JP4472973B2 - Roll paper filling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for automatically filling roll paper in a roll paper printing apparatus.

  In the automatic teller machine, a statement slip is printed and issued to the user for each transaction. In addition, transaction records are printed as journals in the apparatus. Roll paper may be used for these records. Similarly, roll paper is also used in a receipt printer that issues a receipt.

  In such a printer using roll paper, a technique for automatically filling roll paper is disclosed in order to suppress a stop time due to running out of paper. For example, the apparatus of Patent Document 1 holds a roll paper for replenishment in a hopper in addition to roll paper used for printing, and moves the roll paper from the hopper with an arm when the paper is out. , Automatically refill roll paper.

JP-A-7-117920

  If the roll paper is in the wrong direction, it cannot be automatically filled. Therefore, when the staff places the paper, it is checked whether or not the roll paper for replenishment is set in the correct direction to prevent erroneous setting. The apparatus of Patent Document 1 has a mechanism for confirming the orientation of the roll paper by rotating the roll paper set for replenishment. This mechanism was provided separately from the replenishment mechanism using the arm described above. Accordingly, there are problems such as complication of apparatus configuration and enlargement. In view of such problems, the present application aims to realize confirmation of the setting direction of the roll paper for replenishment and automatic filling of the roll paper with a simple structure.

  The present invention is directed to a filling device for filling roll paper into a printing device for roll paper. Examples of such a printing device include a receipt printer, various ticket issuing devices, and a statement slip issuing device such as an automatic transaction device. The filling device of the present invention has a holding unit for holding a roll paper for filling, and a rotation driving mechanism is provided below the holding unit so as to contact the roll paper. As the rotational drive mechanism, for example, a roller mechanism, a belt mechanism stretched between two rollers arranged in parallel, or the like can be used. The belt mechanism is preferable in that it can stably come into contact with the roll paper even when the diameter of the roll paper varies or the roll paper is deformed. This rotational drive mechanism is driven by a motor.

  The filling device of the present invention further includes a switching mechanism. Assuming that the reverse direction of the roll paper rolls at the time of filling is the forward direction of the motor, this switching mechanism is a rotation drive mechanism so that the roll paper is filled in the printing device when the rotation drive mechanism is reversed. The position of the power or the transmission destination of the power from the motor is switched. According to the present invention, by providing such a switching mechanism, the power of the motor can be utilized both for checking the orientation of the replenished roll paper and filling the roll paper. Therefore, the number of motors can be reduced, and the apparatus can be simplified and downsized.

  The switching mechanism can take various configurations. For example, when using two rollers arranged in parallel and a belt spanned between the rollers as the rotation drive mechanism, the switching mechanism can be an inclination changing mechanism that changes the inclination of the upper surface of the belt. . The roll paper rolls toward the printing device when filling, and tilts in the opposite direction at the time of inspection, so that both inspection and filling can be realized stably. In order to simplify the structure, it is desirable to use a mechanism that swings the rotational drive mechanism with one of the rollers supporting the belt as a fulcrum.

  The present invention can take various configurations. For example, the present invention may be configured as a printing apparatus that prints transaction results on roll paper and an automatic transaction apparatus having the above-described filling device. In this case, the printing apparatus may be, for example, a statement slip issuing apparatus or a journal recording apparatus that records transaction results as a journal. The present invention is also applicable to various devices that use roll paper, such as a receipt printer and various ticket issuing machines.

  The present invention does not necessarily have all the features described above, and may be applied by omitting some or combining them appropriately. The present invention may be further configured as a control method for the above-described filling apparatus. The invention of the control method of the filling apparatus includes, for example, a step of rotating the rotation drive mechanism forward to confirm the direction of the set roll paper, and a step of reversing the rotation drive mechanism to fill the roll paper Can be configured. The present invention may be configured as a computer program for realizing such control and a storage medium storing such a computer program. Here, as a storage medium, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a magneto-optical disk, an IC card, a ROM cartridge, a punch card, a printed matter on which a code such as a barcode is printed, an internal storage device of a computer (RAM or ROM Etc.) and various computer-readable media such as an external storage device can be used.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. Device configuration:
A1. overall structure:
A2. Statement slip issuing device:
A3. Roll paper filling device:
B. Paper inspection process:
C. Paper filling process:
D. Variations:

A. Device configuration:
A1. overall structure:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an automatic teller machine (hereinafter referred to as “ATM”) 100 as an embodiment. The ATM 100 is an apparatus that is installed in a bank or the like and performs deposit / withdrawal processing in accordance with a user operation.

  The ATM 100 is provided with the following units as shown in the figure. The card handling mechanism 104 reads information recorded on a magnetic stripe card such as a so-called cash card. The information recorded on the card includes, for example, a financial institution number, a subject, a user account number, and the like.

  The operation unit 102 is an interface with a user for performing information display for deposit / withdrawal transactions and operation input for deposit / withdrawal. The operation unit 102 is configured by a touch panel or a combination of a display and a push button switch.

  Exchange of banknotes with the user is performed through the deposit / withdrawal port 103. At the time of depositing, banknotes inserted into the deposit / withdrawal port 103 by the user are discriminated by the built-in banknote handling apparatus 101 and are classified and stored for each denomination. At the time of withdrawal, the banknote handling apparatus 101 delivers banknotes for the amount indicated by the user and delivers the banknotes to the user from the deposit / withdrawal port 103.

  The statement slip issuing device 200 issues a statement slip that records the contents of these transactions for each transaction. The journal recording device 300 prints and records the transaction result as a journal. Details of the statement slip issuing device 200 and the journal recording device 300 will be described later.

  The operation of each unit of the ATM 100 is controlled by the control unit 400. The control unit 400 is configured as a microcomputer having a CPU and a memory inside. The control unit 400 exchanges information with each unit, as indicated by arrows in the figure, and controls the overall operation of the ATM 100. The control unit 400 is also connected to the host computer 10 via a communication line. When the control unit 400 transmits information related to the transaction to the host computer 10, processing such as depositing / withdrawing into the user's account is performed by the host computer 10.

A2. Statement slip issuing device:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing the internal structure of the statement slip issuing apparatus 200. The statement slip is printed on the roll paper 202. The roll paper 202 is supported by the hopper 220 in a direction in which the starting end 202a is fed out when rotating in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. A feeding roller 228 is provided at the lower end of the roll paper 202 so as to contact the roll paper 202. When the feeding roller 228 rotates, the roll paper 202 also rotates, and the starting end 202a is separated and fed. When the roll paper 202 is set in a state in which the winding direction is opposite, the start end 202a is not fed even when the feeding roller 228 rotates.

  The starting end 202 a of the roll paper 202 is conveyed along the conveyance path 222 by the platen roller 204 and the conveyance roller 208. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the hopper 220 side is referred to as upstream and the reverse side is referred to as downstream along the transport direction.

  A print head 230 is provided along the conveyance path. The roll paper 202 is thermal paper, and the print head 230 is a thermal head for printing on the roll paper 202. The print head 230 can print only when it contacts the heat sensitive surface of the roll paper 202. If the roll paper 202 is set so that the lower side in the figure is the heat-sensitive surface, the print head 230 cannot perform printing.

  A cutter 206 for cutting the statement slip is provided downstream of the print head 230. Further downstream, a gate 207 is provided. The gate 207 can be rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and has a function of switching the paper transport destination after being cut by the cutter 206 from the transport path 222 to the collection path 224. As will be described later, the paper after being cut by the cutter 206 is once transported to the downstream side (left side in the drawing) of the gate 207, and then the gate 207 is held in the state shown in the figure while the transport roller 208 is reversed. Thus, the sheet can be conveyed to the collection path 224. In the collection path 224, the conveyance roller 209 conveys the paper to the collection box 226.

  On the upstream side of the hopper 220, a roll paper filling device 250 is disposed. In the filling device 250, a replenishing roll paper 252 is set between the threshold plate 256 and the replenishing door 254. When the roll paper 202 used for printing the statement slips is exhausted, the filling device 250 retracts the squeeze plate 256 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in the drawing and fills the hopper 220 with the roll paper 252 for replenishment. The internal structure of the filling device will be described in detail later.

  The operation of the statement slip issuing apparatus 200 is controlled by the control unit 210. The control unit 210 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, and executes statement slip issue control, paper check processing, and paper filling processing according to a program prepared in advance in the ROM. The statement slip issue control is a process for printing and issuing a statement slip at the time of transaction. The paper check process is a process executed when the replenishment roll paper 252 is set, and is a process for checking whether or not the roll paper 252 is set in an appropriate winding direction. The paper filling process is a process of filling the replenishing roll paper 252 from the filling device 250 when the roll paper 202 runs out.

  In order to execute these controls, the statement slip issuing apparatus 200 is provided with optical sensors 211 to 214 for detecting the presence or absence of paper in various parts. The optical sensor 211 detects the presence or absence of paper in the hopper 220. The optical sensor 212 detects whether or not the roll paper 202 is fed out. The optical sensor 213 detects the conveyance state of the paper on the conveyance path 222 and the printing state by the print head 230. The optical sensor 214 detects the paper collection state.

A3. Roll paper filling device:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the internal structure of the filling device 250. On the left side in the figure, there is a hopper 220 of the statement slip issuing device 200 and a roll paper 202 held there.

  The roll paper 252 for replenishment is set with the replenishment door 254 opened in the direction of the arrow. When the replenishment door 254 is closed, the roll paper 252 is held between the threshold plate 256 and the replenishment door 254. On the side surface of the filling device 250, an optical sensor 216 for detecting the presence or absence of the roll paper 252 and optical sensors 217 and 218 for detecting the diameter are provided. When the optical sensor 216 detects the roll paper 252 and the optical sensor 217 is not detected, it means that the diameter of the roll paper 252 is too small. When all of the optical sensors 216 to 218 detect the roll paper 252, it means that the diameter of the roll paper 252 is too large. When the optical sensors 216 and 217 detect the roll paper 252 and the optical sensor 218 is not detected, this means that the diameter of the roll paper 252 is within an appropriate range.

  A rotation drive mechanism is provided below the threshold plate 256 and the replenishment door 254 so as to contact the roll paper 252. In this embodiment, the rotational drive mechanism is composed of rollers 270 and 271 arranged in parallel, and a belt 272 stretched over them. The rollers 270 and 271 are supported by bearings attached to the table 275. The rotation shaft of the roller 270 is fixed to the main body of the filling device 250, and the rotation drive mechanism can swing around the rotation shaft of the roller 270.

  Roller 270 is driven by motor 260. When the motor 260 is rotated in the direction of arrow F in the figure, the roller 270 is driven in the direction of the arrow via the gear 261. The roller 271 is driven by the rotation of the roller 270 by the belt 272. For convenience of explanation, this rotation direction is referred to as normal rotation.

  When the rotation drive mechanism is rotated forward, the roll paper 252 rotates in the arrow A direction. This rotating direction is opposite to the feeding direction of the roll paper 202 (arrow B direction). Accordingly, when the roll paper 252 is set in an appropriate direction, the start end is not paid out when the roll paper 252 is rotated in the A direction, but when the roll paper 252 is set in the reverse direction, the start end 252a is drawn out. The filling device 250 is provided with an optical sensor 215 for detecting the starting end 252a drawn out in this way. As described above, when the rotation drive mechanism is rotated forward, the filling device 250 can realize the checking process of whether or not the roll paper 252 is set in the set direction depending on whether or not the optical sensor 215 detects the start end 252a.

  The filling device 250 is provided with a mechanism for holding the rotation drive mechanism in a posture capable of executing the above-described inspection process. As illustrated, a cam 281 is coupled to the motor 260 via a gear 262 and a torque limiter 280. The cam 281 moves between the cam stoppers 284 and 285. When the motor 260 rotates in the arrow F direction, the torque limiter 280 rotates in the arrow direction, and the cam 281 is held at a position where it hits the cam stopper 285.

  A cam follower 273 attached to the cradle 275 is in contact with the cam 281. In the state where the cam 281 hits the cam stopper 285, as shown in the figure, the cradle 275 and thus the rotation drive mechanism is held by the cam 281 in a state where the roller 270 is slightly lowered from the roller 271. By holding the rotary drive mechanism in such a posture, it is possible to stably separate and detect the start end 252a during the inspection process.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the filling device 250 when the rotational drive mechanism is reversed. When the motor 260 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R, the torque limiter 280 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and the cam 281 is held in contact with the cam stopper 284. As a result, the position of the cam follower 273 is lowered, and the cradle 275 and thus the rotational drive mechanism are held in a state where the roller 271 is slightly lowered from the roller 270. On the other hand, since the rollers 270 and 271 rotate in the illustrated direction, the upper surface of the belt 272 flows in the T direction in which the roll paper 252 can be filled. When the threshold plate 256 is retracted in this state, the roll paper 252 for replenishment can be moved and the roll paper 202 can be filled. Next to the roller 271, a belt guide 290 for smoothly performing this movement is provided at a position lowered so that the leading edge of the roll paper to be conveyed is not caught.

B. Paper inspection process:
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the sheet inspection process. This is a process executed by the control unit 210.

  In this process, the control unit 210 monitors the opening / closing of the refill door (step S10). When the replenishment door is once opened and then closed, the control unit 210 determines that the replenishment roll paper 252 has been set, and executes a process for determining the suitability of the setting method.

  First, based on the output result of the optical sensor 216 of the filling device 250, it is determined whether or not the supplementary roll paper 252 exists. When the optical sensor 216 does not detect the roll paper 252, the control unit 210 notifies that the paper is out by warning display or sound (step S 12). Based on the outputs of the optical sensors 217 and 218, whether or not the diameter of the roll paper 252 is appropriate may be determined, and a similar notification may be given when the diameter is inappropriate.

  When the appropriate roll paper 252 is set, the control unit 210 causes the motor 260 to rotate forward (step S13). By this rotation, the roll paper 252 is first rotated in the direction A in FIG. 3, and therefore, when the roll paper 252 is set in the reverse direction, the start end 252 a is fed out onto the optical sensor 215. The control unit 210 detects whether the roll paper 252 is reversely set based on the output of the optical sensor 215 (step S14). When it is detected that the reverse setting is performed, the control unit 210 notifies the reverse setting by a warning display or sound (step S15).

  The control unit 210 continues this operation until a predetermined time elapses (step S16). The predetermined time used here can be set arbitrarily. If the predetermined time is short, the inspection process may end before the starting edge is separated, and the reverse setting of the roll paper 252 may not be detected. If the predetermined time is long, the inspection process takes a long time, and convenience is impaired. The predetermined time can be set in consideration of these actions. For example, the time t1 required for one rotation of the roll paper 252 and the time t2 required for the separated start end 252a to be conveyed to the optical sensor 215 are set. Can be set to “t1 + t2”. The time t1 may be varied according to the diameter of the roll paper 252. The time t1 may be a time required for rotating the roll paper 252 several times.

  If the optical sensor 215 does not detect the start end 252a even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 210 determines that the roll paper 252 is set normally and notifies the normal setting (step S17). With the above processing, the filling device 250 according to the present embodiment can determine the suitability of the replenishment roll paper 252 in the setting direction.

C. Paper filling process:
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the paper filling process. This process is executed by the control unit 210 when it is detected by the optical sensor 211 that the roll paper 202 has run out.

  When this process is started, the control unit 210 first retracts the threshold plate 256 (step S20), and reverses the motor 260. Due to this reverse rotation, as shown in FIG. 4, the posture of the cradle 275 and eventually the rotational drive mechanism changes, and the belt 272 flows in the direction T. By this operation, the roll paper 252 is filled in the hopper 220. The control unit 210 continues this operation until it detects the filling of the roll paper based on the output of the optical sensor 211 provided in the hopper 220 (step S22).

  When the roll paper 202 is filled, the control unit 210 closes the threshold plate 256, reverses the feeding roller 228, and removes the slack of the roll paper 202 (step S23). Thereafter, the feeding roller 228 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 to feed the roll paper 202 and convey the starting end 202a (step S24). The control unit 210 continues this operation until the optical sensors 212 and 213 detect the start end 202a (step S25).

  When the start end 202a is detected by the optical sensor 213, the control unit 210 stops the conveyance and cuts the sheet by the cutter 206 (step S26). Thereafter, the cut sheet is collected in the collection box 226 (step S27). Collection is realized by once transporting the cut sheet to the downstream of the gate 207 and then switching the gate 207 to the collection path 224 while transporting the sheet upstream by reversing the conveyance roller 208. Is done. Various processes can be performed for steps S26 and S27. For example, the cut sheet may be discharged instead of the process of step S27. Instead of the processing in steps S26 and S27, the conveyance control may be performed so that the starting end 202a stops at the position of the cutter 206. By this processing, the statement slip issuing device 200 can automatically fill the roll paper 202 from the filling device 250.

  According to the filling device 250 of the embodiment described above, the single motor 260 performs the paper inspection process when the roll paper 252 is set and the paper filling process when the roll paper 252 is set in the hopper 220. It can be realized by a driven mechanism. Therefore, the device structure can be simplified and downsized.

D. Variations:
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a filling device 250A as a reference example. A state corresponding to FIG. 3 in the embodiment is illustrated. The same elements as those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the filling device 250A, the cradle 275A is fixed to the housing. The rollers 270A and 271A and the belt 272A are rotationally driven while maintaining the posture shown in the drawing. The motor 260 rotationally drives the roller 270A via the gear 261A, and the roller 271A follows the roller 270A via the belt 272A.

  A one-way clutch 280A is further connected to the roller 270A via a gear 262A. The one-way clutch 280A is a mechanism that transmits torque when rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and idles when rotating in the reverse direction. An arm 281A for pushing the roll paper 252 is rotatably attached to the one-way clutch 280A.

  In the filling device 250A, the operation during the paper inspection process is the same as in the embodiment. In other words, when the roll paper 252 is set in the reverse direction, when the motor 260 is rotated forward in the F direction, the start end of the roll paper 252 is separated, so whether or not the optical sensor 215 detects the start end. Thus, the setting direction of the roll paper 252 can be inspected. During the paper inspection process, the one-way clutch 280A is idle, and the arm 281A is held in the state shown in the figure.

  When paper is filled, it operates as follows. When the motor 260 is reversed in the R direction, the rollers 270A and 271A rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure while maintaining the posture shown in the drawing, and the upper surface of the belt 272A flows in a direction for filling the roll paper 252 into the hopper 220. Accordingly, when the motor 260 rotates in the reverse direction, the one-way clutch 280A rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, so that torque can be transmitted and the arm 281A is rotated in the direction of the arrow. The arm 281A pushes the roll paper 252 toward the hopper 220 by this operation.

According to the reference example, the paper inspection process and the paper filling process are performed by a simple mechanism using the single motor 260 by switching the transmission / disconnection of the power to the arm 281A between the forward rotation and the reverse rotation of the motor 260. Can be realized. In the reference example, a one-way clutch is used, but various mechanisms capable of switching transmission / disconnection of power can be used. For example, an electromagnetically operated clutch mechanism may be used.

  As mentioned above, although the various Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these Examples, and can take a various structure in the range which does not deviate from the meaning. For example, the present invention may be applied not only to the statement slip issuing device but also to replenishing roll paper of a journal recording device. Moreover, it is applicable not only to an automatic cash transaction apparatus but also to various apparatuses using roll paper, such as a receipt printer and various ticket issuing machines.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the automatic teller machine 100 as an Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the internal structure of the statement slip issuing apparatus 200 typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the filling apparatus 250. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the filling apparatus 250 at the time of rotating a rotation drive mechanism reversely. It is a flowchart of a paper inspection process. It is a flowchart of a paper filling process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of 250 A of filling apparatuses as a reference example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Host computer 100 ... Automatic cash transaction apparatus 101 ... Bill handling apparatus 102 ... Operation part 103 ... Deposit / withdrawal port 104 ... Card handling mechanism 200 ... Statement slip issuing apparatus 202 ... Roll paper 202a ... Starting edge 204 ... Platen roller 206 ... Cutter 207 ... Gate 208, 209 ... Conveying roller 210 ... Control unit 211-218 ... Optical sensor 220 ... Hopper 222 ... Conveying path 224 ... Recovery path 226 ... Collection box 228 ... Feeding roller 230 ... Print head 250, 250A ... Filling device 252 ... Roll Paper 252a ... Start end 256 ... Plate 254 ... Replenishment door 270, 270A ... Roller 271, 271A ... Roller 272, 272A ... Belt 275, 275A ... Stand 260 ... Motor 261, 261A ... Gear 262, 262A ... Gear 280 ... Torque limiter 2 80A ... One-way clutch 281 ... Cam 281A ... Arm 284, 285 ... Cam stopper 273 ... Cam follower 290 ... Belt guide 300 ... Journal recording device 400 ... Control unit

Claims (2)

A filling device for filling roll paper into a roll paper printing device,
A holding section for holding the roll paper for filling;
A rotation drive mechanism having two rollers arranged in parallel and a belt stretched between the rollers, and provided below the holding unit so as to contact the roll paper;
The rotation drive mechanism is rotated forward to drive in the forward rotation direction, or the rotation drive mechanism is rotated in a direction opposite to the normal rotation direction, and roll paper filled in the printing apparatus is fed out during printing. A motor that reverses to drive in the reverse direction;
A switching mechanism that switches the transmission destination of power from the motor according to the rotation direction of the motor and switches the attitude of the rotational drive mechanism. When the motor rotates in the forward direction, the upper surface of the belt is movable. When the orientation of the rotational drive mechanism is changed so that the printing device side is higher than the filling device side at both ends in the direction, and the motor rotates in the reverse direction, both ends in the movable direction of the upper surface of the belt are higher than the filling device side. A switching mechanism that changes the attitude of the rotation drive mechanism so that the printing apparatus side is lowered;
Control for rotating the motor in the reverse direction when the printing device is filled with roll paper replenished to the filling device, and for normal rotation of the motor when checking the set direction of the roll paper replenished in the filling device. A filling device. Automatic transaction equipment,
A printing device for printing transaction results on roll paper;
Automatic transaction apparatus having a filling device according to claim 1 for filling the roll paper to the printing apparatus.

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