JP2011037158A - Receipt printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a receipt printer which can collect paper sheets under being used before the occurrence of poor transfer and feed the paper of the other hopper automatically, and then continue a processing operation of receipt issuing. <P>SOLUTION: The receipt printer includes paper sheet delivery means 8, 9 and 10 for respective hoppers 5, 6 and 7 storing paper sheets 2, 3 and 4, respectively, wound in the shape of roll, and paper rewinding means 11, 12 and 13. The total length of already-cut paper sheets 58 is measured on a downstream-side paper sheets transfer route 19 for leading the paper sheets to a receipt outlet 18, and the presence or absence of the occurrence of poor transfer is predicted by comparing the total length with the total length of the paper sheets to be cut in an appropriate state. While collecting the paper under usage to the hopper by operating the paper sheet rewinding means of the hopper selected at the point in the case that the occurrence of poor transfer is predicted, the paper under usage is collected before the occurrence of poor transfer by operating the paper sheet delivery means by selecting one of other hoppers, and the processing operation of receipt issuing is continued by automatically feeding the paper of the other hopper. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a receipt printer in which a sheet wound in a roll shape is pulled out, subjected to print processing in order from the leading edge, cut and discharged.

  Various types of receipt printers are already known in which a plurality of sheets wound in a roll are loaded and used.

The receipt printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 merely rolls paper into a hopper that communicates in the vertical direction and consumes the roll paper in order from the lower stage, resulting in poor paper conveyance. There is no particular means for detection.
Even if a means for detecting a paper conveyance failure is provided, the paper is fed only from the roll located on the lower side of the hopper, so that there is a problem such as deformation of the lower paper roll. If a problem arises in the feeding of the paper, it cannot be used effectively even though there is a spare roll in the hopper.

The printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 can take up paper, but the supply roll paper spool and the collection spool are separate, and the roll paper conveyance direction is limited to one direction. Therefore, even if a conveyance failure occurs during the use of roll paper, processing cannot be continued using another roll paper.
Even if it is possible to wind up all of the roll paper to be supplied to the collection spool, it is not possible to automatically replace the paper because the spare roll paper is not stored in the hopper. In the first place, it will not be possible to continue winding the paper on the collecting spool in a state where the paper conveyance failure has occurred.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-228688 discloses a method for prompting the user to replace the roll by detecting the remaining amount of roll paper. However, the replacement is only performed manually by the user until he gets tired.
Since the printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a structure in which the roll paper to be supplied is wound around a collection spool, naturally, a receipt printer that cuts and discharges the portion where the printing process has been performed is included in the printing apparatus. The structure cannot be diverted.

In the processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-260260, a description regarding the point of detecting a paper jam based on a required time for transporting a paper predicted from a transport speed and a transport distance is recognized.
However, since this processing unit processes single sheets of paper placed in the tray, even if a paper jam is detected, the paper is automatically removed or another paper is selected. Cannot be continued, and it is necessary to manually stop the paper jam by stopping the processing device.

The roll paper automatic supply apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 4 is equivalent to the printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 in that the roll paper for supply is processed while being wound on a recovery spool, It is the same as the receipt printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 in that roll-shaped paper is stacked on a hopper that communicates in the vertical direction, and roll-shaped paper is consumed in order from the bottom.
The roll paper automatic supply device disclosed in Patent Document 4 includes an autoloading mechanism for setting a spare roll paper stored in the hopper as a new object to be used. This is only when the lower roll is used up. If there is a problem such as deformation in the lower paper roll, and there is an inconvenience in feeding the paper, there is a spare roll in the hopper. But you can't use it.
Since the supply roll paper is wound around the collection spool in the same manner as the printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is a matter of course that a receipt printer that cuts and discharges the printed portion is used. It is impossible to divert that structure.

JP 2002-172828 A (FIG. 1) JP 2008-143605 A (paragraphs 0028 and 0045) JP 2009-28908 A (paragraph 0053) JP-A-4-310773 (FIG. 1)

  An object of the present invention is to predict the occurrence of a paper conveyance failure, and if there is a possibility that a conveyance failure will occur, collect the paper in use before the occurrence of the conveyance failure and collect the paper of another hopper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a receipt printer that can automatically supply and continue the process of issuing a receipt.

The receipt printer of the present invention is a receipt printer that pulls out the paper wound in a roll shape, performs the printing process in order from the front end, cuts and discharges, and in order to achieve the above object,
A plurality of hoppers that store paper wound in a roll shape, a paper feeding means for each hopper that feeds the leading edge of the paper stored in each hopper, and a paper for each hopper that winds and rewinds the paper Rewinding means, upstream paper conveying means arranged in the upstream paper conveying path for guiding the paper fed from the selected hopper to the print head, and paper provided at the downstream end of the upstream paper conveying path A cutter, a downstream paper transport means arranged in the downstream paper transport path for guiding the paper cut by the paper cutter to the receipt outlet, and a measurement for measuring the total length of the cut paper on the downstream paper transport path. The length means, the reference length storage means for storing the total length of the paper to be cut in an appropriate state, the total length of the paper measured by the length measurement means and the total length of the paper stored in the reference length storage means are compared. Transport failure An abnormality prediction means for predicting the occurrence of occurrence, and when it is predicted by the abnormality prediction means that a conveyance failure has occurred, the paper rewinding means of the hopper selected at that time is operated to remove the paper in use. By collecting one of the other hoppers from the upstream paper transport path and selecting one of the other hoppers and operating the paper feed means of that hopper, the leading edge of the paper stored in the hopper is sent to the upstream paper transport path. It has a configuration characterized by comprising paper reselecting means.

  In order to achieve the same object as described above, instead of the length measuring means and the reference length storage means, the upstream paper transport means feeds after the print head drive is started until the paper cutter operates. An average value calculating means for calculating an average value of the speed and an average value storing means for storing an average value of the feeding speed of the upstream sheet conveying means detected in the appropriate state are provided, and the average value obtained by the average value calculating means The abnormality predicting unit may be configured to predict the occurrence of a conveyance failure by comparing the average values stored in the average value storing unit.

  Alternatively, instead of the length measuring means and the reference length storage means, an average value calculating means for obtaining an average value of the driving torque of the upstream side paper conveying means from when the drive of the print head is started until the paper cutter is actuated. And an average value storage means for storing the average value of the driving torque of the upstream side sheet conveying means detected in the appropriate state, and the average value obtained by the average value calculation means and the average value stored in the average value storage means May be configured so that the abnormality prediction means predicts the occurrence of a conveyance failure.

The receipt printer of the present invention is provided with a paper feeding means and a paper rewinding means for each of a plurality of hoppers that store paper wound in a roll shape, and has been cut on a downstream paper conveyance path that guides the paper to the receipt outlet. Measure the total length of the paper and compare it with the total length of the paper to be cut in the appropriate state, or feed the upstream paper transport means detected in the appropriate state with the average value of the feed speed of the upstream paper transport means Compare the average value of the speed, or compare the average value of the driving torque of the upstream sheet conveying means with the average value of the driving torque of the upstream sheet conveying means detected in the appropriate state. If it is predicted whether or not there is a conveyance failure, the paper rewinding means of the hopper selected at that time is operated to collect the used paper in the hopper and of By selecting one of the hoppers and operating the paper feeding means of the hopper, the leading edge of the paper stored in the hopper is sent to the upstream paper conveyance path, so it is used before the occurrence of conveyance failure. It is possible to automatically collect the paper inside and supply paper from another hopper to continue the receipt issue processing operation.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of jamming and continue the processing operation for issuing a receipt, thereby improving the inconvenience that the functions of the receipt printer and its host device are stopped carelessly. There is no need for the operator to frequently check the operating status of the receipt printer in order to keep it operating.
Moreover, since no excessive load is applied to the motors and drive mechanisms of the respective parts in a state where the conveyance failure has occurred, mechanical damage to the receipt printer can be prevented beforehand.

It is the sectional side view which simplified and showed the hardware constitutions of the receipt printer of one Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is the block diagram which simplified and showed the control part of the receipt printer of the embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of processing executed by a microprocessor provided in the control unit of the receipt printer of the embodiment. It is a continuation of the flowchart showing the outline of the processing executed by the microprocessor provided in the control unit of the receipt printer of the embodiment. It is a continuation of the flowchart showing the outline of the processing executed by the microprocessor provided in the control unit of the receipt printer of the embodiment. It is a continuation of the flowchart showing the outline of the processing executed by the microprocessor provided in the control unit of the receipt printer of the embodiment. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the structure of the selection order memory | storage table provided in the non-volatile memory which functions as a selection order memory | storage means. FIG. 8A is an operation principle diagram showing an outline of operations related to paper feeding, printing, cutting, length measurement, and paper rewinding, and FIG. 8A shows a state where the leading edge of the paper is positioned at the printing start position. 8B shows a state where printing has been completed, and FIG. 8C shows a sheet corresponding to the difference B−A between the total length B of the sheet and the printing length A from the printing completion position in FIG. FIG. 8D shows the difference B−A between the total length B of the paper and the print length A from the print completion position of FIG. 8B and the separation distance between the print head and the paper cutter with reference to the print head. FIG. 8E shows a state in which the leading edge of the paper is cut by feeding the paper by a distance B−A + C corresponding to C, FIG. 8E shows a state in which the cut paper is conveyed and measured, and FIG. Indicates the state where the positioning operation for starting the next printing operation is completed. (G) shows the state of the paper that is in the process of generation of abnormality is unwound been predicted.

  Next, an example is given about the form for implementing this invention, and it demonstrates concretely with reference to drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a hardware configuration of a receipt printer according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a simplified control unit of the receipt printer according to the embodiment. .

  The receipt printer 1 according to the present embodiment is a receipt printer that pulls out a sheet wound in a roll shape, sequentially performs printing processing from the leading edge, cuts and discharges the sheet, and is wound in a roll shape as shown in FIG. A plurality of hoppers 5, 6, 7 that store the received sheets 2, 3, 4, and each hopper 5, 6, 7 that feeds the tips of the sheets 2, 3, 4 stored in each hopper 5, 6, 7 Paper feeding means 8, 9, and 10; paper rewinding means 11, 12, and 13 for each hopper that winds and winds the paper around a roll; and paper fed from one of the selected hoppers A substantially L-shaped upstream sheet conveying path 15 led to 14, upstream sheet conveying means 16 disposed along the upstream sheet conveying path 15, and a downstream end of the upstream sheet conveying path 15. Paper cutter 17 and paper cutter Includes a downstream paper conveying path 19 for guiding the cut paper 17 to the receipt outlet 18, downstream sheet conveying means 20 disposed along the downstream sheet conveying path 19.

  Among these, each of the sheet feeding means 8, 9, 10 has connection paths 21, 22 for guiding the leading ends of the sheets 2, 3, 4 stored in the hoppers 5, 6, 7 to the upstream sheet conveying means 16. , 23 and the feed rollers 24, 25, 26 provided in the interior of the inside, and the feed motors m1, m2, m3 in FIG. Sheet check sensors SR1, SR2, SR3 for checking the presence of sheets 2, 3, 4 are arranged at positions on connection paths 21, 22, 23 slightly downstream of 24, 25, 26. Yes.

  Each of the paper rewinding means 11, 12, 13 includes spools 27, 28, 29 that fit into the hollow portions of the roll-shaped papers 2, 3, 4 stored in the hoppers 5, 6, 7, respectively. The spools 27, 28, 29 are rotationally driven, and are constituted by rewinding motors M1, M2, M3 in FIG.

  The upstream sheet conveying means 16 rotationally drives the pulleys 30 and 31, the conveying belt 32 wound around the pulleys 30 and 31 and entering the upstream sheet conveying path 15, and the pulleys 30 and 30 in the same direction. 2 includes the upstream side conveyance motor M02 and a clutch CR that engages and disengages the physical connection between the upstream side conveyance motor M02 and the pulleys 30 and 30.

  The paper cutter 17 provided at the downstream end of the upstream paper transport path 15 is driven in the vertical direction by the cutter drive solenoid SOL in FIG. 2 to cut the paper at the cutting edge at the tip.

  The downstream-side sheet conveying means 20 includes pulleys 33 and 34, a conveying belt 35 wound around the pulleys 33 and 34 and entering the inside of the downstream-side sheet conveying path 19, and the downstream side in FIG. It is comprised by the side conveyance motor M01.

  Reference numeral S1 in FIG. 1 is a leading edge detection sensor for detecting the leading edge of the sheet fed along the upstream sheet conveying path 15, and is disposed slightly upstream from the print head.

1 is a paper detection sensor for detecting the leading end of the cut paper that is sent along the downstream paper transport path 19, and is downstream of the paper cutter 17. It is arranged on the paper transport path 19.
The sheet detection sensor S2 functions as part of a length measuring unit that measures the entire length of the cut sheet.

  In this embodiment, the upstream-side paper transporting means 16 and the downstream-side paper transporting means 20 are constituted by belt-type transporting means, but these may be roller-type transporting means.

  A control unit 37 for driving and controlling each part of the receipt printer 1 is built in the outer casing 36 of the receipt printer 1, and its main part is a microprocessor 38 (hereinafter simply referred to as an arithmetic processing unit) as shown in FIG. CPU 38), read-only memory 39 (hereinafter simply referred to as ROM 39) storing a control program for CPU 38, non-volatile memory 40 for storing various parameters, and temporary storage of data. It is composed of a random access memory (hereinafter simply referred to as RAM 41).

  The control unit 37 further includes an input / output interface 43 for exchanging data with a host computer such as a host computer or an ATM main body arranged in a bank, and a manual operation for an operator to perform a simple input operation. A panel 42 (a dip switch or the like) and an alarm lamp 44 for alerting the operator are provided.

  Rewinding motors m1, m2, and m3 for rotationally driving the conveying rollers 24, 25, and 26 of the paper feeding means 8, 9, and 10 and rewinding for rotating the spools 27, 28, and 29 of the paper rewinding means 11, 12, and 13 The motors M 1, M 2, M 3 are driven and controlled by the CPU 38 via the motor drive circuits 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and the input / output circuit 45 of the control unit 37.

  A downstream transport motor M01 that rotationally drives the pulleys 33 and 34 of the downstream paper transport unit 20 and the transport belt 35, and an upstream transport motor that rotationally drives the pulleys 30 and 31 of the upstream paper transport unit 16 and the transport belt 32. M02 is driven and controlled by the CPU 38 via the motor drive circuits 52 and 53 and the input / output circuit 45 of the controller 37.

The clutch CR that engages and disengages the physical connection between the upstream conveyance motor M02 and the pulleys 30 and 30 is controlled on / off by the CPU 38 via the clutch drive circuit 54 and the input / output circuit 45 of the controller 37. .
In this embodiment, the upstream transport motor M02 and the pulleys 30 and 30 are physically connected with the clutch CR turned on, and the upstream transport motor M02 and the pulleys 30 and 30 are connected with the clutch CR turned off. The connection is to be disconnected.

  The print head 14 is driven and controlled by the CPU 38 via the head drive circuit 55 and the input / output circuit 45 of the control unit 37, and the cutter drive solenoid SOL that moves the paper cutter 17 up and down is also connected to the solenoid drive circuit 56 and the control unit 37. The drive is controlled by the CPU 38 via the output circuit 45.

  A sheet confirmation signal for each sheet confirmation sensor SR1, SR2, SR3 output when the sheet confirmation sensors SR1, SR2, SR3 arranged on the connection paths 21, 22, 23 confirm the presence of the sheet, upstream sheet conveyance path While the leading edge detection sensor S1 disposed on the leading edge detection sensor S1 detects the leading edge of the sheet, the sheet detection sensor S2 disposed on the downstream sheet conveyance path 19 confirms the presence of the cut sheet. Each of the sheet detection signals to be output is read by the CPU 38 via the input / output circuit 45 of the control unit 37.

  In addition, settings input via the manual operation panel 42 are read into the CPU 38 via the input / output circuit 45 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 40.

  In this embodiment, the non-volatile memory 40 selects the reference length storage means for storing the total length B of the sheet to be cut in the appropriate state, and the hopper to be used when the occurrence of the conveyance abnormality is predicted. It also functions as selection order storage means for storing the order.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the selection order storage table 57 provided in the nonvolatile memory 40 functioning as selection order storage means.
In the selection order storage table 57, the hopper number 1 represents the hopper 5 in FIG. 1, the hopper number 2 represents the hopper 6 in FIG. 1, and the hopper number 3 represents the hopper 7 in FIG.
Flags F1, F2, and F3 are flags that indicate whether or not each hopper 5, 6, and 7 are in a usable state. The flag indicates a usable state of the hopper when the flag is set, and the flag is reset. Represents the unusable state of the hopper.
The selection order of the hopper 5 (hopper number 1), hopper 6 (hopper number 2), and hopper 7 (hopper number 3) is 1, 2, and 3 in the illustrated example. It is possible to set freely by input operation.

  In the non-volatile memory 40, in addition to the total length B of the sheets to be cut in the appropriate state and the selection order storage table 57, the sheet feeding speed in the design of the downstream sheet conveying means 20 and the upstream along the upstream sheet conveying path 15. The drive amount of the upstream paper transporting means 16 required for moving the front end of the paper sent from the side to the position of the front end detection sensor S1 to the position of the print head 14, that is, the drive to be given to the upstream transport motor M02 Based on the value of the command pulse and the ratio D / B of the actually measured length D of the cut sheet to the total length B of the sheet stored in the non-volatile memory 40 as the reference length storage unit, the abnormality predicting unit generates a conveyance failure. The lower limit value ε1 and the upper limit value ε2 of the allowable range used when predicting the presence / absence of the sheet and the continuous value that allows the conveyance of the sheet without any trouble even if the value of the ratio D / B is continuously outside the allowable range The allowable value n of the number of deviations, the separation distance C between the print head 14 and the paper cutter 17 and the like are stored as parameters.

  The alarm lamp 44 is turned on or blinked according to a command from the CPU 38.

  3 to 6 are flowcharts showing an outline of processing executed by the CPU 38 of the control unit 37, and FIGS. 8A to 8G are sheet feeding, printing, cutting, length measurement, and sheet feeding. It is an effect | action principle figure which showed the outline | summary of the operation | movement regarding rewinding.

  Next, referring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 6 and the operation principle diagrams of FIGS. 8A to 8G, the overall processing operation of the receipt printer 1 of the present embodiment, in particular, the length measuring means. The processing operation of the CPU 38 functioning as the main part, the abnormality prediction means, and the paper reselection means will be specifically described.

  When the receipt printer 1 is powered on, the CPU 38 first accesses the non-volatile memory 40 functioning as a selection order storage unit, and determines whether or not the hopper selection order has already been set in the selection order storage table 57. If it is determined (step a1) and the selection order of the hopper is not set, it is further determined whether or not the selection order is input by operating the manual operation panel 42 by the operator (step a2).

  If the selection order has not been input, the determination process in steps a1 to a2 is repeatedly executed while waiting for the operator to input the selection order of the hopper. When the selection order is input, this operation is detected by the determination process in step a2, and the input selection order is stored in the selection order storage table 57 of the nonvolatile memory 40 (see step a3 and FIG. 7).

  When the setting of the hopper selection order is completed and the determination result in step a1 is true, the CPU 38 has received all of the sheet confirmation signals from the sheet confirmation sensors SR1, SR2, SR3 via the input / output circuit 45. (Step a4), and if there is at least one sheet confirmation sensor that does not receive a sheet confirmation signal, the alarm lamp 44 is lit or blinked via the input / output circuit 45 and the initial setting operation is incomplete. Inform the operator that there is (step a5).

Upon receipt of this, the operator correctly sets the papers 2, 3, and 4 wound in the roll shape on each of the hoppers 5, 6, and 7, and connects the leading ends of the papers 2, 3, and 4 to the connection paths 21, 22, and 23. In addition, the leading ends of the papers 2, 3 and 4 are led to the positions of the paper check sensors SR1, SR2 and SR3 through the transport rollers 24, 25 and 26.
The state when the leading edge of the paper is correctly set is as shown by the papers 3 and 4 in FIG. 1 (the paper 2 in FIG. 1 shows a state in which the paper is pulled out partway along the upstream paper transport path 15. It does not indicate the completion status of the initial setting operation).

  It is confirmed in the determination process in step a4 that the sheets 2, 3, and 4 are correctly set in the hoppers 5, 6, and 7 and all the sheet confirmation signals from the sheet confirmation sensors SR1, SR2, and SR3 are input. Then, the CPU 38 turns off the alarm lamp 44 (step a6), sets the flags F1, F2, and F3 in the selection order storage table 57 of the nonvolatile memory 40, and displays all the hopper numbers 1, 2, and 3 The fact that the sheets 2, 3, and 4 are correctly set in the hoppers 5, 6, and 7 is stored (step a7, see FIG. 7).

Next, the CPU 38 sets a value 1 which is an initial value of the selection order of the hopper to the selection order specifying index j (step a8), and stores the hopper number corresponding to the current value of the selection order specifying index j in the selection order shown in FIG. The data is read from the table 57 and stored in the selected hopper storage register R1 (step a9).
Since j = 1 at this stage, according to the example of the selection order storage table 57 of FIG. 7, the hopper number 1 corresponding to the value 1 that is the initial value of the selection order is stored in the selection hopper storage register R1. become. As described above, the selection order of the hopper 5 (hopper number 1), hopper 6 (hopper number 2), and hopper 7 (hopper number 3) can be set freely. If 2, 1 and 3 are stored in the second row column of 57 instead of 1, 2 and 3, the hopper number 2 corresponding to the value 1 which is the initial value of the selection order is stored in the selected hopper storage register R1. Will be remembered.

Next, the CPU 38 turns on the clutch CR via the input / output circuit 45 to connect the upstream conveying motor M02 to the pulleys 30 and 30 of the upstream sheet conveying means 16 (step a10), and the selected hopper storage register. Based on the current value of R1, the forward rotation of the feed motor m (R1) and the upstream transport motor M02 is started (step a11).
As already described, in this embodiment, the drive control of each motor is performed based on the drive command pulse output from the CPU 38 to each motor, and the rotational speed of each motor is determined per unit time. The value of the drive command pulse output from the CPU 38 is specified, and the rotation amount of each motor is specified by the value (integrated value) of the drive command pulse.

  At this time, since the current value of the selected hopper storage register R1 is 1, the feed motor m1 and the upstream transport motor M02 are rotated forward, and as a result, the hopper 5 whose hopper number is 1 by the forward rotation of the feed motor m1. 1 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, and at the same time, pulleys 30 and 31 that constitute the upstream paper transporting means 16 by forward rotation of the upstream transport motor M02; The conveyance belt 32 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the leading edge of the sheet 2 of the hopper 5 is guided to the upstream sheet conveyance path 15 through the connection path 21.

  Next, the CPU 38 determines whether or not the tip detection signal from the tip detection sensor S1 is input via the input / output circuit 45 (step a12). If the input of the tip detection signal is not detected, it remains as it is. The forward rotation of the delivery motor m (R1) and the upstream side conveyance motor M02 is continued.

  Then, the input of the leading edge detection signal from the leading edge detection sensor S1 is confirmed by the determination processing in step a12, and it becomes clear that the leading edge of the sheet 2 has reached the position of the leading edge detection sensor S1 on the upstream sheet conveyance path 15. The CPU 38 starts counting the drive command pulses output to the upstream side conveyance motor M02 (step a13).

  Next, the CPU 38 is required to move the leading edge of the sheet 2 whose drive command pulse count value output to the upstream conveying motor M02 is at the position of the leading edge detection sensor S1 to the position of the print head 14. It is determined whether or not the set value of the drive command pulse for the transport motor M02 has been reached (step a14), and if not, the forward motor m (R1) and the upstream transport motor M02 continue to rotate normally.

Then, it is confirmed in the determination process of step a14 that the count value of the drive command pulse has reached the set value, and when it is clear that the leading edge of the paper 2 has reached the position of the print head 14, the CPU 38 performs upstream conveyance. The driving of the motor M02 and the feed motor m (R1) is stopped (step a15).
In this state, the leading edge of the sheet 2 is positioned directly below the print head 14 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the CPU 38 resets the value of the counter used for counting drive command pulses (step a16), and a print command or print data is input via the input / output interface 43 from a host device such as a host computer or ATM main body. (Step a17).

  When a print command or print data is input from the host device, the CPU 38 starts normal rotation of the downstream side conveyance motor M01 that rotationally drives the pulleys 33 and 34 of the downstream side sheet conveyance means 20 and the conveyance belt 35. The downstream sheet conveying means 20 is operated in synchronism with the upstream sheet conveying means 16 (step a18), and the print head 14, upstream conveyance motor M02 and delivery motor m (based on the input print command and print data) R1) is driven and the printing process is started while feeding the paper 2 in the same manner as in the prior art (step a19). At the same time, the count of drive command pulses output to the upstream side transport motor M02 is started (step a19). a20).

When it is finally confirmed in step a21 that the print output of the print data has been completed, the CPU 38 determines that the value of the counter used for counting the drive command pulses is as shown in FIG. The indicated printing length A, that is, the distance A from the leading edge of the paper 2 to the printing completion position is obtained (step a22).
Although the print length A varies depending on the amount (number of lines) of print data to be printed on the paper 2, the counter used for counting the drive command pulse performs the printing operation after the front end of the paper 2 is positioned directly below the print head 14. Since the value of the drive command pulse given to the upstream side conveyance motor M02 is counted until the completion of the printing, the print length A is accurately obtained by multiplying this count value by the feed amount corresponding to one pulse. Can do.

Next, the CPU 38 reads the value of the total length B of the paper to be cut in an appropriate state and the value of the separation distance C between the print head 14 and the paper cutter 17 from the non-volatile memory 40 functioning as the reference length storage means. Based on the measured value and the value of the measured printing length A, the value of the further feeding amount B−A + C of the sheet 2 required for cutting the leading end of the sheet 2 into the length B by the sheet cutter 17 is obtained. (Step a23).
The feed amount B−A + C is an incremental amount based on the current position, that is, the print completion position (directly below the print head 14) shown in FIG. 8B.
As already described, B is when the receipt printer 1 is in a completely adjusted state, that is, there is no inadvertent slip between the transport belt 32 of the upstream paper transport means 16 and the paper, and from the hopper. When the paper is cut under the condition that the paper is smoothly pulled out, is not slackened or excessively applied to the paper, and the upstream conveying motor M02 or the feeding motor is not stepped out. This is the theoretical value of the total length, that is, the cutting length. Since the amount of print data given from the host device is limited to a range in which the print length A does not exceed the total length B of the paper to be cut in an appropriate state, the relationship between the two is inevitably A <B.

  The CPU 38 once resets the value of the counter used for counting the drive command pulses (step a24), and then continues normal rotation of the feed motor m (R1), the upstream side conveyance motor M02, and the downstream side conveyance motor M01. (Step a25), the count of the drive command pulse output to the upstream side conveyance motor M02 is started (Step a26), and the count value of the drive command pulse output to the upstream side conveyance motor M02 is set to the leading edge of the paper 2 by the paper cutter 17 It is determined whether or not the value of the drive command pulse corresponding to the further feed amount B−A + C of the sheet 2 required for cutting the sheet to B length is reached (step a27).

  If the output drive command pulse value does not reach the required drive command pulse value, the feed motor m (R1), the upstream transport motor M02, and the downstream transport motor M01 perform normal rotation. Let it continue.

  In this way, while the sheet 2 is being fed by the upstream sheet conveying means 16 driven by the upstream conveying motor M02 and the downstream sheet conveying means 20 driven by the downstream conveying motor M01, A location on the paper 2 that is comparable to the length B from the leading edge passes through the lower position of the print head 14 as shown in FIG. 8C and further moves toward the paper cutter 17.

  Then, it is confirmed by the determination process in step a27 that the count value of the drive command pulse output to the upstream side conveyance motor M02 has reached the value of the drive command pulse corresponding to the feed amount B−A + C. When it becomes clear that a place on the paper 2 that is comparable to the length of the paper 2 has just reached the bottom of the paper cutter 17, the CPU 28 stops driving the feed motor m (R1) and the upstream transport motor M02. The operations of the paper feeding means 8 and the upstream paper conveying means 16 are stopped (step a28), and the value of the counter used for counting the drive command pulse is reset (step a29).

  Next, the CPU 28 operates the cutter drive solenoid SOL once via the input / output circuit 45 to reciprocate the paper cutter 17 from top to bottom and from bottom to top, for example, as shown in FIG. Under such circumstances, the leading end portion of the sheet 2 is cut (step a30).

Here, it is assumed that the receipt printer 1 is completely adjusted, there is no inadvertent slip between the transport belt 32 of the upstream paper transport means 16 and the paper 2, and the paper 2 from the hopper 5 is present. If the paper is smoothly drawn out, no slack or excessive tension is applied to the paper 2 and no out-of-step occurs in the upstream conveying motor M02 or the feeding motor m (R1), FIG. As shown in (d), the sheet 2 is cut from the leading end at a point B, but the roll portion of the sheet 2 is deformed and the drawer is pulled out due to interference with the inner wall of the hopper 5. If the sheet 2 is not smooth, or if the paper 2 is twisted or the like, causing a phenomenon close to jamming, or if excessive torque is required to pull out the paper 2, the conveyance of the upstream paper conveyance means 16 Belt 32 If slippage occurs between the sheet 2 and the upstream conveyance motor M02 or the delivery motor m (R1) itself, it becomes difficult to drive out of the sheet. The length of the paper 58 in the portion thus made becomes shorter than the reference value B.
On the other hand, if the roll portion of the paper 2 has a sweet part and the force required to pull out the paper 2 is drastically reduced, the paper 58 in the actually cut portion is removed. Can be longer than the reference value B.

  Then, the paper 58 cut by the paper cutter 17 is fed by the downstream paper transport means 20 driven by the forward rotation of the downstream transport motor M01, and as it is as shown in FIG. 8 (e). It moves toward the receipt outlet 18.

  Next, the CPU 38 functioning as the main part of the length measuring means determines whether or not a paper detection signal is input from the paper detection sensor S2 constituting a part of the length measuring means, that is, the downstream paper transport means 20 sends the feed. It is determined whether or not the leading end of the cut paper 58 that has been hooked and moved along the downstream paper transport path 19 has reached the position of the paper detection sensor S2 (step a31). Wait for a while.

  Then, when the input of the paper detection signal from the paper detection sensor S2 is confirmed in the determination process of step a31, and it becomes clear that the leading edge of the cut paper 58 has reached the position of the paper detection sensor S2, the length measuring means The CPU 38 functioning as the main part starts an elapsed time measurement timer, and starts measuring the elapsed time since the leading edge of the cut paper 58 is first detected by the paper detection sensor S2 (step a32).

Next, the CPU 38 functioning as the main part of the length measuring means determines whether or not the input of the paper detection signal from the paper detection sensor S2 has been interrupted (step a33). It waits for the input of the paper detection signal from the detection sensor S2 to be interrupted.
The elapsed time measuring timer here is a means realized by software using the clock cycle of the CPU 38, and does not require any special hardware.

  Then, it is confirmed in step a33 that the input of the paper detection signal from the paper detection sensor S2 has been interrupted, and it becomes clear that the trailing edge of the cut paper 58 has passed the position of the paper detection sensor S2. The CPU 38 functioning as the main part of the length measuring means stops the operation of the elapsed time measuring timer and finishes the time measurement (step a34), and the downstream paper conveying means 20 driven by the downstream conveying motor M01 is designed. , The elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measurement timer, that is, the time during which the paper detection sensor S2 installed on the downstream side paper transport path 19 continues to detect the cut paper 58. The measured length D of the cut paper 58 is determined by multiplying the design paper feed speed of the downstream paper transport means 20 (step a35).

  The downstream side paper conveyance means 20 is configured to independently convey only the cut paper 58. Therefore, even if abnormalities such as twisting, slipping, loosening, interference with the hopper, etc. occur in the upstream portion of the sheet 2 that is still integrated with the roll, the sheet conveying speed of the downstream sheet conveying means 20 is high. It is not affected by it. Therefore, the total length D of the cut paper 5 can be obtained very accurately by a simple process of multiplying the design paper feed speed of the downstream paper transport means 20 by the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measurement timer.

  Next, the CPU 38 functioning as the abnormality predicting means determines the suitability state based on the total length D of the measured paper 58 and the total length B of the paper to be cut in the suitability state stored in the nonvolatile 40 as the reference length storage means. The ratio D / B of the measured length D of the cut paper 58 with respect to the total length B of the paper to be cut is obtained (step a36).

  Then, the CPU 38 stops the forward rotation of the pulleys 33 and 34 of the downstream paper transport unit 20 and the downstream transport motor M01 that rotationally drives the transport belt 35 and transports the cut paper 58 by the downstream paper transport unit 20. (Step a37), the cut paper 58 is held in the most downstream portion of the downstream paper transport path 19, that is, the receipt outlet 18, so that the user of the receipt printer 1 can receive the cut paper 58.

  Next, the CPU 38 functioning as an abnormality predicting means determines whether the ratio D / B of the measured length D to the total length B of the paper to be cut in an appropriate state is between a predetermined lower limit value ε1 and an upper limit value ε2. It is determined whether or not (step a38).

  When the determination result of step a38 is true and it is clear that the ratio D / B is between the allowable ranges ε1 and ε2, the CPU 38 functioning as the abnormality predicting means determines the selection order specifying index j. The rotation of the roll-shaped paper in the hopper having the hopper number R1 corresponding to the value, the transport of the paper in the connection path connecting the hopper and the upstream paper transport path 15, and the upstream paper transport path 15 Assume that both sheets are transported in an appropriate state, and reset the value of the abnormality storage flag F that stores the fact that a length abnormality has occurred in the entire length D of the cut sheet 58. (Step a39), the value of the continuous deviation number counter i that counts the number of times the value of the ratio D / B is continuously out of the allowable range is initialized to 0 (Step a40).

  Next, the CPU 38 releases the connection between the upstream conveyance motor M02 and the pulleys 30 and 30 of the upstream sheet conveyance means 16 by turning off the clutch CR via the input / output circuit 45 (step a49). By rotating the rewinding motor M (R1) for a set time based on the current value of the hopper storage register R1, and then stopping it, the leading edge of the paper being used, that is, the paper drawn from the hopper having the hopper number R1 is removed. Rewind slightly upstream from the tip detection sensor S1 (step a50).

Next, the CPU 38 returns to the processing of step a10 and repeats the processing operations after step a10 in the same manner as described above, whereby a new print command or print data is input from the host computer or the host device such as the ATM main body. In the same manner as described above, the receipt issue operation is repeated in which the leading end of the sheet 2 is cut by cutting, and the cut sheet 58 is discharged to the receipt outlet 18.
However, in this case, unlike the processing immediately after the power is turned on, the leading edge of the sheet in use is merely rewound upstream of the leading edge detection sensor S1, so that the leading edge of the sheet is moved to the print head 14. The time required for positioning immediately below (the time required from when the processing at step a11 is performed until the determination result at step a12 becomes true) is very short.

  FIG. 8 (f) shows an outline of the movement of the sheet when the same sheet is reciprocated to repeatedly issue a receipt.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step a38 is false, that is, the ratio D / B of the measured length D of the paper 58 to the total length B of the paper to be cut in the appropriate state is a predetermined allowable range ε1 to ε2. If it becomes clear that the deviation is not within the range, the CPU 38 functioning as an abnormality predicting unit further determines in advance the ratio D / B of the measured length D of the paper 58 to the total length B of the paper to be cut in an appropriate state. It is determined whether the lower limit value ε1 of the given allowable range is not reached or the upper limit value ε2 is exceeded (step a41).

  Here, when the determination result in step a41 is true, that is, the ratio D / B of the actual measured length D of the paper 58 to the total length B of the paper to be cut in an appropriate state is not less than the predetermined allowable range ε1. When it becomes clear, the CPU 38 functioning as the abnormality predicting means determines whether or not the value 1 is already set in the abnormality storage flag F, that is, D / B <ε1 already at the time of the previous receipt issuing operation. It is determined whether or not (step a42).

If the value 1 is not set in the abnormal storage flag F, D / B <ε1 is not satisfied at the time of the previous receipt issuing operation, and D / B <ε1 is newly established in the current receipt issuing operation. Therefore, the CPU 38 functioning as an abnormality predicting means stores the fact that a situation of D / B <ε1 has occurred by setting a value 1 to the abnormality storage flag F again (step a43). The initial value 1 is set in a continuous deviation number counter i that counts the number of times that the value of the ratio D / B is continuously below ε1 (step a44).
In this embodiment, it is not predicted that there is a possibility that a conveyance failure may occur if the situation where D / B <ε1 occurs only once.

  Therefore, in this case, as described above, the CPU 38 releases the connection between the upstream conveyance motor M02 and the pulleys 30 and 30 of the upstream sheet conveyance means 16 by turning off the clutch CR (step a49). By rotating the rewind motor M (R1) for a set time based on the current value of the selected hopper storage register R1, and then stopping it, the leading edge of the paper being used, that is, the paper drawn from the hopper having the hopper number R1 Is slightly rewound upstream of the leading edge detection sensor S1 (step a50), and the process returns to step a10 again, and the processing operations after step a10 are repeatedly executed in the same manner as described above, so that the host computer or ATM Wait for a new print command or print data to be input from a higher-level device such as the main unit. 2 of tip and cut by performing a printing process, repeated receipt issuing operation such discharges a receipt outlet 18 and the pre-cut sheet 58.

  If the determination result in step a42 is true and the value 1 is already set in the abnormal storage flag F, it is clear that D / B <ε1 has already been established at the time of the previous receipt issuing operation. Therefore, the CPU 38 functioning as the abnormality prediction means increments the value of the continuous deviation counter i that counts the number of times that the value of the ratio D / B is continuously less than ε1 by 1 (step a45), and then the continuous deviation. It is determined whether or not the current value of the number counter i exceeds the allowable value n of the number of consecutive deviations that allow the conveyance of the sheet (step a48).

  If the current value of the continuous deviation counter i does not exceed the allowable value n, it is assumed that there is no problem even if the receipt printer 1 is continuously operated without replacing the paper, as described above. The CPU 38 releases the connection between the upstream transport motor M02 and the pulleys 30 and 30 of the upstream paper transport means 16 by turning off the clutch CR (step a49), and based on the current value of the selected hopper storage register R1. Then, by rotating the rewind motor M (R1) for a set time and then stopping it, the leading edge of the paper being used, that is, the paper drawn from the hopper having the hopper number R1, is slightly upstream from the leading edge detection sensor S1. After rewinding to the side (step a50) and returning to the processing of step a10 again, the processing operations after step a10 are repeated in the same manner as described above. As a result, it waits for a new print command or print data to be input from a host computer or an upper-level device such as an ATM main body, and in the same way as described above, the front end of the paper 2 is subjected to print processing and cut. Receipt issuing operations such as discharging the paper 58 to the receipt outlet 18 are repeated.

  If the determination result in step a41 is false, that is, the ratio D / B of the measured length D of the paper 58 to the total length B of the paper to be cut in the appropriate state exceeds a predetermined allowable range ε2. If it becomes clear, the CPU 38 functioning as an abnormality predicting means determines whether or not the value 2 is already set in the abnormality storage flag F, that is, already D / B> at the time of the previous receipt issuing operation. It is determined whether or not ε2 is satisfied (step a46). If the value 2 is not set in the abnormal memory flag F, the value 2 is set in the abnormal memory flag F so that D / B> ε2. Is newly generated (step a47), the initial value 1 is set to the continuous deviation counter i (step a44), and steps a49 and a50 are performed in the same manner as described above. After executing the processing, the processing operation after step a10 is repeatedly executed to wait for a new print command or print data to be input from a host device such as a host computer or ATM main body. The receipt issuing operation is repeated in which the leading end of the sheet 2 is cut by performing printing processing, and the cut paper 58 is discharged to the receipt outlet 18. If the value 2 is already set in the abnormal memory flag F, the value of the continuous deviation counter i that counts the number of times the value of the ratio D / B continuously exceeds ε2 is incremented by 1 ( In step a45), it is determined whether or not the current value of the continuous deviation number counter i exceeds the allowable value n (step a48), and the current value of the continuous deviation number counter i must exceed the allowable value n. For example, after the processing of step a49 and step a50 is executed in the same manner as described above, the processing operation after step a10 is repeatedly executed in the same manner as described above, so that a new print command is issued from the host computer or the host device such as the ATM body. In the same manner as described above, the leading edge of the paper 2 is cut and cut, and the cut paper 58 is discharged to the receipt outlet 18. Repeating the receipt issuing operations, such as to.

  On the other hand, when the determination result in step a48 is false, that is, the value of the ratio D / B of the measured length D of the paper 58 to the total length B of the paper to be cut in the appropriate state continuously falls below ε1. When the number of times i or the number of times i that the ratio D / B of the measured length D to the total length B continuously exceeds ε2 exceeds the allowable value n, the CPU 38 functioning as an abnormality predicting means If the operation of the receipt printer 1 is continued in this state, it is predicted that a serious conveyance failure may occur, and the paper reselecting means is operated.

Here, the value of the ratio D / B is less than ε1 when the paper 58 is considerably shortened, and the cause of the abnormality is the inner wall of the hopper due to deformation of the roll portion of the paper as described above. Interference with the paper, an increase in drawing resistance due to twisting of paper in the upstream paper transport path 15, slippage between the transport belt 32 of the upstream paper transport means 16 and the paper, upstream transport motor M02 and feed motor m (R1) step-out or the like may be considered, and an abnormality when the value of the ratio D / B exceeds ε2, that is, an abnormality when the paper 58 becomes relatively long, is that the roll portion of the paper is loosely wound. It is conceivable that there are places and the paper is pulled out excessively.
Among these, inconveniences inherent to roll paper such as deformation of the roll portion of the paper, sweetness of winding, etc., and abnormalities caused by twisting of the paper in the upstream paper transport path 15 are in use. It is possible to easily prevent jamming by rewinding and using another paper stored in another hopper while the paper can be rewound.

  Therefore, when the determination result in step a48 is false and the occurrence of a conveyance failure is predicted by the abnormality prediction unit, the CPU 38 functioning as the sheet reselecting unit first turns off the clutch CR to turn the upstream conveyance motor. The connection between M02 and the pulleys 30 and 30 of the upstream sheet conveying means 16 is released (step a51), the rewinding motor M (R1) is rotated based on the current value of the selected hopper storage register R1, and the hopper number R1 is set. The paper rewinding means of the hopper having the hopper is driven to start rewinding the paper being used, that is, the paper drawn from the hopper having the hopper number R1 (step a52), and the paper confirmation sensor SR of the hopper having the hopper number R1 It is determined whether or not the paper confirmation signal from (R1) is interrupted (step a53).

  If the paper confirmation signal from the paper confirmation sensor SR (R1) is not interrupted, the leading edge of the paper being used, that is, the paper drawn out from the hopper having the hopper number R1, is downstream of the paper confirmation sensor SR (R1). This means that it is located in the upstream side paper conveyance path 15 or in the connection path, so that the CPU 38 functioning as the paper reselecting means continues the rotation of the rewinding motor M (R1).

Then, it is confirmed that the determination result in step a53 is true, and that the leading edge of the sheet pulled out from the hopper having the hopper number R1 is rewound upstream from the sheet confirmation sensor SR (R1), that is, in the hopper. Then, the CPU 38 functioning as the paper reselecting means terminates the operation of the paper rewinding means corresponding to the rotation of the rewinding motor M (R1), that is, the hopper having the hopper number R1 (step a54). Access is performed to reset the flag F (R1) in the selection order storage table 57, that is, the available state storage flag corresponding to the hopper having the hopper number R1, and store that the sheet of the hopper can no longer be used (step a55). ).
Accordingly, if j = 1 and R1 = 1 at the present time and the sheet 2 of the hopper 5 is used according to the example of FIG. 7, the hopper 5 driven by the rewinding motor M (1). The sheet rewinding means 11 is activated and the sheet 2 in use is collected by the hopper 5, the sheet confirmation sensor SR (1) is turned off, and the flag F (1) in the selection order storage table 57 shown in FIG. The usable state storage flag F1 of the hopper 5 having the hopper number 1 is reset.

  Next, the CPU 38 functioning as a sheet reselecting unit increments the value of the selection order specifying index j by 1 (step a56), and the current value of the index j is the total number k of hoppers (k = 3 in this embodiment). It is determined whether it is within the range (step a57).

Here, if the current value of the index j is within the range of the total number of hoppers k, it means that there is another hopper that can be selected as a paper take-out destination. The hopper number corresponding to the updated current value of the selection order specifying index j is stored again in the selected hopper storage register R1 (step a58), the processing returns to step a10, and is the same as the processing immediately after the power is turned on. Then, the clutch CR is turned on to connect the upstream transport motor M02 to the pulleys 30 and 30 of the upstream paper transport means 16, and then the feed motor m of the paper feed means based on the current value of the selected hopper storage register R1. (R1) and normal rotation of the upstream side conveyance motor M02 are started (step a11).
Accordingly, if j = 2 and R1 = 2 at the present time and the sheet 3 of the hopper 6 is selected again according to the example of FIG. 7, the hopper number is 2 by the forward rotation of the feed motor m2. A pulley 30 constituting the upstream sheet conveying means 16 is driven by the conveyance roller 25 of the sheet feeding means 9 provided in the hopper 6 being rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 and the conveying belt 32 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the leading edge of the sheet 3 of the hopper 6 is sent out to the upstream sheet conveying path 15 via the connection path 22, and the sheet 3 is determined in the determination process of step a12. Is detected by the tip detection sensor S1.
However, in this case, since it is necessary to transport the leading end of the sheet slightly downstream of the sheet check sensor SR (R1) to the position of the print head 14, it is necessary for positioning the leading end of the sheet. The required time (the required time from when the processing at step a11 is performed until the determination result at step a12 becomes true) is equivalent to the processing immediately after the power is turned on.

  FIG. 8G shows an outline of the movement of the paper in the case where the used paper is collected and another hopper paper is selected and the receipt issuance is continued.

  As described above, when the CPU 38 that functions as an abnormality predicting unit predicts the occurrence of the conveyance failure of the sheet and there is a possibility that the conveyance failure may occur, the stage before the occurrence of the substantial conveyance failure, that is, By rewinding the paper in use while it can be rewound and automatically supplying another paper stored in another hopper, jamming can be prevented and the receipt issue processing operation can be continued. Inconveniences such as inadvertently stopping the functions of the host device such as ATM are improved, and the operator frequently checks the operating status of the receipt printer 1 in order to keep the receipt printer 1 operating continuously. No need to bother.

  Further, in the state where the conveyance failure has occurred, the motors and drive mechanisms of each part, for example, the upstream conveyance motor M02, the upstream sheet conveyance means 16, the rewinding motors M1, M2, M3, the sheet rewinding means 11, 12, 13 and the like Therefore, the mechanical damage to the receipt printer 1 can be prevented.

  If the determination result in step a57 is false, that is, if all the sheets stored in the k hoppers have been used, a new sheet for another hopper is selected. Since the receipt issuing process cannot be continued, the CPU 38 turns on or blinks the alarm lamp 44 via the input / output circuit 45 to inform the operator that the receipt cannot be issued and perform all the processes. Stop (step a59).

  In this embodiment, there are k = 3 hoppers such as hoppers 5, 6, and 7. Therefore, even if the occurrence of a conveyance failure is predicted twice by the abnormality prediction means, the receipt can be issued without bothering the operator. It is possible to continue.

  Apart from cost and other problems, there is no limit to the number of hoppers, paper feeding means, and paper rewinding means. Any number of hoppers, paper feeding means, and paper rewinding means can be provided. Even if the occurrence of a conveyance failure is predicted k-1 times, it is possible to continue issuing a receipt without bothering the operator.

Here, as an example, the time during which the paper detection sensor S2 installed on the downstream paper transport path 19 continues to detect the cut paper 58 moving on the downstream paper transport path 19 and the paper feed speed of the downstream paper transport means 20 The example of obtaining the total length D of the cut paper 58 based on the above has been described (see step a31 to step a35), but the paper detection sensor S2 installed on the downstream paper transport path 19 is on the downstream paper transport path 19 The total length D of the cut paper 58 is obtained based on the number of pulses output from the pulse coder provided in the rotating section of the downstream paper transport means 20 while the cut paper 58 that moves is continuously detected. May be.
In that case, the pulse coder can be attached to, for example, a rotation shaft that rotates integrally with the pulley 33 or the pulley 34 or a motor shaft of the downstream side conveyance motor M01.
Since the rotation amounts of the pulley 33, the pulley 34, and the downstream transport motor M01 correspond one-to-one with the feed amount of the downstream paper transport unit 20, the downstream paper transport unit 20 corresponding to one pulse output from the pulse coder. Is stored in advance in the non-volatile memory 40, and the number of pulse coder output pulses is counted by the CPU 38 only while a paper detection signal is input from the paper detection sensor S2, and one pulse is added to this count value. If the feed amount corresponding to is multiplied, the total length D of the cut paper 58 can be easily obtained.
The downstream-side paper conveying means 20 is configured to independently convey only the cut paper 58, and the upstream side of the paper that remains integrated with the roll interferes with the inner wall of the hopper, or is abnormal such as twisting or slipping. Even if this occurs, the cut paper 58 can be transported without slippage by the transport belt 35 of the downstream paper transport means 20, so only while the paper detection sensor S2 detects the cut paper 58. By counting the number of output pulses of the pulse coder and multiplying the counted value by a feed amount corresponding to one pulse, the total length D of the cut paper 58 can be accurately obtained.

Furthermore, from when the drive of the print head 14 is started until the paper cutter 17 is actuated, that is, while the paper is fed from the position shown in FIG. 8A to the position shown in FIG. 8D. In addition, an average value calculating means for obtaining an average value Va of the feeding speed of the upstream sheet conveying means 16 is provided, and an average value storage means for the average value V0 of the feeding speed of the upstream sheet conveying means 16 detected in the appropriate state is provided. The average value Va actually obtained by the average value calculating means is compared with the average value V0 stored in the non-volatile memory 40 to predict the occurrence of conveyance failure. You may make it do.
The average value calculation means includes, for example, an F / V converter that performs F / V (Frequency to Voltage) conversion on the output from the pulse coder connected to the pulleys 30 and 31 that are the rotating parts of the upstream paper conveyance means 16, and F The voltage output from the / V converter, that is, the feed rate, can be constituted by the CPU 38 that samples and averages the voltage every predetermined period.
In this case, the CPU 38 functioning as an abnormality predicting means compares the value of the ratio Va / V0 with the lower limit value ε1 ′ of the allowable range that is the criterion and the upper limit value ε2 ′, and the ratio Va / V0 is continuously ε1 ′. The occurrence of a conveyance failure is predicted when the number of times that the ratio Va / V0 has continuously exceeded ε2 ′ exceeds the allowable value n of the number of consecutive deviations. Is the same as that shown in FIGS.
In this case as well, as in the first embodiment, the value of the ratio Va / V0 is less than ε1 ′ when the paper 58 is shortened due to a decrease in the conveyance speed. Interference with the inner wall of the hopper due to deformation of the roll portion of the paper, increase in drawing resistance due to twisting of the paper in the upstream paper transport path 15, etc., step-out of the upstream transport motor M02 and the feed motor m (R1), etc. Conceivable. However, even if slippage occurs between the conveyance belt 32 of the upstream sheet conveyance unit 16 and the sheet, it is appropriate from the pulse coder connected to the pulleys 30, 31, etc., which are the rotating sections of the upstream sheet conveyance unit 16. Since there is a case where it is determined that there is no abnormality in the feed speed itself of the upstream sheet conveying unit 16, there is an abnormality due to slippage between the conveying belt 32 of the upstream sheet conveying unit 16 and the sheet. It is not always detected accurately. Further, the value of the ratio Va / V0 exceeds ε2 ′ is when the paper 58 becomes relatively long due to the increase in the conveyance speed, and the cause of the abnormality is that there is a part where the roll of the paper is unwinding. It is conceivable that the paper drawer becomes excessive.

Alternatively, after the drive of the print head 14 is started until the paper cutter 17 is actuated, that is, while the paper is fed from the position shown in FIG. 8A to the position shown in FIG. 8D. An average value calculating means for obtaining an average value Ia of the driving torque of the upstream conveying motor M02 that drives the upstream paper conveying means 16 is provided, and an average value of the driving torque of the upstream conveying motor M02 detected in the appropriate state. I0 is stored in the non-volatile memory 40 functioning as an average value storage means, and the average value Ia actually obtained by the average value calculation means is compared with the average value I0 stored in the non-volatile memory 40, resulting in poor conveyance. Presence or absence of occurrence may be predicted.
The average value calculation means can be constituted by, for example, a current detector that detects a motor drive current proportional to the drive torque of the upstream side conveyance motor M02, and a CPU 38 that samples and averages the value at predetermined intervals. .
In this case, the CPU 38 functioning as an abnormality predicting means compares the value of the ratio Ia / I0 with the lower limit value ε1 ″ of the allowable range that is the criterion and the upper limit value ε2 ″, and the ratio Ia / I0 is continuously ε1 ″. The occurrence of a conveyance failure is predicted when the number of times that the ratio Ia / I0 has continuously exceeded ε2 ″ exceeds the allowable value n of the number of consecutive deviations. Is the same as that shown in FIGS.
In this case, the ratio Ia / I0 exceeds ε2 ″ when the paper 58 is shortened due to an increase in the conveyance resistance. The cause of the abnormality is that the ratio between the ratio Ia / I0 and the inner wall of the hopper due to the deformation of the paper roll portion. It is conceivable that the pull-out resistance increases due to interference, torsion of the paper in the upstream paper transport path 15, etc. The ratio Ia / I0 is less than ε1 ″ because of the roll winding sweetness and the like. It can be considered that this is a case where the paper 58 is relatively long.

  Further, the ratio D / B of the length of the cut sheet, the ratio Va / V0 of the sheet feeding speed in the upstream sheet conveying means 16, and the ratio Ia / of the motor driving current proportional to the driving torque of the upstream sheet conveying means 16 Instead of comparing I0 with the lower limit value or the upper limit value, the CPU 38 functioning as an abnormality prediction means obtains these ratios obtained at the time of delivery of the immediately preceding receipt and the receipt of the current receipt. Compare the magnitude relationship with the ratio, and if a ratio increases continuously after a predetermined number of times n and if the ratio decreases continuously after a predetermined number of times n, the occurrence of conveyance failure You may make it predict.

  The present invention is not limited to a receipt printer, and can be diverted to various printing apparatuses and printing apparatuses that use long paper wound in a roll shape.

1 Receipt printer 2, 3, 4 Paper 5, 6, 7 rolled in roll form 8, 9, 10 Paper feed means 11, 12, 13 Paper rewind means 14 Print head 15 Upstream paper transport path 16 Upstream Side paper conveying means 17 Paper cutter 18 Receipt outlet 19 Downstream paper conveying path 20 Downstream paper conveying means 21, 22, 23 Connection paths 24, 25, 26 Conveying rollers 27, 28, 29 Spools 30, 31 Pulley 32 Conveying belt 33, 34 Pulley 35 Conveying belt 36 Outer casing 37 Control unit 38 Microprocessor (main part of length measuring means, abnormality prediction means, paper reselection means)
39 Read only memory 40 Non-volatile memory (reference length storage means, selection order storage means)
41 Random Access Memory 42 Manual Operation Panel 43 I / O Interface 44 Alarm Lamp 45 I / O Circuits 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 Motor Drive Circuit 54 Clutch Drive Circuit 55 Head Drive Circuit 56 Solenoid Drive Circuit 57 Selection order storage table 58 Cut paper A Print length B Total length C of paper to be cut in an appropriate state CR Print head and paper cutter separation distance CR Clutch D Actual full length M01 of cut paper 2 Downstream transport motor M02 Upstream conveying motors M1, M2, M3 Rewinding motors m1, m2, m3 Feeding motor S1 Tip detection sensor S2 Paper detection sensor (part of length measuring means)
SR1, SR2, SR3 Paper confirmation sensor SOL Cutter drive solenoid ε1 Lower limit value of allowable range ε2 Upper limit value of allowable range

Claims (9)

In the receipt printer in which the paper wound in a roll shape is pulled out, printed sequentially from the leading edge, cut and discharged,
A plurality of hoppers that store paper wound in a roll shape, a paper feeding means for each hopper that feeds the leading edge of the paper stored in each hopper, and a paper for each hopper that winds and rewinds the paper Rewinding means, upstream paper conveying means arranged in the upstream paper conveying path for guiding the paper fed from the selected hopper to the print head, and paper provided at the downstream end of the upstream paper conveying path A cutter, a downstream paper transport means arranged in the downstream paper transport path for guiding the paper cut by the paper cutter to the receipt outlet, and a measurement for measuring the total length of the cut paper on the downstream paper transport path. The length means, the reference length storage means for storing the total length of the paper to be cut in an appropriate state, the total length of the paper measured by the length measurement means and the total length of the paper stored in the reference length storage means are compared. Transport failure An abnormality prediction means for predicting the occurrence of occurrence, and when it is predicted by the abnormality prediction means that a conveyance failure has occurred, the paper rewinding means of the hopper selected at that time is operated to remove the paper in use. By collecting one of the other hoppers from the upstream paper transport path and selecting one of the other hoppers and operating the paper feed means of that hopper, the leading edge of the paper stored in the hopper is sent to the upstream paper transport path. A receipt printer comprising paper reselecting means.   The length measuring means is cut based on the time during which the paper detection sensor installed on the downstream paper transport path continues to detect the paper moving on the downstream paper transport path and the paper feed speed of the downstream paper transport means. 2. The receipt printer according to claim 1, wherein the total length of the sheet is obtained.   The length measuring means is a pulse coder provided in the rotating section of the downstream paper transport means while the paper detection sensor installed on the downstream paper transport path continues to detect the paper moving on the downstream paper transport path. 2. The receipt printer according to claim 1, wherein the total length of the cut paper is obtained based on the number of pulses output from the printer.   The abnormality prediction unit obtains a ratio of the total length of the sheet measured by the length measuring unit to the total length of the sheet stored in the reference length storage unit, and if this ratio is out of a predetermined allowable range, the conveyance failure The receipt printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the receipt printer is configured to predict that the occurrence of the occurrence of the occurrence of the occurrence of the occurrence. In the receipt printer in which the paper wound in a roll shape is pulled out, printed sequentially from the leading edge, cut and discharged,
A plurality of hoppers that store paper wound in a roll shape, a paper feeding means for each hopper that feeds the leading edge of the paper stored in each hopper, and a paper for each hopper that winds and rewinds the paper Rewinding means, upstream paper conveying means arranged in the upstream paper conveying path for guiding the paper fed from the selected hopper to the print head, and paper provided at the downstream end of the upstream paper conveying path A cutter, downstream paper transport means arranged in the downstream paper transport path for guiding the paper cut by the paper cutter to the receipt outlet, and a period from the start of driving of the print head to the operation of the paper cutter An average value calculating means for obtaining an average value of the feeding speed of the upstream sheet conveying means, an average value storing means for storing an average value of the feeding speed of the upstream sheet conveying means detected in the suitability state; An abnormality predicting unit that predicts whether or not a conveyance defect has occurred by comparing the average value obtained by the value calculating unit and the average value stored in the average value storage unit, and the occurrence of a conveyance defect by the abnormality predicting unit. If it is predicted, the paper rewinding means of the hopper selected at that time is operated to collect the paper in use from the upstream paper conveyance path to the hopper and select one of the other hoppers. A receipt printer comprising: a sheet reselecting means for operating the sheet feeding means of the hopper to send the leading edge of the paper stored in the hopper to the upstream sheet conveying path. In the receipt printer in which the paper wound in a roll shape is pulled out, printed sequentially from the leading edge, cut and discharged,
A plurality of hoppers that store paper wound in a roll shape, a paper feeding means for each hopper that feeds the leading edge of the paper stored in each hopper, and a paper for each hopper that winds and rewinds the paper Rewinding means, upstream paper conveying means arranged in the upstream paper conveying path for guiding the paper fed from the selected hopper to the print head, and paper provided at the downstream end of the upstream paper conveying path A cutter, downstream paper transport means arranged in the downstream paper transport path for guiding the paper cut by the paper cutter to the receipt outlet, and a period from the start of driving of the print head to the operation of the paper cutter An average value calculating means for obtaining an average value of the driving torque of the upstream sheet conveying means, an average value storing means for storing an average value of the driving torque of the upstream sheet conveying means detected in the suitability state, An abnormality prediction unit that compares the average value obtained by the average value calculation unit with the average value stored in the average value storage unit to predict whether or not a conveyance failure has occurred, and the occurrence of a conveyance failure by the abnormality prediction unit. If it is predicted to be present, the paper rewinding means of the hopper selected at that time is operated to collect the paper in use from the upstream paper transport path to the hopper and select one of the other hoppers. A receipt printer comprising paper reselecting means for operating the paper feeding means of the hopper to feed the leading edge of the paper stored in the hopper to the upstream paper transport path.   The abnormality prediction unit obtains a ratio of the average value obtained by the average value calculation unit with respect to the average value stored in the average value storage unit, and if this ratio deviates from a predetermined allowable range, a conveyance failure occurs. The receipt printer according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the receipt printer is configured to predict that there is.   The abnormality predicting means predicts that there is a conveyance failure when the ratio is continuously lower than a predetermined lower limit value of the allowable range and when the ratio is continuously higher than the upper limit value of the allowable range. The receipt printer according to claim 4, wherein the receipt printer is configured.   A selection order storage means for storing a selection order of hoppers is provided, wherein the paper reselection command means selects a hopper for operating the paper feed means according to the selection order stored in the selection order storage means. The receipt printer according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

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