JP2007128309A - Medium processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medium processor allowing the continuation of the operation of the processor even if a cut mark printed on roll paper is not detected by a sensor. <P>SOLUTION: In this medium processor, when the cut mark cannot be detected by the mark detection sensor 4 when delivering and cutting the roll paper 2 printed with the cut mark in each ticket, a main motor 17 is driven by a prescribed amount to carry the roll paper 2 to a cut position, and the roll paper 2 is cut. It is stored by a cut mark non-detection flag that the cut mark is not detected, ticket issuing processing is performed as it is when the cut mark is further detected in the next ticket issuing processing, and the ticket issuing processing is stopped when the cut mark is not detected. Thereby, when the cut mark is accidentally not detected, the operation of the processor can be continued without performing error processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus such as a ticket issuing apparatus used in a railway or the like, and more particularly, to a medium processing apparatus that stores a roll-shaped medium, cuts it to a predetermined length, and discharges the medium.

Conventionally, in a ticket issuing device used in a railway, roll paper is stored in the device, and when a ticket issuance is requested, the roll paper is fed out to a predetermined length (the length of one ticket). ), And further printed on the cut pieces and discharged as tickets. In order to cut the roll paper fed out to a predetermined length, it is necessary to detect the length of one ticket. Conventionally, however, a mark (cut mark) is previously provided on the roll paper for each length of the ticket. ) Is printed, and the roll paper is conveyed by the length of one sheet by conveying the roll paper by a predetermined distance on the basis of the time when the cut mark is detected by the sensor. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-42730 discloses the detection of a mark printed on roll paper in advance to control the conveyance of the medium.
JP-A-5-42730

  However, in the conventional apparatus, when the print density of the cut mark printed on the roll paper is low, it may not be detected by the sensor. In this case, error processing occurs and the operation of the apparatus is stopped. However, a cut mark that is not detected happens to be lightly printed, and a cut mark that is printed after that may be detectable. In such a case, since the operation can only be resumed after error processing is performed in such a case, there is a problem that the operation efficiency of the device is inefficient.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a medium processing apparatus that feeds a roll-shaped medium, detects a mark provided on the medium, cuts the medium into a predetermined length, and discharges the medium. A conveyance distance measuring means for measuring the conveyance distance of the medium is provided, and when the mark is not detected, the medium is conveyed by a predetermined distance and cut based on the measurement result by the conveyance distance measurement means. Is.

  According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, even when the mark provided on the medium is not detected, the medium is cut to a predetermined length based on the conveyance distance of the medium measured by the conveyance distance measuring unit. The operation of the apparatus can be continued without processing.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a mechanism of a ticket issuing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment described below, a ticket issuing device will be described as an example of the medium processing device.

  In FIG. 1, a roll paper 2 serving as a base paper for a ticket to be issued is rotatably stored in a ticket issuing device 1. A conveyance path 3 is formed at the destination where the roll paper 2 is fed. A mark detection sensor 4, a cutter unit 5, a roll paper set sensor 6, a magnetic recording unit 7, a printing unit 8, and a discharge stacker 9 are provided along the conveyance path 3. The mark detection sensor 4 is a sensor for detecting cut marks printed on the roll paper 2 for each length of the ticket. 2 and 3 show a roll paper on which cut marks are printed.

  2 and 3, the roll paper 2 has a magnetic surface 2a on the outer side and a printing surface 2b on the inner side, and the printing surface 2b is divided for each sheet. As shown in FIG. 3, a ticket serial number 10 is printed on the printing surface 2b, and a cut mark 11 is printed outside the printing surface 2b.

  In FIG. 1, the cutter unit 5 is mounted with a cutter for cutting the roll paper 2 into a predetermined length (length of one ticket), and the cutter is driven by a cutter motor 12. The roll paper set sensor 6 is a sensor that detects the leading end of the roll paper 2 when setting the roll paper 2.

  The magnetic recording unit 7 has a write head 7a that performs magnetic recording on the magnetic surface 2a of the roll paper 2 and a platen 7b that faces the write head 7a, a read head 7c that reads magnetic information recorded on the magnetic surface 2a, and the read head 7c. A platen 7d is provided.

  The printing unit 8 prints on the printing surface 2b of the roll paper 2, and includes a thermal head 13, a platen 14, an ink ribbon 15, and the like. The discharge stacker 9 is cut and the printed ticket is discharged. The ticket purchaser can take out the ticket discharged to the discharge stacker 9.

  A pair of transport rollers 16 are rotatably disposed in the transport path 3, and the roll paper 2 fed out by these transport rollers 16 and the cut ticket are transported. The transport roller 16 is rotationally driven by the main motor 17.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the ticket issuing apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the control unit 21 controls the entire operation of the ticket issuing device 1, and is configured by a microprocessor or the like and incorporates a pulse counter 22 and a cut mark non-detection flag 23. The pulse counter 22 counts the number of driving pulses of the main motor 17 and measures the transport distance of the roll paper 2 by counting the number of driving pulses. The cut mark non-detection flag 23 is turned on when the cut mark 11 printed on the roll paper 2 is not detected by the mark detection sensor 4, and stores that it has not been detected.

  The control unit 21 is connected to the host device 25 via the communication unit 24. The host device 25 gives a ticket issuing instruction to the ticket issuing device 1. When the control unit 21 receives a ticketing instruction from the host device 25, the control unit 21 executes a ticketing process. In addition, a sensor control circuit 26, a motor drive circuit 27, a magnetic control unit 28, and a print control unit 29 are connected to the control unit 21, and the control unit 21 controls them.

  The mark detection sensor 4 and the roll paper set sensor 6 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to the sensor control circuit 26, and these sensors 4, 6 are controlled and signals from the sensors 4, 6 are received and output to the control unit 21. To do. The motor drive circuit 27 is connected to the cutter motor 12 and the main motor 17 and drives the motors 12 and 17.

  The magnetic control unit 28 is connected to the write head 7a and the read head 7c of the magnetic recording unit 7, and controls these heads 7a and 7c. The print control unit 29 is connected to the thermal head 13 and controls the thermal head 13.

  Next, the ticket issuing operation in the ticket issuing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the ticket issuing operation according to the first embodiment. In the ticket issuing device 1 before performing the ticket issuing operation, the leading end portion of the roll paper 2 is fed out to the conveyance path 3 and is set so that the leading end is positioned at the detection position of the roll paper set sensor 6.

  When the ticket issuing instruction is issued from the host device 25 and the control unit 21 receives it (step 1), the control unit 21 starts driving the main motor 17 via the motor drive circuit 27 (step 2). Simultaneously with the start of driving, the control unit 21 checks whether or not the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is turned on (step 3), and if not, sets the pulse counter 22 and sets the main motor 17 Counting the number of driving pulses is started (step 4).

  The fact that the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is on means that the cut mark 11 has not been detected in the previous ticket issuing process operation, and the fact that the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is off means that the previous time. This means that the cut mark 11 is detected in the ticket issuing processing operation. By driving the main motor 17, the transport roller 16 rotates, and the roll paper 2 is transported toward the magnetic recording unit 7 along the transport path 3.

  When the roll paper 2 is conveyed, the cut mark 11 printed on the roll paper 2 moves and reaches the detection position of the mark detection sensor 4. If the cut mark 11 is printed satisfactorily, the mark detection sensor 4 detects the cut mark 11, but if the print is thin, it may not be detected (step 5).

  When the cut mark 11 is detected, the control unit 21 conveys the roll paper 2 by a predetermined distance from the time of detection (step 6). This is performed by driving the main motor 17 with a predetermined number of pulses. When the roll paper 2 is conveyed by a predetermined distance, the boundary of one sheet of the roll paper 2 becomes the cutter position of the cutter unit 5. Here, the controller 21 drives the cutter motor 12 to cut the roll paper 2 (step 7).

  The cut roll paper 2 is conveyed as a sheet of a ticket toward the magnetic recording unit 7 through the conveyance path 3, and necessary items are magnetically recorded by the writing head 7a of the magnetic recording unit 7, and magnetically recorded by the reading head 7b. Perform the check. Then, it is conveyed to the printing unit 8, and necessary items are printed on the printing surface 2b by the thermal head 13, and are discharged to the discharge stacker 9, and the ticket issuing process is finished (step 8). The remaining roll paper 2 cut by the cutter unit 5 is stopped when the leading end portion is located at the detection position of the roll paper set sensor 6.

  If the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is on (step 9), the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is turned off (step 10), and the ticket issuing operation is terminated.

  When the cut mark 11 is not detected in step 5, the control unit 21 checks whether or not the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is turned on (step 11), and the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is turned on. If the cut mark 11 is not detected in the previous ticketing operation, that is, the cut mark 11 is not detected twice in succession, the ticket issuing operation is canceled as a cut mark non-detection error, This is notified to the device 25 (step 12). Note that the cancellation in this case includes the meaning of a temporary interruption state.

  When the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is not turned on, the control unit 21 assumes that the cut mark 11 has been detected in the previous ticketing operation and that the cut mark 11 has not been detected this time. 23 is turned on (step 13), and the main motor 17 is driven until the number of drive pulses of the main motor 17 counted by the pulse counter 22 reaches a predetermined number (step 14).

  By driving the main motor 17 until the number of drive pulses of the main motor 17 reaches a predetermined number, the roll paper 2 is conveyed until the boundary of one sheet reaches the cutter position of the cutter unit 5. Here, the control unit 21 drives the cutter motor 12 to cut the roll paper 2 (step 15).

  Thereafter, similarly to the case where the cut mark 11 is detected, the cut roll paper 2 is conveyed as a single ticket toward the magnetic recording unit 7 further along the conveyance path 3, and the writing head of the magnetic recording unit 7 is used. Necessary items are magnetically recorded by 7a, and magnetic recording is checked by the read head 7b. Then, it is conveyed to the printing unit 8, and necessary items are printed on the printing surface 2b by the thermal head 13 and discharged to the discharge stacker 9, thereby completing the ticket issuing process (step 16). The remaining roll paper 2 cut by the cutter unit 5 is stopped at a position where the leading end portion is located at the detection position of the roll paper set sensor 6. The count value of the pulse counter 22 is cleared.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the roll paper 2 is transported to the cutting position by counting the drive pulses of the main motor 17, the cut mark 11 is not detected by chance. Even in this case, the roll paper 2 can be cut at an accurate position, and ticket issuing processing can be performed. If the cut mark 11 is detected at the time of the next ticket issuing instruction, the ticket issuing operation is continued as it is, so that unnecessary interruption of the apparatus can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the ticket issuing operation is stopped when the non-detection of the cut mark 11 is continued twice. However, the ticket issuing operation may be stopped when the detection is continued three times or more. In that case, the number of times the cut mark 11 is not detected is counted. When the predetermined number of times is reached, the ticket issuing operation is stopped, and until that time, the conveyance of the roll paper 2 up to the cut position is counted as the drive pulse of the main motor 17. This can be done by

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The ticket issuing device according to the second embodiment has the same mechanical structure as the ticket issuing device according to the first embodiment. The difference is that the ticket issuing device rolls in advance before issuing a ticket issuing instruction from the host device. The paper is transported to the cut position, and when the cut mark is not detected, the roll paper is transported to the cut position by counting the drive pulses of the main motor. .

  Next, the ticket issuing operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the ticket issuing operation according to the second embodiment. In the description, the elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 are used.

  First, before a ticket issuing instruction is issued from the host device 25, a preset operation instruction is issued from the host device 25 to the ticket issuing device 1 (step 21). The preset operation is an operation of conveying the roll paper to the cutting position in advance before issuing a ticketing instruction. Before the preset operation instruction is issued, the leading end of the roll paper 2 is set so as to be positioned at the detection position of the roll paper set sensor 6.

  When a preset operation instruction is issued, the control unit 21 starts driving the main motor 17 via the motor drive circuit 27 (step 22). Simultaneously with the start of driving, the control unit 21 checks whether or not the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is turned on (step 23). If not, the control unit 21 sets the pulse counter 22 and the main motor 17 The count of the number of drive pulses is started (step 24).

  As described above, the cut mark non-detection flag 23 being on means that the cut mark 11 has not been detected in the previous ticket issuing operation, and the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is off. This means that the cut mark 11 has been detected in the previous ticketing operation. When the main motor 17 is driven, the transport roller 16 rotates and the roll paper 2 is transported toward the cut position along the transport path 3.

  When the roll paper 2 is conveyed, the cut mark 11 printed on the roll paper 2 moves and reaches the detection position of the mark detection sensor 4. When the cut mark 11 is detected (step 25), the control unit 21 conveys the roll paper 2 by a predetermined distance from the time of detection (step 26). This is performed by driving the main motor 17 with a predetermined number of pulses. When the roll paper 2 is conveyed by a predetermined distance, the boundary of one sheet of the roll paper 2 becomes the cutter position of the cutter unit 5. Here, the control unit 21 stops driving the main motor 17 (step 27) and enters a standby state.

  When the ticket issuing instruction is received from the host device 25 (step 28), the control unit 21 drives the cutter motor 12 to cut the roll paper 2 (step 29). Then, the main motor 17 is driven and the cut roll paper 2 is conveyed as a single ticket to further convey the conveyance path 3 toward the magnetic recording unit 7, and necessary information is magnetically recorded by the write head 7 a of the magnetic recording unit 7. At the same time, the magnetic recording is checked by the read head 7b. Then, it is transported to the printing unit 8, and necessary items are printed on the printing surface 2 b by the thermal head 13, discharged to the discharge stacker 9, and the ticket issuing process is finished (step 30).

  When the ticket issuing process is completed, the control unit 21 notifies the higher level device 25 to that effect, and the higher level device 25 issues a preset operation instruction to the ticket issuing device 1. When the preset operation instruction is received, the control unit 21 drives the main motor 17 via the motor drive circuit 27 to position the remaining roll paper 2 at the position of the cutter of the cutter unit 5 at the boundary of one sheet of the ticket. That is, it is conveyed to the cutting position (step 31).

  The control unit 21 checks whether or not the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is on (step 32). If the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is on, the control unit 21 turns off the cut mark non-detection flag 23 (step 33) and ends the ticket issuing operation. To do.

  When the cut mark 11 is not detected in step 25, the control unit 21 checks whether or not the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is turned on (step 34), and the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is turned on. If the cut mark 11 is not detected in the previous ticketing operation, that is, the cut mark 11 is not detected twice in succession, the ticket issuing operation is canceled as a cut mark non-detection error, This is notified to the device 25 (step 35).

  When the cut mark non-detection flag 23 is not turned on, the control unit 21 assumes that the cut mark 11 has been detected in the previous ticketing operation and that the cut mark 11 has not been detected this time. 23 is turned on (step 36), and the main motor 17 is driven until the number of drive pulses of the main motor 17 counted by the pulse counter 22 reaches a predetermined number (step 37).

  By driving the main motor 17 until the number of drive pulses of the main motor 17 reaches a predetermined number, the roll paper 2 is conveyed until the boundary of one sheet reaches the cutter position of the cutter unit 5. Here, the control unit 21 stops driving the main motor 17 (step 38) and enters a standby state.

  When the ticket issuing instruction is received from the host device 25 (step 39), the control unit 21 drives the cutter motor 12 to cut the roll paper 2 (step 40). After this, as in the case where the cut mark 11 is detected, the main motor 17 is driven, and the cut roll paper 2 is conveyed as a single sheet to further convey the conveyance path 3 toward the magnetic recording unit 7, The necessary information is magnetically recorded by the write head 7a of the magnetic recording unit 7, and the magnetic recording is checked by the read head 7b. Then, the sheet is conveyed to the printing unit 8, and necessary items are printed on the printing surface 2 b by the thermal head 13, discharged to the discharge stacker 9, and the ticket issuing process is finished (step 41).

  When the ticket issuing process is completed, the control unit 21 notifies the higher level device 25 to that effect, and the higher level device 25 issues a preset operation instruction to the ticket issuing device 1. When the preset operation instruction is received, the control unit 21 drives the main motor 17 via the motor drive circuit 27 to position the remaining roll paper 2 at the position of the cutter of the cutter unit 5 at the boundary of one sheet of the ticket. That is, it is conveyed to the cutting position (step 42).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the roll paper 2 is transported to the cutting position by counting the drive pulses of the main motor 17, the cut mark 11 is not detected by chance. Even in this case, the roll paper 2 can be cut at an accurate position, and ticket issuing processing can be performed. If the cut mark 11 is detected at the time of the next ticket issuing instruction, the ticket issuing operation is continued as it is, so that unnecessary interruption of the apparatus can be prevented.

  Further, since the roll paper 2 is transported to the cut position by a preset operation before the ticket issuing instruction is issued, the time from when the ticket issuing instruction is issued until the ticket is discharged is shortened, and high-speed ticketing is possible.

  Also in the second embodiment, the ticket issuing operation may be stopped when it continues three or more times. Furthermore, in the above description, the preset operation is performed by an instruction from the host device 25, but may be performed by firmware processing of the ticket issuing device 1.

  In each of the above embodiments, the fact that the cut mark 11 has not been detected is stored by turning on the cut mark non-detection flag 23. However, as another means, it is stored by the firmware of the ticket issuing device 1. You may make it do. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the ticket issuing device has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to other devices as long as it is a device that feeds a roll-shaped medium and performs cutting based on the mark. is there.

It is a mechanism schematic diagram showing the ticket issuing device by a 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the roll paper on which the cut mark is printed. It is an enlarged view which shows the roll paper on which the cut mark is printed. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the ticket issuing apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows ticket issuing operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows ticket issuing operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ticket issuing apparatus 2 Roll paper 5 Cut part 11 Cut mark 21 Control part 22 Pulse counter 23 Cut mark non-detection flag

Claims (4)

In a medium processing apparatus that feeds a roll-shaped medium, detects a mark provided on the medium, cuts the medium into a predetermined length, and discharges the medium.
A transport distance measuring means for measuring the transport distance of the medium at the time of transport of the medium is provided,
When the mark is not detected, the medium processing apparatus cuts the medium by conveying it for a predetermined distance based on the measurement result by the conveyance distance measuring means.   The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport distance measuring unit measures the transport distance of the medium by counting the number of pulses of a pulse motor for transporting the medium. Storing means for storing that the mark was not detected;
The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the mark is not detected continuously, the processing operation is stopped. The processing of the medium is started by an instruction from the host device,
The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of the conveyance distance of the medium by the conveyance distance measuring unit is performed before an instruction from the host apparatus is issued.

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