JP2006248707A - Roll paper replenishment device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive roll direction detection mechanism capable of detecting a setting direction regardless of the form of a tip of paper, in a device provided with a function for detecting a setting direction mistake of replenished roll paper for improving convenience for a person in charge and jam prevention capability. <P>SOLUTION: Wrong determination of a loading direction is eliminated by determining a loading direction by detecting that correctly loaded roll paper has been rolled up instead of extracting a tip of wrongly loaded roll paper to detect it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is mounted on, for example, an automatic teller machine (ATM) used in a financial institution or the like, prints the contents of a transaction on a roll paper, and issues it as a statement slip (receipt), various ticket issuing machines, and a printing device The present invention relates to a roll paper replenishing device applied to the above.

  In recent years, ATM devices such as financial institutions that issue receipts are required to have non-stop operation and facilitating staff operation. For this reason, some receipt printers and ticket issuing machines installed in ATMs include a roll paper supply unit for backup separately from a roll paper supply unit that holds roll paper in use. A roll paper for replenishment is loaded in this roll paper replenishment section, and when there is no roll paper in use, a new roll paper is automatically replenished from the roll paper replenishment section, so that the ATM is continuously stopped without stopping. Operation is now possible.

  At this time, if the loading direction of the roll paper to be replenished is incorrect, the replenishment operation and subsequent receipt issuance cannot be performed normally. Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-117920 (Patent Document 1), a roll paper tip is separated from the roll paper main body using a mechanism (separation claw) for taking out the roll paper tip, and the roll paper is detected by a sensor. Has a function to detect that the battery has been loaded incorrectly.

  Whether the loading direction is correct or not is determined at the time when the roll paper replenished by the clerk is replenished even when the ATM is in operation, and if it is incorrect, it is necessary to prompt the clerk to reload before leaving the apparatus. .

JP-A-7-117920

  In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the roll paper replenishment unit detects the roll paper loading direction, the replenished roll paper is rotated once on the side opposite to the supply side of the roll paper and the separation claw is rotated. In this case, it is necessary to drive the rotation for a certain period of time until the tip can be separated. Here, even when the roll paper is loaded in the correct direction, the loading direction determining means cannot determine whether the loading direction is correct or not unless the predetermined time has elapsed, so that the apparatus can move to the next operation. It becomes after this fixed time. In addition, the rotation speed of the roll paper during this fixed time is required to be a slow speed that does not cause the paper to vibrate so that the separation claw can reliably take out the leading edge of the roll paper from the roll paper. Therefore, the clerk cannot be separated from the device for a certain period of time and is restrained.

  Also, with this conventional method, even when the roll paper is loaded in the correct direction, if the roll paper has a certain degree of deflection, the deflection is taken out by the separation claw and is mistakenly detected as the leading edge of the roll paper. May end up. At this time, since the roll direction detection device detects that the roll paper is loaded in the wrong direction even though it is loaded in the correct direction, the roll paper is urged to reload the roll paper. Therefore, the clerk is reloaded, and an originally unnecessary operation occurs.

  On the other hand, even when roll paper is loaded in the wrong direction, if the leading edge of the loaded roll paper is wrinkled or broken, or the leading edge of the roll paper is stuck to the roll paper due to the influence of static electricity, In some cases, the leading edge cannot be correctly taken out by the separation claw, the leading edge of the roll paper is jammed, and the leading edge of the roll paper cannot be taken out within a certain time. In such a case, the roll direction detection device erroneously detects that the roll paper is loaded in the correct direction, and does not prompt for reloading. Therefore, the roll paper supply unit is set in a state where the leading end of the roll paper cannot be taken out, and even though the roll paper is set in the roll paper supply unit, paper feeding becomes impossible and the apparatus stops.

  Further, since the roll direction is detected by taking out the leading edge of the roll paper in the above-described method, the roll paper surface is always in contact with the separation claw so that the leading edge can correctly reach the separation claw during rotation of the roll paper. A mechanism for guiding the leading edge of the roll paper to the separation claw using a guide or the like is required. In addition, when the roll paper is loaded in the wrong direction, the roll paper is rotated in the direction opposite to the supply direction in the direction opposite to the roll direction of the roll paper, so the leading end of the roll paper reaches the separation claw. The roll paper tip may peel off from the roll paper before.

  In order to be able to detect the leading edge of the roll paper in advance with the detection means, the roll paper is loaded on an attendant in a state where the leading edge of the roll paper is separated, the roll paper is rotated and the leading edge is taken up to detect whether the leading edge of the roll paper is detached from the detection means, If the leading edge of the roll paper is removed from the detection means, the correct direction is detected.

  In the present invention, since the loading direction is determined by the operation of winding the leading edge of the roll paper, highly reliable detection is possible without being affected by the folding or wrinkling of the leading edge of the roll paper. Further, a mechanism for taking out the leading end of the roll paper and a mechanism for always bringing the roll paper surface into contact with the separation claw are not required, and the mechanism can be made inexpensive.

  On the other hand, in the confirmation of the loading direction, it is not necessary to consider the influence due to the vibration of the roll paper, so that the rotation speed of the roll paper can be made faster than the method of the prior art, and as a result, the confirmation of the loading direction is required. Time can be shortened.

  Further, whether or not the leading edge of the roll paper is wound can be determined at a glance whether or not the loading direction is correct, and the clerk can determine whether or not the loading direction is correct without waiting for the loading direction determining means to determine whether or not the loading direction is correct. Can be recognized.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a roll direction detecting device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a receipt printer using the replenishment mechanism, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an ATM 1 equipped with the receipt printer. 4 to 6 are flowcharts for explaining the operation.

First, the configuration and basic operation of the entire ATM will be described with reference to FIG.
In the ATM of FIG. 3, the ATM 1 includes a main control unit 2, a customer operation panel 3, a bill mechanism 5 having a bill deposit / withdrawal port 4, a card reading mechanism 7 having a card slot 6, and a receipt discharge port 8. A receipt printer 9 is provided. For example, when the customer inserts the card A into the card entrance / exit 6 and performs a withdrawal operation from the customer operation panel 3, the bill B is discharged from the bill entrance / exit 4, and then the card A is returned from the card entrance / exit 6. At the same time, the receipt C describing the transaction content is discharged from the receipt discharge port 7.

Next, the operation of the receipt printer 9 will be described with reference to FIG.
The receipt printer 9 has a microprocessor in the control unit 10 and communicates with the drive control of the actuator and the main control unit 2 of the ATM 1 to give an execution instruction or the like by a command such as printing / issuance. A roll paper supply unit (hopper) 12 for storing the roll paper 11 in use, a replenishment unit 14 for storing the replenishment roll paper 13, a conveyance path 15 for conveying the paper, a receipt discharge port 8 for issuing a receipt C, A print head 16 for printing on continuous paper, a platen roller 17 for print conveyance, a cutter 18 for cutting the continuous paper into a predetermined length, and the like.

  The roll paper supply unit 12 includes a separation guide 19 for separating and introducing the leading edge of the paper into the conveyance path 15, a feeding roller 20 for feeding the paper, and the like. The roll paper replenishing unit 14 rotates the replenishment door 28 and the roll paper 13 which are loaded with the roll paper into the roll paper replenishing unit by closing the door while the roll paper is loaded, separated from the roll paper replenishing unit and the apparatus. There are a replenishing roll paper drive belt 31 for driving and replenishing and feeding to the roll paper feeding unit, a partition plate 32 for partitioning the roll paper replenishing unit and the roll paper feeding unit, and the like. The conveyance path 15 includes a conveyance roller 21 for conveying a sheet, a clutch roller 22 that holds the sheet receipt and issued receipt, and rotates and receives without receipt when the recipient pulls the receipt.

  Further, a replenishment sensor 23 for detecting the presence / absence of replenishment roll paper, a remaining amount sensor 24 for detecting the presence / absence of the continuous paper 11 and a decrease in the remaining amount, and the leading end of the paper are separately introduced into the inside of the printer 9. Separation sensor 25 for detecting, tip sensor 26 for detecting that the paper has been cut and transported in the direction of the issuing port, extraction sensor 27 for detecting that the issued receipt has been extracted, door for detecting the opening / closing of the replenishing part door There are sensors such as an open / close sensor 29 and a positive set detection sensor 30 for detecting the leading edge of the roll paper. In the figure, motors, solenoids and other actuators for driving the rollers and gates, cables, and the like are omitted for ease of explanation.

Next, the receipt printing and issuing operation in this configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
When a printing command is instructed by the main control unit 2 (S10), printing is performed by the print head 16 while conveying the leading edge of the roll paper 11 (S11), and after the leading edge sensor 26 detects the leading edge of the paper (S12), the regulation is performed. A predetermined amount is conveyed so that the receipt length becomes (S13), and cut by the cutter 18 (S14). Thereafter, when an issuance command is instructed from the main control unit 2 (S15), the cut receipt C is conveyed by a predetermined amount so that the leading end protrudes from the issuance port 8 and is held by the clutch roller 22 (S16). When the recipient picks up and removes the receipt C, the operation related to the issue command is completed (S17).

  Next, the replenishment operation will be described with reference to FIGS. As a pre-stage of the replenishment operation, when the clerk puts the replenishment roll paper 13 on the replenishment unit 14, it is confirmed that the loading direction is correct by the roll paper loading direction confirmation operation described in an embodiment described later. .

  When there is no more roll paper 11 in use, a replenishment command is issued from the main control unit 2 (S31). When the replenishment command is received, the partition plate 32 is retracted from the conveyance path (S32), and the roll paper 13 is replenished to the roll paper supply unit by the replenishment roll paper drive belt 31 (S33). Here, by inclining the floor surface of the roll paper replenishing unit 14 in advance, the partition plate 32 may be retracted from the conveyance path so that the roll paper 13 may be rolled and replenished. The roll paper 13 is supplied to the roll paper supply unit 12. It may be inclined when moved. Further, the roll paper 13 may be sent out by a paper feed lever or the like to move the roll paper 13 from the roll paper replenishing section 14 to the roll paper supply section 12.

  When the remaining amount sensor 24 detects that the roll paper 13 has moved to the roll paper supply unit 12 (S34), the partition plate 32 is closed (S35). Thereafter, when the roll paper 11 that is the roll paper 13 moved from the roll paper replenishing section 14 to the roll paper supply section 11 is rotated in the direction of C, the leading end of the roll paper 11 enters under the separation guide 19 (S36). . If rotation continues and the leading edge of the roll paper 11 is detected by the separation sensor 25 (S37), it is recognized that separation is completed, and the feeding roller 20, the platen roller 17 and the like are further rotated and conveyed by a predetermined amount (S38, S39). The replenishment operation is completed.

Here, a method for confirming the loading direction of the replenishing roll paper according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
First, the clerk opens the replenishment door 28 and loads the replenishment roll paper 13 (S21). At this time, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the clerk positions the roll paper tip outside the replenishment portion door so that the front end of the roll paper hides the correct set detection sensor 30 even when the replenishment portion door 28 is closed. The roll 33 is loaded into the roll paper replenishing section 14 by placing the roll paper on the replenishing section door 28 and closing the replenishing section door 28 (S21). Here, although the positive set detection sensor 30 is a reflective sensor in this example, it may be a transmissive sensor or a microswitch. At this time, the door opening / closing sensor 29 detects that the replenishment door 28 is once opened and closed (S22).

  Thereafter, when it is detected by the replenishment sensor 23 that the replenishment roll paper 13 has been inserted (S23), the roll paper is fed in the direction A by the replenishment roll paper drive belt 31 from the mark 33 to the positive set detection sensor 30. The distance is rotated by the amount that can be taken up (S24). When the roll paper 13 is loaded in the correct direction in the roll paper replenishing unit 14, the leading end of the roll paper 13 that is outside the apparatus is wound around the roll paper 13 as shown in FIG. Here, it is recognized that the leading edge of the roll paper 13 is no longer detected by the correct set detection sensor 30 by winding the leading edge of the roll paper 13 (S25).

  As a result, the roll paper 13 is considered to be loaded in the correct direction by being rotated in the direction A, that is, it is determined that the roll paper 13 is loaded in the correct direction. The fact that the confirmation has been completed is notified to the staff by a display 燈 or buzzer, a display on the staff operation screen, etc. (S26, S27). If it is set in the correct loading direction, no clerk operation is required, so only confirmation of confirmation may be sent.

  On the other hand, when the roll paper 13 is loaded in the wrong direction in the roll paper replenishing unit 14, the leading end of the roll paper 13 that is outside the apparatus is wound around the roll paper 13 as shown in FIG. Since it is not taken, it is not inhaled into the device. In this case, the leading set detection sensor 35 continues to detect the leading edge of the roll paper 13 (S25). After that, even when the roll paper 13 is rotated for a predetermined time (S28), if the leading edge of the roll paper 13 is detected by the positive set detection sensor 35, the roll paper 13 is moved in the direction A in the loading direction determination means. It is determined that it is loaded in the direction that cannot be wound by rotation, that is, in the wrong direction, and the result is notified to the staff by a display lamp or buzzer, a warning display on the staff operation screen, etc. (S29).

  In the first embodiment, the configuration is such that the leading edge of the roll paper is directly detected by using a reflection type sensor or a transmission type sensor microswitch as the set direction detecting means. However, as shown in FIG. A driven roller 34 that rotates following the movement of the paper by frictional contact may be arranged, and the presence or absence of rotation of the driven roller may be detected by the pulse count sensor 35.

  When the roll paper 13 is loaded in the correct direction, as shown in FIG. 7A, as the roll paper 13 rotates in the direction A, the leading edge of the roll paper is taken up, and the driven roller 34 also rotates. The pulse count sensor 35 detects that the driven roller 34 has started rotating. When the leading edge of the roll paper is wound and passes through the position of the driven roller 34, the rotation of the driven roller 34 stops, and the pulse count sensor 35 detects that the driven roller has stopped. As a result, the loading direction determination means detects that the roll paper 13 has been wound up, and determines that the roll paper 13 has been loaded in the correct direction. Then, the result is notified to the staff by LED or buzzer, display on the staff operation screen, and the like.

  When the roll paper 13 is loaded in the wrong direction, as shown in FIG. 7B, as the roll paper 13 rotates in the direction of A, the leading edge of the roll paper is sent out, and the driven roller 34 also rotates. To do. The pulse count sensor 35 detects that the driven roller 34 has started rotating. Since the rotation of the driven roller 34 does not stop even if the roll paper 13 is rotated for a predetermined time, the pulse count sensor 35 cannot detect the rotation stop of the driven roller 34. As a result, the loading direction determination means knows that the roll paper 13 has not been wound, and determines that the roll paper 13 has been loaded in the wrong direction. Then, the result is notified to the staff by LED or buzzer, warning display on the staff operation screen, and the like.

  Even if the roll paper 13 is loaded and starts rotating in the direction A, the driven roller 34 does not rotate due to the occurrence of deflection as shown in FIG. 7C, and the pulse count sensor 35 starts to rotate the driven roller 34. If it cannot be detected, the loading direction determination means determines that the roll paper 13 has been loaded in the direction in which the deflection or the like is not eliminated even if it is rotated in the direction A, that is, in the wrong direction. Then, the result is notified to the staff by LED or buzzer, warning display on the staff operation screen, and the like.

  In the second embodiment, instead of the driven roller, a link mechanism that operates in relation to the presence or absence of the leading edge of the roll paper may be installed, and the operation of the link mechanism may be indirectly detected by a microswitch sensor or the like.

  Further, when the rotation direction of the driven roller is also detected, it is possible to determine the loading direction of the roll paper before the leading edge of the roll paper reaches the driven roller.

  As described above, the embodiment of the invention has been described for the receipt printer installed in the ATM. However, the invention can also be used for a general receipt printer, a ticket issuing machine such as a JR terminal or a lottery terminal.

It is the schematic of the replenishment mechanism by 1st Example of this invention. It is the schematic of the replenishment mechanism by 1st Example of this invention. It is the schematic of the replenishment mechanism by 1st Example of this invention. It is the schematic of the receipt printer of this invention. It is the schematic of ATM of this invention. It is a flowchart of printing and issuing operation of a receipt according to the present invention. It is a flowchart of the confirmation operation | movement of the setting direction of this invention. It is a flowchart of the roll paper replenishment operation | movement of this invention. It is the schematic of the replenishment mechanism by 2nd Example of this invention. It is the schematic of the replenishment mechanism by 2nd Example of this invention. It is the schematic of the replenishment mechanism by 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... ATM, 2 ... Main control part, 3 ... Customer operation panel, 4 ... Banknote deposit / withdrawal port, 5 ... Banknote mechanism, 6 ... Card entrance / exit, 7 ... Card reading mechanism, 8 ... Receipt discharge port, 9 ... Receipt printer, 10 ... Control unit, 11 ... Roll paper, 12 ... Roll paper supply unit, 13 ... Roll paper, 14 ... Roll paper replenishing section, 15 ... Conveying path, 16 ... Print head, 17 ... Platen roller, 18 ... Cutter, 19 ... Separation guide, 20 ... Feeding roller, 21 ... Conveying roller, 22 ... Clutch roller, 23 ... Replenishment sensor, 24 ... Remaining amount sensor, 25 ... Separation sensor, 26 ... Tip sensor, 27 ... Sampling sensor, 28 ... Replenishment door, 29 ... Door open / close sensor, 30 ... Positive set detection sensor , 31 ... replenishing roll paper drive unit, 32 ... partition plate, 33 ... mark, 34 ... driven roller, 35 ... pulse count sensor, A ... card, B ... banknote , C ... Receipt

Claims (6)

A replenishment unit loaded with roll paper for replenishment;
A replenishing door provided on a side surface of the replenishing portion and opening by rotating around a fulcrum;
A detecting means provided in the vicinity of the replenishing door for detecting the presence or absence of roll paper;
Rotating means for rotating the roll paper loaded in the replenishing section in a predetermined direction;
A roll paper replenishing device comprising:
The roll paper loaded so as to be recognized by the detection means with the front end separated and the replenishment door closed is rotated in a predetermined direction, and the roll is determined based on the determination result of the presence or absence of roll paper by the detection means. A roll paper replenishing device that judges whether a paper loading direction is correct or not. The roll paper replenishing device according to claim 1,
When the loaded roll paper is rotated in the winding direction by an amount corresponding to the interval between the leading edge and the detection means, and the presence of the roll paper is no longer detected by the detection means, An apparatus for replenishing roll paper, wherein the roll paper loading direction is determined to be correct. The roll paper replenishing device according to claim 1,
The roll paper replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means is a reflective sensor. The roll paper replenishing device according to claim 1,
The roll paper replenishing device, wherein the detecting means is a transmission type sensor. The roll paper replenishing device according to claim 1,
The roll paper replenishing device, wherein the detecting means is a micro switch. The roll paper replenishing device according to claim 1,
The detection means includes
A driven roller that rotates following the roll paper to be wound;
A pulse count detector for detecting the presence or absence of rotation of the driven roller;
A roll paper replenishing device comprising:

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