CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon and claims the benefit
of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No.
2004-162286, filed on May 31, 2004, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1.FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medium issue
apparatus issuing the medium by cutting continuous medium,
and performing record processing, etc. on the cut medium,
and more particularly a medium issue apparatus suitable
for issuing tickets having data recorded thereon, in case
of issuing a large quantity of tickets or using a plurality
of kinds of medium.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
As an automatic processing technique has been
developed in recent years, an automatic issue apparatus
is employed for issuing tickets including boarding passes,
train tickets, and the like. In order to process the tickets
automatically, recording machine-readable data in the form
of magnetic data, etc. as well as printing out on the ticket
is carried out.
Under such requirements, the automatic issue apparatus
uses medium for the tickets having magnetic data areas,
and issues the tickets after recording data (including
boarding date, f light number, departure time, seat position,
passenger name, etc. in an exemplary case of the boarding
pass), as well as printing these data for visualization.
In recent years, it has been required for the automatic
issue apparatus to handle a plurality of kinds of tickets
(for example, tickets of different airline companies).
FIGS. 14 and 15 are explanation diagrams of the
conventional medium issue apparatus. FIG. 14 is a top view
of the conventional medium issue apparatus, and FIG. 15
is a side view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, because
the tickets for issue are equivalent to bank notes,
continuous fanfold paper 100 is used as accommodated form,
instead of cut sheets. In the figure, packing boxes 110,
112 for accommodating continuous fanfold paper 100 are
shown. The continuous fanfold paper for the tickets to be
issued is led into a medium inlet 130 of an automatic issue
apparatus 122.
The automatic issue apparatus 122 is disposed, for
example, on a table 120, and feeds the led medium and
separates with a non-illustrated cutter. Thus the cut
tickets are produced. Thereafter, a magnetic recording unit
124 records data magnetically on the cut tickets, and a
printer 126 prints out data on the tickets. The tickets
are then forwarded to an outlet 128.
As such, in an apparatus which automatically issues
tickets or the like including airline tickets, in case of
issuing a large quantity of tickets, using a plurality of
kinds of medium, medium contained in a plurality of packing
boxes 110, 112 of the apparatus 122 are set in advance.
These medium are placed in parallel with a medium inlet
(transport path) 130 and in the upper position of the line
extended therefrom. Namely, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15,
conventionally the medium are placed underneath the
apparatus in parallel with the medium inlet (transport
path) 130 and in the upper position of the extended line
(for example, refer to Japanese Laid-open Patent No.
5-314333), or placed in the upper position of the apparatus
in the similar way (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-open
Patent No. 9-069172).
However, according to the conventional method in which
a plurality of packing boxes for accommodating the medim
are placed in series in either the lower or upper position
of the apparatus, a sufficient length is needed in the depth
direction of the apparatus (horizontal direction in FIG.
14) . This causes the apparatus long in the depth direction,
which requires a large installation area of the issue
apparatus, and also a large space for the apparatus
operation. Also, miniaturization of the apparatus itself
is impeded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
to provide a medium issue apparatus for preventing the
apparatus operation space from being increased even when
providing a plurality of medium packing sections.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a medium issue apparatus for miniaturizing the apparatus
itself even when providing a plurality of medium packing
sections.
It is still another object of the present invention
to provide a medium issue apparatus preventing mutual
interference between medium or deformation of the medium,
even when providing a plurality of medium packing sections
with a space-saving structure for the apparatus operation
space.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects,
according to the present invention, a medium issue
apparatus feeds continuous medium from a medium set section,
cuts the medium, and thereafter performs recording on the
cut medium and issues the medium. The medium issue apparatus
includes: a medium issue unit issuing the medium by cutting
the continuous medium on a transport path injected from
an inlet, performing recording on the cut medium; and a
medium supply unit guiding the continuous medium from the
medium set section to the inlet. The medium supply unit
further includes: a first medium set section disposed in
either the upper position or the lower position of the
transport path of the medium issue unit; a second medium
set section disposed in parallel with one medium set
section; and a guide mechanism guiding the continuous
medium from the first medium set section to the inlet, and
guiding the continuous medium from the second medium set
section to the inlet obliquely in a twisted manner.
According to the present invention, because of
disposing the continuous medium in parallel, it is possible
to reduce the operation space. Further, with such parallel
disposition, it is possible to lead the continuous medium
set in the second set section smoothly to the transport
path of the issue unit disposed in the upper or lower position
of the first medium set section, since the guide mechanism
is provided so as to guide the continuous medium to the
medium inlet of the apparatus obliquely in a twisted manner.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the guide mechanism includes a guide member guiding
the continuous medium from the first medium set section
to the inlet along one side, and also guiding the continuous
medium from the second medium set section to the inlet along
the other side obliquely in a twisted manner.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the guide member includes a first guide member guiding
the continuous medium from the first medium set section
to the inlet along one side, and guiding the continuous
medium from the second medium set section to the inlet along
the other side; and a second guide member guiding the
continuous medium from the second medium set section to
the inlet along the other side obliquely in a twistedmanner,
in cooperation with the first guide member.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the guide mechanism further includes a third guide
member guiding the continuous medium on the other side of
the second guide member, from the second medium set section
to the inlet along the other side obliquely in a twisted
manner, in cooperation with the second guide member.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the guide mechanism further includes a fourth guide
member regulating the path of the continuous medium in the
vicinity of the inlet, in cooperation with the first guide
member.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the inlet includes a first inlet injecting the
continuous medium from the first medium set section; and
a second inlet injecting the continuous medium from the
second medium set section. The fourth guide member includes
a fifth guide member regulating the path of the continuous
medium fed from the first medium set section in the vicinity
of the first inlet, in cooperation with the first guide
member, and a sixth guide member regulating the path of
the continuous medium fed from the secondmedium set section
in the vicinity of the first inlet, in cooperation with
the first guide member.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the guide mechanism further includes a seventh guide
member for guiding the returned continuous medium to the
first medium set section, in cooperation with the first
guide member.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the guide mechanism further includes an eighth guide
member for guiding the returned continuous medium to the
second medium set section, in cooperation with the second
guide member.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the medium supply unit is disposed in the upper position
of the medium issue unit.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the first medium set section is so constituted as to
set the continuous medium obliquely against the medium
issue unit.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the second medium set section is so constituted as
to set the continuous medium in parallel to the medium issue
unit.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the first and second medium set sections accommodate
continuous fanfold medium separable along perforation
lines.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the medium issue unit includes a feed mechanism having
the inlet and a cutter, a recording mechanism recording
on the cut medium, and an ejection mechanism ejecting the
recorded medium, respectively disposed on the transport
path.
According to the present invention, it is preferable
that the feed mechanism includes a plurality of inlets,
passages leading the continuous medium from the plurality
of inlets to a common transport path, the cutter disposed
on the common transport path, and a transport member feeding
and holding the continuous medium on the passages.
Further scopes and features of the present invention
will become more apparent by the following description of
the embodiments with the accompanied drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an outer view of a medium issue apparatus
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the medium issue
apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a top view of the medium issue apparatus
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the medium issue apparatus
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of an issue unit
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 shows an explanation diagram of continuous paper
feed operation in the configuration shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 shows an explanation diagram of transport
operation to a write standby position in the configuration
shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 shows an explanation diagram of magnetic
recording operation onto a ticket in the configuration
shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 shows a write verification operation of a ticket
in the configuration shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a medium supply
unit shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the medium issue
apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when the cover is open.
FIG. 12 shows an explanation diagram of supply
operation of a first medium, according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 13 shows an explanation diagram of supply
operation of a second medium, according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 14 shows a top view according to the conventional
art.
FIG. 15 shows a side view according to the conventional
art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is
described hereinafter in order of a medium issue apparatus,
a medium issue mechanism, a parallel medium disposition
mechanism, and other embodiments. However, it is noted that
the scope of the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments described below, but instead embraces all
equivalents to the claims described.
[Medium issue apparatus]
FIG. 1 shows an outer view of a medium issue apparatus
according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 shows a perspective view of the medium issue apparatus
shown in FIG. 1. Also, FIG. 3 shows a top view of the medium
issue apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows a side
view of the medium issue apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
As an example of the medium issue apparatus, FIG. 1
through FIG. 4 shows an automatic ticket issue machine for
issuing airline tickets or baggage tickets. As shown in
FIG. 1, an automatic ticket issue machine 1 is placed on
a counter table, and includes an upper portion 1a
accommodating packing boxes of fanfold continuous paper,
and a lower portion 1b performing issue operation while
transporting each medium on a medium transport path. The
front face of the lower portion 1b of automatic ticket issue
machine 1, is provided with an indicator group 2 displaying
operation conditions, an input key group 3 for operation,
an ejection stacker 4, and a ticket inlet 5. Meanwhile,
the upper portion 1a is provided with an open handle 9.
By operating this open handle, the upper portion (cover)
1a can be opened upward with a hinge 1c functioning as
rotating shaft.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the internal
configuration diagram and the top view of the upper portion
of the apparatus, FIGS. 6 and 7 described later, and FIG.
13, a packing box set sections 8a, 8b for setting packing
boxes 10, 11 accommodating fanfold continuous paper 7a,
7b are provided in parallel with the front face of the
apparatus. Namely, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the set section
8a of a first packing box 10 is disposed in the upper position
of the a medium transport path having a width W and extending
to a medium ejection stacker 5 located in the lower portion
(issue unit) 1b of the apparatus. Meanwhile, the set section
8b of a second packing box 11 is disposed on top of a portion
on which indicator group 2, input key group 3 and a
non-illustrated circuit unit of the upper portion 1b of
the apparatus are provided.
Namely, in order to actualize medium installation
effectively utilizing a dead space, instead of the
conventional medium installation disposed in series, the
medium 10, 11 are disposed in parallel, as shown in FIGS.
2 and 3, and thus saving of the operation space is achieved.
With such a parallel disposition, as shown in FIGS.
2 and 3, it is necessary to lead fanfold continuous paper
7b in the packing box 11 being set in the second set section
8b to the transport path of the issue unit provided in the
lower position of the first set section 8a. As a leading
method, it may be considered to add a mechanism for sliding
medium (packing boxes) 10, 11 disposed in parallel, to the
horizontal direction. However, adoption of such a
configuration complicates the structure, increases the
number of components, and causes an increased cost.
Therefore, though details will be described later,
medium 7b are guided obliquely in a twisted manner, and
led to a medium insertion section of the apparatus. For
this purpose, guide mechanisms 50, 52, 53, 54, 56 and 58
are provided. With these guides 50 through 58, in particular,
guide plates 50, 56, and guide rods 52, 53 guide the medium
7b, so as not to produce medium deformation or cutoff at
the perforation lines which may possibly be caused by
oblique supply of the medium 7b, or mutual interference
between the medium disposed in parallel, or cutoff at the
perforation lines, jam, skew on the injected medium, etc.
caused by the mutual interference.
Moreover, in a case of transporting the medium once
inserted to a return direction or in a case of holding the
medium at the inlet for a long time, in order to take a
measure for preventing deformation (such as curl) of the
medium, guides 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58 are provided.
Namely, by disposing the medium in parallel, in which
two medium packing boxes are disposed in parallel and in
the upper position of the apparatus, and by feeding the
medium obliquely, space saving at the time of operation
is aimed. More specifically, one medium packing box 10 is
disposed on the same line of the apparatus transport path
as in the conventional method, while the other medium
packing box 11 is disposed in parallel with the transport
path and the medium packing box 10, and the medium are
supplied by guiding the medium obliquely with tilt, and
in a twisted manner, toward an inlet 14 of the apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 4, the whole of medium issue apparatus
1 is explained in the following. As shown in FIG. 4, medium
packing boxes 10, 11 respectively accommodating the fanfold
continuous paper are set in a pair of set sections 8a, 8b
disposed in parallel. In this example, further the first
set section 8a having a slope to an obliquely right direction
is formed, and the medium packing box 10 is housed obliquely.
This structure enables housing medium packing boxes 10 in
two layers.
Fanfold continuous paper 7a, 7b of each medium packing
box 10, 11 is led to a feed mechanism 14 provided in the
automatic issue unit of the lower portion 1b of the
apparatus.
The feed mechanism 14 feeds (injects) the fanfold
continuous paper for the tickets to be issued, separates
by a cutter 16, and produces cut tickets. Here, since tickets
for issue are equivalent to bank notes, in order to prevent
forgery, etc., a ticket management number may be recorded
on each ticket serially connected with perforation lines.
While the ticket having been cut is transported back
and forth by a ring transport mechanism 6, data are
magnetically recorded by a single magnetic head 24.
Thereafter, the data are read by the magnetic head 24 and
collated. If the collation result is satisfactory, the
ticket concerned is printed by a thermal transfer print
head 18b via a transport roller 40, and then the ticket
is ejected to ejection stacker 4 by ejection roller 44 via
a non-illustrated gate. Meanwhile, if the magnetic data
collation does not match, the ticket concerned is rejected
by a non-illustrated gate with no printout, and the ticket
is led and stored into a reject box 22 via a switchback
roller 42.
The ring transport mechanism 6 is constituted of a
cylinder-shaped ring 60 having no rotation fulcrum; and
transport belts 62, 64 and 66 disposed in such a way as
to surround the circumference of ring 60. Cylinder-shaped
ring 60 is held by transport belts 62, 64, 66, and rotated
by driving transport belts 62, 64, 66. With this, the medium
sandwiched between this ring 60 and belts 62, 64, 66 are
transported along the circumference (locus) of the ring
60, together with the ring 60.
At this time, in order to hold and rotate the ring
60 by the transport belts, it is necessary to balance the
ring 60. For this purpose, a plurality of transport belts
62, 64, 66 are disposed uniformly along the circumference
of the ring 60. By uniformly disposing three transport belts
62, 64, 66 as shown in FIG. 4, it becomes possible to balance
the ring 60 in both horizontal and vertical directions,
enabling stable hold and rotation of the ring 60.
These transport belts 62, 64, 66 are commonly used
for driving the ring 60 (for medium transport) and for
guiding the medium. Thus, the medium can securely be held
and transported, similarly to the belt transport, and
medium jamming can be prevented. As such, holding the medium
by the belts 62, 64, 66 and the ring 60 enables stable
transport of deformed medium. Further, because the guides
are eliminated and a rotation fulcrum becomes unnecessary,
it becomes possible to reduce the number of components and
simplify the mechanism.
In FIG. 4, the medium having been injected and cut
with the cutter 16 in the feed mechanism 14 are transported
to the ring transport mechanism 6. The ring transport
mechanism 6 sandwiches the medium between the ring 60 and
the flat belts 62, 64, 66, and transports the medium by
rotation, along with a circular orbit around the
circumference of the ring 60. According to the rotation
direction and the positions (settings) of gates 26, 36 at
this time, the medium are transported from the ejection
mechanism to a succeeding unit.
[Medium issue mechanism]
Next, a medium issue mechanism in the lower portion
1b of the apparatus will be described in detail. FIG. 5
shows a detailed configuration diagram of a medium issue
mechanism in the configuration shown in FIG. 4. In FIG.
5, the same parts shown in FIG. 4 are referred to by the
same symbols. Feed mechanism 14 is constituted of a pair
of insertion guides (inlets) 30, 31, a pair of feed rollers
32, 33, a drive motor 34 for feed rollers 32, 33, and a
cutter 16.
The ring transport mechanism 6 is constituted of a
cylinder-shaped ring 60 having no rotation fulcrum, and
transport belts 62, 64, 66 disposed in such a way as to
surround the circumference of ring 60. A first transport
belt 62 is constituted of a drive pulley 75, a pair of driven
pulleys 76a, 76b, and a flat belt provided thereon.
Similarly, a second belt 64 is constituted of a drive pulley
70, a pair of driven pulleys 71, 72, and a flat belt provided
thereon. A third transport belt 66 is constituted of a drive
pulley 73, a driven pulley 74, and a flat belt provided
thereon.
Transport belts 62, 64, 66 are driven by a drive motor
90 disposed inside the cylinder-shaped ring 60. These
transport belts 62, 64, 66 hold the cylinder-shaped ring
60. Further, driven by the transport belts 62, 64, 66 by
means of the drive motor 90, the cylinder-shaped ring 60
is rotated. With this, the medium sandwiched between this
ring 60 and belts 62, 64, 66 are transported along the
circumference (locus) of the ring 60, together with the
ring 60.
At this time, in order to hold and rotate the ring
60 by the transport belts, a plurality of transport belts
62, 64, 66 are disposed uniformly along the circumference
of the ring 60, so that the ring 60 is balanced. Since each
belt 62, 64, 66 has resiliency, by uniformly disposing three
transport belts 62, 64, 66, it is possible to balance the
ring 60 in both horizontal and vertical directions, and
thereby, stable hold and rotation of the ring 60 can be
attained.
These transport belts 62, 64, 66 are commonly used
for driving the ring 60 (for medium transport) and guiding
the medium. This enables secure hold and transport of the
medium, similarly to the belt transport, and medium jamming
can be prevented. As such, holding the medium by the belts
62, 64, 66 and the ring 60 enables transport of deformed
medium in a stable manner. Further, because the guides are
eliminated and a rotation fulcrum becomes unnecessary, it
becomes possible to reduce the number of components and
simplify the mechanism.
The print mechanism 18 is constituted of a thermal
head (print head) 18b; a drive motor 18d for driving
operation of the thermal head 18b in the vertical direction;
a thermal transfer ribbon cassette 18a; and a drive motor
18c for the thermal transfer ribbon cassette 18a. Transport
rollers 40 transport tickets from the ring mechanism 6 to
the print mechanism 18. Ejection rollers 44 eject a ticket
to be ejected to pocket-shaped ejection stacker 4.
Transport rollers 40 and ejection rollers 44 are driven
by a drive motor 46.
By means of a gate shown in FIG. 4, a switchback roller
42 transports the ticket having been rejected once to the
right, and then to the left, so that the ticket is
accommodated into a reject box 22.
As shown in FIG. 5, the ring transport mechanism 6
includes a magnetic read/write section 24, thus
constituting a common (basic) module. Also, a plurality
of types (variations) of feed mechanisms 14 are provided
so as to meet apparatus usages. Further, the feed mechanism
14 is coupled to the ring transport mechanism 6. With such
a modular structure, reduced labor for developing the basic
portion of the apparatus can be attained.
Namely, a gate mechanism is applied to a drum-shaped
rotor transport mechanism. The switchover of the transport
paths for transferring the medium from/to modules/units
provided before and after the transport mechanism is
automatically selected depending on the rotation direction
of the drum. Also, a plurality of gates are provided, and
change of the settings (fixed/movable) are performed. With
the above structure, it becomes possible to cope with a
variety of installation conditions in a flexible manner,
even using an identical unit, by changing the direction
of disposition of the unit, etc., for example, by changing
the injection direction or the ejection direction of the
medium depending on the installation conditions.
Next, referring to FIGS. 6 through 9, the operation
of the medium issue apparatus including the ring transport
mechanism will be described. In FIGS. 6 through 9, the same
parts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are referred to by the same
symbols.
As shown in FIG. 6, specified continuous fanfold paper
7b is fed to the ring transport mechanism 6 via the cutter
16 by the feed mechanism 14. Further, by clockwise rotation
of the ring transport mechanism 6, the continuous paper
7a is transported until the tail end of a ticket reaches
a cutting position, during which the magnetic head 24 reads
the magnetic stripe (a page management number, etc.
recorded thereon) of the continuous fanfold paper 7b. After
being transported, the continuous paper 7b is cut by the
cutter 16, and separated into a cut-form (ticket) T.
Next, as shown in FIG. 7, by clockwise rotation of
the ring transport mechanism 6, the separated ticket T is
transported until the top end of the ticket T reaches the
vicinity of the magnetic head 24. This position is termed
'write standby' position. At this time, a portion of the
continuous fanfold paper 7b havingnot been cut by the cutter
16 is drawn away from a common transport path (transport
path having cutter 16) by the feed mechanism 14, so as not
to impede feed of other continuous paper.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, by clockwise rotation
of the ring transport mechanism 6, the magnetic head 24
records data magnetically on the magnetic stripe of the
separated ticket T. When the tail end of the ticket reaches
the magnetic head 24 by the clockwise rotation of the ring
transport mechanism 6, the transport is suspended.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 9, the ticket is transported
by the counterclockwise rotation of the ring transport
mechanism 6 during which the data having been magnetically
recorded on the magnetic stripe of the ticket T are read.
The top end portion of the ticket T is then led to the
direction of the print head 18 by the non-illustrated gate.
When the tail end of the ticket T is detached from the
magnetic head 24, the transport is suspended, and so-called
verification read, in which the read data are collated with
the write data, is performed. This position is termed
'verification read completion' position.
Thereafter, as described earlier in FIG. 5, if the
collation result is satisfactory, the ticket T is
transported to the thermal transfer print head 18, printed
by the head 18, and ejected to the ejection stacker 4 via
the gate. On the other hand, if the collation of the magnetic
data results in inconsistency, the ticket T is rejected
by the gate without printout, and then accommodated into
the reject box 22. In a similar way, the fanfold continuous
paper 7a is fed, cut and issued.
[Parallel medium disposition mechanism]
Next, a parallel medium disposition mechanism of the
upper portion 1a of the apparatus 1, illustrated in FIGS.
1 through 4, is explained hereafter. FIG. 10 is a perspective
view of the medium supply apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
11 is a perspective view of the medium issue apparatus 1
shown in FIG. 1 when the cover 1a is open. These FIGS. 10,
11 show the inside of the upper portion 1a of the medium
issue apparatus 1. FIG. 12 is an explanation diagram of
guide operation of the fanfold continuous paper 7a set in
the first set section. Also, FIG. 13 is an explanation
diagram of guide operation of the fanfold continuous paper
7b set in the second set section.
The medium set in the packing box 10 of the first set
section 8a is disposed in the upper position of the apparatus,
so as to achieve reduction of an operation space for the
apparatus. Accordingly, in the normal ticket issue
operation, the medium (fanfold continuous paper) 7a are
injected into inlet 30 of the apparatus, as shown in FIG.
6. At this time, the first sheet of medium 7a is separated
along the perforation line, and the remainder portion is
fed back from the cutter 16 to the inlet 30, and hold.
There may be a case that the retained medium 7a produce
a sharp curl when the held medium 7a are injected and held
in a movable space (inside the dotted line shown in FIG.
12) which varies depending on the number of medium sheets
left in the packing box 10. To avoid this, a guide rod (a
fifth guide) 58 for driving medium 7a having been injected
to jump is disposed on the first set section 8a side and
in the vicinity of inlet 30 of feed mechanism 14, as shown
in FIGS. 11 and 12. This guide rod 58 also functions as
regulating the path of medium 7a, in cooperation with a
guide rod 52 explained in the following.
In order to avoid interference with medium 7b in the
second set section 8b described later, guide rod (a first
guide) 52 is disposed. With this guide rod 52, the medium
7a in the box 10 of the first set section 8a are guided
to the inside of the guide rod 52 (refer to the arrow shown
in FIG. 12), and the medium 7b in the second set section
8b are guided to the outside of the guide rod 52 (refer
to the arrow shown in FIG. 13). Thus the interference is
avoided.
For this purpose, this guide rod 52 is of circular
arc shape, being disposed in such a way that one end is
positioned between the inlets 30 and 31 of the feed mechanism
14, while the other end is positioned in the second set
section 8b, as shown in FIGS. 10 through 13.
Further, in case that the medium 7a are initially set
to the inlet 30, or a mechanical reset operation is performed
while the medium 7a remain in a set state, the medium 7a
are once injected and then brought to return to the original
position. The guide rod 52 prevents this medium 7a (once
being output from the packing box) from reaching a transport
area of the medium 7b described later. Also, by restricting
the space, this guide rod 52 plays a role of preventing
the medium 7a from being folded or deformed in other places
than the perforation lines.
Moreover, a guide (a seventh guide) 54 is provided
in the upper position of the inlet of the box 10, so that
the medium being in a freely movable state and moving to
a medium return direction are securely folded in this
movable space (inside the dotted line shown in FIG. 12)
and accommodated into the box 10. The guide 54 flaps down
the medium 7a being in the state freely movable to the return
direction, and thus the medium 7a are securely folded and
accommodated into the box 10.
This movable space shown in FIG. 12 is an area surrounded
by the guide rod 52 and the medium remaining in the box
10. Such guide 54 works effectively because when the number
of the remainder sheets decreases, the area is increased
correspondingly.
Now, since the medium 7b in the packing box 10 set
in the second set section 8b are not disposed on the transport
path line of the apparatus, the medium 7b must be guided
obliquely so as to be supplied straightly to the inlet 31.
Because the fanfold continuous paper is continuous
paper separable along the perforation lines, during normal
ticket issue process, the fanfold paper may possibly be
cut at a perforation line due to a concentrated stress caused
by being twisted in an oblique direction at the perforation
lines of the folded medium. To prevent this, the medium
set section 8b is disposed obliquely in some degree against
the inlet 31, so that the medium 7b are forwarded smoothly
to the inlet 31 of the apparatus 1 (refer to the top view
shown in FIG. 3).
With regard to this obliquity, it is effective to set
the medium set section 8b with a small amount of obliquity,
because if the obliquity is set large, a return amount at
the inlet 31 side becomes large, causing possible cutoff
at the perforation lines, though the stress to the
continuous paper is reduced.
Further, in order to avoid the aforementioned
interferencewiththemedium7a, a guide rod (a second guide)
53 is provided as well as guide rod 52. This guide rod 53
has an identical locus (circular arc) to the half way of
the locus of the aforementioned guide rod 52. The medium
7b are led to the inlet 31 in such a manner as sliding on
the guide rods 52, 53.
Next, in the case of initial setting of the medium
7b, or when the medium 7b are fed backward caused by the
aforementioned mechanical reset operation, an obliquely
curled guide plate 50-b (a third guide) is provided so that
the medium 7b are returned toward the direction of the medium
box 11. Further, with the provision of a guide plate 56
(a sixth guide) coupled with this guide plate 50-b, together
with the aforementioned guide rods 52, 53, a structure of
regulating the path width of the medium 7b is introduced.
This prevents the medium 7b returning upward against
gravity from being folded in the middle.
Further, by providing a guide plate 50-a (an eighth
guide) coupled with the guide plate 50-b, the returning
medium 7b are flapped down as shown in FIG. 13, and guided
so that the medium 7b are folded at the perforation lines
and aligned in the medium box 11. As shown in FIG. 13,
together with this guide plate 50-a, a protrusion portion
53-1 (an eighth guide) is provided on the guide rod 53,
and thereby the medium 7b fed toward the inlet 31 are
restricted. With this, it is devised so that the returning
the medium 7b are folded more easily.
Namely, since the medium 7b are not disposed on the
transport line of the apparatus, the guides 50 (50-b), 53
and 56 are provided on the inlet 31 of the transport path,
so that the medium 7b are fed straight into the inlet 31
by guiding to an oblique direction. Further, between two
inlets 30, 31 to one transport path and each packing box
10, 11, guides 52, 53 are provided to avoid interference
between the medium 7a, 7b. Also, the guides 50-b, 56, 58
are provided at two inlets 30, 31, so as to regulate the
path on which the medium 7a, 7b are injected or ejected
substantially perpendicularly.
Moreover, the guide 54 (FIG. 12), guide 50-a, and the
protrusion portion 53-1 on the guide 53 are provided so
that the medium 7a, 7b are smoothly folded and accommodated
into the packing box 2.
The guides 53, 50-b, 52 and 56 prevent medium
deformation or cutoff at the perforation lines caused by
obliquely supplying the medium 7b. Also, the guides 52,
53, 56 and 58 prevent mutual interference between the medium
7a, 7b, and prevent cutoff at the perforation lines, jam,
and skew of the injected medium caused by the interference.
Also, as in the apparatus according to the embodiment
of the present invention, the guides 52, 54, 58, 53, 53-1
and 50-a prevent medium deformation (curl) which may be
produced when the medium once injected are transported in
the return direction or when the medium are retained at
the inlet for a long time.
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, by forming the first
set section 8a obliquely, and setting packing box 10
obliquely, it becomes easier for the medium 7a in the packing
box 10 to pass through inside the guide 52, and the packing
box 10 accommodating a large quantity (for example, 1, 000
sheets) of fanfold continuous paper can be set without
increasing the apparatus height.
[Other embodiments]
In the aforementioned embodiments of the present
invention, the medium issue apparatus using magnetic
recording and print recording has been described. However,
it is also applicable to other apparatuses that use other
record processing by use of optics, etc. Also, although
the above description is exemplified by the airline ticket
issue machine, the present invention is applicable for
other cut-form tickets such as train ticket, boarding pass,
luggage tag, etc. Further, the present invention is also
applicable for apparatuses outputting tickets, or the like,
other than the ticket issue apparatus.
Further, as to guide mechanisms 50 to 58, it may not
be necessary to provide guide 54, guide 50-a, and/or
protrusion portion 53-1 on guide 53 when no medium transport
occurs in the return direction. Similarly, the fanfold
continuous paper is not limited to paper, so far as
continuous medium are used. The print mechanism is not
limited to the thermal transfer recording. Ink jet
recording is also applicable.
According to the present invention, by disposing
continuous medium in parallel, the operation space can be
saved. Even when the medium are disposed in parallel, in
order to lead continuous medium set in the second medium
set section smoothly to the transport path of the issue
unit disposed in the upper or lower position of the first
medium set section, guide mechanisms are provided for
guiding the continuous medium obliquely in a twistedmanner,
so as to lead the continuous medium to a medium injection
section of the apparatus.
The present invention has been described according
to the embodiments. However, it is not intended to exclude
any variations thereof from the scope of the invention.