JP4353622B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a scanner for optically reading characters, symbols, signatures, and the like recorded on a print medium conveyed on a conveyance path , and a printer including a print head for printing on the print medium .
[0002]
[Prior art]
The printer may be provided with a scanner that optically reads the reading target as follows. (A) Symbols such as numbers or barcodes indicating pages and lines recorded in passbooks and forms (hereinafter collectively referred to as page symbols), (b) Fill in securities such as checks, air tickets, boarding passes, etc. (C) Transaction information recorded in a passbook or the like.
The purpose of reading these objects with a scanner is as follows. (A) To confirm whether the print target page of the print medium is spread and faces the same side as the print head. (B) For authenticating or storing the signature entered on the medium. (C) To confirm whether the printed content that has been printed has a predetermined print quality.
[0003]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a mounting state of a scanner of a conventional printer. 101 is a feed roller that is rotationally driven by a transport motor (not shown), 102 is a pressure roller urged in the direction of each feed roller, 103 U and 103 L are guides that form the transport path 103, and S is a transport surface , A scanner mounted so as to face the surface, R a pressing roller for pressing the medium to be transported against the scanner, 104 a spring for biasing the pressing roller, and H a print head provided on the opposite side of the scanner S with respect to the transport surface , 105 is a platen provided facing the print head. 103T is a table used for inserting and ejecting a medium. Reference numeral 106 denotes an insertion / ejection detector that detects that a medium has been inserted or ejected, and the conveyance motor is started when the insertion is detected. Reference numeral 107 denotes a leading edge detector that is provided immediately after the first conveying rollers 101 and 102 and detects the leading edge of the medium. When the detector detects the leading edge of the medium, it performs a predetermined number of steps of conveying operation. The page symbol recording surface at a predetermined position of the medium is stopped at a position facing the scanner S.
As shown in the figure, conventionally, one scanner S is provided on the side opposite to the print head H.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in general, the object to be read is recorded on only one side of the same side as the print head, when recorded on both sides opposite to the same side of the print head, and the print head. May be recorded on one side of the opposite side.
[0005]
Therefore, in the conventional printer, the scanner can read only when the print medium is inserted with the surface on which the reading target is recorded facing the same side as the scanner, so the reading target is recorded on the printing medium. If the surface to be inserted is directed to the opposite side of the scanner, it is determined that reading is impossible, and the medium is discharged and returned to the table 103T. Therefore, it is necessary to reinsert the medium with the orientation correct. Further, when the object to be read is recorded on both sides of the medium, it is necessary to change the orientation and reinsert it after reading one side. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to print the medium.
[0006]
In order to solve the above problem, it is conceivable to provide two scanners on the upper and lower sides of the transport path with their positions shifted in the transport direction. However, in this case, since the conveyance path needs to be extended, there is a difficulty in increasing the size of the printer.
[0007]
The present inventors, in view of the above problems, the scanner is provided to face each reading surface vertically across the conveying surface, arranged above the conveying surface of the medium conveyance direction rearward than those scanners In a printer having a printed head, it was considered to be able to read page symbols, signatures and printed contents when the medium was inserted in any direction without requiring an extension of the transport path . result, Rutotomoni provided scanner to face the reading surface of the upper and lower positions across the conveying surface, was devised providing a biasing means for resiliently biasing at least one to the other.
[0008]
However, if the printer is provided with a biasing means that resiliently biases at least one of the upper and lower scanners to the other, and a print head close to the transport surface is provided behind the printer, the scanner and the print head read and print. There is a risk that high-precision and high-speed conveyance of the medium may be hindered when the recording is not performed.
[0009]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable reading of a reading object when the medium is inserted in any direction, and to perform high-precision and high-speed conveyance of the medium when the scanner and the print head do not read and print. There is to be able to do it.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a scanner provided with the reading surfaces facing each other up and down across the conveyance surface of one conveyance path, and the conveyance surface behind the scanner in the medium conveyance direction. A printer having a print head provided on the upper side , (a) provided with a biasing means for resiliently biasing the upper scanner to the lower scanner, and (b) mounting the print head to be movable up and down, and An urging unit for urging the head toward the transport surface; and (c) pressing and separating the upper scanner from the lower scanner and pressing and separating the print head from the transport surface in synchronization. further comprising a single lifting mechanism, (d) the elevating mechanism, the coercive by a drive source and the first lever being swung between a non-driving position and a driving position, the on scanner And, wherein the first lever Rutotomoni is separated the on scanner in conjunction with the first lever when it is rotated in the non-driving position from a driving position from the bottom scanner against the biasing means, said first a second lever is brought into contact with the lower scanners by said biasing means to said on scanner in conjunction with the first lever when the first lever is pivoted to the driving position from the non-driving position, provided in the print head When the second lever moves the upper scanner away from the transport surface, the print head is moved away from the transport surface against the biasing means in conjunction with the upper scanner, and the second lever is moved away from the transport surface. When the upper scanner is brought into contact with the lower scanner by the biasing means, the printing head is constituted by an operating shaft for pressing the print head to the transport surface by the biasing means.
[0011]
The upper Symbol arrangement, the medium to be conveyed on the conveying path of the printer, even if the one of the upper and lower surfaces are be read is recorded is readable by either or both of the scanner. Therefore, it is not necessary to reinsert the medium.
Is separated from the lower scanner constant timing on the scanner where it is biased by pre Symbol biasing means comprises a lifting mechanism which Ru is separated from the conveying surface printhead, the lifting mechanism is non-driving position and driven by a drive source A first lever that is swung between positions and the upper scanner are held, and when the first lever is rotated from a driving position to a non-driving position, the upper scanner is moved in conjunction with the first lever. Rutotomoni is separated from the lower scanner against the urging means, by the urging means to the upper scanner in conjunction with the first lever when said first lever is pivoted to the driving position from the non-driving position a second lever is brought into contact with the lower scanners, provided in the print head, when the second lever is moved away the on scanner from the conveying surface, the printing head in conjunction with this When the second lever causes the upper scanner to come into contact with the lower scanner by the biasing means against the biasing means, the print head is moved to the transport surface by the biasing means. The upper scanner is separated from the lower scanner during a normal period other than the printing period , and the print head can be separated from the transport surface. Therefore, the medium can be conveyed at high speed with high accuracy.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It will now be described with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention. 1 is a sectional view of a main portion showing the positional relationship between the scanner and the print head of the printer the present invention, the state 2 to the specific configuration of the actual施例of the present invention the upper scanner and the printing head is raised by the elevating mechanism FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where the upper scanner and the print head are lowered by the lifting mechanism , and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a holding structure of the upper scanner. In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are used for members that are the same as or correspond to those of the conventional printer shown in FIG.
[0013]
The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, upper and lower positions across the conveying path 103, mounted to face the upper scanner SU and the lower scanner SL, biasing means for biasing the upper scanner SU underneath the scanner SL For example, a coil spring 3 is provided. As a result, the upper scanner SU is supported so as to be movable up and down with respect to the transport surface. However, since the upper scanner SU is always urged downward, the upper scanner SU can be smoothly passed between the upper and lower scanners. The SU is held by a holder 1 having a taper on the front and back thereof, and a shaft 2 extending upward is provided on the holder 1, and the shaft penetrates the support member 4 fixed to the printer so as to be movable up and down. A coil spring 3 is wound between the holders 1.
In this case, the lower scanner SL is fixed, so as not to interfere with the smooth conveyance of the medium to be conveyed, the upper surface of the lower scanner S L is to minimize the amount of protrusion from the upper surface of the lower guide 103L, a lower guide The portions immediately before and immediately after the lower scanner SL are inclined by the amount that the lower scanner protrudes from the upper surface of the lower guide 103L.
Note that the insertion / ejection detector 106 and the tip detector 107 are installed in the same manner as in the prior art.
[0014]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the detector 106 detects that the medium has been inserted into the transport path 103 from the table 103T, the transport roller 101.102 is driven by the transport motor, and the inserted media are in contact with each other with an appropriate pressing force. The reading target is read by the upper and lower scanners SU and SL from the reading range of the medium passed between the opposed surfaces of the scanner and instructed by the host computer to which the printer is connected. The read content is sent to the host computer, where it is stored or analyzed, or analyzed by the printer, for example, to determine whether the correct page is facing the print head or read Transaction processing is performed based on the content.
[0015]
When the inserted medium is a passbook, for example, the page symbol is read by the upper scanner SU from the reading target recording surface, and when the medium is a correct page, the medium is conveyed in the direction of the insertion / ejection port. The rear end is stopped at the position detected by the tip detector 107. Then, the medium is sucked again, the leading edge of the medium passes between the print head H and the platen 105, and a line corresponding to the page symbol read first from the time when the leading edge of the medium is detected by the leading edge detector 107. When the position facing the print position by the print head is reached, the print head H is moved in a direction orthogonal to the medium conveyance direction, and the printing process for the medium is started.
After the printing process for the medium is completed, the transport motor is reversed, the print head H is retracted to the home position, and the medium is discharged again to the table 103T.
[0016]
In the above embodiment, the print head H is retracted from the conveyance path to the home position, which is a non-printing area, so as to improve the medium conveyance accuracy during the period other than the printing period. On the other hand, during the printing period, the print head is moved from the home position to the print area by a carriage (not shown), and a predetermined print gap is ensured between the recording surface of the medium and the print head. In the case of adopting a method of tracing the fixed platen 105 on the print head, an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the print head with respect to the conveyance surface is necessary.
In addition, when the upper scanner SU is always urged by the coil spring 3 to the lower scanner SL, the conveyance accuracy during reading from the medium may be lowered. Therefore, the upper scanner SU also needs to be provided with an elevating mechanism that moves upward from the conveyance surface during the non-printing period and moves toward the conveyance surface during the printing period.
However, providing the print head lifting mechanism and the upper scanner lifting mechanism separately requires a large installation space, which not only counters the downsizing of the printer, but also increases the number of parts, which increases manufacturing costs and maintenance. There are problems such as high costs.
[0017]
Figures 2-4 illustrate a preferred meaning施例of the present invention to solve such a problem. Examples of this are those constructed as realized by one common lifting mechanism lifting the lifting and upper scanner of the print head of Figure 1.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, with respect to the print head H , the elevating guide shaft 8 is mounted on the main carriage 7 supported by two upper and lower guide shafts 5 and 6 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction. The sub-carriage 9 is supported on the elevating guide shaft 8 so as to be movable up and down, and the print head H is fixed to the sub-carriage 9. A tension spring 12 is coupled between a locking piece 10 protruding from the upper part of the sub-carriage 9 and a locking piece 11 protruding from the lower part of the main carriage 7. Is always biased downward.
The print head H is also provided with an operating shaft 13 extending above the upper scanner SU, and a roller 14 is rotatably provided at the tip thereof.
[0018]
On the other hand, with respect to the upper scanner SU, the shaft 2 is erected on the upper surface of the holder 1 that holds the upper scanner SU. A horizontal shaft 15 is rotatably supported above the conveying surface, and a driven lever 16 is fixed at one end of the shaft 15. As shown in FIG. 4, a long hole 16b is formed in the upper plate 16a of the driven lever 16, and the shaft 2 passes through the long hole 16a, and the upper end portion of the shaft 2 is fixed to the printer main body. It penetrates through the hole of the stop member 17 so as to be movable up and down. A stopper 2 a is provided at the upper end of the shaft 2. A compression spring 18 is wound between the locking member 17 and the upper plate 16 a of the driven lever 16. The driven lever 16 corresponds to the second lever of claim 1 .
[0019]
The driven lever 16 is formed in a bowl shape, and the holder 1 of the upper scanner SU is accommodated between the side plates 16c on both sides. A hemispherical contact member 19 that is convex on the upper surface is fixed around the base of the shaft 2 erected from the upper surface of the holder 1. Since the upper end of the shaft 2 is biased in the direction away from the upper surface of the driven lever 16 by the action of the compression spring 18, the upper end of the contact member 19 of the holder 1 is above the driven lever 16. It is pressed against the lower surface of the plate 16a.
Thus, the driven lever 16 is urged in a direction in which the upper scanner SU contacts the lower scanner SL due to its own weight under the load of the upper scanner SU, the holder 1 and the shaft 2.
[0020]
On the driven lever 16, a roller 20 is rotatably supported on the outer surface of the lower end of the side plate 16c on one side. The follower lever 16 has an upper plate 16a positioned below the roller 14 at the tip of the operating shaft 13 of the print head H.
[0021]
In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a cam that is rotated forward and backward by a rotational drive source (not shown) using a stepping motor, and a substantially spiral cam groove 22 is formed on the side surface thereof. The cam groove 22 is fitted with a guide roller 24 which is rotatably attached to one end portion 23a of the hex drive lever 23. The drive lever 23 is supported at a midpoint thereof so as to be swingable by a support shaft 25 provided below the conveying surface. The other end 23 b of the drive lever 23 is positioned below the roller 20 of the driven lever 16. The drive lever 23 corresponds to the first lever of claim 1 .
[0022]
Then, the effect | action by the said structure is demonstrated. FIG. 2 shows a state immediately after the printer has been initialized. That is, the guide roller 24 of the drive lever 23 is positioned at the start end portion far from the cam center of the cam groove 22 of the cam 21. Therefore, the other end portion 23b of the drive lever 23 is held at the raised position above the conveying surface. Has been. Therefore, the roller 20 of the driven lever 16 is pushed up by the other end 23 b of the drive lever 23. Therefore, the upper scanner SU is also held at the raised position above the transport surface via the holder 1 and the shaft 2. Further, since the sub carriage 9 is moved upward against the biasing member 12 by the roller 14 of the operating shaft 13 in contact with the upper surface of the upper plate 16a of the driven lever 16, the nose of the print head H is the same. Is held at the retracted position above the conveying surface.
[0023]
When the detector 106 detects that the medium is inserted from the table 103T, the conveyance motor and the cam motor are started to rotate, the medium is sucked into the printer by the conveyance roller, and the leading edge of the medium is detected by the leading edge detector 107. When it is determined that the number of drive pulses applied to the transport motor has reached a predetermined value from the point in time when the ink is detected, that is, when it is determined that the leading edge of the sucked medium has passed between the upper and lower scanners SU and SL, FIG. As shown, the cam 21 rotates counterclockwise to a predetermined angle, and the guide roller 24 of the one end 23 a of the drive lever 23 is positioned near the end portion closest to the cam center of the cam groove 22 of the cam 21. For this reason, the other end 23b of the drive lever 23 is moved below the conveying surface, and therefore the driven lever 16 is also moved downward via the roller 20, so that the upper scanner SU is moved via the holder 1 and the support shaft 2. It descends to the lowered position and is pressed against the lower scanner SL by the weight of the driven lever 16, the holder 1 and the shaft 2. Further, as the driven lever 16 is lowered, the push-up force with respect to the operating shaft 13 is released, so that the sub carriage 9 is lowered along the lifting guide shaft 8 by the action of the urging member 12, and the nose of the print head H is conveyed. Close to the surface.
[0024]
After the state of FIG. 3, the reading by the upper scanner SU and lower scanner SL for the medium is performed based on an instruction from the host computer, images data is stored for input from each scanner, for various purposes Is performed. Further, if necessary, based on the processing result, the print head H performs a printing process on a predetermined line of the medium.
[0025]
After the printing process is completed and the medium is discharged to the table 103T, the cam 21 is rotated backward to the initial position in FIG. 2, and the drive lever 23 is returned to the position in FIG. At this time, even if the upper plate 16a of the driven lever 16 is lifted by the other end portion 23b of the drive lever, the overrun is absorbed by the compression spring 18, so that the scanner is shocked. There is an advantage that it is prevented from joining.
[0026]
In the above embodiment, an example in which the drive lever 23 is driven via a cam by a rotational drive source has been shown. However, as another embodiment, a combination of a rack and a pinion rotated by the rotational drive source, or Alternatively, the drive lever 23 can be swung by a linear drive source such as a solenoid with a buffering oil damper.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the two scanners are provided so as to face each other vertically across the conveyance path, and the printer is provided with the urging means for constantly urging the upper scanner with respect to the lower scanner. Even if the page symbol recording field of the medium to be inserted is provided on either the upper or lower side with respect to the transport surface, the page symbol can be read, and unlike the conventional case, the page symbol is re-recorded based on the erroneous insertion of the medium. No need to insert. Therefore, the medium processing efficiency by the printer is improved.
[0028]
Also, apart from the above read period and a period other than the printing period scanner from the bottom scanner, since with a lifting mechanism to separate the print head from the conveying surface, high accuracy of the medium in the period other than the printing period, high-speed transport Can be realized.
[0029]
Further, the elevating mechanism holds a first lever that is swung between a non-driving position and a driving position by a driving source, and the upper scanner, and the first lever is rotated from the driving position to the non-driving position. When the first lever is rotated from the non-driving position to the driving position while the upper scanner is separated from the lower scanner against the biasing means in conjunction with the first lever. A second lever for contacting the upper scanner with the lower scanner by the biasing means, and a second lever provided on the print head, when the second lever separates the upper scanner from the transport surface. The print head is moved away from the conveying surface against the biasing means in conjunction with the biasing means, and the second lever causes the upper scanner to contact the lower scanner by the biasing means. The so a print head consisting of actuating shaft and which presses up the conveying surface by the biasing means, the lifting of the print head and the lifting of the scanner, a single lift in common from the driving source to the first lever and the second lever because that can be used a mechanism can be realized reduction of manufacturing cost, the ease of simplifying the control structure.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a positional relationship between a scanner and a print head of a printer of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side of a main part view of the printer shown in a state where the upper scanner and print head is raised by the elevating mechanism of a specific configuration of the actual施例of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where the upper scanner and the print head are also lowered by an elevating mechanism .
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a holding structure of the upper scanner.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a mounting state of a scanner of a conventional printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
H print head SU upper scanner SL lower scanner 1 holder 2 shaft 3 biasing member 5, 6 guide shaft 7 main carriage 8 lift guide shaft 9 sub-carriage 12 biasing member
13 operating shaft 16 driven lever (second lever)
23 Drive lever (first lever)

Claims (1)

A scanner provided vertically to face the reading surface across the conveying surface of the one transport path, in a printer having a print head provided on the upper side of the conveying surface in the medium conveyance direction rearward than those scanners ,
A biasing means for resiliently biasing the upper scanner toward the lower scanner;
The print head is mounted so as to be movable up and down, and includes an urging means for urging the print head toward the transport surface,
A single elevating mechanism that synchronizes pressing / separation of the upper scanner with respect to the lower scanner and pressing / separation of the print head with respect to the transport surface;
The elevating mechanism is driven by source and non-driving position and the first lever being swung between a driving position, it holds the upper scanner, when the first lever is pivoted to the non-driving position from a driving position as the on scanner in conjunction with the first lever is separated from the lower scanner against the biasing means Rutotomoni, the first lever when said first lever is pivoted to the driving position from the non-driving position when the second lever is brought into contact with the lower scanners, provided in the print head, said second lever is moved away the on scanner from the conveying surface by said biasing means to said on scanner in conjunction with, In conjunction with this, the print head is separated from the transport surface against the biasing means, and when the second lever causes the upper scanner to contact the lower scanner by the biasing means, Be a serial print head from the working axis and which is pressed to the conveying surface by said biasing means,
Printer characterized by.

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