JP2003002530A - Paper delivery device and printer provided with it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper delivery device which can prevent paper jam even if a paper delivery port is blocked. SOLUTION: This paper delivery device 30 according to the present invention is provided with a pair of a first and a second paper-delivery rollers 31 and 32 which can feed recording paper on a predetermined paper path toward a paper delivery port 41, a paper delivery motor 33 which can give power to the pair of the first and the second paper-delivery rollers 31 and 32, an actuator 42 movably provided in the neighborhood of the paper delivery port 41, a paper outlet sensor 43 which can detect movement of the actuator 42, and a control part 50 having a function to stop the paper delivery motor 33 based on information detected by the paper outlet sensor 43.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer provided in, for example, an unmanned terminal device, and more particularly to a technique for preventing a paper jam occurring in a paper discharge mechanism of the printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an automatic teller machine and an automatic ticket issuing machine, which are configured to issue a receipt or a ticket by an operator's operation, are known, but this type of unmanned terminal device has a large diameter. By using the roll paper, there is provided a printer that can be continuously used without replacing the roll paper for a long time.

In such a printer, printing is performed on the recording paper pulled out from the roll paper as the paper is fed between the print head and the platen roller, while a plurality of paper ejection roller pairs included in the paper ejection mechanism are used. By stopping this during one of them, the recording paper is loosened and temporarily stored.

When the printing is completed, the rear end portion of the accumulated recording paper is cut by the cutter device, and the recording paper is sent out as a receipt or a ticket from the paper discharge port by the paper discharge mechanism.

[0005]

By the way, in such a conventional printer, an optical sensor is provided between each pair of paper ejection rollers of the paper ejection mechanism, and when an abnormality occurs in paper feeding, the optical sensor is used. By stopping all the discharge roller pairs on the basis of the information, the paper jam is prevented in advance.

However, when the paper discharge port is blocked by an operator or an obstacle for some reason even though the paper is normally fed, the paper discharge roller pair continues to feed the paper. Therefore, there is a problem that a paper jam occurs near the paper discharge port.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and its purpose is to prevent paper jams even if the paper discharge port is blocked. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper discharge device that can be used.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, provides a discharge roller capable of feeding recording paper on a predetermined paper path toward a paper discharge port, and a discharge roller. A paper discharge motor that can give power, an actuator that is movably installed near the paper discharge port, a paper outlet sensor that can detect the movement of the actuator, and a paper discharge sensor that is based on the information detected by the paper outlet sensor. And a controller having a function of stopping a paper motor.

According to the present invention, the actuator is provided in the vicinity of the paper discharge port, the movement is detected by the paper outlet sensor, and the paper discharge roller is stopped based on the information detected by the paper outlet sensor. Even if the paper discharge port is blocked by an operator or an obstacle, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of paper jam near the paper discharge port.

In the present invention, the paper ejecting member formed in a substantially box shape having the paper ejecting port is provided, and the actuator is movable in the paper ejecting direction while protruding from the paper ejecting port of the paper ejecting member. Being configured is also effective.

According to the present invention, when the paper discharge port is to be blocked, the actuator always moves, so that the paper jam can be prevented more effectively.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, it is possible to feed any one of the above-described inventions, a print head capable of printing on a recording paper drawn from a roll paper, and a recording paper sandwiched between the print heads. A paper feed roller and a paper feed motor that can give power to the paper feed roller.The control unit feeds paper when the print head finishes printing based on the information detected by the paper outlet sensor. A printer having a function of stopping a motor.

According to the present invention, when the paper outlet sensor detects during the printing process, the printing process is performed as it is, and the platen roller is stopped at the stage when the printing is completed, so that the paper ejection port is operated by the operator during the printing process. Even if it is blocked by an obstacle or an obstacle, the paper jam can be prevented without affecting the printing.

In the present invention, a display unit capable of displaying a predetermined content is provided, and the control unit informs the display unit that the paper discharge port is closed based on the information detected by the paper discharge port sensor. It is also effective to have a function of displaying.

According to the present invention, by displaying a predetermined content based on the information detected by the paper outlet sensor, the operator who closed the paper outlet can be alerted to open the paper outlet.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a paper discharge device and a printer having the same according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the printer of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a substantially box-shaped main body case 2, and the main body case 2 has a paper output at a front side (right side in FIG. 1). The case 3 is provided so as to protrude from the main body case 2.

A roll paper holder 4 capable of accommodating a roll paper R having a large diameter is provided at a rear side portion of the main body case 2.

A printing mechanism 10 and a cutter device 20 are provided at the boundary between the main body case 2 and the paper discharge case 3. The printing mechanism 10 is for printing while feeding the recording paper S drawn from the roll paper R through the plurality of paper guide members 5 to the recording paper S, and is a thermal head composed of a plurality of heating elements arranged in a row. 11 and a platen roller 12 arranged in contact with the thermal head 11. The platen roller 12 is a platen motor 13
Is rotated by being transmitted through a gear train (not shown).

On the other hand, the cutter device 20 is arranged at the downstream side of the printing mechanism 10 in the paper feeding direction, and is configured to cut the recording paper S fed between the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 12.

The paper discharge case 3 is provided with a paper discharge device 30 for discharging the recording paper S cut by the cutter device 20. The paper discharge device 30 includes a pair of first and second paper discharge rollers 3 that can feed the recording paper S on the paper path extending from the printing mechanism 10 and the cutter device 20 into the paper discharge case 3.
It has 1 and 32.

The first paper discharge roller pair 31 is composed of a first drive roller 31a and a first driven roller 31b, and is arranged at a predetermined distance downstream of the cutter device 20 in the paper feeding direction. ing.

The second paper discharging roller pair 32 is composed of a second driving roller 32a and a second driven roller 32b, and has a predetermined distance downstream of the first paper discharging roller pair 31 in the paper feeding direction. It has been placed.

Then, the first and second drive rollers 31a,
32a is configured to rotate when the power of the paper discharge motor 33 is transmitted via a gear train (not shown),
On the other hand, the first and second driven rollers 31b and 32b
Are the first and second drive rollers 31a and 32a, respectively.
Is configured to follow the rotation of the.

The first paper discharge roller pair 31 and the cutter device 20
The first and second movable guide members 34 and 35 are provided between them. The first movable guide member 34 guides the recording paper S so as to be loosened and stored between the printing mechanism 10 and the first paper discharge roller pair 31, and is swingable around the support shaft 34a. Is configured.

On the other hand, the second movable guide member 35 uses the recording paper S cut by the cutter device 20 as the main body frame 2.
It is for guiding back to a paper tray (not shown) inside, and is configured to be swingable around a support shaft 35a.

Then, the first and second movable guide members 3
When arranged close to each other, the reference numerals 4, 35 form a paper path between the cutter device 20 and the first paper discharge roller pair 31.

Paper for forming a paper path is provided between the first and second paper discharge roller pairs 31 and 32 and at a portion downstream of the second paper discharge roller pair 32 in the paper feeding direction. A guide member 36 is provided. A paper discharge sensor 37 is attached to each paper guide member 36. These paper discharge sensors 37 are made of interrupt type optical sensors, and detect the presence or absence of the recording paper S on each paper guide member 36.

At the front side of the paper discharge frame 3, a second
An opening is formed for passing the recording paper S sent from the paper discharge roller pair 32 via the paper guide member 36, and a paper discharge member 40 is attached around the opening.

2A and 2B are views showing the positional relationship between the paper discharge member and the actuator in the standby state of the paper discharge device of the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 2B is a front view showing the main part of the apparatus, and FIG. 2B is a side view showing the main part of the paper discharge apparatus.

3A and 3B are views showing the positional relationship between the paper discharge member and the actuator in the operating state of the paper discharge device. FIG. 3A is a main part of the paper discharge device. And FIG. 3B is a side view showing the main part of the paper discharge device.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the paper discharge member 40 has a hollow box shape and is formed into a beak shape whose opening cross section gradually decreases. This paper ejection member 4
At the leading end portion of 0, a paper discharge port 41 capable of discharging the recording paper S
Are formed.

In the case of this embodiment, an actuator 42 is attached to the paper discharge member 40. The actuator 42 is formed in a substantially plate shape, and is configured to reciprocate on the bottom surface of the paper discharge member 40 in the paper discharge direction. Then, the actuator 42 is biased in the paper discharge direction (direction toward the paper discharge port) by using a coil spring (not shown), so that the leading end portion is arranged at the standby position protruding from the paper discharge port 41. Has become.

A paper outlet sensor 43 for detecting the movement of the actuator 42 is attached to the paper discharge member 40. The paper outlet sensor 43 is composed of a micro switch, and is configured to operate with movement of the actuator 42 in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction. A display unit (not shown) capable of displaying predetermined information is provided near the paper discharge member 40.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control system of the printer.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the present embodiment,
The printer 1 has a control unit 50 mainly for controlling the platen motor 13 and the paper discharge motor 33.
0 is electrically connected to the thermal head 11, the cutter device 20, the platen motor 13, the paper discharge motor 33, and the display unit, and is also electrically connected to each paper discharge sensor 37 and the paper outlet sensor 43. Has been done.

Then, such a control unit has a print processing function 51, a paper discharge processing function 52, and a paper jam prevention function 53 as described below.

The print processing function 51 applies a voltage to each heating element of the thermal head 11 in accordance with predetermined print information, while operating the platen motor 13 by the rotation amount required for paper feeding accompanying printing. Is configured.

The paper discharge processing function 52 operates the cutter device 20 on the basis of the print end information, while operating the paper discharge motor 33 by the amount of rotation required to discharge the cut recording paper. Is configured.

The paper jam prevention function 53 is provided for each paper discharge sensor 3
In addition to stopping the paper discharge motor 33 based on the signal from 7, the platen motor 13 or the paper discharge motor 33 is stopped based on the signal from the paper outlet sensor 43, and further, predetermined information is displayed on the display unit. It is configured to display.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for the paper jam prevention function in the control unit of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 or FIG. 5, the processing of the control unit 50 as described above will be described together with the operation of the printer 1.

When printing is performed based on the print processing function 51, the thermal head 11 and the platen motor 13 are operated with the first movable guide member 34 open and the paper discharge motor 33 stopped. (See Figure 1). As a result, the printed recording paper S is sequentially sent out between the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 13, while the leading end portion of the recording paper S is stopped by the stopped first discharge roller pair 31. The loosened recording paper S between them is collected along the first paper guide member 34.

After that, when the paper is discharged based on the paper discharge processing function 52, after the printing is completed, the cutter device 20 is operated to cut the rear end portion of the recording paper S, and then the paper discharge motor 33. Operate. As a result, the recording paper S cut as a receipt or a ticket is sent out from the first and second paper discharge roller pairs 31 and 32 and discharged from the paper discharge port 41 of the paper discharge member 40.

On the other hand, the processing based on the paper jam prevention function 53 is performed regardless of whether the printing processing or the paper discharging processing is being performed. In step 1 of FIG.
When the paper discharge port 41 of the paper discharge member 40 is blocked by an operator or an obstacle for some reason, the actuator 42 moves in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction, and the paper outlet sensor 43 causes the actuator to move. The movement of 42 is detected and the process proceeds to step 2. In this case, the control unit 50
Displays a message that the paper discharge port is opened on the display unit to call attention to the operator.

In step 2, the control unit 50 determines whether or not the paper discharge port 41 is blocked while the platen motor 13 is operating, that is, whether or not the printing process is being performed.
Judges based on the signal issued to the platen motor 13, and if printing is in progress, the process proceeds to step 3,
If printing is not in progress, the process branches to step 5.

At step 3, whether or not the printing is completed is judged based on the signal issued by the control unit 50 to the thermal head 11. When the printing is completed, the process proceeds to step 4 and the platen motor 13 is started. To stop. As a result, even if the paper discharge port 41 is closed during the printing process, the printing mechanism 10 independently feeds the recording paper S and prints on the recording paper S, and stops the paper feeding when printing is completed. .

Then, the paper discharge port 41 is opened, the actuator 42 returns to the original standby state, and the paper exit sensor 4
When 2 is no longer detected, in the subsequent paper jam prevention process, the process branches from step 1 and exits as it is, and the platen motor 13 is operated again by a predetermined remaining amount based on the print processing function 51.

On the other hand, in step 5, it is determined whether or not the paper discharge port 41 is closed while the paper discharge motor 33 is operating, that is, whether or not the paper discharge process is being performed. Control unit 5
If 0 is determined based on the signal issued to the paper discharge motor 33, and if the paper discharge process is in progress, the process proceeds to step 6 to immediately stop the paper discharge motor 33. As a result, when the paper ejection port 41 is closed during the paper ejection process, the first and second paper ejection roller pairs 31 and 32 stop feeding the paper. Then, when the paper discharge port 41 is opened, the actuator 42 returns to the original standby state and the paper exit sensor 43 no longer detects it, in the paper jam prevention process thereafter, the process branches from step 1 and exits as it is, and then again. Based on the paper discharge processing function 52, the paper discharge motor 33 is operated by a predetermined remaining amount.

In the paper jam prevention processing 53,
The operation of the paper discharge motor 33 is immediately stopped on the basis of the paper absence signal from each paper discharge sensor 37.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
An actuator 42 is provided in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 41 so that this movement is detected by the paper outlet sensor 43, and the first and second paper discharge roller pairs 31, 32 are detected based on the information detected by the paper outlet sensor 43. Since it is stopped, even if the paper discharge port 41 is blocked by an operator or an obstacle,
It is possible to prevent a paper jam from occurring near the paper discharge port 41.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the paper outlet sensor 43 detects during the printing process, the printing process is independently performed with the first and second paper discharging roller pairs 31 and 32 stopped. Since the platen roller 13 is stopped at the stage when the printing is completed, the paper discharge port 41 is stopped during the printing process.
Even if is blocked by an operator or an obstacle, paper jam can be prevented without affecting printing.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the predetermined contents are displayed based on the information detected by the paper outlet sensor 43, the operator who has blocked the paper discharge outlet 41 is warned of the paper. The discharge port 41 can be opened.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

For example, in the above embodiment, the actuator 42 is moved in the paper discharge direction.
In the case of the present invention, it is also possible to support the actuator 42 at one point or two points and swing it in the horizontal direction (the direction of the recording paper surface). In this case, there is an advantage that, in response to the action of closing the paper discharge port 41, the state in which the paper discharge port 41 is blocked can be widely detected by the actuator 42 moving flexibly.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, the actuator is provided in the vicinity of the paper discharge port so that this movement is detected by the paper outlet sensor, and the paper is discharged based on the information detected by the paper outlet sensor. By stopping the roller,
Even if the paper discharge port is blocked by an operator or an obstacle, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of paper jam near the paper discharge port.

Further, according to the present invention, when the paper outlet sensor detects during the printing process, the printing process is performed as it is, and the platen roller is stopped at the stage when the printing is completed, so that the paper discharge port is printed during the printing process. Even if is blocked by an operator or an obstacle, paper jam can be prevented without affecting printing.

Further, according to the present invention, by displaying a predetermined content based on the information detected by the paper outlet sensor, the operator who has blocked the paper outlet can be alerted to open the paper outlet. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a front view showing the positional relationship between the paper discharge member and the actuator in the standby state of the paper discharge device of the present embodiment. (B): It is a side view showing the positional relationship between the paper discharge member and the actuator in the standby state of the paper discharge device.

FIG. 3A is a front view showing the positional relationship between the paper discharge member and the actuator in the operating state of the paper discharge device. (B): It is a side view showing the positional relationship between the paper discharge member and the actuator in the operating state of the paper discharge device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the printer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a paper jam prevention function in the control unit of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Thermal head (printing head) 12 Platen roller (paper feed roller) 31 First Paper Ejection Roller Pair (Ejection Roller) 32 Second Ejection Roller Pair (Ejection Roller) 33 Paper ejection motor 40 Paper ejection member 41 Paper outlet 42 Actuator 43 Paper exit sensor 50 control unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C060 BA01 BC02 BC04 BC12 BC15                       BC84 BC98                 3F048 AA05 BA14 BB02 BD01                 3F049 AA01 DA12 EA04 LA07 LB03

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A paper ejection roller capable of feeding a recording paper on a predetermined paper path toward a paper ejection port, a paper ejection motor capable of giving power to the paper ejection roller, and a paper ejection port An actuator movably provided in the vicinity, a paper outlet sensor capable of detecting the movement of the actuator, and a control unit having a function of stopping the paper discharge motor based on information detected by the paper outlet sensor A paper discharge device characterized in that 2. A paper ejection member formed in a substantially box shape having a paper ejection port, wherein the actuator is configured to be movable in the paper ejection direction while protruding from the paper ejection port of the paper ejection member. The paper ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the paper ejection device is provided. 3. The paper discharge device according to claim 1, a print head capable of printing on a recording paper pulled out from a roll paper, and a recording paper sandwiched between the print head. A paper feed roller that can feed the paper and a paper feed motor that can give power to the paper feed roller are provided, and the control unit is configured to print by the print head based on the information detected by the paper discharge port sensor. A printer having a function of stopping the paper feed motor at the stage of completion. 4. A display unit capable of displaying a predetermined content, wherein the control unit is based on the information detected by the paper discharge port sensor, and the information about the fact that the paper discharge port is closed on the display unit. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the printer has a function of displaying.