JP2854514B2 - Printer paper cutting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet cutting device for a printer for printing on a plurality of long sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical example of a printer for printing on a plurality of long paper sheets is a receipt journal printer. This receipt journal printer has a cutter for cutting only receipt paper. Further, as a type of cutter, there are a method of cutting a sheet using a fixed blade and a movable blade, and a method of cutting a sheet using a movable blade having a saw-toothed cutting blade. One of the methods for cutting a paper sheet with a movable blade having a sawtooth-shaped cutting edge is disclosed in
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 16138 under the name of "auto cutter", when the movable blade (cutter blade) is displaced by a full stroke, the paper is cut, and when the movable blade is displaced halfway, There is a device in which perforations are formed in a paper sheet.

[0003]

Conventionally, when printing on a plurality of paper sheets as represented by a receipt / journal printer, only one paper sheet (receipt paper) can be cut. This limits its use.
If it is possible to selectively cut all or a part of a plurality of paper sheets, the use can be expanded.However, a plurality of cutting devices corresponding to a plurality of paper sheets are required. And the structure becomes complicated.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a plurality of long paper sheets arranged in parallel are arranged at a downstream side of a plurality of paper feeding sections for conveying each of the plurality of long paper sheets. A fixed blade is provided, and a movable blade held displaceably along the fixed blade is provided. An acute V-shape is formed between the blade edge of the fixed blade and the blade edge of the movable blade located at the poem position. At least one of the blade edges is inclined so as to form a gap, and the stroke of the movable blade is changed by controlling the operation of the movable blade drive unit to which the movable blade is connected. A movable blade drive control means is provided.

[0005]

The stroke of the movable blade can be changed by controlling the operation of the movable blade drive unit by the movable blade drive control means, and the distance between the fixed blade edge and the movable blade edge can be changed. Since a sharp V-shaped gap is formed like scissors, when the movable blade is displaced with a small stroke, a part of the gap between the fixed blade and the movable blade is closed to obtain a desired part. When the movable blade is displaced with a large stroke, the gap between the fixed blade and the movable blade should be closed over a wide area to cut all the sheets sequentially. Can be.

[0006]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a frame. The frame 1 is provided with first and second platens 4 and 5, which are paper feeding units for independently transporting long paper sheets 2 and 3, respectively, are coaxially arranged and rotatably provided. These first and second platens 4 and 5 have first and second thermal heads 6 and
7 is pressed. These thermal heads 6 and 7 share a common substrate. Also, the first platen 4
Is connected to a first paper feed motor 11 via a pulley 8, a timing belt 9, and a pulley 10 fixed to one end thereof. Similarly, the second platen 5 also includes a pulley 8 fixed to one end thereof, a timing belt 9 and a pulley 1.
0 is connected to the second paper feed motor 12 (see FIG. 3).

The frame 1 is provided with a cutter unit 13. The cutter unit 13 includes a cutter frame 14 fixed to the frame 1, a fixed blade 15 fixed to the cutter frame 14, and a movable blade 16 rotatably held along the fixed blade 15. .

Here, the relationship between the fixed blade 15 and the movable blade 16 is shown in FIG. (A) is a side view, (b) is a front view. As is apparent from these figures, the edge 1 of the fixed blade 15
7 is horizontal in a direction perpendicular to the paper sheets 2 and 3. On the other hand, the movable blade 16 has a fulcrum shaft 18 rotatably held by the cutter frame 14 at both ends, and a straight line 19 connecting these fulcrum shafts 18 and a blade edge 20 of the movable blade 16 are arranged from left to right. , Are inclined downward and toward the platens 4 and 5. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2B, a sharp V-shaped gap like scissors is provided between the blade edge 17 of the fixed blade 15 and the blade edge 20 of the movable blade 16 located at the home position. 21 are formed.

Next, as shown in FIG.
A base portion of an L-shaped arm 22 is rotatably held on the fulcrum shaft 18 at the left end of 6. One end of the arm 22 is fixed to the left end of the movable blade 16 by a screw 23. An arc-shaped hole 24 is formed at the left end of the cutter frame 14 to let the screw 23 escape with the center of the fulcrum shaft 18 as the center of the radius. On the left side of the frame 1, a cutter motor 25, which is a movable blade driving unit, which is rotatable in forward and reverse directions, is provided. It is held rotatably. Further, the other end of the arm 22 has a long hole 29 which is engaged with a pin 28 protruding from the side surface of the gear 27.
Are formed. Further, the first and second sensors 30 and 31 each using a reflection type photoelectric detector are connected to the frame 1.
Are formed on the arm 22, and protrusions 33 and 34 detected by the second sensor 31 are formed on the outer periphery of the gear 27. These protruding pieces 33 and 34 are arranged at intervals of about 120 °.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an electronic circuit. A ROM 35 in which fixed data such as programs are stored;
CP that executes data processing based on 35 programs
U36 and a RAM 37 for temporarily storing variable data are connected by a bus line. In the CPU 36,
A first print controller 38 for driving the first thermal head 6, a second print controller 39 for driving the second thermal head 7, and a first print controller 39 for driving the first paper feed motor 11. A paper feed controller 40, a second paper feed controller 41 for driving the second paper feed motor 12, a cutter controller 42 for driving the cutter motor 25, the first and second sensors 30, 31; Is connected. Here, ROM3
5, the CPU 36, and the RAM 37 are provided with the cutter motor 2
A movable blade drive control unit that changes the stroke of the movable blade 16 by controlling the operation of the movable blade 16 is configured.

In such a configuration, the operation will be described as an example of a usage mode in which a postage stamp to be sold to a customer is printed on a paper sheet 2, and the transaction contents at that time are printed on a paper sheet 3 and a receipt is issued. That is, the first print controller 38 drives the first thermal head 6 in synchronization with the operation of the first platen 4 based on print data from a host computer (not shown). Thus, an image as a postage stamp is printed on the paper sheet 2. The second print controller 39 drives the second thermal head 7 in synchronization with the operation of the second platen 5 based on print data from the host computer. Thereby, the paper sheet 3
The details of the sales data, the total amount, and the like are printed on the.

Each time the contents of one postage stamp are printed on the paper sheet 2 and each time the sales data and the total amount are printed on the paper sheet 3 and the closing operation is performed, the host computer is used. Outputs a cutting signal to the cutter controller 42, and the cutter motor 25 rotates under the control of the cutter controller 42. The rotation of the cutter motor 25 is transmitted to a gear 27 via a drive gear 26, and a pin 28
The arm 22 having the elongated hole 29 engaged with the movable blade 16 rotates about the fulcrum shaft 18 integrally with the movable blade 16. Thereby, the paper sheets 2 and 3 sent between the fixed blade 15 and the movable blade 16 are cut. In this case, the blade edge 17 of the fixed blade 15 and the movable blade 16
As shown in FIG. 2B, a sharp V-shaped gap 21 that gradually increases from the sheet 2 to the sheet 3 is formed between the movable blade 16 and the movable blade 16. Is rotated halfway of the entire stroke, and the blade edge 20 is moved as shown in FIG.
When only the position indicated by the virtual line α is reached, a part of the gap 21 between the fixed blade 15 and the movable blade 16 is closed, and only the paper sheet 2 is cut. When the movable blade 16 has rotated through the entire stroke and the blade edge 20 has reached the position indicated by the imaginary line β, the gap 21 between the fixed blade 15 and the movable blade 16
Is closed over the entire area, and after the sheet 2 is cut, the sheet 3
Is disconnected.

Hereinafter, the cutting operation of the sheets 2 and 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step 1, an initial process is performed after the power is turned on. In this initial processing, when the movable blade 16 is not located at the home position, an operation of driving the cutter motor 25 to return the movable blade 16 to the home position is also performed. Movable blade 1
As shown in FIG. 4, the state where 6 is at the home position is such that the first sensor 30 detects the protrusion of the arm 22 and turns ON, and the second sensor 31 detects the protrusion 33 of the gear 27. ON. Thereafter, as described above, the contents of the postage stamp or the sales data is printed on each of the paper sheets 2 and 3.

If it is determined in step 2 that the CPU 36 has input only the stamp cutting signal,
, The cutter controller 42 controls the cutter motor 25
Is rotated clockwise. Accordingly, the gear 27 rotates counterclockwise, and the arm 22 starts rotating counterclockwise about the fulcrum shaft 18. When operation starts properly, in step 4, the first and second sensors 30, 31 are turned off.
It is recognized that The cutter motor 25 is still rotating forward, and as shown in FIG.
Is detected and turned on, the state is recognized in step 5, and in step 6, the cutter motor 25 is stopped. During this time, the gear 27 is
One-third of the rotation corresponds to 120 intervals of 34 intervals. Thereby, only the sheet 2 is cut.

Thereafter, in step 7, the cutter motor 25 is controlled by the caddle controller 42 to rotate counterclockwise to rotate the gear 27 clockwise. As a result, the arm 22 and the movable blade 16 start to rotate clockwise about the fulcrum shaft 18, and as shown in FIG.
When the movable blade 16 returns to the home position, in step 8, the first and second sensors 30, 31 are turned on.
Is recognized, and in step 9, the cutter motor 25 is stopped.

If the CPU 36 determines in step 2 that the output signal is not only a stamp cutting signal, and determines in step 10 that a stamp and receipt cutting signal has been output, the CPU 36 determines in step 11 that the cutter and receipt cutting signals have been output. The motor 25 is controlled by the cutter controller 42 to rotate clockwise. Thus, the gear 27 rotates counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. This allows
The arm 22 starts rotating counterclockwise about the fulcrum shaft 18. When it starts operating correctly, in step 12,
It is recognized that the first and second sensors 30, 31 are turned off. The cutter motor 25 still rotates forward, and is stopped when it is recognized in step 13 that the first and second sensors 30 and 31 are turned on. That is, the gear 27 makes one rotation to rotate the arm 22 and the movable blade 16 over the entire stroke. Thereby, the paper sheet 2 is cut and a postage stamp is issued, and subsequently, the paper sheet 3 is cut and a receipt is issued.

As described above, it is possible to select the case where one of the sheets 2 is cut or the case where both the sheets 2 and 3 are cut. Therefore, only the use as a receipt / journal printer is limited. Without limitation, as described above, the present invention is also applied to applications for issuing postage stamps and receipts. Of course, the paper sheet 2 can be used for issuing various tickets in addition to the postage stamp. Further, since the paper sheets 2 and 3 can be cut by the pair of fixed blades 15 and movable blades 16, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the paper sheet 3 stops just before reaching the cutter unit 13 and only the paper sheet 2 is cut, as described above, the operation of the movable blade 16 is stopped halfway. Since it can be stopped, the portion where the blade edge 17 of the fixed blade 15 and the blade edge 20 of the movable blade 16 are rubbed (cut off) in a portion where the paper sheet 3 is not present can be reduced. Thereby, a decrease in sharpness can be suppressed.

Further, when cutting only the paper sheet 2,
When the protruding piece 34 of the gear 27 is detected by the second sensor 31, that is, when the gear 27 is rotated approximately one third, the gear 27 is reversed by one third to move the movable blade 15 to the home position. Can be restored. In this case, the time required for the gear 27 is 1
This can be shortened compared to the case of rotating and returning to the home position. This makes it possible to increase the speed at which printed matter is issued in response to high-speed printing.

In the above embodiment, the movable blade 16 is rotated about the fulcrum shaft 18, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention is also applied to a case where a movable blade that reciprocates in a linear direction with respect to a fixed blade is used.

[0021]

As described above, the present invention provides a movable blade which is displaceably held along a fixed blade disposed in a direction crossing a plurality of long paper sheets arranged in parallel, A movable blade is formed by inclining at least one of both blade edges so that an acute V-shaped gap is formed between the blade edge of the fixed blade and the blade edge of the movable blade located at the poem position. The movable blade drive control means for changing the stroke of the movable blade by controlling the operation of the movable blade drive unit to which the movable blade is connected is provided, so when the movable blade is displaced with a small stroke, the fixed blade and the movable blade are displaced. When the movable blade is displaced with a large stroke, the gap between the fixed blade and the movable blade can be reduced by closing a part of the gap between the fixed blade and the movable blade. Close a wide area and cut all of the multiple sheets sequentially Therefore, after printing desired contents on a plurality of paper sheets, by selectively cutting those paper sheets, various usage patterns can be adopted, and a pair of fixed blades can be used. Since all sheets can be cut with the movable blade, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between a fixed blade and a movable blade, and (a)
Is a side view, and (b) is a front view.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electronic circuit.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where the movable blade is located at a home position.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which a movable blade is rotated in a sheet cutting direction.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a sheet cutting operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2, 3 paper sheet 4, 5 paper feed section 15 fixed blade 16 movable blade 17 blade edge of fixed blade 20 blade edge of movable blade 21 gap 25 movable blade drive section 35-37 movable blade drive control means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixed blade arranged in a direction crossing a plurality of said paper sheets is provided downstream of a plurality of paper feeding sections for conveying a plurality of long paper sheets arranged in parallel. A movable blade is provided displaceably held along the fixed blade so that an acute V-shaped gap is formed between the blade edge of the fixed blade and the blade edge of the movable blade located at the poem position. At least one of the two edges is inclined,
A sheet cutting device for a printer, comprising a movable blade drive control means for changing the stroke of the movable blade by controlling the operation of a movable blade drive unit to which the movable blade is connected.