Recording device using continuous paper and method of feeding continuous paper

A method of feeding rolled continuous paper, comprising the steps of:

• sequentially recording on the paper serial marks for identification of continuity of the paper from a leading edge to a trailing edge;
• causing the paper to rotate in a reverse direction opposite to a forward direction in which the paper is paid out;
• reading the serial marks of the paper while the paper is rotated in the reverse direction, and detecting the leading edge of the paper on the basis of one of the serial marks positioned at the leading edge of the paper and another serial mark adjoining a roll position which the leading edge overlies;
• switching, when the leading edge of the paper is detected, a direction of rotation of the paper from reverse to forward;
• and
• separating, after the direction of rotation has been switched, the leading edge of the paper from said roll position in contact with a surface of the paper, and paying out the paper in accordance with a rotation of the paper in the forward direction.

A continuous paper roll control apparatus for use in a recording device, the recording device recording information on a continuous paper roll on which marks for identification of continuity of the paper are sequentially recorded between a leading edge of the paper and a trailing edge of the paper, the continuous paper roll control apparatus comprising:

• a roll supporting mechanism on which the continuous paper roll is supported, said roll supporting mechanism rotating the continuous paper roll in a forward direction for paying out the paper and rotating the continuous paper roll in a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction;
• a leading edge detector disposed at a surface of the continuous paper roll, the leading edge detector reading the serial marks recorded on the paper while the continuous paper roll is rotated in the reverse direction, the leading edge detector detecting the leading edge of the paper in response to one of the serial marks positioned at the leading edge of the paper and another serial mark adjoining a roll position which the leading edge overlies;
• a rotation controller coupled to the roll supporting mechanism and coupled to the leading edge detector, the rotation controller controlling the roll supporting mechanism to first rotate the continuous paper roll in the reverse direction, the rotation controller controlling to the roll supporting mechanism to rotate the continuous paper roll in the forward direction in response to a detection of the leading edge of the paper by the leading edge detector;
• and
• a paper guide disposed at the surface of the continuous paper roll in the forward direction from said leading edge detector, the paper guide separating the leading edge of the paper from the continuous paper roll position so that the paper is paid out in accordance with a rotation of the continuous paper roll in the forward direction.