RECORDING DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A RECORDING DEVICE
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field , ..
[0001]
The present invention r e l a t e s to a r e c o r d i n g device t h a t r e c o r d s .
images on a r e c o r d i n g medium, and t o a method of c o n t r o l l i n g t h e r e c o r d i ng
device.
2. Related Art
[0002]
A problem with recording devices that record by moving the
recording head over the recording medium is that when the recoi-ding
head moves over a bump where the chickness of the recording medium
changes or over a thick recording medium, the recording head may separate
from the recording medium and part of the text or image to be recorded
may not be properly printed. To solve this problem, Japanese Unexamined
Pa-cent Appl. Pub. JP-A.-H07-117277 teaches lowering the drive speed
of the recording head when an optical sensor, for example, defects
a change in the thickness of the recording medium.
[0004]
The problem of the recording head separating -from the recording
medium is not limited to when there is a difference in the thickness
of the recording medium, and can also occur when the recording head
moves over the edge of the recording medium, in which case detecting
the height and the location of the bump (height difference) using an
optical sensor is difficult. The recording head is thexefore driven
at a low speed in order tC' prevent a drop in recording quality when
rhe recording head moves over a change in level, but this reduces
throughput.
2
An object of the invention is to prevent problems resulting from
the recording head moving'onto the recording medium and maintain high
recording quality.
[0005]
A first aspect of the invention is a recording device that has :
a recording head; a head moving unit that moves the recording head
reciprocally; and a recording control unit that records while moving
the recording head relative to a recording medium in the movement range
of the recording head, and moves the recording head passed an edge
of the recording medium to a start-recording position on the recording
medium when the recording head is at a position separated from the
recording medium when recording starts, and changes the maximum speed
of the recording head during this movement to a slower speed than the
set maximum speed based on the position where movement starts.
This aspect of the invention reliably prevents problems .resulting
from the recording head moving at a high speed by lowering the maximum
speed of the recording head when the recording head passes the edge
of the recording medium based on the position where movement starts.
In addition, the maximum speed of the recording head does not change
when the speed of the recording head when passing the edge of the
recoi'ding medium is not expected to reach a high speed based on the
position from which the recording head starts moving. As a result,
the frequency of changing the maximum speed of the recording head can
be suppressed. As a result, problems resulting from the speed of
recording head travel can be prevented, the frequency of changing the
maximum speed of recording head travel can be suppressed, and a drop
in throughput can be prevented.
[0006]
In a recording device according po another aspect of the invention,
the recording control unit can control moving the recording head to
a specific position within the movement range of the recording head
separately from the recording operation, and then when starting the
3
next recording operation changes the maximum speed at which the
recording head moves passed the edge of the recording medium.
When recording starts after moving the recording head in an
operation other than a recording operation to a specific position at
an end of the range of recording head movement, for example , this aspect
of the invention can suppress the speed of recording head travel if
there is a possibility that the recording head will reach a high speed
of travel when passing the edge of the recording medium. This aspect
of the invention can therefore limit suppressing the speed of the
recording head to conditions in which problems due to the speed of
the recording head can easily occur.
[0007]
In a recording device according to another aspect of the invention,
the specific position is a position preset at an end part of the range
of movement of the recording head.
This aspect of the invention suppresses the maximum speed when
there is a strong possibility that the recording head will reach a
high speed of travel when passing the edge of the recording medium,
and can therefore prevent problems resulting from the speed of the
recording head, suppress how frequently the maximum speed of recording
head travel is changed, and prevent a drop in throughput.
[0008]
In a recording device according to another aspect of the invention,
the recording control unit changes the maximum speed of travel at which
the recording head moves passed an edge of the recording medium if
the maximum speed of the recording head is set equal to or greater
than a specific speed.
This aspect of the invention suppresses the maximum speed of the
recording head when passing the edge of the recording medium if the
maximum speed of the x-ecording head is set to a high speed, and can
therefore prevent problems resulting from the speed of the recording
head, suppress how frequently the maximum speed of recording head txavel
4
i s changed, and prevent a drop in throughput.
[OOOS]
In a recording device according to another aspect of the invention,
the recording control unit changes the maximum speed of travel at which
the recording head moves passed an edge of the recording medium if
the distance from the position where movement starts to an edge of
the recording medium is equal to or greater than a specified distance .
When the distance from the position where the recording head starts
moving to the edge of the recording medium is long, and the recording
head can accelerate sufficiently before reaching the edge of the
recording medium and pass the edge of the recording medium at a high
speed, this aspect of the invention can suppress the speed of the
recording head. As a result, this aspect of the invention can prevent
problems resulting from the speed of the recording head, suppress how
frequently the maximum speed of recording head travel is changed, and
prevent a drop in throughput.
[0010]
Another aspect of the invention is a method of controlling a
recording device having a recording head, and a head moving unit that
moves the recording head reciprocally, the control method including
steps of: recording while moving the recording head relative to a
recording medium in the movement range of the recording head; and moving
the recording head passed an edge of the recording medium to a
start-recording position on the recording medium when the recording
head is at a position separated from the recording medium when recording
starts; and changing the maximum speed of the recording head during
this movement to a slower speed than the set maximum speed based on
the position where movement starts.
This aspect of the invention reliably prevents problems resulting
from the recording head moving at a high speed by lowering the maximum
speed of the recording head when the recording head passes the edge
of the recording medium based on the position where movement starts.
5
In addition, the maximum speed of the recording head does not change
when the speed of the recording head when passing the edge of the
recording medium is not.expected to reach a high speed based on the
position from which the recording head starts moving. As a result,
the frequency of changing the maximum speed of the recording head can
be suppressed. As a result, problems resulting from the speed of
recording head travel can be prevented, the frequency of changing the
maximum speed of recording head travel can be suppressed, and a drop
in throughput can be prevented.
Effect of the invention
The invention can prevent problems resulting from the speed of
the recording head when the recording head moves passed the edge of
the recording mediumbeing too fast, suppress how frequently the maximum
speed of recording head travel is changed, and prevent a drop in
throughput.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DPJ^WINGS
FIG. 1 is an external oblique view of a printer (recording device)
according to a first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the print unit.
FIG. 3 is a side section view of the print unit.
FIG. 4 is an oblique view of the print unit when the top part
is removed.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view of part of the print unit.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged section view of part of the print unit.
FIG. 7 is a function block diagx'am of the printer control system.
FIG. 8 describes the conventional operation of a printer when
recording.
FIG. 9 describes the operation of a printer according to a first
embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart of printer operation.
FIG. 11 describes the operation of a printer accoi'ding to a second
6
embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the operation of a printer according
to the second embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0013]
Apref erred embodiment of the present invention is describedbelow
with reference to the accompanying figures.
FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing the appearance of a printer
(recording device) 10 (below, printer 10) according to a first
embodiment of the invention.
This printer 10 is a dot impact printer that has a recording head
18 with plural recoi'ding wires (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) , and I'ecords
text, images, symbols, and other content by driving the recording wires
of the recording head 18 against a recording medium with an ink ribbon
therebetween in order to form dots on the recording surface of the
recording medium. Images and other content recorded by the printer
10 are composed of one or plural lines, and are recorded line by line.
A host computer 6 8 (FIG. 7) is connected as an external device
to the printer 10, and the printer 10 records (prints) by line unit
or page unit based on commands and data input form the host computer
68.
[0014]
Recording media that can be used in the printer 10 include cut
sheets of a regular or irregular size, and continuous papei" such as
roll paper and f anf old paper . Both cut sheet and continuous paper media
may be plain paper, carbon paper, card stock, or other t^^e of paper,
as well as film and other types of plastic sheets, and may be coated,
impregnated, or otherwise treated. In addition to regularly sized cut
sheet paper such as photocopier paper and postcards, cut-sheet media
may include passbooks and other t^^pes of bound media having plural
sheets bound in book form.
7
The p r i n t e r 10 according t o t h i s embodiment of t h e i n v e n t i o n is
described as recording images on a r e c o r d i n g medium 100 t h a t i s e i t h er
a cut sheet or passbook.
[0001]
The printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 houses the main print unit inside
an exterior case including a top case 13 and a bottom case 14 that
are connected together vertically below a cover 12 that opens and closes
at the top. A manual insertion opening 15 through which the recording
medium 100 is manually inserted and discharged is rendered at the front
of the external case. Note that in this embodiment of the inA^ention
the direction in which the recording medium 100 is inserted to the
manual insertion opening 15 is direction A, and the direction in which
the recording medium 10 0 is discharged from the manual insert! on opening
15 is direction B, as indicated by arrows A. and B in the figure.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is an oblique view showing the print unit 11 housed inside
the external case of the printer 10, and FIG. 3 is a side section view
of the printer 10. Reference numeral C in FIG. 3 indicates the paper
feed path of the recording medium 100.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the print unit 11 has a main frame
including a left side frame 16 and right side frame 17, and disposed
to this main frame includes a recording mechanism unit 2 0 including
a recording head 18 and carriage 19 ; a platen 21 opposite the recording
head 18; a first conveyance mechanism 24 including a first paper feed
roller 22 and second paper feed roller 23 ; a second conveyance mechanism
27 including a third paper feed roller 25 and a fourth paper feed roller
26; a magnetic data reading unit 29 including a magnetic head 34 for
reading/writing magnetic information to a magnetic stripe 101 on the
recording medium 100; and a sheet suppressor 30 that prevents the
recording medium 100 from buckling up when reading/writing magnetic
information.
[0017]
8
The left side frame 16 and right srde frame 17 rise vertically
facing each other from the left and right sides of the print unit 11 .
A carriage shaft 31 spans between the side frames 16, 17; and a flat
front sheet guide 32 and back sheet guide 33 are fixed between the
side frames 16, 17, forming the floor of the conveyance path C through
which the recording medium 100 is conveyed. The platen 21 described
below is also disposed between the front sheet guide 32 and the back
sheet guide 33.
A front frame 4 5 and rear frame 4 6 that form the top of the recording
medium 100 conveyance path C and support the second paper feed roller
23 and fourth paper feed roller 26 as described below are also affixed
to the left side frame 16 and right side frame 'i"'.
[0018]
The first conveyance mechanism 24 is located in front of the platen
21, and the second conveyance mechanism 27 is located behind the platen
21. The first paper feed roller 22 and third paper feed roller 25 are
drive rollers that are driven i-otationally by a paper feed motor 3 6
(FIG. 7) and a drive wheel train not shown, and the second paper feed
roller 23 and fourth paper feed roller 26 are the driven rollers that
rotate in conjunction with rotation of the first paper feed roller
22 and third paper feed roller 25. The first conveyance mechanism 24
and second conveyance mechanism 27 together with the paper feed motor
3b described below render a conveyance unit.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3, an alignment plate 54 is disposed between
the platen 21 and first paper feed roller 22. The alignment plate 54
extends widthwise to the recording medium 10 0, that is, transversely,
and is a panel that stands perpendicularly to the conveyance path C.
The alignment plate 54 is buried below the conveyance path C , and retracts
behind the conveyance path C depending upon alignment motor 37 (FIG.
7) operation. Sl^ew in the recording medium 100 can be corrected by
operating the alignment motor 3 7 so that the alignment plate 54 protrudes
9
into the conveyance path C, and then driving the recording medium 100
against the alignment plate 54 bymeans of the first conveyance mechanism
24. This alignment plate 54 and the alignment motor 37 that drives
the alignment plate 54 together render an alignment unit.
The magnetic head 34 is driven recipi"Ocally by a magnetic head
motor 3 8 (FIG. 7) along two magnetic head guides extending parallel
to the side frames 16, 17. This magnetic head 34 magnetically reads
and records information on the magnetic stripe 101 (FIG. 1) formed
on a passbook used as the recording medium 100.
[0020]
The carriage 19 is mounted freely slidable on the carriage shaft
31, and travels (scans) along the carriage shaft 31 according to the
forward or reverse operation of the carriage drive motor (head moving
unit) 35 (carriage drii^e.motor 35 below) (FIG. 7) as the head moving
unit. The scanning direction of 'the carriage IS is the main scanning
direction. The main scanning direction and the transverse direction
are the same.
The recording head 18 is mounted on the carriage 15, and
moves in the main scanning direction over the recording surface of
the recording medium 100 in unison with the carriage 15.
The platen 21 is disposed in the main scanning direction directly
below the recording head 18. The platen 21 is urged and elastica.lly
supported from below by an urging spring 40 (FIG. 3) , and receives
the impact of the recording wires propelled from the recording head
18 as a result of this elastic force.
An ink ribbon pulled from a ribbon cartridge 39 is disposed to
the carriage 19 in front of the recording head 18. While travelling
in the main scanning direction, the recording head 18 drives the
recording wires to strike the recording surface of the recording medium
100 with the ink ribbon therebetween, pressing the ink .ribbon against
the recordingmedium 100 conveyedbetween the platen 21 and the recording
head 18, and recording images including characters on the recording
10
medium 100.
[0021]
A gap roller 41 is also mounted on the carriage 19 beside the
recording head 18. The gap roller 41 is located beside the surface
of the recording head 18 from which the recording wires protrude. The
bottom end of the gap roller 41 is located at a position lower than
the distal face of the recording head 18 when the recording wires are
not in the striking position, and contacts the platen 21 or the recording
medium 100 on the platen 21 with the sheet guide 60 described below
therebetween in resistance to the urging force of the urging spring
40 pushing up on the platen 21. Because the gap roller 41 is supported
freely rotatably on the carriage 19, the gap roller 41 rolls and moires
in contact with the platen 21 or the recording medium 10 0 when the
carriage IS moves.
The gap roller 41 therefore keeps the distance (gap) between 'C-he
distal face of the recording head 18 and the recording surface of tne
recording medium 100 desirably sized when the recording head 18 records
on the recording medium 100. If the thickness of the recording medium
100 changes during recording, the platen 21 elastically supported by
the urging spring 40 displaces vertically, absorbing the thickness
difference and keeping the gap desirably sized.
[0022]
The printer 10 has sensors for controlling the recording
operation.
As shown in FIG . 3 , a plurality of alignment sensors 52 are disposed
in front of the alignment plate 54. These alignment sensors 52 are,
for example, transraissive sensors that detect the presence of a
recording medium 100 using a light-emitting'unit (such as an LED) and
a photodetector (such as a phototransistor) disposed opposite each
other on opposite sides of the conveyance path C . These plural alignment
sensors 52 are disposed at a specific interval in the main scanning
direction, and whether the leading edge of the recording medium 100
11
is aligned with the alignment sensors 52, that is, whether aligning
the recording medium 100 was successful, can be determined based on
the output states of the plural alignment sensors 52. Furthermore,
because the leading end of the re cording medium 100 is positioned against
the alignment plate 54 when alignment of the recording medium 100 ends ,
the position of uhe recording medium 100 in the conveyance direction
can also be determined based on the number of steps the paper feed
motor 36 operates after the alignment sensors 52 detect that alignment
is completed.
[0023]
A media width sensor 55 is disposed to the carriage 15' behind
the recording head 18. The media width sensor- 55 is, for example, a
reflective sensor including a light-em.itting unit (such as an LED)
and a photodetector (such as a phototransistor) disposed side by side
facing the conveyance path C. The po-sition of the side of the recording
medium 100 and the width of the recording medium 100 can be determined
by correlating uhe detected output of che media width sensor 15 and
the scanning position of the carriage 19 while the media width sensor
55 moves over the platen 21 as the carriage 19 scans the recording
m.edium.
An insertion sensor 53 (FIG. 7) is also disposed in front of the
second paper feed roller 23 of the printer 10. The insertion sensor
53 is, for example, a transmissive sensor including a light-emitting
unit (such as an LED) and a photodetector (such as a phototransistor)
disposed opposite each other on opposite sides of the conveyance path
C, and detects a recording medium 100 manually inserted from the manual
insertion opening 15.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is an oblique view showing the print unit 11 when the top
part is removed. FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view of main parts of
the print unit 11 in the area of the recording head 18, and FIG. 6
is an enlarged section view of parts near the recording head 18 .
12
As shown in FIG. 4, a long, narrow sheet guide 60 made of plastic
film extends in the main scanning direction above the platen 21,
As shown in FIG . 6, the front side of the sheet guide 60 is supported
by a guide support 70, and the opposite side contacts the top of the
platen 21. When a recording medium 100 is inserted from the manual
insertion opening 15 and conveyed through the conveyance path C to
the recording head 18 , the sheet guide 6 0 contacts the recording surface
of the recording medium 100, and the gap roller 41 contacts the top
of the sheet guide 60.
The gap roller 41 is located in front of the recording head 18
surface from which the recording wires protrude, part of the outside
surface of the gap roller 41 rides onto the sheet guide 5 0 that t-':>:t'=-:nds
from the front towards the back, and the gap roller 41 moves
hi directionally over the sheet guide 60 when the carriage ly scans.
:c-025]
As 3hov.Ti in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the guide support 70 that s\:pporrs
the sheet guide 60 includes a guide support shaft 71 between t.ie left
side frame 15 and right side frame 17; a guide support shaft beai'ing
72 that supports the guide support shaft 71 freely rotatably; a spring
receiver plate 73 that protrudes to the recording head 18 side and
is affixed to the end part of the right side frame 17 side of the guide
support shaft 71; a stop 73A. that is affixed to the spring receiver
plate 73 and the guide support shaft 71, and protrudes to the opposite
side as the spring receiver plate 73 ; an urging spring 75 that urges
the spring receiver plate 73 from below; and a spring housing 74 that
holds and supports the bottom part of the urging spring 75 from below.
The base end of rhe sheet guide 6 0 is adhesively affixed to the guide
support shaft 71 with double-sided tape or adhesive, for example.
A pressure lever 76 adjacent to the guide support 70 is disposed
to the right side frame 17. The pressure lever 76 includes a pivot
pin 78 that is freely rotatably supported on the right side frame 17;
a pressure finger 79 that protrudes from the pivot pin 78 to the guide
13
support 70 side; and a cam follower 77 the.t protrudes substantially
upward in the opposite direction as rhe pressure finger "79 . The pressure
lever 76 is urged counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 by
a pressure spring (not shown in the frgurej . The pressure finger 75
of the pressure lever 7 6 is engaged when sitting on top of the spring
receiver plate 73 of the guide support 70.
[0026]
The guide support 70 is urged counterclockwise on the guide support
shaft 71 as seen in FIG. 5 by the urging force of the urging spring
75 held in the spring housing 74 . The foregoing pressure spring (not
shown) that urges the pressure lever 76 has greater ui"ging force than
the urging spring 75 that urges the guide support 70. As a result,
while the carriage 19 scans, the pressure lever 76 is urged by the
urging force of the pressure spring (not shown) , and the pressure finger
79 pushes down on the spring receiver plate 73 as shown in FIG. 5.
This pressure causes the guide support 70 to rotate clockwise as seen
in the figure against the urging force of uhe urging spring 75, and
the spring receiver plate 73 is held pressed down. As a result, the
sheet guide 60 is pressed against the platen 21, and is held between
the gap roller 41 of the carriage 19 and the platen 21 or the recording
medium 100 .
When rhe carriage 19 moves to a sheet guide lift-off position
set at the right side frame 17 side end, the gap roller 41 separates
from the end of the sheet guide 60, pressure on the sheet guide 60
is released, and the carriage 15 moves to the sheet guide lifn-off
position. As a result, a cam incline 19A formed on the side of the
carriage 19 on the right side frame 17 side contacts the cam follower
77. The cam follower 77 is pushed down against the urging force of
the foregoing pressure spring (not shown) with proximity to the cami
incline 19A, and the pressure lever 76 rotates clockwise as seen in
the figure . In conjunction therewith the pressure applied to the spring
receiver plate 73 by the pressure finger 79 of the pressure lever 76
14
is released, and is replaced by the urging force of the urging spring
75 pushing the spring receiver plate 73 up. The guide support 7 0 thus
rotates counterclockwise as seen in the figure, and stops when the
stop 73A contacts the front sheet guide 32.
As a result, the guide support 70 is held with the spring receiver
plate 73 up and the stop 73A down while the carriage IS is at the sheet
guide lift-off position. More specifically, the sheet guide 6 0
separates from the platen 21 and lifts up.
[0027]
While not shown in the figures, a downward incline is formed on
the right side frame 17 side end of the platen 21, and a flat end flange
that is lower than other parts is connected to this incline. When the
carriage 19 moves to the sheet guide lift-off position, the gap roller
41 moves in contact with the top of the platen 21 and stops ai: this
end flange. The guide support 70 then rotates and the sheet guide €0
is lifted up.
[0028]
The sheet guide 60 guides recording media 100 manually inserted
from the manual insertion opening 15 so that the recording medium 10 0
CB.n be conveyed smoothly to below the recording head 18 .
In addition, the gap roller 41 is a roller rhat moves rolling
over the ulaten 21 or the recording surface or the record-ing medium.
100 as described above, and is made of rubber or other material with
a relatively high coefficient of friction on the outside to prevent
the roller from rotating idly. This friction makes conveyance of the
recording medium 100 more difficult when the gap roller 41 is in contact
with the recording medium 100, but by disposing the sheet guide 60
between the recording medium 100 and gap roller 41, friction between
the recording medium 10 0 and gap roller 41 is eliminated and the recording
medium 100 can be conveyed easily in direction A in the figure.
Furthermore, when the recording medium 10 0 is a bound booklet or passbook
with variations in height (thiciiness) , the sheet guide 50 also works
15
to enable the gap roller 41 moving in the main scanning direction to
move smoothly OA^'er any bumps or differences in level.
When the recording medium 100 is conveyed in direction B in the
figures to feed the recording medium 100 one line or to discharge the
recording medium 100, the.carriage 19 moves to the sheet guide lift-off
position so that the sheet guide 5 0 is lifted up. The sheet guide 6 0
therefore separates from the recording medium 100 and does not interfere
with media conveyance.
[0029]
The^printer 10 also has a control board unit 50 located at the
bottom rear part of the print unit 11, for example," as a control unit
for controlling prj.nter 10 operation, including drive control of the
first and second conveyance mechanisms 24 and 27, carriage 19 drive
control, controlling the recording operation of che recording wires
of the recording head 18, and read/write control of the raagnetic data
reading unit 29.
[0030]
FIG. 7 is a function block diagram showing the electi'ical
configuration of the printer 10, that is, the configuration of the
control system rendered b}' the control board unit 5 0 .
As shown in FIG. 7, the printer 10 has a CPU (recording control
unit) 61 (CPU61below) , RAM 63 for temporarily storing data andprograms
run by the CPU 61, and flash memory (storage unit) 64 (flash memory
64 below) as a storage unit that stores control programs run by the
CPU 61, connected together over a bus 62. A gate array 65 is connected
to the bus 62, and the recording head 18 , alignment sensors 52 , insei'tion
sensor 53, media width sensor 55, and" a motor driver 66 are connected
to the gate array 65. The gate array 65 acquires the output voltages
of the alignment sensors 52 , insertion sensor 53 and media width sensor
55, and outputs to the CPU 61. The gate array 65 drives the recording
head 18 as controlled by the CPU 61 so that the recording wires (not
shown in the figure) of the recording head 18 are impelled to prino .
16
The gate array 65 also controls the motor driver 66 as controlled by
the CPU 61 to drive the carriage drive motor 35, paper feed motor 36,
alignment motor 37, and magnetic head motor 38.
[0031]
The carriage drive motor 35 is a motor that moves the carriage
19 in the main scanning direction, and the carriage 15 moves reciprocally
according to the forward and reverse rotation of the carriage di"ive
motor 35. The paper feed motor 36 is a motor that causes the first
paper feed roller 22 and third paper feed roller 25 described above
to rotate, and the alignment motor 3 7 is amotor chat causes the alignment
plate 54 of the recording medium 100 to advance and retract . The magnetic
• head motor 3 8 is a motor that causes the magnetic data reading unit
29 (FIG. 2) to scan.
These motors are stepper motors, and the number of steps driven
is determined by the pulses input to the motors from the motor di-iver
66 . How many steps the motors are driven can be more accurately monitored
by using a rotary encoder (not shown in the figure) or linear encoder
(not shown in the figure) . The paper position and the paper edge position
can rhen be determined by relating the carriage position determined
from the resulting pulse count to sensor output.
[0032]
The CPU 61 controls the gate array 65 and motor driver 66 based
on a control program stored in flash memory 64, and gets the detection
output of each sensor through the gate array 65 . For example , by sampling
and A/D coni^erting the output voltage of each sensor through the gate
array 65 at a specific interval (such as 100 ms) , data indicating the
output voltage of each sensor can be acquired, and the state of the
recording medium 100 detected by each sensor can be determined from
this data.
[0033]
An interface 67 through which external devices are connected to
the printer 10 is connected to the bus 62 . This interface 67 may have
17
connectors for a-serial interface, parallel interface, USB interface,
or network card interface, for example, and the external devices are
connected through the appropriate connector.
A host coTTiputer 6 8 is also externally connected to the printer
10 through the interface 67 . The host computer 68 exchanges information .
with the CPU 61.according to operator instructions. Included in this
information are commands including a start-recording-position command
that tells the recording head 18 where to start recording, recording
commands, paper feed commands, and discharge commands, and the text
and image data" to be recorded on the recording medium 100. The
start-recording-position command includes information such as the size
of the recording medium 100, the-distance from the top, bottom, left-, ;
or right edges of the recording medium 100 to the recording area, the
number of lines in the recording area, and the number of columns per
line . Note that an operating unit that for receiving input opei-ations ,
and a display unit for displaying operating results may also be connected
to the bus 52.
[0034]
FIG. 8 describes the operation of aprinter according to the related
art when recording, (A) being a plan view showing the relative positions
of the carriage IS scanning range Wa and the recording medium 100,
(B) being a section view showing the relative positions of the carriage
19 scanning range Wa and the recording medium 100, and (C) and (D)
being graphs showing the change in the speed of carriage 19 movement.
Note that the speed of travel of the carriage 19 is described below,
but it will be noted that the speed of carriage 19 travel is also the
speed of the recording head 18 .
As described above, the printer 10 has a function that uses the
alignment plate 54 to correct skew in the recording medium 100 inserted
from the manual insertion opening 15 (FIG. 1) . The width of the recording
medium 100 that can be used in the printer 10 is not particularly limited
insofar as it is less than the width of the manual insertion opening
18
15. The position of the recording mediuri 100 in the scanning range
Wa of the carriage 19 is also not particularly limited, and the recording
medium 100 may be conveyed at a position that is separs-ted from both
ends of the scanning range Wa of the carriage 19 as shown at (A) and
(E) in FIG. 8. The CPU 61 detects the position of both side edges,
referred to below as the media edge positions Pe, of the recording
medium 100 by capturing media width sensor 55 output while the carriage
19 scans the recording medium 100 , and detecting where detector output
changes. The recording area 105 is normally set with a specific side
margin to the edges of the recording medium 100 .
The CPU 61 then determines the side edge positions Ps of the
recording area 105 in the recording medium 100 based on the
start-recording-position command sent from the host computer 66. The
printer 10 is a line printer that records one line during one pass
in one scanning direction while the carriage 13 reciprocally scans
therecordingmediumlOO . The recording area 10 5 can there fore be defined
for each line (each pass) .
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 8 (A) to (D) , a home position Pa where the carriage
19 is positioned during standby is set at the end of the scanning range
Wa on the left side frame 16 side, and a ribbon replacement position
Pc is set to a position slightly removed from this home position Pa.
When the carriage 19 is at the ribbon replacement position Pc, the
ribbon cartridge 3 9 can be replaced. So that the ribbon cartridge 3 9
can be easily replaced at any time, the printer 10 moves the carriage
19 to the ribbon replacement position Pc when a specified time (such
as 3 seconds ) has passed after the recording head 18 finishes recording .
The carriage 19 is therefore of ten positioned at the ribbon replacement
position Pc when the printer 10 is stopped.
The sheet guide lift-off position Pb described above is at the
end of the scanning range Wa on the right side frame 17 side . The carriage
19 moves to the sheet guide lift-off position Pb when the sheet guide
19
60 is lifted up for recording mediutn 100 conveyance as described above .
Astart-width-detection position Pd is set offset slightly towards
the center from the sheet guide lift-off position Pb. To detect the
media edge positions Pe of the recording medium 100 using the media
width sensor 55, the CPU 61 moves the carriage 19 from the
start-width-detection position Pd.
[0036]
Except while recording to the recording medium 100, the carriage
19 is positioned to one of home position Pa, sheet guide lift-off position
Pb, ribbon replacement position Pc and start-width-detection position
Pd. These positions are specific positions as referred to in the
accompanying claims. The carria-ge 19 is most often positioned at the
ribbon replacement position Pc, and often moves to the sheet guide
lift-off position Pb while the recording medium 100 is conveyed. When
a recording medium 100 is not loaded in the printer 10, the carriage
19 is at the home position Pa, and when a recording medium 10 0 is inserted
from the manual insertion opening 15, the carriage 19 moves to the
start-width-detection position Pd before recording starts . The
operations moving the carriage 19 to the home position Pa, sheet guide
lift-off position Pb, ribbon replacement position Pc and
start-width-detect ion posit ion Pd are performed by the CPU 61 executing
specific commands according to the control program. More specifically,
unlike an operation that uses coordinates in the scanning range Wa
or a column position to specify the location of the carriage 19 , specific
commands are executed to move the carriage 19 to the predefined posit ions
Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd.
[0037]
To record text in the recording area 105 of the recording medium
100 in the example shown in FIG. 8 (A) and (B) , the CPU 61 controls
the motor driver 6 6 to drive the carriage drive motor 3 5 and move the
carriage 19 to the side edge position Ps of the recording area 105.
The CPU 61 then drives the recording head 18 to record text while
20
continuing to move the carriage 19, and slows the carriage 19 in the
interval from the side edge position Ps az the opposit.e side of the
recording area 105 to the end of the scanning range Wa.
FIG. • 8 (C) shows the change in the carriage 19 speed when .the
carriage 19 starts moving from the ribbon replacement position Pc (the
position, from which the carriage 19 starts moving, also referred to
as the "starting position" herein) , and FIG. 8 (D) shows the change
in the carriage IS speed when a position offset toward the center from
the ribbon replacement position Pc is the starting position..
In the example shown in FIG. 8 (C) , the carriage 19 accelerates
gradually through acceleration period Ta starting when the ca^rriage
drive motor'.35 -is energized as controlled by the CPU 61, and reaches
the upper limit of the speed of travel, that is, the maximum, speed,
before passing the media edge position Pe of the recording medium 100 .
The maximum speed can also" be called the target speed of carriage 19
accelerarion.
In the example shown in FIG. 8 (D) , however, the carriage 19 reaches
the media edge position Pe of the recording medium 100 before passing
the acceleration period Ta after smarting to move. The carriage 19
speed when moving over the media edge position Pe is therefore lower
than the maximum speed.
[0038]
When the carriage 19 moves over the media edge position Pe, the
gap roller 41 contacts the recording medium 100, and the carriage 19
rises the thickness of the recording medium 100. If the carriage 19
is moving at a high speed, the vertical movement of the carriage 19
may not settle down before the recording head 18 reaches the recording
area 105, and the text or image may not be properly xecorded, that
is, image dropout may result. As described with reference to FIG. 8
(C) and (D) , the speed of the carriage 19 when passing the media edge
position Pe is greatly affected by whether the distance between the
starring position of the carriage 19 and the media edge position Pe
21
is greater than the length of i:he acceleration period Ta. This image
dropout problem occurs easily when the carriage 19 passes the media
edge position Pe after reaching the maximum speed as shown in FIG.
8 (C) , is unlikely to occur when the carriage 19 passes the media edge
position Pe .at a lovi' speed as shown in FIG. 8 (D) , and is also affected
by the set maximum speed of the carriage. 19.
[0039]
The printer 10 according to this embodiment of the invention
therefore controls the maximum speed of the carriage 19 to a lower
speed when it is clear based on the starting position of the carriage
19 that the carriage 19 will pass the media edge position Pe at high
speed.'
FIG. 9 describes this operation of the printer 10, (A) being a
section view showing the position of the recording medium 10 0 i-elative
to the scanning range Wa of the carriage 19, and (B) is a graph showing
uhe change in the carriage 19 speed.
If the starting position is the home position Pa or the ribbon
replacement position Pc when the CPU 61 causes the carriage 19 to move,
the printer 10 changes the set maximum speed Vh of the carriage IS
to a lower speed Vd and then drives the carriage drive motor 3 5 . Dropout
can be avoided if the suarting position is not at the edge of the scanning
range Wa because acceleration period Ta to the maximum speed Vh is
unlikely to end before reaching the edge position Pe of the recording
medium 100. This is also true when the carriage IS moves on a path
in the opposite direction, and the speed of the carriage 19 is likely
to reach the maximum speed Vh before the carriage 19 reaches the media
edge position Pe if the starting position is the sheet guide lift-off
position Pb or the start-width-detection position Pd.
[0040]
The maximum speed Vh can be set to one of multiple levels .in this
printer 10 . When the maximum speed Vh is set to a relatively low speed,
the likelihood of dropped dots occurring is small even if the carriage
22
19 starts moving from the home position Pa or sheet guide lift-off
position Pb. The speed control described above is therefore applied
only if the maximum speed Vh setting is set to the maximum speed or
a speed 2 or 3 steps below the maximum speed. The printer 10 stores
the settings of the plural speeds that can be set as the maximum speed
of carriage 19 movement, which of these plural settings is actually
set as the maximum speed Vh, and which of these setting is selected
as speed Vd when the maximum speed is changed to a lower speed, in
flash memory 64.
[0041]
FIG. 10 is a flow chart of printer 10 operation.
The operation shown in FIG. 10 is performed by the CPU 61 reading
and running a control program stored in flash memory 64 . When performing
the operation shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 61 functions as a recording
control unit.
When the CPU 61 of the printer 10 detects from, the insertion sensor
53 that a recording medium 100 was inserted from the manual insertion
opening 15 (step Sll), the CPU 51 drives the alignment motor 37 to
move the alignment plate 54 into the conveyance path C, and drives
the paper feed motor 35 to operate the first conveyance mechanism 24
and align the recording mediumt 100 (step S12) . When completion of
alignment is detected based on the output of the alignment sensors
52, the CPU 61 receives a recording position command sent from the
host computer 68 (step S13) , and moves the recording medium 100 to
the start-recording position specified by this command (step S14) .
[0042]
The CPU 61 then receives a recording command and paper feed command
from the host computer 68 (step S15), and starts recording. More
specifically, the CPU 61 gets the recording data for one pass (step
S15) , and gets the maximum speed setting of the carriage 19 from flash
memory 64 (step S17) . The CPU 61 then determines if the acquired maximum
speed is one of the higher speeds that can be set as the maximum speed
23
within the range of speeds thar can be set (step S18) . This decision
is made by comparing the acquired maximum speed wi^h a threshold value .
[0043]
If the maximum speed of the carriage IS is less tnan or equal
to the threshold value (step SI8 returns No) , the CPU 61 moves the
carriage 19 to the start-recox'ding position at the set maximum speed
(step S19), records one pass, and conveys the recording medium 100
according to the paper feed command (stepS20) . The CPU 61 then determines
if recording to the currently loaded recording medium 100 is completed
(step'321) , and if recording is not completed (step S2i returns No) ,
retuixis to step S16 . If recording is completed (step S21 ret-.rnH Yes) ,
the CPU 61 receives a discharge command sent from the host computer
68 (step S22) , conveys the recording medium 100 to the manual insertion
opening 15 (step S23) . enters a standby mode to wait for a new recording
m.ediun 100 to be inserted to the manual insertion opening 15 (step
S24':, and ends this process.
[0 044]
However, if the CPU 61 determines that the maximum spe^d setting
exceeds the threshold value (step S18 returns Yes) , rhe CPU 61 determines
if the recording medium 100 is a thiols, bound medium (step S25) . If
the recording medium 100 is a bound medium (step 325 returns No) , the
CPU 61 goes to step 319. This is because there is substantially no
concern about dot dropout when zhe recording medium 10 0 is a thin cut
sheet medium.
If the recording medium 100 is in boolv form (step 325 returns
Yes) , the CPU 61 identifies the starting position of the carriage 19
(step 326) , and determines if this position is any of the specific
positions Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd (step 327) . This can be accurately determined
based on whether the CPU 61 executed a command that moves the carriage
19 to one of positions Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd in step 326 before starting
recording.
If the starting position of the carriage 19 is not one of these
24
specific positions (step S27 retuiTis No; ,, the CPU 61 goes to step S19
and starts i-ecording. If the starting position of the carriage 19 is
one of these specific positions Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd (step S27 returns Yes) ,
the CPU 61 changes the maximum speed of the carriage 15 to a preset
lower speed, moves the carriage 19 to the starting position (step S28) ,
and then goes to step S20. Aftei' the maximum speed of the carriage
19 is changed, that maximum speed is maintained to the end of that
single pass, but the maximum carriage speed is reset to the preset
maximum speed for the next and subsequent passes, iihat is, after
reversing the scanning direction of the carriage 19 . Adrop in throughput
can be prevented by thus minimizing the number of passes on which the
maximum speed of the carriage 19 is suppressed.
[0045]
As described above, the printer 10 according to the first
embodiment of the invention has a recording head 13 and a head moving
unit including a carriage drive motor 3 5 and drive train (not shown
in the figure) that move the recording head 18 reciprocally, and records
to a recording medium 100 within the range of recording head 18 movement
while moving the recording head 18 relative to the recording medium
100 as controlledby the CPU 61. When the recording head IS is positioned
away from the recording surface of the recording medium 100 when
recording starts, the CPU 61 moAres the recording head 18 passed the
edge position Pe of che recording medium 100 to the start-recording
position (edge position Ps) of the recording medium 100, and changes
the maximum speed of recording head 18 during this movement to a speed
that is lower than the set maximum speed based on the starting position.
As a result, when a carriage 19 on which the recording head IB is mounted
moves over the media edge position Pe, problems such as dot dropout
resulting from vertical movement of the carriage 15 caused by the
thickness of the recording medium 100 can be prevented.
[0046]
More specifically, the CPU 61 can control moving the recording
25
head 18 to specific positions (home position Pa , sheet guide lift-off
position Pb, ribbon replacement position Pc, start-width-detection
position Pd) in the scanning range Wa of the recording head 18 separately
from the recording .operation, and can change the maximuin speed of
carriage 19 movement to a lower speed when starting a recording operation
after moving the-carriage IS to one of these specific positions. The
carriage speed can therefore be suppressed when the carriage 19 starts
moving from the edge of the scanning range Wa and the carriage 19 speed
may reach the maximum speed before passing over the edge of the recording
medium 100. However, if the starting position of the carriage 19 is
not at one of these specific positions, and the speed of the carriage
19 is unlikely toreach a high speed when it passes over the edge position •
Pe of the recording medium 100, the maximum speed of the carriage 19
is not changed. As a result, problems resulting from the speedof ceirriage
19 travel can be prevented, the frequency of changing the maximum, speed
of carriage 19 travel can be suppressed, and a drop in throughput can
be prevented.
[0047]
In addition, because the CPU 61 applies control that changes the
maximumi speed of the carriage 19 to a lower speed when the maximum
speed IS set to a speed exceeding a specific speed, the carriage speed
is suppressed only when the carriage 19 speed setting is a high speed
that could cause a problem. As a result, problems resulting from the
speed of carriage 19 travel can be prevented, the frequency of changing
the maximum speed of carriage 19 travel can be suppressed, and a drop
in throughput can be prevented.
[0048]
This first embodiment of the invention controls the maximum speed
of the carriage to a lower speed by using the starting position of
the carriage 19 being at a specific position (Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd) as a
condition for determining if the speed of the carriage 19 when passing
the edge Pe of the recording medium 100 will be a high speed, but the
26
invention is not so limited. For example, whether the caxriage speed
when passing the media edge Pe will be a high speed could be determined
from the distance from the starting position of the carriage 19 to
the media edge position Pe . An example of rhis configuration is described
as the second embodiment below.
[0049]
Embodiment 2
FIG. 11 describes the operarion of a printer 10 according to a
second embodiment of the invention, (A) being a section view showing
the position of the recording medium 10 0 relative to the scanning range
Wa of the carriage 19, and (B) being a graph showing the change in
the speed of the carriage 19.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart of printer 10 operation.
The mechanical configuration of the printer 10 and the blocks
of the control system shown in FIG. 7 in this second embodiment are
the same as in the first embodiment, and further description thereof
is omitted and. the figures and below.
[0050]
When the CPU 61 controls carriage 15 movement in this second
embodiment of the invention, the printer 10 determines the distance
between the starting position and ^he media edge position Pe of the
recording medium 10 0, and changes the maximum speed of the carriage
19 to a lower speed if this distance is greater than the length of
the acceleration period Ta.
[0051]
In the example shown in FIG. 11 (A) and (B) , the distance L from
the starting position Cs of the carriage 19 to the media edge position
Pe of the recording medium 100 is longer than the acceleration period
Ta for the carriage 19 to accelerate to the set maximum speed Vh. As
a result, because the carriage 19 will hie the media edge position
Pe at the maximum speed Vh, the \^ertical movement of the carriage 19
when passing over the media edge posirion Pe will not settle down before
27
the carriage 19 reaches the side edge position Ps of the recording
area 105, and problems such as dropped dons may occur. The CPU 61
therefore changes the maximum speed of the carriage 19 from maximum
speed Vh to a lower speed Vd. In this case the speed of the carriage
. 19 will quickly reach the speed Vd set as the new maximum speed, but
because speed Vd is not a high speed, vertical motion of the carriage
19 when passing the media edge position Pe can be constrained before
uhe carriage 19 reaches the side edge position Ps. Note that because
the lengthof the acceleration period Ta differs according to the maximum
speed Vh, the CPU 51 uses the length of the acceleration period
corresponding to the currently set maximum speed for comparison. In
addition, even if the distance L is less than or equal to acceleration
period Ta, the maximum carriage 19 speed may be changed if the speed
of the carriage IS will exceed the speed at which dropout could occur.
In this case, distance L and a specific threshold value LI that is
shorter than acceleration period Ta are previously stored in flash
memory 64, and whether distance L is grea.ter than this threshold value
LI is determined.
[0052]
As described above, by performing a width detection operation
that detects the media edge positions Pe of the recording medium 100
by means of a media width sensor 55, the CPU 61 detects and stores
the location of the media edge positions Pe in the scanning range Wa
using coordinates or column position in flash memory 64 . The starting
position Cs of the carriage 19 can be detected using various methods .
For example , a configuration in which the printer 10 has a linear encoder
(not shown in the figure) parallel to the carriage shaft 31 for detecting
the position of the carriage 19 in the scanning range Wa is conceivable .
In this case the position of the carriage 19 when carriage movement
starts, that is, zhe starting position Cs , can be determined from, the
output of the linear encoder.
[0053]
28
In the flow chart shown in FIG. 12, che operation of steps Sll
to S25 and S28 are the same as in zhe first embodiment described above
with reference to FIG. 10. The CPU 61 functions as a recording control
unit when performing the operation shown in FIG. 12. -
Before recording one pass in this second embodiment, whether or
not the maximum speed setting of the carriage 19 exceeds the threshold
value (step S18) , and whether or not the recording medium 100 is a
thick bound medium (S25) are determined. If the recording medium 100
is a bound medium, the starting position of the carriage 15 is then
determined (step S31) .
The CPU 61 then determines if the distance from the starting
position of the carriage 19 to the media edge position Pe of the recording .
medium 100 is longer than the acceleration period applicable to the
set maximum speed (step S32) . If this distance is less than or equal
to the acceleration period' (step S32 returns No) , the CPU 61 goes to
step S19 . If the distance is greater than the acceleration period (step
S32 returns Yes), the CPU 61 goes to step S28, changes the miaximum.
speed of the carriage 19 to a previously set lower speed, moves the
carriage 19 to the starting position, and goes to step S20.
[0054]
Because the maximum speed of the carriage 19 is thus changed when
the carriage 19 (recording head 18) is moved over the media edge position
Pe of the recording medium 100 if the distance from the starting position
to the media edge position Pe of the recording medium 100 is greater
than a specific distance, the speed of the carriage 19 can be suppressed
if there is the possibility of the carriage 19 accelerating sufficiently
to pass the media edge position Pe at a high speed. As a result, problems
resulting from the speed of the recording head 18 can be prevented,
the frequency of changing the maximum speed of recording head 18 travel
ca-n be suppressed, and a drop in throughput can be prevented.
[0055]
The invention is described above v7ith reference to a preferred
29
embodiment thereof, but the invention is not limited thereto and can
be modified and improved in many ways without departing from the scope
of the accompanying claims. For example, the maximum speed of the
carriage 19 can be set in plural steps in the embodiment desci'ibed
above, but the invention is not so limited and a configuration that
can set any desired speed using a setting indicative of the speed is
also conceivable. In addition, the recording head 18 is carried on
the carriage 19 and travels bidirectionally in a direction
perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 10 0
in the embodiment described above, but the invention is not so limited.
For example, a configuration in which the carriage 19 moves diagonally
to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 100,- and a
configuration in which the direction of carriage 19 travel is the same
as the conveyance direction, are also conceivable.
[0056]•
The configuration of the recording head 18 is not particularly
limited as long as the recording head 18 can move according to the
thickness of the recording medium 100 when passing over the edge of
the recording medium 100 . More specifically, in addition to dot impact
printers that use a dot impact head ha^i^ing recording wires that are
propelled to print as the recording head 18, the invention can also
be applied to Inkjet printers that expel ink from the recording head
18 to print.
The printer 10 is also not limited to configurations connected
to a single host computer 68, and could be connected to a plurality
of host computers 68, or connected to a host computer over a communication
network.
The invention is also described using a printer 10 as an example
in the foregoing embodiment, but the invention is not so limited and
can also be applied to recording devices incorporated in other devices
(such as photocopiers) . That other detailed aspects of the embodiments
described above can also be changed as desired will also be obvious.
30
Although the present invention has been described in connection
with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and
modifications will be apparent to -chose skilled in the art. Such changes
and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope
of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless
they depart therefrom.

what is claimed is:
1. A recording device comprising:
a recording head;
a head moving unit that moves the recording head reciprocally;
and
a recording control unit that records while moving the recording
head relative to a recording medium in the movement range of the recording
head, and
moves the recording head passed an edge of the recording
medium to a start-recording position on the recording medium when the
recording head is at a position separated from the recording medium
when recording starts, and changes the maximum speed of the recording
head during this movement to a slower speed than the set maximum speed
based on the position where movement starts.
2. The recording device described in claim. 1, wherein:
the recording control uniu can control moving the recording head
to a specific position within the movement range of the recording head
separately from the recording operation, and then when starting the
next recording oper^ation changes the maximum speed at which the
recording head moves passed the edge of the recording medium.
3. The recording described in claim 2, wherein:
the specific position is a position preset ar an end part of the
range of movement of the recording head.
4. The recording device described in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein:
the recording control unit changes the maximum speed of travel
at which the recording head moves passed an edge of the record.ing medium
if the m.aximum speed of the recording head is set equal to or greater
than a specific speed.
32
5. The recording described in claim 1, wherein:
the recording control unit changes nhe maximum speed of travel
at which, the recording head moves passed an edge of the recording medium
if the distance from the position where movement starts to an edge
of the recording medium is equal to or' greater than a specified distance .
6. The recording described in claim 1, wherein:
the head moving unit has a carriage that carries the recording
head;
the carriage also carries a carriage roller disposed with the
recording head; and
the carriage roller moves rotationally in contact with a plastic
sheet guide extending in the main scanning direction in contact v/ith
a platen disposed opposite the recording head.
7. A method of controlling a recording device having a recording
head, and a head moving unit that moves the recording head reciprocally,
the control method comprising steps of:
recording while moving the recording head relative to a recording
medium in the movement range of the recording head; and
moving the recording head passed an edge of the recording medium
to a start-recording posit ion on the recording medium when the recording
head is at a position separated from the recording medium when recording
starts; and
changing the maximum speed of the recording head during this
movement to a slower speed than the set maximum speed based on the
position where movement starts.
8 . The method of controlling a recording device described in claim
7, wherein:
changing the maximum speed at which the recording headmoves passed
the edge of "he recording mediumi when sr-arting the next recording
33
oper5.tiDn afiier c o n t r o l l i n g mO'VjLng -he i-ecording head t o a s p e c i i ic
p o s i t i o n witnin the movement rang& cf ;:he recordj-rig nead.
5. The method of c o n t r o l l i n g a r e c o r d i n g device d e s c r i b e d in c l a im
8, further comprising a s t e p of:
s e t t i n g the s p e c i f i c p o s i t i o n t o a p r e s e t p o s i t i o n at an end p a r t
of the range of movement of rhe recording head.
10. The method of c o n t r o l l i n g a r e c o r d i n g device d e s c r i b e d in any
of claims 7 t o ' 9 , further comprising a s t e p of:
changing the maximum speed of t r a v e l at which t h e r e c o r d i n g head
moves passed an edge of the r e c o r d i n g medium if the maiiimuTn speed ofthe
recording head i s set eq-'aal t o or g r e a t e r than a s p e c i f i c speed.
11. The method of c o n t r o l l i n g a r e c o r d i n g device d e s c r i b e d in c l a im
7, further comprising a snep of:
changing the maximum speed of t r a v e l at which t h e r e c o r d i n g head
moves passed an edge of t h e r e c o r d i n g medium i f the d i s t a n c e froiii t he
p o s i t i o n where movement s t a r t s no an edge of the r e c o r d i n g medium is
equal to or greater than a s p e c i f i e d d i s t a n c e.