JP2002361959A - Ticket printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ticket printer which can detect a near end of a rolled paper while being adapted to reduce the number of parts and lower production costs. SOLUTION: There are set a detecting element which can detect each ticket identification mark having a predetermined light reflectance and a near end identification mark having a different light reflectance from the light reflectance of the ticket identification mark with the utilization of a reflecting light to a light applied to the rolled paper, and a mark detector which can set at least two different threshold values. The near end identification mark is printed to the same printing position as a printing position of the ticket identification mark at a near end of the rolled paper. The ticket identification mark and the near end identification mark are formed distinguishably on the basis of the detected result using each of the threshold values.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention detects each ticket identification mark printed at predetermined intervals on a roll of continuous ticket paper formed in a roll shape, and applies ticket information to each ticket paper. It can be used to issue each printed ticket, and is formed so as to detect the near-end identification mark printed on the same surface as the respective ticket identification mark of the respective ticket paper and output that the roll paper is near-end. About ticket printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a ticket printer 10 (FIG. 1) capable of issuing a ticket using a roll paper 20 on which a plurality of perforated ticket papers 20T are continuously formed as shown in FIG. It has been known.

In such a ticket printer 10, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the roll paper 20 is loaded in a predetermined position,
The ticket information is printed on the front surface (print surface) of the roll paper 20 using the print head unit 50 and the platen roller 60 while transporting the roll paper 20. And the cutter 30
Then, the roll paper 20 on which printing has been completed is cut, and a ticket can be issued.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 10, a ticket identification mark (for example, a black mark) 100T is formed on the back surface (a surface different from the printing surface) of each ticket paper of the roll paper 20.
M is printed. The identification mark is detected by the ticket detection unit 70 using reflected light with respect to the light applied to the roll paper 20. The detection result is used for, for example, identification of the issuance unit of each ticket sheet, determination of the print position of the ticket information, and adjustment of the transport amount of the roll paper in printing and issuing each ticket.

[0005]

By the way, in the roll paper on which the ticket papers as described above are continuously formed, various types of ticket papers having the same width but different lengths are circulated. Therefore, the used amount (issued number) differs for each roll paper.

For this reason, at the ticket sales site, it is not always possible to accurately grasp the remaining amount of the roll paper, and the roll paper 20 runs out during the ticket sales business, and the roll paper replacement work is required. In order to prevent a situation in which the customer is kept waiting, a ticket printer having a function of notifying that the roll paper is near the end (near end) is often adopted.

To detect the near end of the roll paper, a near end identification mark 100NM is printed on the near end of the roll paper used in the ticket printer as shown in FIG.

The near-end identification mark 100NM is:
In many cases, a mark (for example, a black mark) similar to the ticket identification mark 100TM is adopted.
It is printed so as to be arranged in parallel with the ticket identification mark 100TM due to the arrangement of the detection units (70, 80) described later. Then, the ticket printer 10 detects the near end of the roll paper 20 by a detection method using the light reflectance similarly to the ticket identification mark 100TM.

With the detection of the near end, the ticket printer 10 is provided with a near end detecting section 80 in addition to the ticket detecting section 70 as shown in FIG. When the roll paper 20 is conveyed, the identification mark is detected, and the fact that the roll paper 20 is near end is output.

That is, in the conventional ticket printer, an individual detection unit (70, 80) is provided for each identification mark.
Must be provided, and each of the detection units must perform accurate positioning so as to correspond to the position of each identification mark. In addition, since a plurality of detection units are provided as described above, the degree of freedom in designing the inside of the apparatus has not been sufficiently obtained.
Furthermore, the production cost is increased due to the increase in the number of parts, and the maintenance becomes complicated and sophisticated.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a ticket printer capable of detecting the near end of roll paper while reducing the number of parts and the production cost.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A ticket printer according to the present invention detects ticket identification marks printed at predetermined intervals on a roll of continuous ticket paper formed in a roll shape and detects each of the ticket identification marks. It can be used to issue each ticket with ticket information printed on the ticket paper, and detects the near-end identification mark printed on the same surface as the respective ticket identification mark on the roll paper to indicate that the roll paper is near-end. In the ticket printer formed so as to be capable of being output, the ticket identification mark having a predetermined light reflectance and the near end of the roll paper are printed at the same print position as the ticket identification mark, and the ticket identification mark and the light reflectance are determined. Different near-end identification marks can be detected using reflected light with respect to the light applied to the roll paper A detection element and a mark detector capable of setting at least two thresholds having different values, so that a ticket identification mark and a near-end identification mark can be distinguished based on a detection result using the thresholds. It is characterized by having been done.

In this invention, a ticket identification mark having a predetermined light reflectance is printed on each ticket paper of the roll paper, and the ticket identification mark on the ticket paper at the near end of the roll paper is located at the same printing position as the ticket identification mark. A near-end identification mark having a different light reflectance from the mark is printed.

In the ticket printer according to the present invention, both the ticket identification mark and the near-end identification mark are formed so as to be detectable by using a common detection element. Light reflected from each identification mark with respect to light is detected.

When the detecting element detects the reflected light, the mark detector in which at least two different threshold values are set,
A detection result corresponding to each identification mark is output using a detection value obtained from the detection element and the preset threshold value.

The near end of the roll paper can be known by determining the ticket identification mark and the near end identification mark based on the detection result obtained from the mark detector.

It is preferable that the ticket printer according to the present invention is formed so that it can be used for printing and printing of each ticket even when a near-end identification mark is detected based on the detection result.

Therefore, it is possible to realize a ticket printer having a roll paper near-end discriminating function without providing a dedicated sensor for roll paper near-end discrimination, to save space in the apparatus, and to design freely inside the apparatus. The degree will increase.

Further, by using a common detection element for the two types of identification marks, the number of components can be reduced, thereby reducing the production cost and facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the light reflectance of each of the ticket identification marks is higher than the reflectance of the near-end identification mark.

Thus, for example, in a roll paper production process, a mark is printed on ordinary ticket paper with a low print density so as to increase the light reflectance, and the mark is used as a ticket identification mark. . Then, on the ticket paper after the near end, the mark is printed by increasing the print density so that the light reflectance becomes low,
The near-end identification mark can be easily formed on the roll paper, and the printing density of only the near-end identification mark that is smaller in quantity than the ticket identification mark needs to be increased, so that the processing cost of the roll paper can be reduced. As a result, the spread of the ticket printer according to the present invention can be promoted.

Further, in the mark detector according to the present invention, a first comparator circuit for setting a first threshold value corresponding to the ticket identification mark and a second threshold value corresponding to the near-end identification mark are set. And each of the comparator circuits is formed by using
The detection result can be output using the detection value of the detection element and the respective threshold, and the respective threshold is set using the resistance division ratio of the resistor connected to the input side of the respective comparator circuit. Preferably, it is formed as possible.

This makes it easy to set a threshold value corresponding to each identification mark, thereby reducing the influence of a threshold value change due to a change in the use environment such as temperature, and accurately determining each identification mark. Become.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ticket printer 10 has a mark detection unit 40 capable of detecting the near-end identification mark 100NM having a different light reflectance from the ticket identification mark 100TM. Based on the detection results (Vout1, Vout2), the ticket identification mark 100TM and the near-end identification mark 100N
M is formed so as to be distinguishable from M.

The mark detection unit 40 shown in FIG. 3 provided in the ticket printer 10 is provided with a reflected light Pi for the light Pout applied to the roll paper 20 as shown in FIG.
One photo interrupter (detection element) 4 for detecting n
1 and at least two thresholds Vth1, Vt having different values
and a mark detection circuit 42 capable of setting h2.

Further, in the mark detection section 40, the mark detection circuit 42 uses the thresholds Vth1 and Vth2 to determine a result (V) corresponding to each of the identification marks.
out1 and Vout2) are formed using two comparator circuits 42A and 42B capable of outputting the signals.

Each of the comparator circuits includes a first threshold value Vth1 corresponding to the ticket identification mark 100TM.
And a second threshold value V corresponding to the near-end identification mark 100NM.
The second comparator circuit 42B to which th2 is set is formed using operational amplifiers OPA1 and OPA2, respectively.

The threshold values Vth1 and Vth2 are
It is set using the resistance division ratio (for example, R2 / (R1 + R2), etc.) of the resistors [(R1, R2), (R3, R4)] connected to the input side of each of the comparator circuits 42A, 42B. .

Further, the ticket printer 10 according to the present embodiment automatically completes the ticket charge settlement by a commodity sales data processing device (for example, an electronic cash register) having a commodity registration function and an accounting processing function or by a cashier operation (manual). Since a ticket can be printed and issued when a signal is input, ticket (commodity) sales operations can be performed accurately, and the practicability is further enhanced.

Further, inside the main body of the ticket printer 10, for example, CPU, ROM,
A control unit having a RAM or the like to execute various controls relating to ticket issuance, a hard disk device storing ticket information to be printed on the ticket and various control programs, and data for connecting to an external (electronic cash register: control computer). An interface for communication and the like are provided. The hard disk device is not necessarily provided, but in this case, ticket information and the like are obtained from an external connection device (for example, an electronic cash register) by data communication.

Here, the control unit uses, for example, mark discriminating means for discriminating each identification mark based on the detection result (output) of the mark detecting unit 40, and further utilizes the discrimination result of the mark discriminating means. It can function as a print issuance control unit that controls the printing process on each ticket sheet and the issuance process of each ticket.

Hereinafter, a method of detecting the near-end identification mark and the ticket identification mark by the ticket printer 10 will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a portion from the near end to the end of the roll paper 20.

The term "near end" refers to a portion immediately before the end of the roll paper 20, and a plurality of (for example, two or three) tickets from the end of the roll paper determined in accordance with the roll paper exchange cycle. Refers to paper 20T. In particular, in the present embodiment, a portion of two or more sheets before the end of the roll paper is the near end.

In FIG. 4, each ticket sheet 20T before the near end has a ticket identification mark 100TM.
Is printed on each ticket paper 2 after the near end.
At 0T, the near-end identification mark 100N is originally located at the printing position where the ticket identification mark 100TM is printed on each ticket sheet 20T, that is, at the same printing position.
M is printed.

In the ticket printer 10, by employing a roll paper on which the near-end identification mark 100NM is printed at the same printing position as the ticket identification mark 100TM, each identification mark can be detected by a common detection unit. I do.

On the roll paper 20, a mark with a high light reflectance is printed as the ticket identification mark 100TM, and after the near end of the roll paper 20, a mark with a low light reflectance is printed as the near-end identification mark 100NM. Have been. If formed in this way, for example,
Normal ticket paper 2 in the production process of roll paper 20
At 0T, a mark is printed with a low print density so as to increase the light reflectance, and the mark is used as a ticket identification mark 100TM. By printing a mark on the ticket paper 20T after the near end with a high print density so as to reduce the light reflectance, the near end identification mark 100NM can be easily created on the roll paper, and the ticket can be easily created. Identification mark 100T
Near end identification mark 100N that is quantitatively less than M
Since the print density only needs to be increased for M, the processing cost of the roll paper 20 can be reduced. As a result, the spread of the ticket printer 10 can be promoted.

Incidentally, like the roll paper 20 shown in FIG.
A mark having a lower light reflectance may be printed as the ticket identification mark 100TM, and a mark having a higher light reflectance than the ticket identification mark may be printed as the near-end identification mark 100NM.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 of this embodiment, the identification marks 100TM and 100NM are printed on the left end of each ticket sheet 20T, but the printing position is not limited to this. . Each identification mark 100
TM and 100NM may be located at any position as long as they are printed at the same position in each ticket sheet. At this time, the installation position of the mark detection unit 40 is determined by each identification mark 10.
It is provided at a position where 0TM and 100NM can be detected.

Next, the operation of the mark detecting section 40 will be described. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a main configuration of the mark detection unit 40.

As described above, the mark detecting section 40 is formed by the photo interrupter 41 and the mark detecting circuit 42.

The photointerrupter 41 outputs a detection value corresponding to each identification mark by receiving the reflected light Pin of the light Pout irradiated from the light emitting diode LED onto the roll paper 20 by the phototransistor PTR and converting it into a voltage Vin. I do.

More specifically, first, light Pout adjusted to a predetermined output from the emitting diode LED is emitted toward the roll paper 20.

When any of the identification marks is included in the portion irradiated with the light Pout, that is, when the identification marks pass over the mark detection unit 40, the light corresponding to the light reflectance of each identification mark is generated. The light is incident on the phototransistor PTR as reflected light Pin.

The reflected light Pin received by the phototransistor PTR is applied to the input voltage V of the mark detection circuit 42.
is converted to in and output.

On the other hand, the mark detection circuit 42 operates at threshold values Vth1 and Vth2 corresponding to each identification mark, and has a first comparator circuit 42A and a second comparator circuit 42B formed using operational amplifiers OPA1 and OPA2. It is composed of

The operation of the mark detection circuit 42 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 6, the input voltage Vin, which is the output of the photointerrupter 41, is input to the operational amplifiers OPA1 and OPA2 of each of the comparator circuits 42A and 42B, and is compared with the respective threshold voltages Vth1 and Vth2.

Here, each of the threshold voltages Vth1, Vth2
Is determined by the combination of R1 and R2 or the combination of R3 and R4 connected to the input side of the operational amplifiers OPA1 and OPA2 and the power supply voltage V.

As a result, it is easy to set a threshold value corresponding to each identification mark, and it is possible to reduce the influence of the threshold value change due to a change in use environment such as temperature.
The discrimination of each identification mark becomes accurate. That is, each threshold voltage is Vth1 = V · R2 / (R1 + R2), Vth2
= V · R3 / (R3 + R4). In this embodiment, Vth1> Vth2.

Further, each comparator circuit 4 of the present embodiment
2A and 42B output Vout1 and Vout2 via inverting output units INV1 and INV2. For this reason, Vo
out1 and Vout2 are operational amplifiers OPA1 and OPA2
Is inverted and output as follows.

When Vin> Vth1, the first comparator circuit 42A outputs Vout1 = L. Vin
When <Vth1, the first comparator circuit 42A
Vout1 = H is output.

When Vin> Vth2, the second comparator circuit 42B outputs Vout2 = L. Vin
When <Vth2, the second comparator circuit 42B
Vout2 = H is output.

Output results Vo of these mark detection circuits 42
ut1 and Vout2 are detection results of the mark detection unit 40, and based on the detection results, determination of the ticket identification mark 100TM and the near-end identification mark 100NM is performed by the mark determination unit (control unit).

Here, FIG.
A correspondence table of the output results of A and 42B is shown, and the mark discrimination means (control unit) discriminates each identification mark based on this correspondence table as follows.

When Vout1 = H and Vout2 = H, it is determined that the near-end identification mark is 100NM.

When Vout1 = H and Vout2 = L, it is determined that the ticket is the ticket identification mark 100TM.

Further, Vout1 = L, Vout2 = L
In this case, the state of the roll paper may be formed so as to be distinguishable. With this configuration, it is possible to monitor the presence or absence of roll paper in addition to the identification of each ticket paper and the near end of roll paper.

The results of these determinations are for the case where the roll paper 20 shown in FIG. 4 is used. As shown in FIG. 5, the near-end identification mark 100NM has a higher light reflectance than the near-end identification mark 100NM. In the case where it is formed, the near end identification mark 100NM and the ticket identification mark 100TM may be replaced with each other in the correspondence table shown in FIG.

Specifically, Vout1 = H, Vout2
= H, it is determined that the ticket is the ticket identification mark 100TM, and when Vout1 = H and Vout2 = L,
It is determined that the mark is the near-end identification mark 100NM.

Therefore, based on the detection results Vout1 and Vout2 obtained from the mark detection unit 40, the ticket identification mark 100TM and the near-end identification mark 100N
By determining M, the near end of the roll paper can be known.

The print issuance control means (control unit)
Executes print issuance processing of each ticket while identifying each ticket sheet using Vout2 among the above detection results.

Therefore, the ticket printer 10 according to the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG.
If t2 is used, even when the near-end identification mark 100NM is detected, the detection result can be used for printing and issuing each ticket.

Therefore, it is possible to realize a ticket printer having a roll paper near-end identification function without providing a dedicated sensor for identifying the roll paper near-end, and to save space in the apparatus and to design freely inside the apparatus. The degree will increase.

The use of the photo-interrupter 41, which is a common detecting element for the two types of identification marks, reduces the number of components, thereby reducing the production cost and facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus.

In the present embodiment, each of the thresholds is set by each of the resistance division ratios of two resistors R1, R2 and R3, R4 individually provided on the input side of each comparator circuit. , As shown in FIG.
It can also be set by the resistance division ratio of R5 to R7 connected in series between GND. With this configuration, the circuit configuration can be further simplified.

In such a case, the threshold voltages Vth1, Vth
2 is Vth1 = V · (R6 + R7) / (R5 + R6 +
R7), Vth2 = V · R7 / (R5 + R6 + R7).

Although each of the threshold values is set using a fixed resistor, it is easier to set any one of R1 to R4 shown in FIG. 6 and R5 to R7 shown in FIG. 7 as a variable resistor. It can be formed to be configurable. Further, each threshold can be set by an element other than the resistor, for example, a clamp voltage of a diode connected between the power supply and the input.

Further, in this embodiment, each identification mark is determined by using a combination of the output results of the two comparator circuits. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Modifications can be made within the scope.

In this embodiment, the detection result is output via the inverted output units INV1 and INV2. However, the inverted output units INV1 and INV2 are used.
May be appropriately adopted in consideration of a circuit connected to the subsequent stage of the mark detection unit 40.

Further, in this embodiment, the detecting element 4
1 includes a light emitting diode and a phototransistor, but is not limited thereto. For example, a semiconductor laser can be used as a light emitting element, and a photodiode or the like can be used as a light receiving element, and various light detecting elements can be employed.

[0073]

According to the present invention, each ticket identification mark having a predetermined light reflectance and the near end of the roll paper are printed at the same printing position as the ticket identification mark, and the ticket identification mark and the light reflectance are printed. A detection element capable of detecting the near-end identification mark having a different value by using the reflected light with respect to the light applied to the roll paper, and a mark detector capable of setting at least two thresholds having different values. Is formed so that the ticket identification mark and the near-end identification mark can be distinguished on the basis of the detection result using, so that a roll paper near-end identification function is provided without providing a dedicated sensor for the roll paper near-end identification. A ticket printer can be realized, and the space inside the device can be reduced to increase the degree of freedom in designing the inside of the device. It made.

In addition, by using a common detection element for the two types of identification marks, the number of components can be reduced, thereby reducing the production cost and facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, since the light reflectance of each ticket identification mark is higher than the reflectance of the near-end identification mark, the near-end identification mark can be easily formed on roll paper. And the processing cost of roll paper can be reduced. As a result, the spread of the ticket printer according to the present invention can be promoted.

Further, according to the present invention, the mark detector includes a first comparator circuit for setting a first threshold value corresponding to the ticket identification mark, and a second threshold value corresponding to the near-end identification mark. And each of the comparator circuits is capable of outputting the detection result using the detection value of the detection element and each of the thresholds. Since the respective thresholds can be set using the resistance division ratio of the resistor connected to the input side of the circuit, it is easy to set the thresholds corresponding to the respective identification marks, and to use the temperature and the like. The influence of the threshold change due to the environmental change can be reduced, and the discrimination of each identification mark becomes accurate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective explanatory view of a ticket printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view of the ticket printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an upper cover opened state of the ticket printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram (1) illustrating roll paper and each ticket paper used in the ticket printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram (2) illustrating roll paper and each ticket paper used in the ticket printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a mark detection unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a mark detection circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a detection result of the mark detection unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a conventional ticket printer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining roll paper and each ticket paper used in a conventional ticket printer.

[Description of Signs] 10 Ticket printer 20 Roll paper 20T Ticket paper 30 Cutter 40 Mark detection unit 41 Photo interrupter (detection element) 42 Mark detection circuit (mark detector) 42A First comparator circuit 42B Second comparator circuit 50 Printing Head unit 60 Platen roller 70 Ticket detection unit 80 Near-end detection unit 100TM Ticket identification mark 100NM Near-end identification mark

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Issue of each ticket in which a plurality of continuous ticket papers are detected at predetermined intervals on a roll paper formed in a roll shape at predetermined intervals, and ticket information is printed on each of the ticket papers. The ticket printer is configured to detect the near-end identification mark printed on the same side of the roll paper as the ticket identification mark and output the fact that the roll paper is near-end. A light which is printed at the same printing position as the ticket identification mark at the ticket end mark and the near end of the roll paper, which is a light reflectance, and irradiates the roll paper with a near end identification mark having a different light reflectance from the ticket identification mark. 1 that can be detected using reflected light
One detection element and a mark detector capable of setting at least two thresholds having different values, and formed so as to be able to distinguish between the ticket identification mark and the near-end identification mark based on the detection result using the respective thresholds. A ticket printer. 2. The ticket printer according to claim 1, wherein the light reflectance of each ticket identification mark is higher than the reflectance of the near-end identification mark. 3. The mark detector according to claim 1, wherein the mark detector includes a first comparator circuit for setting a first threshold value corresponding to the ticket identification mark.
And a second comparator circuit for setting a second threshold value corresponding to the near-end identification mark. Each of the comparator circuits performs the detection using the detection value of the detection element and each of the threshold values. A ticket printer capable of outputting a result and being configured to be able to set each of the thresholds by using a resistance division ratio of a resistor connected to an input side of each of the comparator circuits.