink ribbon 9A is not detected (S9: NO), the controller 2A determines whether the position calibration is necessary (S11). The control unit 2A determines that the position calibration is necessary when the current position disappears due to a temporary power off or the like, and sets the origin detection flag to OFF. When the position calibration is necessary (S11: YES), the control unit 2A returns the process to S1 and switches the operation mode from the setting mode M2 to the preparation mode M1. In S1, it is determined that the origin B has not been detected based on the origin detection flag (S1: NO), and the above-mentioned origin detection processing is executed (S2). In S3, it is determined that the movable range R has been detected based on the movable range detection flag (S3: YES), the above-described movable range detection process is not executed, the process of S5 is executed, and a new detection is performed in S2. The current position is acquired with reference to the origin B thus determined.

  When the position calibration is not necessary (S11: NO), the control unit 2A determines whether the print start instruction has been acquired (S12). The external device 8 outputs to the controller 7 a transport start signal for starting the transport of the print medium P and a speed signal indicating the transport speed of the print medium P. The printing apparatus 2 acquires the transport start signal as a print start instruction via the controller 7 and stores it in the storage unit 2B. When the print start instruction has not been acquired (S12: NO), the control unit 2A returns the process to S7. When the print start instruction is acquired (S12: YES), the control unit 2A switches the operation mode from the setting mode M2 to the print mode M3 and executes the print mode process (S13).

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the print mode process, the control unit 2A updates the predetermined value C that defines the number of regions arranged in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A (S20). In the specific example, 4 is set as the predetermined value C based on the data acquired from the controller 7. The control unit 2A sets the number of areas to 1 (S21). The control unit 2A sets the front in the moving direction of the printing device 2 (S22). The control unit 2A determines whether or not a print instruction has been acquired (S23). The external device 8 repeatedly outputs a print instruction for notifying the print time for the print medium P to the controller 7. The printing device 2 repeatedly acquires the print instruction via the controller 7. When the print instruction is acquired via the controller 7 (S23: YES), the control unit 2A prints the image G based on the data acquired from the controller 7 (S24).

  Specifically, the control unit 2A rotationally drives the first motors 26 and 27 so that the ink ribbon 9A is transported at the same speed as the transport speed indicated by the speed signal in response to the acquisition of the print instruction. The supply roll 90A and the winding roll 90B are rotated in the forward direction. The control unit 2A controls the third motor 28 to move the thermal head 24 from the head position 24A to the head position 24B. At the same time, the control unit 2A heats the thermal head 24 based on the print data and transfers the ink in the use area E of the ink ribbon 9A to the print surface of the print medium P. As shown in FIG. 6C, in the printing of the image G having the first printing order, the printing area 2 is located at the home position D, and the use area E (1) located at the frontmost side of the ink ribbon 9A is used. , 1) is used and executed. In FIG. 8, the used area E of this time on the ink ribbon 9A is shown in black, the used area is shown by an area surrounded by diagonal lines, vertical lines, and solid lines in a grid pattern, and the unused area is surrounded by a dotted line. It is shown by the white area. In the specific example shown in FIG. 8, the use area (image area) E of the ink ribbon 9A that is heated and used for printing one image G has a rectangular shape, and the width direction Y2 length of the use area E is the ink ribbon 9A. Is smaller than a quarter of the length Y2 in the width direction. The printing of the image G is repeatedly executed every time the printing instruction is acquired by the printing device 2 in S23. When printing is completed, the control unit 2A stops heating the thermal head 24 and controls the third motor 28 to move the thermal head 24 from the head position 24B to the head position 24A. The control unit 2A stops the rotation drive of the first motors 26 and 27.

The printing system 1 of the present embodiment has a radial ribbon save (RRS) function capable of printing by reducing the unused area of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2. In the printing system 1, the printing apparatus 2 is moved in the width direction Y2 (front-back direction) of the ink ribbon 9A after printing one image G and before printing the next image G, so that the printing apparatus 2 prints ink. The next image G is printed using the unused area of the ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2. Specifically, the control unit 2A determines whether the current movement direction is set to the front (S25). The moving direction after the image G having the first printing order shown in the state (a) is printed is forward (S25: YES). The control unit 2A increments the number of areas by 1 (S26). The control unit 2A determines whether the number of areas incremented in S26 is larger than the predetermined value C updated in S20 (S27). The predetermined value C of the specific example is 4, the number of regions after printing is 2 in the state (a), and after one image G is printed in S24, the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A is printed on the ink ribbon 9A. The number of areas used for printing the image G arranged in line is smaller than the predetermined value C (S27: NO). In this case, the control unit 2A controls the second motor 62 to move the printing device 2 by the distance K in the movement direction as shown in FIG. 6 (D) (S28). In the process of S28, the control unit 2A controls the second motor 62 so that the area used for printing the next image G and the area used for printing the one image G do not overlap with each other. This is a process of moving the printing device 2 along the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A by a distance K smaller than the length of the ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2. The distance K is a distance obtained by adding the front-rear length of the use area E and the front-rear length of a predetermined margin. When the margin between the use areas E is not taken into consideration, the distance K is represented by the quotient of the length W_p divided by C. After printing in the state (a), the controller 2A moves the position of the ink ribbon 9A relative to the print medium P forward by the distance K as shown in the state (b) by the process of S28. The control unit 2A updates the current position R_p. The current position R_p is calculated based on, for example, Expression (1).
Current position R_p = R_home-distance K × (number of areas-1) Equation (1)
The control unit 2A rotationally drives the first motors 26 and 27 to rotate the supply roll 90A and the take-up roll 90B in the reverse direction, so that the ink ribbon 9A has a length in the transport direction of the use area E and the ink ribbon 9A. The acceleration and deceleration are rewound to the supply roll 90A side (S29).

  The control unit 2A determines whether the print stop instruction has been acquired (S49). When the print stop instruction has not been acquired (S49: NO), the control unit 2A returns the process to S23. In the state (b), when the print instruction is acquired (S23: YES), the control unit 2A prints the image G at the same front-back position as the one image G printed on the print medium P in the state (a). To execute. The control unit 2A uses the unused area (1, 2) behind the used area (1, 1) in the state (b) in which the printing device 2 is in the position shown in FIG. The image G is printed (S24). After that, as shown in FIG. 6E, the control unit 2A relatively moves the position of the ink ribbon 9A with respect to the print medium P forward by the distance K by the process of S28. Similarly, in the state (c) in which the printing apparatus 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 6E, the control unit 2A similarly sets the unused area (1, 3) behind the used area (1, 2). Then, the image G is printed. The control unit 2A uses the unused area (1, 4) behind the used area (1, 3) in the state (d) in which the printing device 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 6 (F), The image G is printed. As a result, the control unit 2A causes the area (1,1), the area (1,2), the area (1,3), and the four areas (1,4) in FIG. 4 arranged in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A. The region can be used to print four images G in sequence.

  After the image G is printed in the state (d) in which the printer 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 6F (S24), the updated number of regions is 5, which is greater than the predetermined value C of 4. It is determined (S26, S27: YES). In this case, the control unit 2A does not move the printing device 2 in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A, but sets backward in the moving direction (S30). The control unit 2A rotationally drives the first motors 26 and 27 to rotate the supply roll 90A and the take-up roll 90B in the reverse direction, thereby subtracting the margin in the transport direction of the use region from the acceleration and deceleration of the ink ribbon 9A. It is rewound by the amount corresponding to the supply roll 90A (S31).

  In the state (e), when the print stop instruction is not acquired (S49: NO) and the print instruction is acquired (S23: YES), the control unit 2A determines that the position with respect to the print medium P is in the state (a). The image G is printed at the same position in the front-rear direction as the use area (1, 1). In the state (e) in which the printing device 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 6F, the control unit 2A has an unused area (2, 2) on the right side (upstream side in the transport direction) of the used area (1, 4). 4) is used to execute the printing of the image G (S24). Similarly, under the condition that the movement direction of the printing device 2 is set to the rear, the regions arranged in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A with respect to the print medium P are used, and the four images G are printed in order. .. Specifically, the moving direction is backward (S25: NO), and the control unit 2A decrements the number of areas by 1 (S32). The control unit 2A determines whether the number of areas is 1 (S33), and when the number of areas is not 1 (S33: NO), controls the second motor 62 to move the printing device 2 in the moving direction (backward). To the distance K (S34). The controller 2A rewinds the ink ribbon 9A (S35), as in S29. When the number of areas is 1 (S33: YES), the control unit 2A does not move the printing device 2 in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A, but sets the front in the moving direction (S36). The controller 2A rewinds the ink ribbon 9A (S37), as in S31. As a result, the control unit 2A uses four regions (2, 4), a region (2, 3), a region (2, 2) and a region (2, 1) arranged in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A of FIG. Then, the four images G can be sequentially printed. After S35 or S37, the control unit 2A executes the process of S49.

  When the print instruction has not been acquired (S23: NO), the control unit 2A determines whether pressing of the switch 65 has been detected (S38). For example, when the operator adjusts the printing position on the print medium P in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A during the print preparation period, the operator presses the switch 65 to move the printing apparatus 2 to the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A. Enter the move instruction to move to. When the depression of the switch 65 is not detected (S38: NO), the control unit 2A executes the process of S49. When the operator presses the switch 65 in the state (c) in which the printer 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 6E after the image G is printed using the area (3, 2) in FIG. The control unit 2A detects the pressing of the switch 65 and acquires the movement instruction (S38: YES). In this case, the control unit 2A controls the second motor 62 according to the acquired movement instruction to start the movement of the ink ribbon 9A of the printing apparatus 2 in the width direction Y2 (S39). The moving direction of the printing device 2 in S39 may be defined by a signal output by the switch 65, or may be the moving direction of the printing device 2 that is currently set. In the specific example, as an example, the moving direction of the printing device 2 is defined as the front by the signal output by the switch 65. The control unit 2A counts the movement amount U of the printing device 2 in the width direction Y2 after the movement is started in S39. The movement amount U may be calculated from the difference between the current positions of the printing device 2 before and after the movement.

The control unit 2A calculates the movable length from the current position R_p (S40). When the printing apparatus 2 is moved forward by the instruction of the switch 65, when the moving direction at the time of printing is set backward, when the current position is the origin B, or when C_max is 1, The forward movable length R_f is R_p. C_max is a natural number (rounded down after the decimal point) equal to or smaller than the predetermined value C updated in S20, and is calculated according to the equation (2). When C_max calculated by the equation (2) exceeds the predetermined value C updated in S20, the predetermined value C updated in S20 is set to C_max.
C_max = R_home / distance K + 1 ... Formula (2)

As in the specific example, when the printing device 2 is moved forward by the instruction of the switch 65, the moving direction at the time of printing is forward, and the current position R_p is larger than the distance K, the movable length forward. The height R_f is a value obtained by subtracting the distance K from the current position R_p. The reason that the distance K is subtracted from the current position R_p is to secure a movable length for moving the printing device 2 forward once and to avoid complicating the process of changing the setting of the moving direction. When the printing device 2 is moved forward by the instruction of the switch 65 and the moving direction at the time of printing is forward and the current position R_p is not larger than the distance K, the forward movable length R_f is 0. Is. When the printing device 2 is moved backward according to the instruction of the switch 65, the backward movable length R_b is calculated by the equation (3).
R_b = (R_max-R_p) -distance Kx (number of areas-1)
= R_max-R_home ... Formula (3)

  The control unit 2A determines whether or not the pressing release of the switch 65 is detected (S41). When the release of the depression of the switch 65 is detected (S41: YES), the control unit 2A controls the second motor 62 to stop the movement of the printing device 2 (S45). When the pressing release of the switch 65 is not detected (S41: NO), the control unit 2A determines whether the print stop instruction is acquired (S42). When the conveyance of the print medium P by the external device 8 is stopped, a conveyance stop signal for stopping the conveyance of the print medium P is output from the external device 8. The printing device 2 acquires the transport stop signal as a print stop signal via the controller 7. When the print stop instruction is acquired (S42: YES), the control unit 2A executes the process of S45. When the print stop instruction has not been acquired (S42: NO), the control unit 2A determines whether the print instruction has been acquired (S43). When the print instruction is acquired (S43: YES), the control unit 2A executes the process of S45. When the print instruction has not been acquired (S43: NO), the control unit 2A has reached the length of the movable range calculated in S40, since the movement amount U of the printing device 2 has started in S39. It is determined (S44). When the movement amount U has not reached the movable length (S44: NO), the control unit 2A returns the process to S41. When the movement amount U reaches the length of the movable range (S44: YES), the control unit 2A acquires the current position after executing the process of S45 (S46).

  The control unit 2A updates the home position D according to the movement amount U of the printing device 2 from the start of the movement in S39 to the stop of the movement in S45 (S47). In the specific example, the home position D is updated from the position moved in S6 to the position moved forward by the movement amount U1. The control unit 2A updates the predetermined value C according to the movement amount U of the printing device 2 (S48). The control unit 2A controls the movement amount U of the printing device 2, the length of the usable range N of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A, the length of the movable range R of the printing device 2, and the printing device 2 The predetermined value C is updated according to the current position R_p of. The length of the usable range N of the ink ribbon 9A of the specific example is the length of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2. The length of the movable range R of the printing device 2 is the value detected in the process of S4. The current position R_p of the printing device 2 is obtained by the equation (1). According to the equation (2), C_max is calculated to be 3 using the position R_home of the home position D corresponding to the length of the usable range J of the printing apparatus 2 set in S8 and updated in S47, and the predetermined value C Is updated to 3. After S48, when the print stop instruction is not acquired (S49: NO) and the print instruction is acquired (S23: YES), the image G is printed using the area (3, 3) in FIG. 4 (S24). ), It is determined that the number of areas after update is 4 and is larger than the predetermined value C updated in S48 (S26, S27: YES). Accordingly, the control unit 2A uses the three regions (3, 1), the regions (3, 2), and the regions (3, 3) arranged in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A, in the width direction of the print medium P. The three images G can be sequentially printed at the same position of Y2. Similarly, the control unit 2A uses the two regions (4, 3) and the regions (4, 2) lined up in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A under the condition that the moving direction is set to the rear side and print medium. Two images G can be sequentially printed at the same position in the width direction Y2 of P.

  After the image G is printed using the area (4, 2), the pressing of the switch 65 is detected (S38: YES), and the printing apparatus 2 is moved forward by the movement amount U2 (S39 to S45). The control unit 2A updates the home position D (S47) and sets the predetermined value C to 1 (S48). After S48, if the print stop instruction is not acquired (S49: NO) and the print instruction is acquired (S23: YES), the image G is printed using the area (4, 1) in FIG. 4 (S24). ), The number of areas after the update is determined to be 1 (S33: YES). After the image G is printed using the area (4, 1), the control unit 2A prints the image G using the area (5, 1) under the condition that the moving direction is set to the front. (S24). Similarly, the control unit 2A can print the image G using the region (6, 1) under the condition that the moving direction is set to the rear.

  After the image G is printed using the area (6, 1), the pressing of the switch 65 is detected (S38: YES), and the printing apparatus 2 is moved backward by the movement amount U3 (S39 to S45). The controller 2A updates the home position D (S47) and sets the predetermined value C to 4 (S48). After S48, if the print stop instruction is not acquired (S49: NO) and the print instruction is acquired (S23: YES), the image G is printed using the area (7, 1) in FIG. 4 ( S24). The control unit 2A uses the area (7, 1), the area (7, 2), the area (7, 3), and the area (7, 4) in the width direction of the print medium P as in the first line. Four images G can be sequentially printed at the same position on Y2.

  When the print stop instruction is acquired (S49: YES), the control unit 2A ends the print mode process and returns the process to the main process of FIG. After the process of S13 of FIG. 5, the control unit 2A returns the process to S7 and switches the operation mode from the print mode M3 to the setting mode M2. The main process ends when an instruction to turn off the power is acquired.

  In the printing system 1 of the above embodiment, the supply unit 22, the winding unit 23, the thermal head 24, and the printing device 2 are examples of the first mounting unit, the second mounting unit, the thermal head, and the printing device of the present invention, respectively. Is. The supply roll 90A and the winding roll 90B are examples of the first roll and the second roll of the present invention, respectively. The first motors 26 and 27 are an example of the first motor of the present invention. The second motor 62, the bracket 6, the control unit 2A, the first sensor 63, and the second sensor 64 are examples of the second motor, moving mechanism, control unit, first sensor, and second sensor of the present invention, respectively. .. The control unit 2A that executes the process of S24 in FIG. 7 is an example of the print control unit of the present invention. 2 A of control parts which perform the process of S29, S31, S35, and S37 are examples of the 1st conveyance control part of this invention. The control unit 2A that executes the processes of S28 and S34 is an example of the first movement control unit of the present invention. The control unit 2A that executes the process of S38 is an example of the instruction acquisition unit of the present invention. The control unit 2A that executes the process of S39 is an example of the second movement control unit of the present invention. The control unit 2A that executes the process of S48 is an example of the updating unit of the present invention. The control unit 2A that executes the processes of S2 and S4 in FIG. 5 is an example of the range acquisition unit of the present invention. The control unit 2A that executes the process of S2 after S10 or S11 is an example of the current position acquisition unit of the present invention. The control unit 2A that executes the process of S8 is an example of the range setting unit of the present invention. The control unit 2A that executes the process of S6 is an example of the third movement control unit of the present invention.

  In the printing system 1 of the above embodiment, when the printing device 2 is moved in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A in the processes of S39 to S45, the predetermined value C is updated by the process of S48 (S48). Therefore, the printing system 1 can avoid the suspension of printing due to the movement of the printing device 2 in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A. In the conventional printing system, since the printing apparatus 2 does not generate an error due to the movement of the printing apparatus 2 in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A, the printing position adjustment range is not the movable range but the printing apparatus is the number of areas. It is assumed that the range is limited to the range that can move. In this case, there may be a problem that the printing position cannot be changed even though the printing device 2 is within the movable range. As a result, the operator changes the printing position on the printing medium P to a desired position. It is complicated because it is necessary to suspend printing. On the other hand, when the printing system 1 changes the position of the printing device 2 in the width direction Y2 started in S39, the movable length calculated in S40 is limited by the predetermined value C set in S20. It can be avoided.

  When the printing device 2 is moved in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A in S39 to S45, the control unit 2A uses the movement amount U of the printing device 2 and the use of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A. The predetermined value C is updated according to the length of the possible range, the length of the movable range R of the printing device 2, and the current position of the printing device 2 (S48). Therefore, the printing system 1 includes the movement amount U of the printing device 2, the length N of the usable range of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction of the ink ribbon 9A, the length R_max of the movable range R of the printing device 2, and the printing. The predetermined value C can be appropriately updated according to the current position R_p of the device 2.

  The bracket 6 of the printing system 1 further includes a first sensor 63 provided at one end of the movable range R of the printing device 2 and a second sensor 64 provided at the other end of the movable range R of the printing device 2. When the power of the printing apparatus 2 is turned on, the control unit 2A moves the printing apparatus 2 to one end and detects the first sensor 63, and then detects the second sensor 64 at the other end. The movable range R of the printing device 2 is acquired based on the driving amount of the motor 62 (S2, S4). The control unit 2A moves the printing device 2 within the movable range R. When the printing device 2 is moved in S39, the control unit 2A acquires the amount of movement of the printing device 2 and the length of the usable range N of the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction of the ink ribbon 9A, S4. The predetermined value C is updated according to the length of the movable range R and the current position of the printing device 2 (S48). Therefore, the printing system 1 can appropriately update the predetermined value C according to the movable range R acquired based on the detection results of the first sensor 63 and the second sensor 64.

  When calibrating the current position after the movable range R is acquired, the control unit 2A newly acquires the detection result of the first sensor 63 (S1: NO, S2), and the detection result of the second sensor 64 is The current position is acquired (S46) without newly acquiring (S3: YES). Therefore, the printing system 1 can simplify the process of acquiring the current position as compared with the case of newly acquiring the detection results of the first sensor 63 and the second sensor 64 to acquire the current position.

  The control unit 2A sets a continuous usable range J within the movable range R in the width direction of the printing device 2 which is narrower than the movable range R (S8). The control unit 2A moves the printing device 2 within the usable range J (S28, S34). When the printing device 2 is moved in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A in the processes of S39 to S45, the control unit 2A moves the printing device 2 by the movement amount U and the ink ribbon 9A in the width direction of the ink ribbon 9A. The predetermined value C is updated according to the length of the usable range N, the length of the image G, the length of the usable range J set by the range setting unit, and the current position of the printing device 2 (S48). .. Therefore, the printing system 1 is used within the movable range R according to the length of the usable range N of the ink ribbon 9A, the length of the image G, the length of the print medium, and the like in the width direction of the ink ribbon 9A. The possible range J can be set. The printing system 1 can control the printing apparatus 2 to move within the usable range J.

  The control unit 2A updates the home position D that defines the usable range J in addition to the predetermined value C when the printing device 2 is moved in the processes of S39 to S45 (S47, S48). Therefore, the printing system 1 can be controlled so that the printing device 2 is moved within the usable range J and printing is performed using the area of the predetermined value C in the width direction of the ink ribbon 9A.

  The control unit 2A moves the printing apparatus 2 to the home position D which is one end of the usable range J before starting printing (S6). The control unit 2A prints the image G having the first printing order in a state where the printing apparatus 2 is located at the home position D. Therefore, the printing system 1 can be controlled so that the printing device 2 is moved within the usable range J and printing is performed using the area of the predetermined value C in the width direction of the ink ribbon 9A.

  The printing system of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications may be added as appropriate.

  The printing system may include a printing device, a moving mechanism, and a control unit, and the configuration may be changed as appropriate. For example, the printing device 2 may include a packaging machine that conveys the print medium P, or may include a platen roller Q. The printing device 2 may include at least one of the controller 7 and the bracket 6. The configuration of the printing device 2 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the transport path of the ink ribbon 9A mounted on the printing device 2 may be changed appropriately. The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion may each be capable of mounting the first roll around which the ink ribbon is wound and the second roll around which the ink ribbon unwound from the first roll is wound. The printing device may be a printing device of a type in which conveyance of the ink ribbon 9A and the print medium P is stopped during printing and the thermal head 24 is moved along the ink ribbon 9A to perform printing. The moving mechanism has only to move the printing device in the width direction of the ink ribbon. The moving mechanism may not include at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor, and the moving mechanism may acquire the movable range R by a mechanical sensor or the like. The drive source for moving each member may be changed appropriately. The external device capable of communicating with the printing system may be, for example, a PC or a mobile terminal.

  The printing system may include a CPU, a microcomputer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like as a processor that executes main processing. The main process may be distributed by multiple processors in the printing system. The order of each step of the main process of the above embodiment can be changed, steps can be omitted, and additions can be added as necessary.

  The usage area (image area) of the ink ribbon 9A may be different for each printing. The shape of the usage area of the ink ribbon 9A may be appropriately changed to a C shape, a triangular shape, or the like. The area used for printing one image G and the area used for the next image G only need to be positions that do not overlap with each other, and the extended areas of the two partially overlap in the width direction Y2 of the ink ribbon 9A. Good. The distance in the width direction between the image G and the use area with respect to the ink ribbon 9A may be appropriately changed. The arrangement of the use area of the ink ribbon on the ink ribbon is not limited to the case of arranging in a grid pattern as shown in FIG. 4, and at least one of the positions in the conveyance direction and the width direction of the ink ribbon with respect to the adjacent area is appropriately changed. You may. In this case, the number of regions arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon on the ink ribbon is a predetermined ratio (for example, 50%) of the extension range of the region in the conveyance direction of the ink ribbon among the regions arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon. The number of regions satisfying the above matching conditions may be set. When the use area of the ink ribbon is arranged in a check pattern on the ink ribbon, the control unit may set a predetermined number according to the moving direction set in S22, S30, and S36. When the number of areas becomes larger than the predetermined value (S27: YES), the control unit changes the processing to S30, sets the number of areas to 1, controls the second motor 62, and controls the printing apparatus 2 to operate. It may be moved backward to the home position D. In this case, S25 and S32 to S37 may be omitted. The initial position (home position D) of the printing apparatus may be appropriately changed such as the origin B and the movable limit W. The home position D may be provided on the other end side (rear end side) of the usable range J of the printing device 2. In that case, for example, in S22, the moving direction is set to the other end side of the usable range J, and the image arranged in the rearmost side of the ink ribbon 9A is used to print the first image in the printing order. Just do it. The method of calculating the movable length in S40 may be changed as appropriate. When giving priority to the usage rate of the area in the width direction of the ink ribbon, the control unit 2A sets, for example, the lower limit value of the number of usage areas in the width direction of the ink ribbon so that the lower limit value is not exceeded. The movable length may be calculated. When the printing device 2 is moved forward by the instruction of the switch 65 and the moving direction during printing is forward, the control unit 2A sets the forward movable length R_f to the current position regardless of the current position. It may be R_p. In this case, the control unit 2A may execute a process of switching the moving direction according to the current position and the moving amount U after stopping the printing device 2 (S45).

  The instruction acquired in S38 is not limited to the example input by pressing the switch 65, and may be acquired from the external device 8 via the controller 7, for example. The instruction acquired in S38 may be input in response to an operation of an operation unit other than the switch 65 such as a touch panel or a dial. The arrangement of the operation unit such as a switch may be changed appropriately. When the printing system includes the photographing device, the printing system automatically inputs an instruction to change the position of the image with respect to the print medium in the width direction of the ink ribbon, based on the analysis result of the photographed image of the image printed on the print medium. Feedback control may be performed. In that case, the instruction may include the movement direction and the movement amount of the printing apparatus in the width direction of the ink ribbon. Based on the instruction in S38, the control unit 2A may move the printing device 2 in the movement direction by the amount of movement included in the instruction (S39). Similarly, the printing system automatically inputs an instruction to change the position of the image with respect to the print medium in the width direction of the ink ribbon, based on the analysis result of the captured image of the end portion of the print medium in the width direction of the ink ribbon before printing. Feedback control may be performed.

The update of the predetermined value in S48 is not limited to be performed each time the printing apparatus 2 is moved according to the instruction acquired in S38, and may be performed only when the predetermined number needs to be updated. .. For example, the control unit 2A may update the predetermined number when the following formula (4) is satisfied after changing the home position D according to the movement amount U.
0> R_home-distance K × (C-1) (4)

1: printing system, 2: printing device, 2A: control unit, 2B, 7B: storage unit, 2C, 7C, 7D: communication interface, 6: bracket, 7: controller, 22: supply unit, 23: winding unit, 24: thermal head, 26, 27: first motor, 28: third motor, 62: second motor, 63: first sensor, 64: second sensor, 65: switch

Claims (7)

A first mounting portion for mounting a first roll on which a long ink ribbon is wound, and a second mounting portion for mounting a second roll on which the ink ribbon fed from the first roll is wound. A mounting portion, a thermal head adjacent to a transport path of the ink ribbon from being unwound from the first mounting portion to being wound by the second mounting portion, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion. A printing device comprising a first motor for rotating the
A moving mechanism that has a second motor and moves the printing device along the width direction of the ink ribbon by the power of the second motor;
A control unit capable of controlling each of the thermal head, the first motor, and the moving mechanism,
The control unit is
A print controller that controls the heating of the thermal head and the first motor according to print data to print an image,
A first transport control unit that rewinds the ink ribbon by controlling the first motor during a print preparation period after one image is printed by the print control unit until the next image is printed. When,
After the one image is printed by the print control unit, when the number of regions used for printing the image, which are arranged in the width direction of the ink ribbon on the ink ribbon, is less than a predetermined number, the (2) By controlling the motor, at a position where the area used for printing the next image and the area used for printing the one image do not overlap, a distance smaller than the length in the width direction of the ink ribbon. A first movement control unit that moves the printing device along the width direction of the ink ribbon,
An instruction acquisition unit that acquires a movement instruction to move the printing device in the width direction of the ink ribbon during the print preparation period;
A second movement control unit that moves the printing device in the width direction of the ink ribbon according to the movement instruction acquired by the instruction acquisition unit,
A printing system, which functions as an updating unit that updates the predetermined number when the printing device is moved by the second movement control unit.   The update unit, when the printing apparatus is moved by the second movement control unit, the movement amount of the printing apparatus and the length of the usable range of the ink ribbon in the width direction of the ink ribbon, The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number is updated according to a length of a movable range of the printing device and a current position of the printing device. Further comprising a first sensor provided at one end of the movable range of the printing device and a second sensor provided at the other end of the movable range of the printing device,
The control unit is
When the printing apparatus is powered on, the printing apparatus is moved to the one end to detect the first sensor, and then the second motor of the other end until the second sensor is detected. The drive amount further functions as a range acquisition unit that acquires the movable range of the printing device,
The first movement control unit moves the printing device within the movable range,
The update unit, when the printing apparatus is moved by the second movement control unit, the moving amount of the printing apparatus and the length of the usable range of the ink ribbon in the width direction of the ink ribbon. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined number is updated according to the length of the movable range acquired by the range acquisition unit and the current position of the printing apparatus. .. The control unit is
After the movable range is acquired by the range acquisition unit, when calibrating the current position, the detection result of the first sensor is newly acquired, and the detection result of the second sensor is not newly acquired. The printing system according to claim 3, further functioning as a current position acquisition unit that acquires the current position. The control unit is
Within the movable range in the width direction of the printing device, narrower than the movable range, and further functions as a range setting unit that sets a continuous usable range,
The first movement control unit moves the printing device within the usable range,
The update unit, when the printing apparatus is moved by the second movement control unit, the moving amount of the printing apparatus and the length of the usable range of the ink ribbon in the width direction of the ink ribbon. The predetermined number is updated according to the length of the image, the length of the usable range set by the range setting unit, and the current position of the printing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 2.   The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the update unit updates the usable range in addition to the predetermined number when the printing device is moved by the second movement control unit. The control unit is
Before starting printing, the printing apparatus further functions as a third movement control unit that moves the printing apparatus to one end of the usable range,
7. The printing control unit prints the image having the first printing order in a state where the printing control unit is at the one end of the usable range moved by the third movement control unit. The printing system described.

Images