JP4684713B2 - Stacker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stacker for stacking single sheets printed by a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a stacker for stacking single sheets in order from the bottom.

A stacker is known in which predetermined information is printed by a printing device such as a printer, and single sheets to be discharged are sequentially stacked. This stacker includes a stacker that sequentially stacks single-sheet paper discharged from the printing apparatus from the upper side, and a stacker that sequentially stacks single-sheet paper from the lower side.
The stacker that stacks sequentially from the top stacks the first single-sheet paper printed by the printer on the bottom and the last printed single-sheet paper on the top, so the information printed on the single-sheet paper is continuous. In the case of information such as numbers, there is a problem that the stacked results are reversed with respect to the order of printing.
As a stacker to solve such problems, the single-sheet paper is loaded on the bottom side so that the first single-sheet paper printed by the printer is stacked on top and the last printed single-sheet paper is on the bottom. A stacker that stacks sequentially is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-330720

However, in a stacker that stacks single-sheet paper sequentially from the bottom, new single-sheet paper discharged from the printer is sequentially placed under the already-stacked single-sheet paper and loaded, so the total weight of the already loaded single-sheet paper When the paper becomes heavier, it becomes difficult to insert new single-sheet paper, and there is a problem that the single-sheet paper is bent. In particular, when single sheets with low stiffness (rigidity) are stacked, bending tends to occur.
In addition, since the stacker and the printer cannot detect the occurrence of the folding of the single-sheet paper, the operation of the printer and the stacker cannot be stopped, and once the folding occurs, a new single-sheet is discharged from the printer after the single-sheet paper is folded. There is a problem that paper is caught one after another and many single-sheet papers are bent.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stacker that prevents folding of single sheets to be stacked and allows stacking of more single sheets.

A stacker according to the present invention is a stacker that stacks single-sheet papers printed by a printing device in order from the bottom, and includes a bottom surface on which the single-sheet paper is stacked, a movable base on which the single-sheet paper stacked on the bottom surface is mounted, and a movable base a driving means for vertically moving a single leaf paper loaded before SL on the bottom and a control means for controlling so as to raise the carriage by driving the driving means reaches a predetermined number, the single leaf paper on the movable table An upper end detection sensor for detecting the upper end, and when the control unit reaches a predetermined number of single-sheet sheets stacked on the bottom surface, the drive unit is driven and the movable table is raised to a position detected by the upper end detection sensor. it can be.
Further, a full stack sensor provided near the lower part of the movable table and detecting the upper end of the single-sheet paper stacked on the bottom surface after the movable table is raised may be provided.

By providing a movable base on which the single-sheet paper loaded on the bottom surface is placed and a driving means for moving the movable base up and down, a plurality of single-sheet paper already loaded on the bottom surface is lifted by the movable base and the driving means. Since the total weight of the single sheet that becomes heavier as the single sheet is stacked does not act on the new single sheet to be stacked, a large number of single sheets can be stacked without bending.
Further, when the number of single-sheet sheets stacked on the bottom surface reaches a predetermined number, the driving means is driven to control the movable table on which the single-sheet sheets are placed, so that the length and stiffness (rigidity) of the single-sheet sheets can be controlled. The timing for raising the movable base can be arbitrarily changed according to the difference.
In addition, a full stack of single sheets stacked on the bottom surface after the movable table is raised can be detected by a full stack sensor provided near the lower portion of the movable table.

The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a printer and a stacker connected to the printer. First, the printer will be described. The printer 1 mainly includes a supply unit 2, a sensor 3, a thermal transfer unit 4, a printing unit 5, a cutter 6, and a control unit 40.

The supply unit 2 includes a supply shaft (not shown) and a label guide, and restricts both side surfaces of the continuous paper 61 wound in a roll shape by the label guide and rotatably holds the supply shaft on the supply shaft.

The sensor 3 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light is emitted from the issuing unit to the continuous paper 61 on which a paper detection mark (not shown) is printed, received by the light receiving unit, and the intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit. Thus, the position of the continuous paper 61 is detected.

  The thermal transfer unit 4 includes a ribbon supply unit 7 and a ribbon winding unit 8, and holds the thermal transfer ribbon 20 wound in a roll shape from the ribbon supply unit 7 to the ribbon winding unit 8 via the printing unit 5, The ribbon winding unit 8 connected to a motor (not shown) is driven to rotate to wind the thermal transfer ribbon 20 after ink transfer.

The printing unit 5 includes a thermal head 9 and a platen roller 10 connected to a motor (not shown). The printing unit 5 conveys the continuous paper 61 by rotationally driving the platen roller 10. The continuous paper 61 is printed by transferring the ink.

  The cutter 6 includes a fixed blade 11 and a movable blade 12 that can move forward and backward with respect to the fixed blade 11, and cuts the continuous paper 61 into single-sheet paper 62 having a predetermined length.

Moreover, it has the input part 15 and the display part 14 (refer FIG. 3), and can input and display predetermined information.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the printer and the stacker, and the control unit of the printer will be described.
The printer 1 includes a control unit 40 that controls each of the above-described units. The control unit 40 operates according to a ROM 41 that stores a predetermined control program, a control program stored in the ROM 41, and controls each unit. Is supplied from the CPU 43, a RAM 43 for storing various data necessary for the operation of the printer, a pulse signal to the platen roller 10 including a stepping motor (not shown), and a conveyance control circuit 44 for controlling the conveyance of the continuous paper 61. A control signal corresponding to print data such as characters, figures and price information to be printed is generated and supplied to the thermal head 9 to perform a print operation, and the light emission of the sensor 3 under the control of the CPU 42. The control unit to emit light to the continuous paper 61 and receive an electric signal output from the light receiving unit. A detection circuit 46 that converts the data into digital data and supplies it to the CPU 42; an input unit 15 that inputs information such as the number of sheets that can be stacked on the stacker 21; and a display unit 14 that displays information about the number of sheets input by the input unit 15 And an external interface 48 for connecting the stacker 21 to be described later.
These units are connected to the CPU 42 via the data bus 49, and printing is performed on the continuous paper 61 based on the print data input from the input unit 15 under the control of the CPU 42.
Further, another external interface (not shown) connected to the host computer can be further provided, and the number information etc. can be input from the host computer.

Next, the stacker will be described with reference to a schematic perspective view of the stacker shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. The stacker 21 mainly includes a stacker body 22, a transport unit 23, a drive unit 24, a movable base 25, an upper end detection sensor 26, and a control unit 50.
The stacker main body 22 has a bottom surface 17 on which the single sheet 62 is stacked, a front surface 27 with which the front end of the single sheet 62 in the conveying direction comes into contact, and a side face 28 with which one side end in the width direction of the single sheet 62 comes into contact. On the bottom surface 17, there are formed a groove 16 for exposing a conveyor belt 30 of a conveyor section 23 described later and a groove 32 for moving the movable base 25, and this groove 32 is formed continuously with the front surface 27. A plurality of grooves 32 are formed in the width direction of the single sheet 62.

The conveyance unit 23 includes a conveyance roller 29 that is connected to a motor (not shown) and is driven to rotate, and a conveyance auxiliary roller 31 that is connected to the conveyance roller 29 via a conveyance belt 30 and rotates in synchronization with the conveyance roller 29. In the groove 16 formed on the bottom surface 17 of the stacker body 22, the upper surface of the conveying belt 30 is provided so as to be slightly above the bottom surface 17.
By driving the conveyance roller 29, the single sheet 62 is placed on the upper surface of the conveyance belt 30 and conveyed to a position where it contacts the front surface 27 of the stacker body 22.
A presser roller 33 that presses the surface of the single-sheet paper 62 is provided above the conveyance auxiliary roller 31. The presser roller 33 has a shaft 34 at its center, and one end of the shaft 34 rotates on the side surface 28 of the stacker body 22 and the other end of the shaft 34 rotates on a fixing member 35 provided at a position facing the side surface 28. It is held freely.

The drive unit 24 is connected to a motor (not shown) and has a rotatable drive roller 36 and a driven roller 38 connected to the drive roller 36 via a drive belt 37.
The drive belt 37 is provided so as to be parallel to the side surface 27. By rotating the drive roller 36 clockwise or counterclockwise, the movable base 25 described later provided on the drive belt 37 is moved up and down. Is possible.

The movable table 25 is fixed to the drive belt 37 with the horizontal surface for loading the single-sheet paper 62 facing upward, and can be moved up and down by the drive belt 37. The movable table 25 protrudes from a plurality of grooves 32 formed on the front surface 27 toward the upstream side in the transport direction. Further, a full stack sensor 39 is fixed to the drive belt 37 in the vicinity of the lower part of the movable table 25, and can move up and down like the movable table 25.
The full stack sensor 39 has a light emitting part and a light receiving part, irradiates light from the groove 32 of the front surface 27 toward the upstream side in the transport direction, and this light is reflected on the upper single-sheet paper 62 stacked on the bottom surface 17. Then, when the light receiving unit receives light, it is detected that the single sheet 62 has reached the position of the full stack sensor 39.

The upper end detection sensor 26 is a sensor that detects the upper end of the single sheet 62 stacked on the bottom surface 17 or the upper end of the single sheet 62 stacked on the movable table 25, and has a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The detection hole 18 provided above the groove 32 is fixedly provided at a position where light can be irradiated and received. Light is emitted toward the upstream side in the transport direction from the detection hole 18, and this light is reflected by the single-sided sheet 62 at the upper end stacked on the bottom surface 17 or the movable table 25 and received by the light receiving unit, thereby detecting the upper end detection sensor 26. It is detected that the single sheet 62 has arrived at the position.

In FIG. 3, the control unit 50 operates in accordance with a ROM 51 for storing a predetermined control program, a control program stored in the ROM 51, a CPU 52 for controlling each unit, and various data necessary for the CPU 52 to operate. The pulse signal is supplied to the RAM 53 that performs the operation, the conveyance roller 29 connected to the motor (not shown), the conveyance control circuit 54 that controls the conveyance of the single-sheet paper 62, and the drive roller 36 that is connected to the motor (not shown). Then, under the control of the drive control circuit 55 for controlling the operation of the movable base 25 and the CPU 52, the light emitting portions of the upper end detection sensor 26 and the full stack sensor 39 are controlled to emit light to the single-sheet paper 62 and from the light receiving portion. A detection circuit that receives an output electric signal, converts it into digital data, and supplies it to the CPU 52 6, has an external interface 57 for connecting the printer 1.
Each of these units is connected to the CPU 52 via the data bus 58, and conveys and stacks the single-sheet paper 62 under the control of the CPU 52.

The operation of the stacker 21 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the stacking operation of the stacker, FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the stacker showing the maximum stacking state of the single sheet before the movable table is raised, and FIG. 6 is a diagram of the stacker showing the state where the movable table is raised. FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the stacker showing a stacked state of single sheets after the movable table is raised, and FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the stacker showing a maximum stacked state after the movable table is raised.

First, as a preset, information on the maximum number of sheets that can be stacked neatly without folding the single sheet 62 on the stacker 21 is input from the input unit 15 of the printer 1 and stored in the RAM 43. The maximum number of sheets to be loaded is arbitrarily input by the operator based on the length, stiffness, weight, etc. of the single-sheet paper 62 and the actual measurement value. It is also possible to input the maximum stack number information from a host computer connected to an external interface (not shown).

In FIG. 4, the number of single sheets 62 printed (or discharged) by the printer 1 is counted by the control unit 40 of the printer 1, and whether or not this counted number has reached the maximum number of stacked sheets stored in the RAM 43 in advance. That is, it is determined whether or not the maximum number of single-sheet sheets 62 that can be neatly stacked on the bottom surface 17 of the stacker 21 without being folded. (Step S1).

As shown in FIG. 5, when the maximum number of stacked sheets is reached, a stop signal is output from the control unit 40 of the printer 1 to the control unit 50 of the stacker 21 via the external interface 48 (step S2). The print conveyance operation of the printer 1 is stopped by the stop signal, and the control unit 50 of the stacker 21 stops the motor (not shown) of the conveyance unit 23 to stop the conveyance of the single sheet 62 (step S3).

The drive control circuit 55 drives the drive unit 24 to raise the movable table 25 as shown in FIG. 6, and lift the single-sheet paper 62 stacked on the bottom surface 17 onto the movable table 25 (step S4). The movable base 25 is raised, and it is determined whether or not the single sheet 62 stacked on the top of the movable base 25 is detected by the upper end detection sensor 26 (step S5), and the upper end detection sensor 26 detects the single sheet 62. If it detects, the movable stand 25 will be stopped (step S6).

After the movable base 25 is stopped, a drive signal is output from the control unit 50 of the stacker 21 to the control unit 40 of the printer 1 via the external interface 57 (step S7). In response to the drive signal, the printer 1 restarts the print conveyance operation, and the control unit 50 of the stacker 21 drives a motor (not shown) of the conveyance unit 23 to convey the single-sheet paper 62 and move up after moving up as shown in FIG. Stacks sequentially on the bottom surface 17 below the table 25 (step S8).

Whether the number of single sheets 62 counted by the control unit 40 of the printer 1, that is, the number of single sheets 62 stacked on the bottom surface 17 below the movable platform 25 after reaching the maximum stack number stored in the RAM 43 is reached. Is determined (step S9).

In step S 9, when the number of single sheets 62 counted by the control unit 40 of the printer 1 has reached the maximum stack number stored in the RAM 43, the control of the stacker 21 is controlled from the control unit 40 of the printer 1 via the external interface 48. A stop signal is output to the unit 50 (step S11).
If the number of single sheets 62 counted by the control unit 40 of the printer 1 does not reach the maximum number of sheets stored in the RAM 43 in step S 9, the single sheet 62 with the full stack sensor 39 stacked on the bottom surface 17. Is detected (step S10).

In step 10, if the full stack sensor 39 does not detect the single sheet 62 as shown in FIG. 7, the process proceeds to step 9 and the above-described processing is repeated.
In step S10, when the full stack sensor 39 detects the single-sheet paper 62 stacked on the bottom surface 17 as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 50 of the stacker 21 via the external interface 56 of the printer 1 A stop signal is output to the control unit 40 (step S11).

The operation of the printer 1 and the stacker 21 is stopped by a stop signal from the printer or the stacker (step S12), and the operator is notified that the printer 1 or the stacker 21 is in a full stack state by a buzzer (not shown) (step S13). .

As described above, in the best mode for carrying out the present invention, the maximum number of single sheets 62 that can be neatly stacked without being bent on the bottom surface 17 of the stacker 21 is once lifted by the movable base 25 and then the single sheet 62 is removed from the bottom surface 17. Since the total weight of the single-sheet paper 62 loaded on the bottom surface 17 can be loaded without affecting the single-sheet paper 62 to be newly loaded, more single-sheet paper 62 can be loaded without being bent. can do.

1 is a side view of a stacker and a printer connected to the stacker according to the present invention. The schematic perspective view of a stacker. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a stacker and a printer. The flowchart figure explaining operation | movement of a stacker. The schematic side view of a stacker which shows the maximum loading state of the single-sheet paper before a movable stand raises. The schematic side view of a stacker which shows the state which raised the movable stand. The schematic side view of a stacker which shows the loading state of the single sheet after a movable stand raises. The schematic side view of a stacker which shows the maximum loading state of the single-sheet paper after a movable stand raises.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Supply part 3 Sensor 4 Thermal transfer unit 5 Printing part 6 Cutting part 7 Ribbon supply axis 8 Ribbon take-up axis 9 Thermal head 10 Platen roller 11 Fixed blade 12 Movable blade 14 Display part 15 Input part 16 Groove 17 Bottom face 18 Detection hole 20 Heat Transfer Ribbon 21 Stacker 22 Stacker Main Body 23 Conveying Unit 24 Driving Unit 25 Movable Stand 26 Upper End Detection Sensor 27 Front Surface 28 Side 29 Conveying Roller 30 Conveying Belt 31 Groove Auxiliary Roller 32 Groove 33 Pressing Roller 34 Shaft 35 Fixed Member 36 Driving Roller 37 Driving Belt 38 Followed roller 39 Full stack sensor 40, 50 Controller 41, 51 ROM
42, 52 CPU
43, 53 RAM
44, 54 Conveyance control circuit 45 Print control circuit 46, 56 Detection circuit 47 Interface 48, 57 External interface 49, 58 Data bus 55 Drive control circuit 61 Continuous paper 62 Single sheet paper

Claims (2)

A stacker that stacks single-sheet paper printed by a printing device in order from the bottom,
A bottom surface on which the single-sheet paper is loaded;
A movable platform for placing single-sheet paper loaded on the bottom;
Drive means for moving the movable table up and down;
Control means for driving the drive means to raise the movable table when a predetermined number of single sheets stacked on the bottom surface reach;
An upper end detection sensor for detecting the upper end of the single sheet on the movable table,
The stacker characterized in that when the control unit reaches a predetermined number of single sheets stacked on the bottom surface, the driving means is driven to raise the movable table to a position detected by the upper end detection sensor . 2. The stacker according to claim 1, further comprising a full stack sensor which is provided near the lower part of the movable table and detects the upper end of the single-sheet paper loaded on the bottom surface after the movable table is raised.

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