JP4497848B2 - Transfer printing device and automatic ticket gate device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a transfer printing device and an automatic ticket gate device that are applied as a printing mechanism in an automatic ticket gate, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
This type of transfer printing apparatus performs printing by superimposing an ink ribbon as a transfer material on a medium and heating the ink ribbon with a thermal head to transfer the ink on the medium to the medium. The ink ribbon is stretched between the winding shaft and the delivery shaft, and is wound up by the rotation of the winding shaft.
[0003]
By the way, normally, when the ink ribbon is wound, a torque in the winding direction is applied to the winding shaft, and simultaneously, a torque in the direction opposite to the winding direction is applied to the feed shaft. As a result, the ink ribbon is wound up in a tensioned state.
[0004]
Maintaining the tension of the ink ribbon at an optimum value is important for ensuring the performance of transfer printing. When the tension of the ink ribbon is not appropriate, problems such as defective peeling of the ink ribbon, running out of the ink ribbon, and defective printing occur.
[0005]
Therefore, conventionally, a mechanical torque keeper or the like is used to operate the hoisting shaft and the feeding shaft with a constant torque so as to apply an appropriate tension to the ink ribbon.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventionally, since the hoisting shaft and the delivery shaft are operated with a constant torque using a mechanical torque keeper or the like, the following inconvenience has occurred.
[0007]
(1) When the outer diameter change of the ink ribbon becomes large, the tension of the ink ribbon also changes greatly.
[0008]
For example, when the outer diameter of the ink ribbon on the winding side is small and the outer diameter of the ink ribbon on the sending side is large, the ribbon tension at the time of winding becomes large and the ink ribbon is wound up much. On the other hand, when the outer diameter of the ink ribbon on the winding side is large and the outer diameter of the ink ribbon on the sending side is small, the tension of the ink ribbon at the time of winding becomes small, and the amount of ink ribbon wound up decreases. In such a state, when the ink ribbon is wound up largely, the print character height becomes long, and conversely, when the amount of ink ribbon wound up is small, the print character height becomes small. To do.
[0009]
In addition, when the amount of winding of the ink ribbon changes due to the change in the outer diameter of the ink ribbon, the interval of printing once becomes non-uniform, and the number of prints that can be performed with one roll of ink ribbon varies from machine to machine. There is a high possibility that it will decrease.
[0010]
(2) Torque of the torque keeper changes due to aging and environmental changes, and the tension of the ink ribbon is not stable. If the tension of the ink ribbon is not stable, problems such as ink ribbon peeling failure, ribbon breakage, and printing failure may occur.
[0011]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and provides a transfer printing apparatus and an automatic ticket gate apparatus that can stabilize the tension of the transfer material and perform good printing, and can easily attach the transfer material. The purpose is to provide.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a transfer means for transferring a colorant of the transfer material onto the medium by superimposing the transfer material on the medium, pressing the transfer material with a print head and heating the transfer material. And winding one end of the transfer material on the hoisting shaft and the other end on the feeding shaft, respectively, applying a winding torque to the hoisting shaft, and anti-winding direction on the feeding shaft Winding means for applying torque and winding the transfer material; and counting means for counting the number of rotations of the winding shaft and the delivery shaft after a predetermined time has elapsed since the torque is applied by the winding means. When the rotational speed of the hoisting shaft counted by the counting means is L and the rotational speed of the delivery shaft is M, N = M / L is calculated. At the start of use of the transfer material, the hoisting shaft Apply the minimum torque to the shaft and apply it to the delivery shaft. The torque maximum, comprises a torque setting means for switching so as to reduce the torque applied to the delivery shaft value increases with increasing the torque applied to the winding axis of the N.
[0014]
The invention described in claim 2 is a loading unit for loading a ticket medium, a transfer printing unit for printing ticket information on the ticket medium loaded from the loading unit, and a discharge for discharging the loaded ticket medium. And an automatic ticket gate having a transport path for transporting the inserted ticket medium to the discharge section via the printing section, the transfer printing section is provided in the middle of the transport path, Transfer means for transferring the ticket information to the boarding ticket medium with the colorant of the transfer material by superimposing the transfer material on the medium conveyed along the conveyance path and heating the transfer material with a print head; One end of the transfer material is wound around the hoisting shaft, and the other end is fed to the feeding shaft, and the hoisting torque is applied to the hoisting shaft and the anti-winding torque is applied to the feeding shaft. Winding means for winding the transfer material; After a predetermined time has elapsed since the torque is applied by the hoisting means, the counting means for counting the rotational speed of the hoisting shaft and the delivery shaft, and the rotational speed of the hoisting shaft counted by the counting means, L, where M is the number of revolutions of the delivery shaft, N = M / L is calculated. At the start of use of the transfer material, the torque applied to the hoist shaft is minimized, and the torque applied to the delivery shaft is And a torque setting means for switching so as to increase the torque applied to the hoist shaft and decrease the torque applied to the delivery shaft when the value of N increases .
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
The automatic ticket collection apparatus according to the present invention can cope with the combined use of a plurality of ticket tickets. This automatic ticket gate is installed at, for example, a transfer station between a Shinkansen and a conventional line, and a train ticket for a conventional line that starts at or ends at this transfer station, and a Shinkansen that starts at or ends at this transfer station. Passenger tickets and limited express tickets are accepted, and based on these data, it is possible to check whether there are frauds in the boarding section, etc., and to perform the bill collection process.
[0017]
A main body 100 of the automatic ticket gate apparatus discharges a ticket slot 11 into which a ticket medium is inserted when entering a station or entering a station, and the ticket medium received at the slot 11 is discharged. A discharge port 12 is provided. There are various types of ticket media such as regular tickets, regular tickets, limited express tickets, number-of-times tickets, prepaid cards, etc., and such ticket media can be given information such as expiration date information and boarding The section information is magnetically recorded in a predetermined format.
[0018]
A shutter (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the slot 11 to prevent the ticket medium from being inserted. This shutter prohibits the insertion of another ticket medium for a predetermined period of time after the ticket medium is inserted. Due to the action of the shutter, it is possible to prevent another person's ticket medium from being continuously inserted.
[0019]
A main transport path (main transport means) 35 that transports the ticket medium loaded from the slot 11 to the outlet 12 is formed between the slot 11 and the outlet 12. On the main transport path 35, a sensor for detecting a ticket medium transported on the main transport path 35, for example, an input port sensor (not shown) for detecting a ticket medium input from the input port 11, A plurality of discharge port sensors (not shown) for detecting the ticket medium discharged to the discharge port 12 are provided.
[0020]
On the transport path of the main transport path 35, a take-in roller 33 for taking in the ticket medium put in a lump or one at a time in order along the discharge port 11 to the discharge port 12, and the boarding taken in by this take-in roller 33 Separation rollers 33a for separating the ticket media one by one, an alignment unit 37 for aligning the separated ticket media, and read heads 36a and 36b as information processing means for reading information magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording layer of the ticket media , Reversing unit 38 that always sends out the front and back of the ticket medium in a unified manner, a pre-writing pool unit (not shown) for pooling the ticket medium before writing information, and information for recording predetermined magnetic information on the ticket medium A writing head 46 as processing means, a reading head 48 for confirming information recorded by the writing head 46, first and second punch processing sections 50 for performing punch processing on a ticket medium, and 52, the transfer printing apparatus 101 according to the present invention for transferring and printing the ticket gate information on the boarding medium that has passed the first punch processing section 50, and thermal printing on one surface of the ticket medium that has passed the second punch processing section 52. A thermal head 56 that performs recording, a thermal head 58 that performs thermal printing recording on the other surface of the ticket medium, a collective pool section 60 that arranges a plurality of ticket media in order of size, and the like are provided.
[0021]
In the aligning section 37, alignment is performed such that a predetermined direction of the ticket medium inserted into the insertion slot 11 is a transport direction and serves as a one-side reference. The reversing unit 38 is provided with a sorting gate (not shown). In order to always unify the front and back of the ticket medium, the ticket medium is moved from the main transport path 35 to the reversing unit 38 by this sorting gate as necessary. Be drawn into. The ticket medium drawn into the reversing unit 38 is reversed and returned to the main conveyance path 35. The necessity of drawing the ticket medium into the reversing unit 38 is determined by which of the reading heads 36a and 36b has read the information on the ticket medium.
[0022]
When printing recording is required on the surface of the ticket medium, for example, when the inserted ticket medium is a normal ticket, it is conveyed by the sorting gate 51 to the transfer printing apparatus 101 via the first punch unit 50 and periodically When it is a ticket or a prepaid card, it is conveyed to the thermal head 56 via the second punch portion 52.
[0023]
The collective pool unit 60 arranges a plurality of ticket media having different sizes in order of size so that a specific ticket media is not overlooked at the time of collective ejection of a plurality of ticket media having different discharge sizes. It is a mechanism for rearranging and aligning. When a plurality of related tickets having different sizes are processed, if the related tickets are discharged one by one at the time of discharge, smooth ticket gate processing is hindered.
[0024]
2 to 5 show the transfer printing apparatus 101. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the transfer printing apparatus 101 with the ribbon cassette removed. FIG. 3 shows the transfer printing apparatus 101 in FIG. 4 is a rear view of the transfer printing apparatus 101 of FIG. 3 as viewed from the direction of arrow I, and FIG. 5 is a front view of a state in which a ribbon cassette is attached to the transfer printing apparatus 101 of FIG. .
[0025]
The transfer printing apparatus 101 includes a support frame Fa. One end portion on the back side of the support frame Fa has a ribbon winding DC motor 1 constituting a winding means, and the other end side has an ink ribbon (transfer material). A ribbon feed-side DC motor 2 that applies back tension to the ribbon is attached. A solenoid 24 as a moving means is attached to the support frame Fa so as to be positioned between the DC motors 1 and 2.
[0026]
Gears 3 a and 3 b are attached to the shafts of the DC motors 1 and 2. A reduction gear 5 meshes with the upper gear 3a, and a gear 4 meshes with the gear 5. Further, the gear 5 is engaged with a gear 14 to which a one-way clutch 14a as a restricting means is attached. A speed reduction gear 6 is engaged with the transmission side gear 3b, and speed increasing gears 7 and 8 are engaged with the gear 6.
[0027]
The gears 4 and 8 are provided with holes 4a and 8a that are evenly spaced in the rotation direction. Photointerrupters 9 and 10 as detecting means for detecting the holes 4a and 8a are disposed in the vicinity of the gears 4 and 8, and a simple rotary encoder is configured. Further, the support frame Fa is equipped with a set detection switch (shown in FIG. 4) 15 for detecting the removal and setting of the ribbon cassette 13 described later.
[0028]
A base (not shown) is provided on the front side of the support frame Fa, and a thermal head bracket 22 is rotatably attached to the base via a support shaft 28. A ribbon peeling guide block 21 is rotatably attached to the thermal head bracket 22 via a fulcrum shaft 23.
[0029]
A thermal head 20 as a print head is integrally attached to the guide block 21. The thermal head 20 has a gimbal structure that can be rotated about the fulcrum shaft 23 together with the guide block 21.
[0030]
A link 25 is attached to the solenoid 24 described above, and this link 25 is coupled to the thermal head bracket 22 via a joint link 26. A spring 27 is connected to the joint link 26, and the thermal head bracket 22 is rotated about the support shaft 28 by turning on and off the solenoid 24 to move the thermal head 20 up and down.
[0031]
A platen roller 30 is provided below the thermal head 20. A plurality of transport rollers 31 are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the platen roller 30 in the medium transport direction. Tension rollers 32 are in pressure contact with the upper sides of the conveying rollers 31, respectively.
[0032]
A drive motor 33 is connected to the platen roller 30 and the tension roller 32 via a drive belt 34. The platen roller 30 and the tension roller 32 are rotated by driving of the drive motor 33 so that the medium is conveyed in the arrow direction A.
[0033]
A pre-stage sensor 39 and a print timing sensor 40 that takes a printing timing are arranged on the upstream side of the printing unit in the medium conveyance direction, and a post-printing sensor 41 and a printing unit rear-stage sensor 42 are arranged on the downstream side of the medium conveyance direction. Yes.
[0034]
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the ribbon cassette 13.
The ribbon cassette 13 has a winding shaft 17a and a delivery shaft 17b around which a ribbon 17 as a transfer material is wound. Reel 18 is fitted to both ends of the hoisting shaft 17a and the sending shaft 17b, and the hoisting shaft 17a and the sending shaft 17b are rotatably mounted in the ribbon cassette 13 through four reels 18. Yes. The ribbon cassette 13 is provided with a pressing shaft 16 for pressing down the thermal head bracket 22.
[0035]
The ribbon cassette 13 configured as described above is pushed in and attached along a cassette guide shaft (shown in FIG. 5) 19 protruding from a base (not shown). As a result, the ribbon cassette 13 is set. At this time, the reel 18 and the respective claws of the gears 5 and 6 are engaged with each other, and the driving force from the DC motors 1 and 2 is transmitted to the ribbon 17.
[0036]
As described above, since the gear 14 to which the one-way clutch 14a is attached is connected to the gear 5, the ribbon 17 is wound only in the winding direction and is not wound in the reverse direction.
[0037]
When the ribbon cassette 13 is pushed along the guide shaft 19, the thermal head bracket 22 is pushed down against the urging force of the spring 27 by the push-down shaft 16 as shown in FIG. 7. By this depression, a gap S1 (mm) is formed between the thermal head 20 and the platen roller 30.
[0038]
Normally, a gap S1 (mm) is formed between the thermal head 20 and the platen roller 30, and the thermal head 20 is driven down by the solenoid 24 and pressed against the platen roller 30 only during printing.
[0039]
When the ribbon cassette 13 is removed, the thermal head bracket 22 is rotated upward about the support shaft 28 by the biasing force of the spring 27, and the thermal head 20 is raised as shown in FIG. The rising amount of the thermal head 20 is regulated by a stopper sheet metal (shown in FIG. 2) 29 attached to the solenoid 24, and a gap S2 (mm) is formed between the thermal head 20 and the platen roller 30.
[0040]
On the other hand, the base is provided with a sheet metal 44 as a tilting means for tilting the thermal head 20, as shown in FIG. When the thermal head 20 is raised, the rear end side of the guide block 21 of the thermal head bracket 22 is brought into contact with the sheet metal 44. As a result, the guide block 21 rotates so that the tip side (ribbon introduction side) rises around the shaft 23, and a large gap S3 is formed between the guide block 21 and the platen roller 30 (S1 <S2 <S3). .
[0041]
By forming a large gap S3 between the thermal head 20 and the platen roller 30 in this way, the ink ribbon 17 does not interfere with the thermal head 20 or the ribbon peeling guide block 21 when the ribbon cassette 13 is attached. Can be attached to.
[0042]
Conventionally, the gap between the thermal head 20 and the platen roller 30 is normally S1 mm when the ribbon cassette 13 is mounted. If the ribbon cassette 13 is to be attached with the clearance S1 mm, the ribbon 17 interferes with the thermal head 20 or the ribbon peeling guide block 21 and is difficult to attach.
[0043]
FIG. 11 shows a state when the ink ribbon 17 is wound up.
The ink ribbon 17 is wound in the direction of arrow B by driving the DC motor 1. At this time, the torque of the ribbon on the winding side is TA (N · m), the ribbon tension is BA (N), the speed is VA (mm / s), and the ribbon outer diameter is DA (mm).
[0044]
Further, the ink ribbon 17 tries to rotate in the direction of arrow C by driving the DC motor 2 on the delivery side, and the back tension is applied to the ink ribbon 17 (actually it does not rotate in the C direction due to the action of the gear 14 to which the one-way clutch 14a is attached. )
At this time, the torque of the ribbon 17 on the sending side is TB (N · m), the tension of the ribbon 17 is BB (N), and the outer diameter of the ribbon is DB (mm). The medium is transported by the platen roller 30 and the transport roller 31 at a transport speed VB (mm / s).
[0045]
During transfer printing, the thermal head 20 is pressed against the platen roller 30 through the ribbon 17 and the medium Pa by the load F by excitation of the solenoid 24. The friction coefficient between the thermal head 20 and the ribbon 17 is μ. At this time, the transfer printing performance is stabilized by satisfying TA> TB, BA>Fμ> BB, and VA> VB. In other words, it is important to control the torque by changing the current values of the DC motors 1 and 2 in accordance with the change of the outer diameter of the winding side and the sending side of the ribbon 17 and to maintain a condition that satisfies this condition. is there.
[0046]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a drive control system of the transfer printing apparatus 101 described above.
[0047]
The pre-printer sensor 39, the print timing sensor 40, the post-print sensor 41, the post-printer sensor 42, the upper-side photo interrupter 9, and the outgoing-side photo interrupter 10 serve as torque setting means via the detection circuits 61a to 61f, respectively. The CPU 62 is connected. The CPU 62 is connected to the drive motor 33, the sending-side CD motor 1, the winding-up CD motor 2, the solenoid 24, and the thermal head 20 via drivers 63a to 63e. Further, the ribbon cassette set detection switch 15 and the ROM 65 are connected to the CPU 62. Further, the CPU 62 is provided with a correction circuit 62a as correction means for correcting the torque set value when the torque is not properly set.
[0048]
Next, the transfer printing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the apparatus power is turned on, the outer diameter of the ribbon is detected as will be described in detail later (step S1). The drive motor 33 is activated (Step S3) based on the fact that the medium processed and conveyed by the upstream processing unit reaches the sensor 39 in the upstream of the printing unit and the sensor 39 becomes dark (Step S2). The conveyance speed of the medium is accelerated to VC (mm / s).
[0049]
When the medium is delivered to the transfer printing unit, it is conveyed by the platen roller 30 and the conveying roller 31. When the printing timing sensor 40 becomes dark due to this conveyance (step S4), the conveyance speed VC is reduced to the conveyance speed VB (mm / s) (step S5), and the DC motor 2 on the sending side is driven (step S5). S6) The ribbon 17 is in a tensioned state.
[0050]
When the deceleration of the medium conveyance speed is completed (step S7), the solenoid 24 is driven (step S8), and the thermal head 20 is pushed down. Further, the winding upper DC motor 1 is driven (step S9), and the winding of the ribbon 17 is started. When the operation of the solenoid 24 is completed (step S10), the thermal head 20 is applied and printing is started (step S11). At this time, counting is started by the photo interrupter 10 (step S12). When printing is completed (step S13), the ribbon 17 is further wound up. The ribbon 17 and the medium are completely peeled off by the ribbon peeling guide block 21 (step S14) (that is, after the conveyance speed of the medium is reduced to VB (mm / s), the conveyance speed VB (mm / E (pulse) is transported in s).
After the ribbon peeling is finished, the counting by the photo interrupter 10 is finished (step S15). Thereafter, the solenoid 24 is turned off (step S16), the thermal head 20 is retracted upward, and the winding-up DC motor 1 is stopped (step S17).
[0051]
After the end of printing, the rotational speed of the drive motor 33 is accelerated and the medium transport speed is accelerated from VB (mm / s) to VC (mm / s) (step S18).
When the accelerated transport medium passes through the post-printing sensor 41 and the post-printing sensor 41 changes from dark to light (step S19), the sending-side DC motor 2 is stopped (step S20). Thereafter, when the printing unit rear sensor 42 changes from dark to light (step S21), it is determined that the medium has been reliably delivered to the rear processing unit, and the drive motor 33 is stopped (step S22).
[0052]
By the way, in step S4 described above, the sending side DC motor 2 is driven when the print timing sensor 40 becomes dark before the medium enters the thermal head 20 (before the thermal head 20 is driven). This is because the ribbon 17 is stretched.
[0053]
In addition, when the sensor 41 after printing changes from dark to light (the medium has passed) in step S19, the DC motor 2 is stopped for two reasons (the DC motors 1 and 2 are not stopped simultaneously).
[0054]
The first reason is that the DC motor 2 is not stopped when the printing is completed because the trailing edge of the medium may not yet pass through the thermal head 20 even after the printing is completed. At this time, even if the thermal head 20 is retracted, if both the DC motors 1 and 2 are stopped, the ribbon 17 sags, the ribbon 17 sticks to the medium due to static electricity, and the ribbon on the sending side is pulled and fed out. This is because there is a risk of causing ribbon breakage or conveyance trouble.
[0055]
Second, if the sensor 41 after printing is dark → light and the DC motor 1 is not stopped, the winding amount of the ribbon 17 after printing increases, and the number of prints possible with one winding of the ribbon decreases. . In other words, the amount of useless winding of the ribbon 17 is minimized while keeping the ribbon 17 always stretched before the medium enters the thermal head 20 and completely passes.
[0056]
In addition, the count in step S12 and step S15, that is, the ribbon outer diameter detection, is performed from the time when the application of the thermal head 20 is started to the time when the DC motor 1 is stopped. This is because the outer diameter of the ribbon 17 is detected on the basis that the running of the ribbon 17 is stable.
[0057]
That is, when the driving of the DC motor 1 is started, the solenoid 24 is driven accordingly and the thermal head 20 is pushed down, so that the ribbon 17 is stretched or the feeding-side ribbon 17 is sent out in the direction opposite to the driving direction. . For this reason, if the detection of the outer diameter of the ribbon 17 is started based on the start of the driving of the DC motor 1, accurate detection becomes impossible.
[0058]
A simple rotary encoder is provided on both the winding side and the sending side of the ribbon. Here, the outer diameter of the ribbon is calculated by detecting the rotary encoder on the sending side. The result is the same even if the ribbon outer diameter is calculated by detecting with the rotary encoder on the upper side.
[0059]
A hole 8 a is formed in the gear 8 in the circumferential direction, and the hole 8 a is detected by the photo interrupter 10. That is, the photo interrupter 10 counts the number of changes from light to dark and dark to light, and the outer diameter of the ribbon on the sending side is calculated from the count result. Since the outer diameter of the ribbon on the winding side has a correlation with the outer diameter of the ribbon on the feeding side, it is calculated.
[0060]
Next, the steps after step S22 will be described.
After the drive motor 33 is stopped, it is determined whether or not the count result P (one time) counted in step S15 is valid (step S23). If it is valid, whether there are R valid count results. It is determined whether or not (step S24). If there are R valid count results, the average value Q of the R valid count results is calculated (step S25), that is, the count result detected for the first time is P1, and detection is performed 10 times including this P1. Based on the detection results up to the result P10, Q = (P1 + P2 +... + P10) / 10 is calculated to calculate the outer diameter of the ribbon.
[0061]
As described above, the calculation of the ribbon outer diameter is not performed only with the count result P (one time) of light → dark, dark → light change in the photo interrupter 10, but the average value Q of the results of a plurality of times is calculated. The reason for taking this is that the detection accuracy of the outer diameter of the ribbon may be lowered when the detection results vary once.
[0062]
After the ribbon outer diameter is calculated, it is determined whether or not to change the torque stage (step S26). When changing, the torque TB of the DC motor 2 on the sending side is determined (step S27), and then the torque TA of the DC motor 1 on the winding side is determined (step S28).
[0063]
To change the torque stage, the torque of the DC motors 1 and 2 is switched Z times (here, Z = 5) as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 until one roll of ribbon is used up. That is, the switching points W of the DC motors 1 and 2 are W1, W2,..., W5, and the combination of the ribbon torque TA (N · m) on the winding side and the ribbon torque TB (N · m) on the sending side. There will be six.
[0064]
At the beginning of use of the ribbon 17, when the ribbon torque on the winding side is TA1 and the ribbon torque on the sending side is TB1, the ribbon torque on the winding side is TA2 (N · m) when the average value Q becomes W1 or more, and the sending side Is switched to TB2 (N · m). Similarly, when the average value Q becomes W2 or more, the ribbon torque on the winding side is switched to TA3 (N · m) and the ribbon torque on the delivery side is switched to TB3 (N · m). When W becomes equal to or greater than W5, the ribbon torque on the winding side is TA6 (N · m), the ribbon torque on the sending side is TB6 (N · m), and the use of the ribbon 17 is completed.
[0065]
Therefore, the ribbon torque TA1 on the winding side of the torque, the ribbon torque TB1 on the sending side is the stage 1, the time on the TA2 · B2 is the stage 2, the ribbon torque TA6 on the winding side, and the ribbon torque TB6 on the sending side. Stage 6 is assumed.
[0066]
When the ribbon 17 is first used, the outer diameter of the ribbon on the winding side is the smallest and the outer diameter of the ribbon on the delivery side is the largest, as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the ribbon torque TA (N · m) on the winding side is the minimum, and conversely, the ribbon torque TB (N · m) on the delivery side is the maximum.
[0067]
Therefore, the ribbon torque TA (N · m) on the winding side is TA1 <TA2 <... <TA6, the ribbon torque TB (N · m) on the sending side is TB6 <TB5 <... <TB1, and the switching point W is The relationship is W1 <W2 <... <W5.
[0068]
As described above, it is possible to set the appropriate torque by changing the ribbon torque TA (N · m) on the winding side and the ribbon torque TB (N · m) on the sending side according to the outer diameter of the ribbon, Stable operation is possible.
[0069]
However, when the ribbon torque TA (N · m) on the winding side and the ribbon torque TB (N · m) on the delivery side are not appropriate for the outer diameter of the ribbon, for example, the ribbon torque on the winding side If the ribbon outer diameter is other than stage 3 at TA3 and the ribbon torque TB3 on the delivery side, ribbon breakage or print quality abnormality will occur.
[0070]
When the ribbon torque on the winding side is TA3 and the ribbon torque on the sending side is operating at TB3 (stage 3), the actual ribbon outer diameter is equivalent to the stage 4 (that is, the winding ribbon torque TA is insufficient) When the ribbon torque TB on the delivery side is excessive), the ribbon winding amount decreases and ribbon breakage occurs. At this time, since the average value Q is small, the stage is raised by Q <W2-Y by the correction circuit 62a.
[0071]
On the contrary, when the ribbon torque on the winding side is TA3 and the ribbon torque on the sending side is operating at TB3 (stage 3), the actual ribbon outer diameter corresponds to the stage 2 (that is, the winding ribbon). When the torque TA is excessive and the ribbon torque TB on the delivery side is insufficient), the ribbon winding amount increases and the printing height increases. At this time, since the average value Q is large, the stage is lowered by one with Q <W3 + Y by the correction circuit 62a.
[0072]
In addition, when the ribbon torque on the winding side is TA3 and the ribbon torque on the delivery side is TB3 (stage 3), the actual ribbon outer diameter corresponds to the stage 2 (the winding ribbon torque TA is excessive). When the ribbon torque TB on the delivery side is insufficient, another method is proposed.
[0073]
At this time, since the count result P in the photo interrupter 10 is larger than W3, when P> W3 + X, the count result P is excluded from the calculation of Q. (Counting result P is invalid.) In other words, when controlled in this way, the ribbon continues to operate in a state where the winding amount of the ribbon is increased and the printing height is extended. After that, the outer diameter of the ribbon becomes normal, and then normal control is settled.
[0074]
By the way, when the ribbon cassette 13 is replaced to become another ribbon and the ribbon outer diameter has changed, or when the ribbon is replaced with a new one, or when the apparatus is started up, the ribbon outer diameter is calculated, It is necessary to set the proper torque (proper stage). The timing of detecting the ribbon outer diameter at such time is when the ribbon cassette 13 is removed and then set when the apparatus power is turned on.
[0075]
It can be detected by the ribbon cassette set detection switch 15 that the ribbon cassette 13 has been removed and then the ribbon cassette 13 has been set.
[0076]
Next, a ribbon outer diameter detection method at this time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the DC motor 2 on the delivery side is driven (step S30), and the back tension is applied to the ribbon in the direction of arrow C (shown in FIG. 11) with the torque TD (N · m) of the ribbon on the delivery side (the one-way clutch 14a is The ribbon does not rotate in the C direction by the action of the attached gear 14). Further, the winding-up DC motor 1 is driven to rotate the ribbon 17 in the arrow direction B to wind up the ribbon 17 (step S31). The torque of the winding upper ribbon at this time is TC (N · m).
[0077]
The ribbon torque TD (N · m) is applied to the delivery side when TD (N · m) = 0, the ribbon 17 that has been wound up is loosely wound, and the ribbon outer diameter during the subsequent transfer printing operation is reduced. This is because the detection cannot be performed normally.
[0078]
The timer is set to drive the DC motor 1 for t1 = H (s) (step S32), and the timer is set to drive the DC motor 2 for t2 = J (s) (step S33). . When the DC motor 2 is driven for J (s) (step S34), t3 = K (s) is set by the timer (step S35).
[0079]
Thereafter, counting of the number M of changes of light → dark, dark → light is started by the photo interrupter 10 on the sending side (step S36), and light → dark, dark → light is counted by the photo interrupter 9 on the winding side. Counting the number of changes L is started (step S37). When the timer t3 has expired (step S38), the counting at the sending-side photo interrupter 10 is finished (step S39), and at the same time, the counting at the winding-up photo interrupter 9 is finished (step S40). ).
[0080]
Next, when the timer t1 is overtime (step S41), the driving of the DC motor 1 on the winding side is stopped (step S42), and the driving of the DC motor 2 on the sending side is stopped accordingly (step S43). .
[0081]
After that, N = M / L is calculated based on the count results at the winding-up and sending-side photo interrupters 9 and 10 (step S44), and the ribbon outer diameter is calculated from the value of N (step S44). Step S45).
[0082]
Next, the torque stage based on the calculation result of the ribbon outside diameter is determined (step S46), together with a torque TB of the sending-side DC motor 2 is determined (step S47), the torque T A delivery-side DC motor 1 Is determined (step S48).
[0083]
That is, when the torque switching point 0 is 01, 02... 05 as shown in FIG. 19, if N is less than 01, the winding-side ribbon torque TA1 (N · m) Ribbon torque TB1 (N · m), that is, stage 1 is set. Similarly, if N is greater than or equal to 05, the ribbon torque TA6 (N · m) on the winding side, the ribbon torque TB6 (N · m) on the delivery side, that is, the stage 6 is set.
[0084]
Also, as shown in step S34 described above, the detection starts after J (s) after the DC motors 1 and 2 are driven because the ribbon 17 is slackened when the ribbon cassette 13 is attached. This is because the detection is started based on the fact that the slack is removed (the ribbon outer diameter cannot be detected normally if the ribbon 17 is slack).
[0085]
The ribbon outer diameter is calculated at N = M / L if the TC-TD (N · m) is a sufficiently large torque, as is the case with the ribbon outer diameter detection during transfer printing. The outer diameter can be detected only with the count number M of 10. However, depending on the value of TC-TD (N · m), a plurality of target ribbon outer diameters are generated only by the number of counts M and cannot be detected.
[0086]
Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.
[0087]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, when the rotation speed of the hoisting shaft counted by the counting means is L and the rotation speed of the delivery shaft is M, N = M / L is calculated, and based on the value of N In order to detect the outer diameter of the transfer material, it is possible to accurately detect the outer diameter of the transfer material even when the transfer material is changed and the outer diameter changes or when the apparatus is started up. Thus, an appropriate torque can be set.
[0088]
Further, since the print head is moved away from the platen by the moving means, one end side (transfer material introduction side) of the print head is inclined so as to be farther away from the platen than the other end side. It becomes easy to install.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an automatic ticket gate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a transfer printing apparatus provided in the automatic ticket gate apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the transfer printing apparatus from the back side.
FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the transfer printing apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where a ribbon cassette is attached to the transfer printing apparatus.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the ribbon cassette.
FIG. 7 is a view showing the position of the thermal head when the ribbon cassette is attached.
FIG. 8 is a view showing the position of the thermal head when the ribbon cassette is removed.
FIG. 9 is a view showing the position of the thermal head when the ribbon cassette is mounted.
FIG. 10 is a view showing the position of the thermal head when the ribbon cassette is mounted from different angles.
FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which the ink ribbon in the ribbon cassette is wound up.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a drive control system of the transfer printing apparatus.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a printing operation of the transfer printing apparatus.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a ribbon outer diameter detection operation when the transfer printing apparatus is powered on.
FIG. 15 is a graph showing a relationship between a torque switching point and a sending side count number of the transfer printing apparatus.
FIG. 16 is a graph showing a relationship between a torque switching point and a delivery-side ribbon outer diameter of the transfer printing apparatus.
FIG. 17 is a graph showing changes in the winding ribbon diameter and delivery ribbon diameter of the transfer printing apparatus.
FIG. 18 is a graph showing the relationship between the winding ribbon diameter and the delivery ribbon diameter of the transfer printing apparatus.
FIG. 19 is a graph showing a relationship between a torque switching point and N (= M / L) of the transfer printing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
P ... medium, 9, 10 ... photo interrupter (counting means), 11 ... inserting section, 12 ... release section, 14a ... one-way clutch (regulating means), 17 ... ink ribbon (transfer material), 17a ... winding shaft (winding) Upper means), 17b ... Sending shaft (winding means), 20 thermal head (printing head / transfer means), 24 ... solenoid, 30 ... platen, 35 ... main conveying path (conveying means), 44 ... sheet metal (tilting means) 62 ... Torque setting means (CPU), 62a ... Correction circuit (correction means).

Claims (2)

A transfer means for transferring the colorant of the transfer material to the medium by superimposing the transfer material on the medium, pressing the transfer material with a print head and heating;
One end of the transfer material is wound around a hoisting shaft and the other end is fed to a feeding shaft, respectively, and torque in the hoisting direction is applied to the hoisting shaft, and anti-winding torque is applied to the feeding shaft. Winding means for applying and winding the transfer material;
A counting means for counting the number of rotations of the hoisting shaft and the delivery shaft after a predetermined time has elapsed since the torque is applied by the hoisting means;
When the rotational speed of the hoisting shaft counted by the counting means is L and the rotational speed of the delivery shaft is M, N = M / L is calculated. At the start of use of the transfer material, the hoisting shaft Torque setting that minimizes the torque applied to the delivery shaft, maximizes the torque applied to the delivery shaft, and increases the torque applied to the hoisting shaft and decreases the torque applied to the delivery shaft when the value of N increases And a transfer printing apparatus. A loading unit for loading the ticket medium;
A transfer printing section that prints ticket gate information on the ticket medium inserted from the insertion section;
A discharge part for discharging the inserted ticket medium;
In an automatic ticket gate having a transport path for transporting the inserted ticket medium to the discharge section via the printing section,
The transfer printing unit is provided in the middle of the transport path, and superimposes a transfer material on a medium transported along the transport path, and heats the transfer material with a print head, thereby coloring the transfer material Transfer means for transferring the ticket information to the ticket medium,
One end of the transfer material is wound around a hoisting shaft and the other end is fed to a feeding shaft, respectively, and torque in the hoisting direction is applied to the hoisting shaft, and anti-winding torque is applied to the feeding shaft. Winding means for applying and winding the transfer material;
A counting means for counting the number of rotations of the hoisting shaft and the delivery shaft after a predetermined time has elapsed since the torque is applied by the hoisting means;
When the rotational speed of the hoisting shaft counted by the counting means is L and the rotational speed of the delivery shaft is M, N = M / L is calculated. At the start of use of the transfer material, the hoisting shaft Torque setting that minimizes the torque applied to the delivery shaft, maximizes the torque applied to the delivery shaft, and increases the torque applied to the hoisting shaft and decreases the torque applied to the delivery shaft when the value of N increases And an automatic ticket gate device.

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