JP2010214616A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus which can carry out printing to a first printing medium and a business form by printers suitable for respective priniting, and moreover which can miniaturize an apparatus configuration and is also high in usefulness to a user. <P>SOLUTION: A passbook inserted from an inserting port 11 is conveyed by a first feeding path 21 in a downstream direction toward a predetermined printing location. After printing, the passbook is conveyed in a direction opposite to the downstream direction and discharged from the inserting port 11. Printing is carried out to the passbook sent to the printing location by a first printer 12. A page turning mechanism 13 with the turning function of pages of the passbook is arranged at the inner side of the first printer unit 12 when seen from the inserting port 11. A second printer unit 14 having a different printing system from that of the first printer unit 12 is arranged at the further depth side when seen from the inserting port 11 to the page turning mechanism 13. A paper sheet printed at the second printer unit 14 is merged with a downstream side more than the first printer 12 of the first feeding 21 by a second feeding path 25 in order to discharge the paper sheet from the inserting port 11 by the first feeding path 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having two types of printer units with different printing methods.

  Currently, dot printers are used for printing on bankbooks used in financial institutions. This dot printer has a dot head that moves in the printing direction, and performs printing by striking the passbooks on the platen together with the ink ribbon by the dot pins. In addition, when printing on passbooks in this way, it is also required to print on forms such as calculation sheets. Conventionally, printing on this form has also been performed by a dot printer used for printing on a passbook (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Here, printing with a passbook is indispensable with a dot printer, but printing on a form is not necessarily performed with a dot printer. As is well known, dot printers perform printing by moving a dot head so as to traverse the conveyance direction of a printing target, so the printing speed is relatively low. For this reason, printing with a dot printer up to a form also prolongs the printing time and is not preferable from the viewpoint of efficiency.

  Therefore, it has been considered that the passbook is printed by a dot printer, and the related forms are printed by, for example, a thermal printer using a line head capable of printing at a higher speed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-190904 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-15366 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-93688)

  However, the prior art described in Patent Document 2 has a structure in which a passbook printing device using a dot printer and a form printing device using a thermal printer are simply provided side by side. For this reason, even if it tried to apply to the ATM apparatus etc. of a financial institution, the apparatus structure could not be reduced in size and it was difficult to apply.

  It is an object of the present invention to perform printing on a first print medium such as a passbook and a second print medium such as a form with a printer unit suitable for each, and the apparatus configuration can be reduced in size, which is convenient for the user. It is to provide a printing device having high performance.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention conveys the insertion port and the first printing medium inserted from the insertion port toward the predetermined printing position in the downstream direction, and the first printing medium is defined as the downstream direction. A first conveyance path for conveying the sheet in the opposite direction and discharging it from the insertion port; a first printer for printing on the first print medium sent to the print position; and the insertion port A page turn mechanism having a page turning function of the first print medium, which is disposed on the back side of the first printer unit as viewed, and further on the back side when viewed from the insertion port with respect to the page turn mechanism. A second printer unit having a different printing method from that of the first printer unit and a second print medium printed by the second printer unit are moved from the insertion port by the first transport path. In order to discharge, the first conveying path Characterized in that a second transport path for combining downstream of the first printer unit.

  In the present invention, the printing speed of the second printer unit is higher than that of the first printer unit.

  In the present invention, the first printer unit is a serial printing method, and the second printer unit is a line printing method.

  According to the present invention, a first printer unit for printing a first print medium such as a passbook and a page turn mechanism for turning pages of the first print medium, and a second print medium for printing a second print medium such as a form. By rationally arranging the two printing sections, the apparatus configuration can be reduced in size, and the printed first printing medium and the second printing medium are also commonly discharged from the first printing medium insertion port. By doing so, there is an effect that the convenience for the user can be maintained high.

1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the apparatus main body shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the external shape of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, an insertion port 11 for a first print medium such as a passbook (hereinafter, proceeding as a passbook) is provided at the left end of the apparatus body 10. Further, a first printer unit 12 that performs printing on the inserted bankbook is provided at a position on the left side of the center of the apparatus main body 10 in the figure. The first printer unit 12 will be described as using, for example, a dot printer having a serial head that moves in the printing direction. Note that the passbook that has been printed by the dot printer 12 is back-fed in the apparatus main body 10 as will be described later, and is discharged from the insertion slot 11 at the left end in the figure.

  A page turn mechanism 13 for turning a page of a passbook is installed at the center of the apparatus main body 10 in the drawing, that is, at the back side of the dot printer 12 when viewed from the insertion slot 11. The page turn mechanism 13 is configured to print on the next page over the passbook page when printing by the dot printer 12 exceeds the last line of the print page.

  A second printer unit 14 that prints a second print medium (hereinafter, advancing as a form or a sheet) composed of a form such as a calculation form is installed at a position on the right side of the apparatus main body 10 in the figure. For example, a thermal printer having a stationary line head is used as the second printer unit 14. The thermal printer 14 performs predetermined printing on a sheet supplied from a sheet supply unit 15 provided at the right end of the apparatus main body 10 in the drawing, and creates a form such as a calculation form. The paper supply unit 15 stores paper wound in a roll shape. The thermal printer 14 takes in the paper from the paper supply unit 15 from the right side in the figure, performs predetermined printing, and conveys it to the left side in the figure. The printed form paper is discharged from an insertion port 11 at the left end in the figure through a later-described transport path in the apparatus main body 10.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a configuration in the apparatus main body 10 that mainly includes the conveyance path will be described. In the apparatus main body 10, the 1st conveyance path 21 is comprised linearly toward the illustration right side from the insertion port 11 provided in the illustration left end. The dot printer 12 is provided in the middle of the downstream side (right side in the drawing) of the first transport path 21. The first transport path 21 transports the passbook inserted from the insertion slot 11 toward a predetermined printing position by the dot printer 12. Further, after printing by the dot printer 12, the passbook is conveyed (back fed) in the direction opposite to the downstream direction (left side in the drawing) and discharged from the insertion port 11.

  Specifically, the first transport path 21 is configured by arranging a plurality of pairs of upper and lower drive rollers 22 and pinch rollers 23 at predetermined intervals along the transport direction. In addition, a shutter 24 is provided at a position near the insertion roller 11 in the first transport path 21 so that it can be opened and closed. The shutter 24 is normally closed so that the bankbook cannot enter the inside of the apparatus main body 10. In front of the shutter 24, although not shown, a paper width detection sensor for detecting the paper width of the passbook inserted from the insertion slot 11 and a paper insertion sensor for detecting the insertion of the passbook are provided. Of course, a transport drive roller 22 and a pinch roller 23 are also provided in front of the shutter 24.

  A pair of upper and lower drive rollers 22 and a pinch roller 23 are also arranged on the back side (right side in the drawing) of the first conveyance path 21 at an interval at which the passbook having the minimum sheet length can be pinched by two pairs. ing. A portion of the first transport path 21 on the back side from the shutter 24 is an alignment region where the passbook is aligned with the dot printer 12. Although not shown in the alignment area, a sensor for detecting the paper length of the passbook and an alignment for moving the passbook in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction toward an alignment portion formed on one side (not shown) of the transport path. Drive rollers, pinch rollers (hereinafter referred to as alignment rollers), and the like.

  Here, the dot printer 12 includes a dot head 12 a and a platen 12 b disposed above and below the first conveyance path 21. The platen 12b is installed on the first conveyance path 21 in a direction crossing the conveyance direction (a direction orthogonal to the paper surface). Further, the dot head 12 a reciprocates above the platen 12 b along the length direction thereof, that is, in a direction crossing the transport direction of the first transport path 21. Then, printing is performed by the dot head 12 a located above the passbook print page located on the platen 12.

  The movement width (printing width) of the dot head 12 is set to the maximum width of the passbook to be printed and differs depending on the size of the passbook, but the print start point needs to be adjusted to a certain point. In the alignment region, the passbook is moved in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction by an alignment roller, and the side portion of the passbook is brought into contact with the alignment portion formed on one side of the transport direction, and aligned. The print start point on the print page by the dot head 12 is aligned.

  As described above, the page turn mechanism 13 is disposed on the back side of the dot printer 12 when viewed from the insertion slot 11, and a passbook print page printed by the dot printer 12 by a passbook row detection mechanism (not shown). If the page exceeds the last line, the passbook page is turned over and the next page is printed. Note that the structure of the page turn mechanism 13 itself is known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The thermal printer 14 used as the second printer unit is disposed further on the back side of the page turn mechanism 13 when viewed from the insertion port 11. As described above, the thermal printer 14 takes in the paper from the paper supply unit 15 from the right side in the figure, performs predetermined printing, and conveys it to the left side in the figure. The sheet printed by the thermal printer 14 is merged by the second conveyance path 25 to the downstream side (right side in the drawing) of the first conveyance path 21 from the dot printer 12. The second transport path 25 also has a pair of upper and lower drive rollers 22 and a pinch roller 23, and transports the paper printed by the thermal printer 14 obliquely downward to the left in the figure, and the first transport path 21 as described above. Merge up. The printed form sheet joined to the first transport path 21 is transported to the insertion port 11 at the left end in the drawing by the first transport path 21 and discharged.

  A collection unit (hereinafter referred to as a capture bin) 26 is disposed at the downstream end of the first conveyance path 21, that is, on the downstream side (right side in the figure) from the junction with the second conveyance path 25. As will be described later, the capture bin 26 is used to collect a passbook or form sheet that has been forgotten at the insertion slot 11.

  In addition, a flapper 27 is switchably provided at the junction between the first conveyance path 21 and the second conveyance path 25. The flapper 27 is configured to be rotatable about the right side in the figure. In a state where the sheet is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing, a combined flow path for guiding the paper printed by the thermal printer 14 from the second conveyance path 25 onto the first conveyance path 21 is formed. On the other hand, in the state rotated clockwise in the figure, as described above, the passbook or paper that has been transported by the first transport path 21 to collect the passbook or form paper that has been forgotten to be inserted into the insertion slot 11. Is formed to guide the capture bin 26 to the capture bin 26. That is, the flapper 27 is switched to form the above-described merge channel or recovery channel at the junction of the first conveyance path 21 and the second conveyance path 25.

  In the above configuration, when a passbook is inserted into the insertion slot 11, it is first determined whether or not the passbook is correct by a paper width detection sensor (not shown). As a result, the shutter 24 is opened only when the sheet is recognized as a correct passbook and a sheet insertion sensor (not shown) detects the sheet, and the drive roller 22 and the pinch roller 23 start conveying the sheet. When the passbook reaches the alignment area, the length of the passbook is detected by a paper length sensor, and the passbook is stopped at a position determined for each paper length by an alignment roller (not shown). Then, the passbook is moved in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction by the alignment roller, and one side of the passbook is brought into contact with the alignment unit to be aligned. That is, the passbook print page is aligned with the print start position by the dot head 12a.

  When the passbook is correctly aligned, the print position is detected by a passbook line detection mechanism (not shown), the print portion of the passbook is conveyed onto the platen 12b, and printing is performed by operating the dot head 12a. At this time, when printing is performed up to the end of the page, the passbook is conveyed to the page turn mechanism 13 and the page is turned. Thereafter, the bankbook is back-fed to the line detection mechanism to check whether the bankbook has been correctly written, and the bankbook is again sent to the platen 12b for printing.

  When printing on the passbook is completed, the passbook is back-fed through the first transport path 21 and discharged from the insertion roll 11. If the customer forgets to take this passbook, after a certain period of time, it is transported again downstream by the first transport path 21, and the flapper 27 is collected by the cap pin 26 through the junction where the collection path is formed.

  When printing a form such as a calculation document, the paper is supplied from the paper supply unit 15 to the thermal printer 14, printed by the thermal printer 14, then cut by a rotary cutter (not shown), and the second transport path 25. The sheet is conveyed diagonally downward to the left in the figure. Then, the printed form paper is merged on the first conveyance path 21 through the merge section where the flapper 27 forms the merge path. The first transport path 21 back-feeds the merged form paper, and discharges the form paper from the insertion roll 11 on the front side (left side in the figure) of the apparatus main body 10. If the customer forgets to take this form paper, it is transported again downstream by the first transport path 21 after a certain period of time, as in the case of the bankbook, and the cappure pin passes through the junction where the flapper 27 forms a recovery path. 26 to recover.

  As described above, the insertion port 11 is provided on the front side (the left side in the figure) of the apparatus main body 10, and the first printer unit (dot printer) for printing the passbook on the front side in the apparatus main body 10 when viewed from the insertion port 11 12 is arranged, a second printer unit (thermal printer) 14 for printing a form is arranged on the back side, and a page turn mechanism 13 having a page turning function for a passbook is arranged between them. It has the effects of improving throughput and preventing jams.

  That is, the first printer unit 12 for printing a passbook is arranged on the front side, and the second printer unit 14 for printing a form is arranged on the back side, and the passbook and the form paper printed by these are placed on the front side of the apparatus body 10. Since it is made to discharge in common from the insertion opening provided in the printer, it is more convenient for the user than a printer that simply has a printer with a different printing method arranged side by side, and the overall size of the device is reduced. Is possible.

  The first printer unit 12 for passbook printing is a system that performs printing by moving a serial head, such as a dot head 12a, and is a stationary line like the second printer unit 14 for form printing. The print processing speed including the print speed and the conveyance speed of the print target portion is slower than that in which printing is performed by the head. In the present invention, the first printer unit 12 for passbook printing, which has a relatively slow printing processing speed, is arranged on the near side near the insertion slot 11, and the second printer unit 14 for form printing, which has a relatively fast printing processing speed, is provided. Since it is arranged on the back side with respect to the insertion slot 11, it is possible to perform printing efficiently without reducing the overall throughput.

  In addition, when two types of printer units 12 and 14 are arranged at the front and rear as viewed from the insertion port 11 as in the present invention, and these print objects are discharged from the insertion port 11 in common, the front printer unit 12 The printed object to be printed must be reversely conveyed by the first conveyance path 21. On the other hand, the printing object printed by the back side printer unit 14 remains in the same direction without reversing the conveyance direction from the second conveyance path 25 to the insertion port 11 via the first conveyance path 21. It is. In the present invention, the first printer unit 12 disposed on the front side has a certain thickness and is difficult to bend, so the passbook is a print object. Will not occur. On the other hand, the form paper that is the printing object of the second printer unit 14 is a thin sheet of paper, and therefore, jamming is relatively likely to occur when reverse conveyance is performed. However, in the present invention, the transport direction from the second printer unit 14 to the insertion slot 11 is the same as described above, and therefore, the possibility of jamming is extremely high even with a thin sheet of paper. Lower. That is, the arrangement configuration of the first printer unit 12 and the second printer unit 14 according to the present invention enables stable printing that is unlikely to cause jamming.

  Furthermore, when printing a passbook, a page turn mechanism 13 having a page turning function is required. In the present invention, the page turn mechanism 13 is located behind the first printer unit 12 when viewed from the insertion slot 11. Arranged between the second printer unit 14 and the second printer unit 14. This arrangement is preferable because the entire apparatus is downsized and the throughput is not lowered. That is, since the page turn mechanism 13 requires a space in the upper part due to its structure, the installation place is greatly restricted. In the present invention, the page turn mechanism 13 is arranged between the first printer unit 12 and the second printer unit 14 as described above. Therefore, a sufficient space can be ensured in the upper part of the page turn mechanism 13 without being restricted, and the entire apparatus can be miniaturized by rational arrangement.

  Further, the page turning operation by the page turn mechanism 13 takes a relatively long time, and it is desirable from the viewpoint of shortening the processing time that the passbook moving distance to the page turn mechanism 13 is short. In the present invention, since the page turn mechanism 13 is arranged behind the first printer unit 12, the passbook printed by the first printer unit 12 can be immediately moved to the page turn mechanism 13, and the throughput can be increased. Will not drop significantly. Further, disposing the page turn mechanism 13 behind the first printer unit 12 brings the first printer unit 12 having a relatively slow printing processing speed closer to the insertion port 11. In the case of passbook printing, many passbooks are returned to the insertion slot 11 after printing without requiring page turning. Accordingly, since the rate of the passbook sent to the page turn mechanism 13 and page turning is low, the fact that the first printer unit 12 having a relatively slow print processing speed is arranged near the insertion slot 11 is an indication of throughput. It is also preferable from the viewpoint of improvement.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Insertion port 12 ... 1st printer part 13 ... Page turn mechanism 14 ... 2nd printer part 21 ... 1st conveyance path 25 ... 2nd conveyance path 26 ... Collection | recovery part 27 ... Flapper

Claims (3)

Insertion slot,
The first print medium inserted from the insertion port is conveyed in the downstream direction toward a predetermined printing position, and the first print medium is conveyed in the direction opposite to the downstream direction and discharged from the insertion port. A first conveyance path for causing
A first printer section for printing on the first print medium sent to the print position;
A page turn mechanism having a page turning function of the first print medium, which is arranged on the back side of the first printer unit as viewed from the insertion port;
A second printer unit that is arranged further on the back side as viewed from the insertion port with respect to this page turn mechanism, and whose printing method is different from the first printer unit;
In order to discharge the second print medium printed by the second printer unit from the insertion port through the first transport path, the second print medium is disposed downstream of the first printer unit in the first transport path. A second transport path to be merged;
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second printer unit has a higher printing speed than the first printer unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first printer unit is a serial printing method, and the second printer unit is a line printing method.

Images