JP2001105676A - Medium-issuing apparatus and its method for automatically switching medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a reliability on an apparatus by suppressing generation of paper jamming when a medium is automatically switched. SOLUTION: A machine glazed paper is sent out or returned by rollers 4a and 5a arranged in close contact with a plurality of hoppers 2 and 3. A leading end of the machine glazed paper is transferred by a plurality of transfer paths 6 and 7 set corresponding to the plurality of hoppers 2 and 3 in a direction to separate from the hoppers 2 and 3. The leading end of the machine glazed paper is further transferred by a common transfer path 8 continuous with the plurality of transfer paths 6 and 7. Printing to the machine glazed paper is carried out by a printing part 10 set along the common transfer path 8. The leading end part of the machine glazed paper is cut by a predetermined length by a cutter part 11 disposed adjacent to the printing part 10. Moreover, when a machine glazed paper is replenished to either of the plurality of hoppers 2 and 3, a leading end of the replenished machine glazed paper is transferred by a control part 14 to the cutter part 11 and cut by the cutter part 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a medium issuing apparatus suitable for automatic switching of roll paper as a medium and a method for automatically switching the medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device relating to automatic switching of roll paper, for example, a medium issuing device disclosed in JP-A-8-153143 is known. In this method, roll paper is loaded in each of a plurality of hoppers, and when one of the hoppers becomes empty, the roll paper of another hopper is automatically fed out by automatic switching. .

[0003]

In the prior art described above, when the roll paper of another hopper is automatically fed out, the roll paper is peeled off from the hopper and the leading end of the roll paper is fed out to the transport path, or the roll paper is unrolled. A paper jam may occur at a portion where the leading end is cut at a predetermined length. This is because if the leading end of the roll paper is slanted or has a curl, the leading end of the roll paper cannot be smoothly fed.

[0004] In this case, when a maintenance person is waiting near the medium issuing device, the paper jam can be eliminated immediately. However, when the person is unmanned, the medium is issued by the medium issuing device due to the paper jam. This causes a problem of stopping.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and a medium issuing apparatus and a medium issuing apparatus capable of improving the reliability of the apparatus by suppressing the occurrence of paper jam at the time of automatic switching of the medium. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for automatically switching the medium.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium issuing apparatus comprising: a plurality of hoppers for loading roll paper; and rollers arranged closely to the plurality of hoppers for feeding or rewinding the roll paper. A separator that is disposed closely to the plurality of hoppers and peels off the leading end of the roll paper, and a plurality of transport paths provided corresponding to the plurality of hoppers to transport the leading end of the roll paper in a direction away from the hopper; A common conveyance path that is continuous with the conveyance path, and provided along the common conveyance path,
A printing unit that prints on roll paper, a cutter unit that is provided adjacent to the printing unit and cuts the leading end of the roll paper to a predetermined length, and a takeout port that takes out a cut piece of roll paper. When the roll paper is replenished to any one of the plurality of hoppers, a control unit is provided that conveys the leading end of the replenished roll paper to the cutter unit and causes the cutter unit to cut the leading end of the roll paper. When the roll paper is replenished, the control unit rewinds the hopper loaded with the currently used roll paper, the rollers, the transport path corresponding to the currently used hopper, and the common transport path. After returning the leading end of the currently used roll paper to the standby position of the transport path corresponding to the currently used hopper by driving in the direction, the hopper loaded with the replenished roll paper, the roller, and the replenished roll The transport path corresponding to the hopper loaded with the paper and the common transport path can be driven in the feeding direction to transport the leading end of the roll paper to the cutter unit. Also,
A collection conveyance path for collecting and conveying the roll paper and a collection box for collecting the collected paper are provided on a common conveyance path located between the cutter unit and the take-out port. Can be. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for automatically switching a medium in a medium issuing apparatus, wherein a first step of loading roll paper into a plurality of hoppers, and a step of sending or rewinding the roll paper by rollers closely arranged in the plurality of hoppers. A second step of performing, a third step of peeling off the leading end of the roll paper by a separator closely arranged to a plurality of hoppers, and a plurality of transport paths provided corresponding to the plurality of hoppers to reduce the leading end of the roll paper. 4th transport in the direction away from the hopper
And a fifth step of making the common transport path continuous with respect to the plurality of transport paths, a sixth step of performing printing on the roll paper by a printing unit provided along the common transport path, A seventh step of cutting the leading end portion of the paper at a predetermined length by a cutter unit provided near the printing unit, an eighth step of extracting a cut piece of rolled paper from an outlet, and a plurality of steps. A ninth step of, when any of the hoppers is replenished with roll paper, transporting the leading edge of the roll paper replenished by the control unit to the cutter unit and cutting the leading edge of the roll paper by the cutter unit. . In the ninth step, when the roll paper is replenished, the hopper loaded with the roll paper currently in use, the rollers, the transport path corresponding to the hopper currently in use, and the common transport path A tenth step of driving in the rewind direction to return the leading end of the currently used roll paper to the standby position of the transport path corresponding to the currently used hopper, and a hopper loaded with the refilled roll paper, A roller, a transport path corresponding to the hopper loaded with the replenished roll paper, and a common transport path in the feeding direction to transport the leading end of the roll paper to the cutter unit.
1 step can be included. Also,
In the eighth step, a twelfth step of collecting and transporting the roll paper is carried out by a recovery transport path provided on a common transport path located between the cutter unit and the take-out port, and a recovery of the transported paper piece is performed. And a thirteenth step of collecting by BOX. In the medium issuing apparatus and the automatic medium switching method according to the present invention, the roll paper is loaded into a plurality of hoppers, and the roll paper is sent out or rewound by rollers closely disposed to the plurality of hoppers. The leading end is peeled off by a separator closely arranged to a plurality of hoppers, and the leading edge of the roll paper is transported in a direction away from the hopper by a plurality of transport paths provided corresponding to the plurality of hoppers. The leading end of the roll paper is transported by a continuous common transport path, and printing is performed on the roll paper by a printing unit provided along the common transport path, and the leading end of the roll paper is provided close to the printing unit. When cutting to a predetermined length with the cutter unit and replenishing roll paper to any of the multiple hoppers,
The leading end of the roll paper replenished by the control unit is conveyed to the cutter unit, and the leading end of the roll paper is cut by the cutter unit, thereby suppressing the occurrence of paper jam at the time of automatic switching of the medium.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a first embodiment of a medium issuing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the medium issuing device in FIG. 1.

In the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 of the medium issuing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, hoppers 2 and 3 for loading roll paper as a medium are provided. Below each hopper 2, 3,
The rollers 4a and 5a and the separators 4b and 5b are closely arranged. Further, transport paths 6 and 7 are provided below the hoppers 2 and 3, respectively. These transport paths 6 and 7 are integrated in the middle and are continuous with the common transport path 8.

A roller 9 and a printing unit 1 are provided along a common conveyance path 8.
0, a cutter unit 11 and a roller 12 are provided. A take-out port 13 is provided near the roller 12.
Further, a control unit 14 for controlling the operation of each unit is provided inside the apparatus main body 1.

Then, for example, the hopper 2 rotates the roll paper, peels off the leading end thereof, and transports the roll paper to the transport path 6. The hopper 3 rotates the roll paper, peels off the leading end thereof, and transports the roll paper to the transport path 7. Here, for example, when the roll paper of the hopper 2 becomes empty, the roll paper of the hopper 3 is used by automatic switching.

The roll paper transported to the transport path 6 is transported to the common transport path 8. The roll paper transported to the transport path 7 is transported to the common transport path 8. The roll paper conveyed to the common conveyance path 8 from the conveyance path 6 or 7 is printed by the printing unit 10 and then cut by the cutter unit 11.
The cut roll paper is transported to the take-out port 13 by the common transport path 8.

Next, the operation of the medium issuing apparatus having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawings described below, the roll paper loaded in the hopper 2 is
The roll paper loaded in the hopper 3 is defined as a medium B. It is also assumed that the medium A is loaded in the hopper 2 and the medium B in the hopper 3 is empty. Further, the following operation is controlled by the control unit 14 described above.

Then, the maintenance person sets the medium B on the hopper 3 (step A1). Next, the presence or absence of the medium A is determined (step A2). Here, since the medium A is loaded in the hopper 2, it is determined that the medium A is present.
At this time, the hopper 2, the transport path 6, and the common transport path 8 are driven in the suction direction, and the medium A is rewound so that the leading end of the medium A reaches the standby position of the transport path 6 (step A3).

Next, the roller 5a on the hopper 3 rotates,
The leading end of the medium B is peeled by the separator 5b, and is fed to the transport path 7 (Step A4). Here, if the feeding is successful (step A5), the hopper 3, the transport path 7,
The common transport path 8 is driven in the discharge direction. Then, when the medium B printed by the printing unit 10 is cut by the cutter unit 11, the paper piece is discharged from the take-out opening 13 (step A6).

If the ejection of the paper piece of the medium B succeeds (step A7), the hopper 3, the transport path 7, and the common transport path 8
Is driven in the suction direction, and the medium B is rewound so that the leading end of the medium B reaches the standby position of the transport path 7 (step A9).
In (Step A8), since the medium A is on standby, a determination of YES is made.

Next, the leading end of the medium A at the standby position is driven by the hopper 2, the transport path 6, and the common transport path 8 in the discharge direction to perform printing by the printing unit 10, and then is transported to the cutter unit 11. (Step A10). The above is the medium B to the hopper 3.
This operation is performed when the replenishment of the roll paper is successful.

Next, in (Step A5), the medium B
When the feeding of the medium B fails in the printing section 10 and the cutter section 11 in step A7, the hopper 3, the transport path 7, and the common transport path 8 are driven in the suction direction. It is rewound until the tip of B returns to the inside of the hopper 3 (step A11).

At this time, the maintenance staff takes out the medium B from the hopper 3 (step A12), trims the medium B by cutting the tip thereof, and sets the medium B again (step A1), thereby replenishing the medium B. Can be redone.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the roll paper is loaded into the plurality of hoppers 2 and 3, and the roll paper is fed or rewinded by the rollers 4 closely arranged to the plurality of hoppers 2 and 3.
a, 5a, the leading edge of the roll paper is peeled off by the separators 4b, 5b closely arranged to the plurality of hoppers 2, 3, and the roll paper is transported by the plurality of transport paths 6, 7 provided corresponding to the plurality of hoppers 2, 3. , Roll paper tip to hopper 2,
3 and a plurality of transport paths 6,
7, the leading end of the roll paper is transported by a continuous common transport path 8, and printing is performed on the roll paper by a printing unit 10 provided along the common transport path 8, and the leading end of the roll paper is printed by the printing unit 10. When the roll paper is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter unit 11 provided in the vicinity of the roll paper and when the roll paper is refilled in any of the plurality of hoppers 2 and 3, the leading end of the roll paper replenished by the control unit 14 is cut by the cutter unit. 11, and the leading end of the roll paper is cut by the cutter unit 11.

When the roll paper is replenished, the hopper 2 loaded with the currently used roll paper and the rollers 4a
Then, the transport path 6 corresponding to the currently used hopper 2 and the common transport path 8 are driven in the rewind direction so that the leading end of the currently used roll paper is transported to the transport path 6 corresponding to the currently used hopper 2. To the standby position.

Therefore, when the roll paper is replenished, the leading end of the replenished roll paper can be immediately shaped.
The occurrence of paper jam at the time of automatic switching of roll paper can be suppressed, and the reliability of the apparatus can be improved.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a second embodiment of the medium issuing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG.
4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the medium issuing device in FIG. 3. In the drawings described below, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a collection transport path 15 and a collection BOX
16 is added. The collection box 16 is for collecting a piece of paper cut when setting roll paper or a piece of paper left in the take-out port 13. The collection conveyance path 15 is switched by a gate (not shown) with respect to the common conveyance path 8, and conveys the sheet to the collection box 16.

Next, the operation of the medium issuing apparatus having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawings described below, the roll paper loaded in the hopper 2 is referred to as a medium A, and the roll paper loaded in the hopper 3 is referred to as a medium B, as described above. It is also assumed that the medium A is loaded in the hopper 2 and the medium B in the hopper 3 is empty. Further, the following operation is controlled by the control unit 14 described above.

Then, first, the maintenance person sets the medium B on the hopper 3 (step B1). Next, the presence or absence of the medium A is determined (step B2). Here, since the medium A is loaded in the hopper 2, it is determined that the medium A is present.
At this time, the hopper 2, the transport path 6, and the common transport path 8 are driven in the suction direction, and the medium A is rewound so that the leading end of the medium A reaches the standby position of the transport path 6 (step B3).

Next, the roller 5a on the hopper 3 rotates,
The leading end of the medium B is peeled by the separator 5b, and is fed to the transport path 7 (Step B4). Here, if the feeding is successful (step B5), the hopper 3, the transport path 7,
The common transport path 8 is driven in the discharge direction. When the medium B printed by the printing unit 10 is cut by the cutter unit 11, the paper sheet is conveyed by the collection conveyance path 15 and collected in the collection box 16 (step B6).

Here, if the collection of the paper piece of the medium B succeeds (step B7), the hopper 3, the transport path 7, and the common transport path 8
Is driven in the suction direction, and the medium B is rewound such that the leading end of the medium B reaches the standby position of the transport path 7 (step B9). Here, in (Step B8), since the medium A is on standby, a determination of YES is made.

Next, the leading end of the medium A at the standby position is driven by the hopper 2, the transport path 6, and the common transport path 8 in the discharge direction to perform printing by the printing unit 10, and then is transported to the cutter unit 11. (Step B10). The above is the medium B to the hopper 3.
This operation is performed when the replenishment of the roll paper is successful.

Next, in (Step B5), the medium B
If the feeding of the medium B fails, or if the collection of the paper pieces of the medium B fails in step B7, the hopper 3, the transport path 7, and the common transport path 8 are driven in the suction direction, and the leading end of the hopper 3 Is rewound until it returns to the inside (step B
11).

At this time, the maintenance staff takes out the medium B from the hopper 3 (step B12), trims the medium B by cutting the tip thereof, and sets the medium B again (step B1), thereby replenishing the medium B. Can be redone.

As described above, in the second embodiment, a paper piece formed by shaping the leading end of a refilled roll paper is conveyed by the collection conveyance path 15 and collected by the collection BOX 16, so that the paper box is collected. Processing (disposal, etc.) becomes easier.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the printing unit 10 is arranged before the cutter unit 11 has been described. However, the same control method can be applied to an apparatus in which the printing unit 10 is arranged after the cutter unit 11. Can be applied. Also, the case where the number of hoppers 2 and 3 is two has been described, but the number of hoppers 2 and 3 is not limited.

[0034]

As described above, according to the medium issuing apparatus and the automatic medium switching method of the present invention, the roll paper is loaded into a plurality of hoppers, and the delivery or rewinding of the roll paper is closely arranged on the plurality of hoppers. Roll paper, the leading edge of the roll paper is peeled off by a separator closely disposed to a plurality of hoppers, and the leading edge of the roll paper is transported away from the hopper by a plurality of transport paths provided corresponding to the plurality of hoppers. Further, the leading edge of the roll paper is transported by a continuous common transport path to a plurality of transport paths, and printing is performed on the roll paper by a printing unit provided along the common transport path, and the leading edge of the roll paper is printed. While cutting at a predetermined length by the cutter part provided near the printing part,
When the roll paper is replenished to any of the plurality of hoppers, the leading end of the roll paper replenished by the control unit is transported to the cutter unit,
Since the leading end of the roll paper is cut by the cutter unit and the occurrence of paper jam at the time of automatic switching of the medium is suppressed, the reliability of the apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a first embodiment of a medium issuing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the medium issuing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a second embodiment of the medium issuing device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the medium issuing device of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2, 3 Hopper 4a, 5a, 9, 12 Roller 4b, 5b Separator 6, 7 Transport path 8 Common transport path 10 Printing part 11 Cutter part 13 Take-out port 14 Control part 15 Recovery transport path 16 Recovery BOX

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of hoppers for loading roll paper, a roller closely disposed to the plurality of hoppers, and a roller for sending or rewinding the roll paper, and a roller closely disposed to the plurality of hoppers, A separator for peeling off the leading edge of the roll paper, a plurality of transport paths provided corresponding to the plurality of hoppers, and a plurality of transport paths provided in correspondence with the plurality of hoppers, for transporting the leading edge of the roll paper in a direction away from the hopper. A common transport path, a printing section provided along the common transport path, for performing printing on the roll paper, and a printing section provided in close proximity to the printing section, and a leading end portion of the roll paper having a predetermined length. A cutter unit for cutting, a take-out port for taking out the cut piece of roll paper, and, when the roll paper is replenished to any of the plurality of hoppers, the leading end of the refilled roll paper is It conveyed to data unit, medium issuing apparatus characterized by comprising a control unit for cutting the tip of the roll paper by the cutter unit. 2. The control section, when the roll paper is replenished, a hopper loaded with the roll paper currently in use;
The roller, the transport path corresponding to the currently used hopper, and the common transport path are driven in a rewind direction to move the leading end of the currently used roll paper to the transport path corresponding to the currently used hopper. After returning to the standby position, the feeding direction of the hopper loaded with the replenished roll paper, the rollers, the transport path corresponding to the hopper loaded with the refilled roll paper, and the common transport path. 2. The medium issuing device according to claim 1, wherein the medium is driven to drive the leading end of the roll paper to the cutter unit. 3. A recovery transport path for recovering and transporting the rolled paper pieces on the common transport path located between the cutter section and the take-out port, and a recovery box for recovering the recovered and transported paper pieces. 2. The medium issuing device according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. A first method for loading roll paper into a plurality of hoppers.
And a second step of sending or rewinding the roll paper by a roller closely arranged to the plurality of hoppers, and peeling off the leading end of the roll paper by a separator closely arranged to the plurality of hoppers. A third step, a fourth step of transporting the leading end of the roll paper in a direction away from the hopper by a plurality of transport paths provided corresponding to the plurality of hoppers, The fifth to make the common transport path continuous
And a sixth step of performing printing on the roll paper by a printing unit provided along the common transport path; and a cutter provided with a leading end portion of the roll paper close to the printing unit. A seventh step of cutting at a predetermined length by a unit, an eighth step of taking out the cut piece of the roll paper from a take-out port, and replenishing the roll paper to any of the plurality of hoppers. A ninth step of transporting the leading end of the refilled roll paper to the cutter unit by a control unit and cutting the leading end of the roll paper by the cutter unit. Method. 5. In the ninth step, when the roll paper is replenished, a hopper loaded with a roll paper currently in use, the roller, and a transport corresponding to the hopper currently in use. A tenth step of driving the path and the common transport path in the rewind direction to return the leading end of the currently used roll paper to the standby position of the transport path corresponding to the currently used hopper; The hopper in which the roll paper is loaded, the roller, the transport path corresponding to the hopper in which the refilled roll paper is loaded, and the common transport path are driven in the feeding direction, and the leading end of the roll paper is moved. 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising an eleventh step of transporting the sheet to the cutter section.
3. The automatic medium switching method of the medium issuing device according to 1. 6. The twelfth step of recovering and transporting the roll paper by a recovery transport path provided on the common transport path located between the cutter unit and the take-out port. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of: and a thirteenth step of collecting the conveyed paper piece by a collection box.