JP2024063874A - Sheet output port cover - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a sheet output port cover that reduces pulling of a sheet by a user during printing and allows the user to easily remove a printed sheet. [Solution] The sheet output port cover 100 includes a rear plate 160, a guide plate 170, a bottom plate 120, and a first front plate 151. The rear plate 160 is connected to an output surface 26 that includes an output port 25 that outputs a sheet, and includes a through hole 165 through which the sheet passes. The guide plate 170 guides the sheet output from the output port 25 in a first direction (-Z direction). The bottom plate 120 protrudes from the rear plate 160 in the first direction beyond the guide plate 170. The first front plate 151 protrudes from the bottom plate 120 in a second direction (+Z direction) that represents the opposite direction to the first direction. Also, the guide plate 170 is provided between the rear plate 160 and the first front plate 151 when viewed from the first direction. [Selected Figure] Fig. 3

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet output port cover.

Toll machines are used at toll booths on expressways and other roads to pay tolls. When the toll is inserted, the toll machine prints out a sheet, such as a receipt.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic ticket vending machine that includes a storage chamber that can store multiple sheets output from an output port in a stacked manner, and a cover that opens and closes at the front of the storage chamber. The cover prevents the output sheets from falling.

JP 2004-62767 A

Even if an openable cover is provided at the output port, there are cases where a user tries to pull out a sheet while it is being printed. In view of this situation, one of the objectives is to provide a sheet output port cover that reduces the number of times a user pulls out a sheet while it is being printed, and also makes it easy for a user to remove a printed sheet. Other objectives can be understood from the following description and the explanation of the embodiment.

Below, the means for solving the problem will be explained using the numbers and symbols used in the description of the embodiment of the invention. These numbers and symbols are added in parentheses for reference purposes to show an example of the correspondence between the description of the claims and the description of the embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the description in parentheses should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims.

The sheet output port cover (100) according to one embodiment for achieving the above object includes a rear plate (160), a guide plate (170), a bottom plate (120), and a first front plate (151). The rear plate (160) is connected to an output surface (26) including an output port (25) for outputting sheets, and includes a through hole (165) through which the sheets pass. The guide plate (170) guides the sheets output from the output port (25) in a first direction (-Z direction). The bottom plate (120) protrudes from the rear plate (160) in the first direction beyond the guide plate (170). The first front plate (151) protrudes from the bottom plate (120) in a second direction (+Z direction) that represents the opposite direction to the first direction. Also, the guide plate (170) is provided between the rear plate (160) and the first front plate (151) when viewed from the first direction.

The above embodiment prevents the user from pulling on the sheet being printed, and allows the user to easily remove the sheet.

11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of installation of a sheet output port cover according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet output port cover according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the sheet output port cover according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a front view of the sheet output port cover according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the sheet output port cover according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the sheet output port cover according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the sheet output port cover according to the embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a sheet output port cover 100 provided on a toll adjustment machine 21 installed at a toll booth on a highway will be described as an example. At the toll booth, an island 20 is provided along a travel lane 10 along which vehicles, such as automobiles and motorcycles, pass. The island 20 is provided with a toll adjustment machine 21 and a starting control machine 22. The starting control machine 22 has a bar provided to protrude into the travel lane 10, and prompts vehicles traveling on the travel lane 10 to stop. When a user pays a toll to the toll adjustment machine 21, the toll adjustment machine 21 outputs a sheet, such as a receipt, from an output port 25 provided on an output surface 26. The starting control machine 22 also raises the bar to prompt the vehicle to pass through. The user takes out the sheet output from the output port 25 and moves the vehicle forward.

The sheet output port cover 100 is connected to the output surface 26 and is provided to cover the output port 25. The sheet output port cover 100 prevents a user from pulling out a sheet that is being output from the output port 25. For example, the sheet output port cover 100 is formed so that it is difficult for a user to pull out a sheet that is being output, and so that it is easy for a user to remove a sheet after it has been output.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet output port cover 100 includes a top plate 110, a bottom plate 120, a left side plate 130, a right side plate 140, a front plate 150, and a rear plate 160. The top plate 110 forms the top surface of the sheet output port cover 100 when the sheet output port cover 100 is installed. The bottom plate 120 forms the bottom surface of the sheet output port cover 100 when the sheet output port cover 100 is installed. The left side plate 130 forms the left side surface of the sheet output port cover 100 when the sheet output port cover 100 is installed. The right side plate 140 forms the right side surface of the sheet output port cover 100 when the sheet output port cover 100 is installed. The front plate 150 forms the front surface of the sheet output port cover 100 when the sheet output port cover 100 is installed. The rear plate 160 forms the rear surface of the sheet output port cover 100 when the sheet output port cover 100 is installed, and is adhered to the output surface 26 of the fee settlement machine 21.

Here, for ease of understanding, an explanation will be given using a Cartesian coordinate system. The Z axis of the Cartesian coordinate system represents the direction from the bottom plate 120 to the top plate 110, and the X axis represents the direction from the left side plate 130 to the right side plate 140. The Y axis represents the direction from the front plate 150 to the rear plate 160. When the sheet output port cover 100 is a rectangular parallelepiped, the XY plane represents the bottom surface formed by the bottom plate 120, the YZ plane represents the side surface formed by the left side plate 130, and the ZX plane represents the rear surface formed by the rear plate 160.

The rear plate 160 is formed to be connected to the output surface 26 of the fee settlement machine 21, and has a through hole 165 at a position corresponding to the output port 25 when attached to the fee settlement machine 21. The through hole 165 is formed so that the sheet output from the output port 25 can pass through it. The sheet that passes through the through hole 165 is guided inside the sheet output port cover 100.

The upper plate 110 is formed so as to protrude from the rear plate 160 in the -Y direction. For example, the upper plate 110 is connected to the end of the rear plate 160 in the +Z direction. For example, the upper plate 110 is formed so as to be perpendicular to the rear plate 160.

The bottom plate 120 is formed so as to protrude from the rear plate 160 in the -Y direction. For example, the bottom plate 120 is connected to the end of the rear plate 160 in the -Z direction. For example, the bottom plate 120 is formed so as to be perpendicular to the rear plate 160.

The front plate 150 is formed to protrude from the bottom plate 120 in the +Z direction. For example, the front plate 150 is formed to connect the -Y direction end of the bottom plate 120 and the -Y direction end of the top plate 110. For example, the front plate 150 is formed so as to be perpendicular to the bottom plate 120 and the top plate 110. The front plate 150 has an outlet 155 for removing sheets guided inside the sheet output outlet cover 100.

The left side plate 130 and the right side plate 140 are formed to sandwich the rear plate 160, the bottom plate 120, the front plate 150, and the top plate 110. The left side plate 130 is connected to the ends of the rear plate 160, the bottom plate 120, the front plate 150, and the top plate 110 in the -X direction, for example. For example, the left side plate 130 is formed to be perpendicular to the rear plate 160, the bottom plate 120, the front plate 150, and the top plate 110. The right side plate 140 is connected to the ends of the rear plate 160, the bottom plate 120, the front plate 150, and the top plate 110 in the +X direction, for example. For example, the right side plate 140 is formed to be perpendicular to the rear plate 160, the bottom plate 120, the front plate 150, and the top plate 110.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet output port cover 100 includes a guide plate 170 that guides the sheet inserted through the passage hole 165 in the -Z direction. The guide plate 170 is sandwiched between the front plate 150 and the rear plate 160, and is provided between the front plate 150 and the rear plate 160 in the Y direction. For example, the guide plate 170 is provided between the front plate 150 and the rear plate 160 when viewed from the X direction or the Z direction. The guide plate 170 is also provided in the +Z direction from the bottom plate 120.

As shown in FIG. 4, the guide plate 170 is formed so as to be sandwiched between the left side plate 130 and the right side plate 140. The -X end of the guide plate 170 is connected to the left side plate 130, and the +X end is connected to the right side plate 140. For example, the +Z end of the guide plate 170 is located at the hole upper end 161, which is the +Z end of the pass-through hole 165, and the -Z end of the guide plate 170 is located at the outlet upper end 154, which is the -Z end of the second front plate 152.

As shown in FIG. 3, the guide plate 170 comprises a swash plate 171 and a connecting plate 172. The +Z end of the swash plate 171 is connected to the rear plate 160. For example, the +Z end of the swash plate 171 is connected to the upper hole end 161, which is the +Z end of the through hole 165. The swash plate 171 is arranged so that the rear plate 160 moves away from it in the -Y direction as it moves in the -Z direction. Therefore, the sheet that passes through the through hole 165 comes into contact with the swash plate 171 and is guided in the -Z direction.

The distance between the +Z end of the swash plate 171 and the rear plate 160 is wide enough to make it difficult for a user to insert their fingers to pull the seat. For example, the distance between the +Z end of the swash plate 171 and the rear plate 160 is 30 millimeters or less. The distance between the +Z end of the swash plate 171 and the rear plate 160 may be 25 millimeters or less, or 20 millimeters or less.

The length of the swash plate 171 from the +Z end to the -Z end is determined according to the length of the sheet to be output. For example, the length of the swash plate 171 is determined according to the length of the sheet that is output when printing is completed. For example, the length of the swash plate 171 may be equal to or greater than the length of the sheet that is output when printing is completed. In this case, the user cannot pull out the sheet during printing, but can remove the sheet after printing. The length of the swash plate 171 may be a predetermined distance, for example, a few millimeters, shorter than the length of the sheet that is output when printing is completed. Here, the predetermined distance is shorter than the length that the user can grasp the sheet.

The connecting plate 172 is formed to connect the -Z direction end of the swash plate 171 to the front plate 150. For example, the +Y direction end of the connecting plate 172 is connected to the swash plate 171, and the -Y direction end is connected to the front plate 150. For example, the connecting plate 172 is formed to be parallel to the XY plane.

The front plate 150 comprises a first front plate 151 and a second front plate 152. The first front plate 151 is connected to the bottom plate 120 and forms the front plate 150 in the -Z direction from the outlet 155. The first front plate 151 is configured so that the outlet lower end 153, which is the end in the +Z direction, is located in the +Z direction from the extension line of the swash plate 171.

The second front plate 152 is connected to the upper plate 110 and forms the front plate 150 in the +Z direction from the outlet 155. The second front plate 152 is formed so that the outlet upper end 154, which is the end in the -Z direction, connects to the connecting plate 172. The outlet 155 may extend in the X direction from the left side plate 130 to the right side plate 140, as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rear plate 160 has an adhesive portion 162 for adhering to the toll adjustment machine 21. The adhesive portion 162 is formed, for example, so that it can be attached to and detached from the toll adjustment machine 21. For example, the adhesive portion 162 may be formed from an adhesive material that can be repeatedly attached and detached, or may be formed from a magnet. This reduces the impact on the vehicle even if the vehicle passing through the toll gate comes into contact with the sheet output port cover 100.

The rear plate 160 also has a peeling portion 163 that protrudes in the -Y direction. The peeling portion 163 is formed, for example, so that the cross section in the YZ plane is semicircular. The peeling portion 163 is provided, for example, in the -Z direction from the end of the guide plate 170 in the -Z direction. The peeling portion 163 may also be provided in the center of the outlet 155 in the Z direction, or in the +Z direction from the center of the outlet 155. The distance from the through hole 165 to the peeling portion 163 is shorter than the length of the sheet output from the output port 25. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear plate 160 may also have multiple peeling portions 163. When multiple peeling portions 163 are provided, the multiple peeling portions 163 may be provided at the same position in the Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom plate 120 has a drainage hole 125. The drainage hole 125 drains water droplets entering through the outlet 155 to the outside of the sheet output port cover 100. The drainage hole 125 prevents water droplets from accumulating inside the sheet output port cover 100.

The sheet output port cover 100 is attached so that the position of the output port 25 of the fee adjustment machine 21 corresponds to the position of the passing hole 165 shown in FIG. 2. The sheet output from the output port 25 of the fee adjustment machine 21 passes through the passing hole 165 while being printed by the fee adjustment machine 21, and comes into contact with the slanted plate 171 of the guide plate 170 shown in FIG. 3. The sheet that comes into contact with the slanted plate 171 is guided in the -Z direction by the slanted plate 171. When printing by the fee adjustment machine 21 is completed, the -Z end of the sheet is positioned in the -Z direction further from the -Z end of the slanted plate 171. The peeling portion 163 also prevents the sheet from sticking to the rear plate 160. This allows the user to easily remove the sheet.

In this way, the sheet output port cover 100 prevents the user from pulling out the sheet while it is being output, for example while it is being printed. Furthermore, the sheet output port cover 100 allows the user to easily remove the sheet after it has been output. Also, the top plate 110, front plate 150, left side plate 130, and right side plate 140 are formed to cover the output sheet, preventing the sheet from being blown away by the wind. The second front plate 152, which protrudes in the +Z direction from the -Y end of the bottom plate 120, prevents the output sheet from falling.

(Modification)
The embodiment described above is an example, and may be modified within a range that does not impair the function. For example, the sheet output port cover 100 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and may be formed into any shape according to the shape of the output port 25 of the device that outputs the sheets. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper plate 110 may connect the +Z direction end of the rear plate 160 and the outlet upper end 154, which is the +Z direction end of the outlet 155. For example, the upper plate 110 may be formed so as to move away from the rear plate 160 in the -Z direction. In this case, the second front plate 152 may be omitted.

Also, the upper plate 110 and the second front plate 152 may be omitted as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the upper surface of the sheet output port cover 100 may be formed by the guide plate 170.

The +Z end of the guide plate 170 shown in FIG. 3 may be located in the +Z direction from the hole upper end 161, which represents the +Z end of the through hole 165. Also, the -Z end of the guide plate 170 may be located in the +Z direction from the outlet upper end 154, which represents the +Z end of the outlet 155.

The peeling portion 163 shown in FIG. 3 may have any shape that protrudes from the rear plate 160 in the -Y direction. For example, the peeling portion 163 may be formed in a hemispherical shape. The peeling portion 163 may also be formed so that its cross section in the YZ plane is triangular.

The sheet output from the output port 25 is not limited to paper and may be made of any material. For example, the sheet may be made of plastic.

The sheet output port cover 100 is not limited to a toll payment machine 21 installed at a toll booth on a highway, but may be installed on any device that outputs sheets. For example, the sheet output port cover 100 may be installed outdoors and on any device that outputs sheets.

The embodiments and modifications described above are merely examples, and may be modified as long as the functionality is not impaired. Furthermore, the configurations described in each embodiment and modification may be modified and/or combined as desired as long as the functionality is not impaired.

10: Travel lane 20: Island 21: Toll payment machine 22: Start control machine 25: Output port 26: Output surface 100: Sheet output port cover 110: Upper plate 120: Bottom plate 125: Drainage hole 130: Left side plate 140: Right side plate 150: Front plate 151: First front plate 152: Second front plate 153: Lower end of outlet 154: Upper end of outlet 155: Outlet 160: Rear plate 161: Upper end of hole 162: Adhesive portion 163: Peeling portion 165: Pass-through hole 170: Guide plate 171: Slant plate 172: Connection plate

Claims (5)

a rear plate connected to an output surface having an output port for outputting a sheet and having a passage hole through which the sheet passes;
a guide plate that guides the sheet output from the output port in a first direction;
a bottom plate protruding from the rear plate in the first direction beyond the guide plate;
a first front plate protruding from the bottom plate in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
Equipped with
The guide plate is provided between the rear plate and the first front plate when viewed from the first direction. The guide plate is spaced apart from the rear plate as it moves in the first direction,
The sheet output outlet cover according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the first front plate in the second direction is located in the second direction from an extension line of the guide plate. The sheet output outlet cover according to claim 1 , wherein a distance from the rear plate to an end of the guide plate in the first direction is a width that makes it difficult to pull the sheet. The sheet output outlet cover according to claim 1 , wherein the rear plate has a peelable portion that protrudes in the same direction as the bottom plate. The sheet output outlet cover according to claim 1 , further comprising two side plates disposed so as to sandwich the rear plate, the guide plate, the bottom plate, and the first front plate, respectively.

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