JP4909236B2 - Media printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and portable printer equipped with a convenient magnetic read and write device. <P>SOLUTION: A stepping motor 20 drives a platen 29 in a vertical direction and actuates the spinning of a first and second conveying rollers 21, 22 while actuating the vertical movement of a magnetic head part 31 through the platen 29 and the interlocking mechanism. If the platen 29 moves in the estrangement direction against a printing head 24 of a printing part 23, the contact part 36 of the interlocking mechanism 33 is pushed below, and the whole turns around an interlocking rotary shaft 35 in the clockwise direction, and the lift part 37 of the interlocking mechanism 33 moves upwards, then the magnetic head part 31 is shifted to the direction of a magnetic head pressing member 32 through an energizing member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium printing apparatus including a magnetic data reading unit and a writing unit.

  Conventionally, for depositing and withdrawing deposits deposited in financial institutions such as banks, a cash card is inserted into the ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) card slot installed in the post office, bank, or in the city. The bank book of savings and savings was inserted into the bankbook insertion slot, the savings and withdrawals were taken in and out, and the balance was recorded in the bankbook.

  Usually, the cash card is provided with a belt-like magnetic part on the back surface, and at least an ID (identification) code such as an account number necessary for conducting a transaction with the cash card is recorded on the magnetic part.

  In addition, a band-like magnetic part is formed on the back cover side of the bankbook as well as the cash card. In the magnetic part, at least data indicating an ID such as an account number corresponding to a passbook, a print line final position, and the like is recorded.

  When this passbook is inserted into the ATM passbook slot, the ATM first transports the passbook, the magnetic head comes into contact with the magnetic part of the passbook, reads the record of the magnetic part, and the ID or print line final position ( That is, the print start page and print start line) are confirmed.

  Then, the print head starts printing on the passbook. When the print head prints on the passbook, the platen and the print head move relatively in the close contact direction to sandwich the print line portion of the passbook.

  The magnetic head is also provided with a member called a magnetic head presser that has the same function as the platen for the print head. When the magnetic head reads or writes a record in the magnetic part of the passbook, the magnetic head and the magnetic head presser It moves relative to the close contact direction and sandwiches the magnetic part of the bankbook.

  As a printing device for printing on a booklet-like print medium such as the above passbook, considering that the thickness of the print medium varies depending on the print position, it can be swung according to the thickness of the print medium. There is a technology that discloses a printing apparatus that arranges an oscillated swing platen and a fixed platen in combination and performs high-quality printing up to the vicinity of the binding portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, local post offices and bank officials usually take cash and passbooks for customers who do not have the freedom of time or lack of freedom, and take deposits and saves on their behalf. After printing the deposit and savings record in the bankbook, the bankbook is sent to the customer and handed over.

  In the case of withdrawal of deposits and savings, a foreign agent deposits the bankbook and takes it home, and on behalf of the withdrawal of deposits and savings, the deposit and withdrawal are printed on the bankbook, and then the cash and bankbook withdrawn are sent to the customer and handed over. Have done that.

  If the person who deposits and saves goes to a post office or bank to deposit or withdraw deposits and savings, it is only necessary to go to the post office or bank in one round trip. Two round trips are required, which is extremely inefficient in terms of labor and time.

  If there is a simple passbook printing device that can be carried by a foreign agent, when depositing savings, it is only necessary to receive the deposit, print a record of the deposit in the passbook on the spot, and pass the passbook to the person himself / herself. Also, when withdrawing deposits and savings, it is only necessary to pay from the spare cash that is carried around, print the payment record on the passbook on the spot, and pass the passbook to the principal.

From the point of view of just a small printing device, it is possible to reduce the size of the printer by converting the rotational motion of a single rotational drive source into rotational motion at the motion converter and driving multiple members. Have been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).
JP-A 61-279579 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-117303

  By the way, the printing apparatus for printing on a binding booklet-shaped printing medium in Patent Document 1 is mainly intended to perform high-quality printing to the vicinity of the binding portion, and the swinging platen is positioned so as to be swingable. Therefore, a large and heavy device such as solenoids 7A and 7B is used.

  In this Patent Document 1, there is no description of the configuration or operation related to reading and writing of the magnetic part, but if this printing apparatus also reads and writes the magnetic part, the magnetic part Since the reading and writing of the recording are also affected by the variation in the thickness of the booklet-like print medium, a rocking magnetic head presser is required like the rocking platen. Therefore, it is necessary to use a large and heavy device similar to the solenoids 7A and 7B for the magnetic read / write unit.

  From this, it is considered that the technique of Patent Document 1 is assumed to be used as a printing device arranged in a floor-mounted large-sized device such as ATM. However, the structure using a dedicated solenoid or the like that requires a large amount of electric power disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot be used for a portable small passbook printer that requires battery driving.

  Further, in the printer that drives a plurality of members with a single rotational drive source in Patent Document 2, the movement of the four members is performed by the rotational motion converted from the single rotational drive source, that is, width adjustment, shutter opening / closing. , Transport auxiliary guide movement, and platen up and down.

  According to FIG. 4 of Patent Document 2, the width aligning roller 314 that performs the width alignment is an apparatus that always moves the medium P toward the conveyance reference plane H side of the conveyance guide G by following the conveyance roller 311. Similarly, according to FIG. 8, the shutter 402 is a shutter that partially shields the magnetic read / write opening 401 when the medium P is transported, and the transport auxiliary guide 501 is configured to open the opening where the platen 602 moves up and down. It is a member that guides the medium P while being partially shielded when the P is conveyed.

  In this patent document 2, when the shape of FIG. 2 is glanced, it turns out that it is not a large-sized printer like the floor-mounted type as miniaturization is sought. However, performing the width alignment indicates that there are a plurality of sizes of media to be printed.

  Therefore, it is clear that it is not intended for printing passbooks with a certain standard, and considering this and the configuration shown in FIGS. However, it is considered that it cannot be constructed as a small device that can be carried around by a foreigner with a single hand.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and includes a portable magnetic reading / writing device and a portable printing device that is equipped with the magnetic reading / writing device and is small and light enough to be carried by a small hand with one hand. Is to provide.

The medium printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit that performs a printing process on a printing medium, a platen that sandwiches the printing medium between the printing unit when the printing unit performs the printing process, and the printing platen that includes the printing unit. A drive unit that moves in a close-contact direction or a separation direction with respect to a printing unit, a magnetic head unit that reads or writes magnetic data recorded in a magnetic recording unit included in the print medium, and the magnetic head unit includes the magnetic data When reading or writing, the magnetic head pressing member that sandwiches the print medium with the magnetic head unit, and the platen moves in a direction away from the print unit. As the platen moves in the close contact direction with respect to the head pressing member, or as the platen moves in the close contact direction with respect to the print portion, the magnetic head portion is opposed to the magnetic head pressing member. And a linkage mechanism for moving the divergence direction Te, the interlocking mechanism may be disposed on the deviation direction of the platen, when the platen is moved in the divergence direction with respect to the printing unit, the deviation direction of the platen An abutting portion that abuts against the surface of the disc and is pushed in the direction of separation, a support shaft when the corresponding contact portion rotates in both forward and reverse directions, and extends in a direction opposite to the abutting portion with respect to the support shaft. The magnetic head unit integral with the contact part, and rotating in the same direction as the contact part with the support shaft as a fulcrum in response to the contact part being pushed in the separation direction by the platen. A pulling portion that moves and biases the magnetic head portion in the direction of the magnetic head pressing member .

For example, the interlocking mechanism moves the magnetic head in the contact direction with respect to the magnetic head pressing member, and closes the platen to the print unit. The platen and the magnetic head are positioned so as to be positioned at a position where the platen and the magnetic head are not projected into the medium conveyance path.

Upper Symbol interlocking mechanism, for example, is mounted slidably in the axial direction of the support shaft.

  The medium printing apparatus is a case where a printing process is performed on a booklet-shaped medium having a crease at the center of the spread and having a magnetic recording unit at a position orthogonal to the conveyance direction. A first transport roller unit that sandwiches and transports the print medium in the vicinity of the carry-out port, and the print medium is sandwiched at a position farther from the carry-in / carry-out port than the first transport roller unit. A second transport roller unit that transports the print medium when the print medium is at a maximum movement position, and the maximum transport direction is greater than the fold at the center of the spread of the print medium. The print medium is arranged at a position where the print medium is sandwiched on the side.

  According to the present invention, a simple magnetic reading / writing device having an interlocking mechanism for moving a magnetic head in the direction of a magnetic head pressing member in conjunction with a moving platen, and the magnetic reading / writing device, which is held in a small arm with one hand. Therefore, it is possible to provide a portable printing apparatus that is small and light enough to be carried around.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1A is an external perspective view showing a printing apparatus according to an embodiment together with a print medium. FIG. 1B is a spread print surface of the print medium on the left, a spread side of the print medium in the center, and a right side. FIG. As shown in FIG. 1A, the printing apparatus 1 includes a base 2 and a housing 3 that covers the base 2.

  The housing 3 includes a rotating lid 4 at the upper rear portion, and protruding portions 5 (5a, 5b) that extend obliquely downward are formed on both front sides from the rotating lid 4. A power switch 7 and a notification lamp 8 are arranged on the operation panel 6 on the upper surface of the front portion where the slope of one protruding portion 5a is slightly gentle. For example, the notification lamp 8 includes an LED (light-emitting-diode) that emits R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

  Further, in the central part in front of the rotating lid 4 of the casing 3 sandwiched between the protruding parts 5 on both sides, a front face 9 that is inclined obliquely downward and a substantially horizontal guide face 10 are formed below the front face 9. Has been. A loading / unloading port 11 is formed between the lower end portion of the front surface 9 and the rear end portion of the guide surface 10.

For example, the printing apparatus 1 has an installation area of about A4 size, that is, when it is placed on A4 size paper, the end of the paper protrudes from the lower four sides of the printing device 1, and the height is about 80 mm. It is so heavy that it can be held with one hand on the side. That is,
The size and weight of a bank and other financial institutions can be carried in a bag together with a laptop personal computer.

  The print medium 12 is, for example, a bank passbook or a post office savings passbook, and is guided by the guide surface 10 and is carried into the housing 3 from the loading / unloading port 11 as indicated by an arrow a. As shown by b, it is carried out from the housing 3 to the outside.

  A printing line 13 is formed in the spread printing surface 13 shown on the left side of FIG. 1B of the printing medium 12 in the horizontal direction of the figure, and includes, for example, date, remarks, deposit amount of deposit and saving, withdrawal amount , And the balance are printed.

  1B, the upper side is a front cover 14 and the lower side is a back cover 15. The print line 13 is printed at a predetermined position on the back cover 15. A magnetic recording portion 16 is formed in a direction orthogonal to the direction.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part inside the printing apparatus 1. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 1 includes a conveyance escape port 17 serving as a relief portion at the front end of conveyance when the carry-in position of the print medium 12 reaches the maximum movement position on the back surface of the housing 3. . A front guide unit 18 and a rear guide unit 19, which are composed of two upper and lower plates (may be slat-like plates) for guiding the conveyance of the printing medium 12 between the carry-in / carry-out port 11 and the conveyance escape port 17. It has.

In the vicinity of the inside of the carry-in / carry-out port 11, a first transport roller unit 21 composed of a roller pair is disposed.
The first transport roller portion 21 is disposed so as to partially penetrate the front guide portion 18 and is inserted from the carry-in / out port 11 as shown by the arrow a in FIG. And carry (carrying in / out, the same applies hereinafter).

  Further, the second transport roller unit 22 composed of a roller pair is located at a position farther from the loading / unloading port 11 than the first transport roller unit 21 (a position close to the inside of the transport escape port 17 in the figure). It is arranged.

The second transport roller unit 22 is disposed so as to partially penetrate the rear guide unit 19 and cooperates with the first transport roller unit 21 to sandwich and transport the print medium 12.
The first transport roller portion 21 and the second transport roller portion 22 are driven by a stepping motor 20 disposed inside the protruding portion 5b via a drive system including a gear and a toothed belt (not shown). Is rotated.

  A printing unit 23 is disposed between the front guide unit 18 and the rear guide unit 19. The print unit 23 includes a print head 24, a carriage 25 that holds the print head 24, a ball screw 26 that slidably holds the carriage 25 via a ball nut (not shown) of the carriage 25, and the like.

  The ball screw 26 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor 27 disposed on the opposite side in the paper surface depth direction from the printing unit 23 via a drive system including a gear system (not shown). As a result, the carriage 25, that is, the printing unit 23 reciprocates in the depth direction of the paper.

  Note that the ball nut of the carriage 25 may be a simple round hole, the ball screw 26 may be a simple round bar or pipe, and the carriage 25 may be reciprocated via a drive system including a gear and a toothed belt.

  The printing unit 23 and the ribbon cassette 27 are fixedly suspended on the back surface of the rotating lid 4. When the rotating lid 4 is opened at the internal opening position 4 ′ with the hinge shaft 28 as the rotation fulcrum, the printing unit 23 and the ribbon cassette 27 follow the opening movement of the rotating lid 4 and the opening position 23 ′ and Move to 27 '.

  A platen 29 is arranged extending in the depth direction of the paper so as to face the print head 24 of the printing unit 23 across the printing medium conveyance path formed by the front guide unit 18 and the rear guide unit 19. .

  The platen 29 is driven by a drive transmission system of the stepping motor 20 that is switched by a switching mechanism (not shown), and moves in the vertical direction. That is, it moves in the close contact direction and the deviation direction with respect to the print head 24 of the print unit 23.

Further, the magnetic reading / writing device 30 is arranged at a predetermined position substantially along the axis of the first transport roller unit 21.
The magnetic reading / writing device 30 is interlocked with the movement of the platen 29 that moves in the close contact direction or the detachment direction with respect to the magnetic head unit 31, the magnetic head pressing member 32, and the printing unit 23 (that is, the printing head 24). An interlocking mechanism 33 that moves the magnetic head unit 31 in the direction of separation or in the close contact direction with respect to the magnetic head pressing member 32 is provided.

The magnetic head pressing member 32 is slidably fitted to the shaft 34 and positioned at a predetermined position, and then fixed to the shaft 34.

The magnetic head portion 31 is rotatably fixed to the printing apparatus main body frame by a fixing member described later at a position facing the positioned magnetic head pressing member 32.
The interlocking mechanism 33 is fitted to the interlocking rotating shaft 35 and is supported by the interlocking rotating shaft 35 so as to be slidable and rotatable.

The interlocking mechanism 33 is disposed in the direction of separation of the platen 29 with respect to the print head 24, and when the platen 29 moves in the direction of separation with respect to the printing unit 23, the interlocking mechanism 33 comes into contact with the surface 29 a of the platen 29 in the direction of separation. The contact part 36 pushed by is provided.

  Further, the interlocking mechanism 33 extends in the opposite direction to the abutting part 36 with respect to the interlocking rotating shaft 35 when the abutting part 36 rotates in both forward and reverse directions, and is integrated with the abutting part 36. A lifting portion 37 is provided.

  The pulling portion 37 is rotated in the same direction as the abutting portion 36 (clockwise in the figure) with the interlocking rotation shaft 35 as a fulcrum in response to the abutting portion 36 being pushed in the direction of separation of the platen 29 relative to the print head 24. The magnetic head portion 31 is urged in the direction of the magnetic head pressing member 32 through an urging member described later in detail.

  A circuit board 38 on which electronic parts such as a control device are mounted is disposed at the bottom of the base 2. In addition to the mounted electronic components, a built-in battery 39 that is detachably mounted is cable-connected to the circuit board 38.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing only the printing unit 23, the platen 29, and the magnetic reading / writing device 30 configured as described above.
4 (a) and 4 (b) show a view of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction of the arrow e on the left, and a view of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction of the arrow f on the right.

3 and 4 (a) and 4 (b), the same components as in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. Also shown are the minimum attachments necessary for the description.
3 and 4 (a) and 4 (b), as described above, the platen 29 is driven by switching the drive transmission system of the stepping motor 20, and the print head 24 of the print unit 23 is indicated by an arrow c. It moves in the close contact direction shown and the deviation direction shown by the arrow d. This movement is detected by the platen sensor 40, whereby the platen 29 is set at a predetermined position.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the platen 29 moves in a direction away from the print head 24, the contact portion 36 of the interlocking mechanism 33 that contacts the surface 29 a in the direction of separation of the platen 29 moves in the direction of separation of the platen 29. Pressed. As a result, the abutting portion 36 and the lifting portion 37 integral with the abutting portion 36 rotate in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow g with the interlocking rotation shaft 35 as a fulcrum.

When the interlocking mechanism 33 is rotated in the clockwise direction, an urging member (for example, a pulling spiral spring as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b)) 41 whose upper end is locked to the end of the lifting portion 37 is formed. It is stretched upward.

  The lower end portion of the urging member 41 is locked to the locking portion 43 of the rotation support member 42. Therefore, the rotation support member 42 is pulled upward by the restoring force in the contraction direction of the biasing member 41 due to the biasing member 41 being stretched upward.

  Thereby, the rotation support member 42 rotates counterclockwise as shown by an arrow h in FIG. 4A with the support shaft 44 as a fulcrum. The support shaft 44 is engaged with a fixed portion 45, and the fixed portion 45 is slidably fixed so as to be sandwiched by, for example, screws and nuts from above and below the groove-like long hole of the printing apparatus main body frame 46. Yes.

  A magnetic head holding member 48 that holds the magnetic head 31 is supported by another support shaft 47 at the rotation free end of the rotation support member 42 that rotates counterclockwise about the support shaft 44.

  Accordingly, the magnetic head 31 is interposed via the magnetic head holding member 48 by the support member 42 that is lifted upward and biased in the direction of the arrow h by the restoring force of the biasing member 41 in the contraction direction. As shown by the arrow i, the magnetic head pressing member 32 is urged in a close contact direction.

  In FIG. 3, only the fitting hole 49 is shown in the magnetic head pressing member 32, and a shaft 34 (FIGS. 3, 4A, (A), (F) is inserted into the fitting hole 49 to support the magnetic head pressing member 32. Illustration of b)) is omitted.

  On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the platen 29 moves in the direction in close contact with the print head 24, the abutting portion of the interlocking mechanism 33 that abuts on the surface 29a in the divergence direction of the platen 29, as shown in FIG. 36 is released from the pressing of the platen 29.

As a result, the interlocking mechanism 33 rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow j in FIG. 4 (b) by the restoring force in the contraction direction of the biasing member 41 engaged with the pulling portion 37 of the interlocking mechanism 33. .
At the same time, the support member 42 released from the pulling urging force from the interlocking mechanism 33 is accompanied by the urging force of the urging member (not shown) with the magnetic head portion 31 (or its own weight may be used). Rotate clockwise as indicated by k. As a result, the magnetic head unit 31 moves in a direction away from the magnetic head pressing member 32 as indicated by an arrow m.

  Here, the state shown in FIG. 4A is applied to the magnetic recording unit 16 provided on the back cover 15 of the print medium 12 shown on the right side of FIG. The setting state when reading or writing magnetic data is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when the platen 29 'is in close contact with the print head 24, the platen 23 is placed on the spread print surface 13 of the print medium 12 shown on the left in FIG. 29 shows a setting state in the case of printing date, remarks, deposit amount, withdrawal amount, balance, and the like in cooperation with 29.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the state in which the platen 29 does not block the medium conveyance path indicates a conveyance state in which the medium is conveyed on the conveyance path.
FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the printing apparatus 1 in the above configuration. As shown in FIG. 5, the control system of the printing apparatus 1 includes a transmission / reception task 51, a system management task 52, a transport control / magnetic control task 53, a print editing task 54, a print control task 55, and the like.

  Arrows that reciprocate in both directions in the figure indicate data or command transmission / reception paths, and one-way arrows indicate the direction of control. Each of the above-mentioned tasks cooperate or share to control various drivers.

  The printer 1 includes at least a head driver 57, a motor control driver 58, a sensor control driver 59, a magnetic control driver 60, a Bluetooth control driver 61, a serial control driver 62, an operation panel control driver 63, a flash ROM (read-only-). memory) A driver such as a control driver 64 is mounted.

  The print editing task 54 develops print image data in the image buffer 56, and the print control task 55 controls the head driver 57 and the sensor control driver 59 while referring to the print image data developed in the image buffer 56.

The transport control / magnetic control task 53 includes a motor control driver 58 and a sensor control driver 59.
And the magnetic control driver 60 is controlled. The transmission / reception task 51 controls the Bluetooth control driver 61 and the serial control driver 62, and the system management task 52 controls the operation panel control driver 63 and the flash ROM control driver 64. Each of these drivers drives each part via an I / O (input / output interface) 65.

  For example, the head driver 57 prints the print elements of the print head 24 in accordance with the print image data. As a result, the date, remarks, deposit amount, withdrawal amount, balance, and the like are printed by the printing unit 23 on the spread printing surface 13 of the printing medium 12 shown on the left in FIG.

  The motor control driver 58 drives the stepping motor 20 to rotate forward and reverse. Thereby, according to the switching of the drive transmission system, the first transport roller unit 21 and the second transport roller unit 22 are driven to rotate forward and backward in some cases, and the platen 29 moves up and down in some cases.

  Further, the sensor control driver 59 drives the platen sensor 40 and sensors of each part not shown in FIG. 2 and monitors the output. Thereby, the amount of rotation and the amount of movement of each part are controlled to a predetermined number of rotations or a predetermined position.

  The magnetic control driver 60 controls the magnetic head 31. Thereby, the magnetic reading / writing device 30 reads, writes, and executes magnetic data on the magnetic recording unit 16 provided on the back cover 15 of the printing medium 12 shown on the right side of FIG. .

  Further, the Bluetooth control driver 61 drives and controls the wireless transmission / reception unit 70. As a result, Bluetooth standard wireless communication can be performed with the portable terminal 72, and the printing apparatus 1 operates in response to an instruction from the portable terminal 72.

  The serial control driver 62 controls input / output of the RC232C interface 66 not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, for example, print data is communicated between the printing apparatus 1 and an external device connected to the RC232C interface 66 in an office where an outsider using the printing apparatus 1 returns.

  The operation panel control driver 63 controls the output of the notification lamp 8 of the operation panel 6. As a result, the notification lamp 8 performs notification to the outside by turning on, blinking, and turning off the LED of a predetermined emission color according to the operation of each part of the printing apparatus 1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing operations executed by the system management task 52 in the above configuration.
7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D are operation state diagrams for explaining the operation of the main part of the present embodiment in the above processing operation. In FIG. 7, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. The numbers shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are not shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D.

  In FIG. 6, process A indicates an initial setting operation, process B indicates a magnetic reading operation, process C indicates a printing operation, and process D indicates a magnetic writing (rewriting) operation. In the printing apparatus 1, when the printer is stopped before the power is turned on, the printing unit 23 is located above the printing position, and the platen 29 is located above the printing medium conveyance path and is stopped.

First, in the initial setting operation of the process A, when the power of the printing apparatus 1 is turned on by an outsider's hand (step S1), the position of the platen 29 is detected (step S2). This process is a process of detecting whether or not the platen 29 is at the home position by the platen sensor 20.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the home position of the platen 29 is a position where the upper surface of the platen 29 is at the same height as the print medium conveyance path, and a position where the magnetic head does not protrude into the print medium conveyance path. is there.

  When the platen 29 has not yet reached the home position (S2 is NO), the platen 29 is lowered (S3), and the detection process of step S2 is performed again.

Then, when it is detected that the platen 29 has come to the home position (S2 is YES), the initial setting is completed.
Since the platen 29 is positioned at the same height as the print medium conveyance path at the home position, the leading end in the conveyance direction of the print medium 12 conveyed along the print medium conveyance path from the front guide unit 18 to the rear guide unit 19 is The trouble caught on the front end portion of the guide portion 19 can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the print medium 12 inserted from the loading / unloading port 11 is forward and backward as shown by arrows n in FIGS. 7 (a), (b) and (c). Is transported (in / out).
Further, when the platen 29 is in this home position, the contact portion 36 of the interlocking mechanism 33 is released from the pressing of the platen 29 as in the case of FIG. As described with reference to FIG. 4B, the magnetic head 31 moves in a direction away from the magnetic head pressing member 32.

As a result, the print medium transport path formed by the front guide unit 18 and the rear guide unit 19 is opened from the platen 29 and the magnetic head 31 for transporting the print medium.
Here, when the drive transmission system of the stepping motor 20 is switched, the platen 29 stops at the home position, and the first transport roller unit 21 and the second transport roller unit 22 are rotationally driven in the forward direction.

Next, in the magnetic reading operation of process B, when the optical sensor 71 (not shown) installed in the vicinity of the front guide portion 18 detects the insertion of the medium, the print medium carrying-in operation is started (step S4). When the optical sensor 71 detects that the recording / reading start position of the magnetic recording unit 16 has reached the position of the magnetic head 31, the drive transmission system of the stepping motor 20 is switched, and the carry-in operation is stopped. (Step S5)
The position of the recording medium 12 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B shows a state where the recording / reading start position of the magnetic recording unit 16 comes to the position of the magnetic head 31 and stops as described above.

  Subsequently, the platen 29 is lowered (step S6). In this process, as indicated by an arrow o in FIG. 7C, the platen 29 is lowered to push down the contact portion 36 of the interlock mechanism 33. As a result, the interlocking mechanism 33 rotates in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow p, and as described with reference to FIG. 4 (a), the magnetic head portion 31 is magnetically moved as indicated by the arrow q in FIG. 7 (c). The head pressing member 32 is biased in a direction in close contact with the head pressing member 32.

  Here, since the carrying-in operation is resumed and the platen and the print head unit are separated from each other, the magnetic head unit 31 performs magnetic recording from the magnetic unit 16a of the magnetic recording unit 16 of the print medium 12 by being conveyed at low speed without being disturbed. A process of reading data is started (step S7).

  Although not shown in FIG. 7, when the rear end of the print medium 12 in the carry-in direction reaches the position of the first transport roller section 21, the recording / reading end position of the magnetic section 16 a becomes the position of the magnetic head 31. come.

At this time, the front cover 14 in the carrying direction of the print medium 12 and the portion of the spread print surface 13 overlapping therewith protrude outside from the conveyance escape port 17 shown in FIG.
In this state, the drive transmission system of the stepping motor 20 is switched, and the loading operation of the printing medium 12 is stopped (step S8). Instead, the platen 29 is again at the home position, that is, a height that does not block the printing medium conveyance path. Ascend (step S9).

As a result, the magnetic head unit 31 is lowered as described above, and the print medium conveyance path is opened from the platen 29 and the magnetic head 31 again for conveyance (movement) of the print medium.
Subsequently, the printing operation of process C is started. That is, the drive transmission system of the stepping motor 20 drives the platen 29 upward and stops it at a predetermined position. Next, the conveyance motor (not shown) is driven, and the printing medium 12 starts to move by switching to the rotational drive of the first and second conveyance roller portions 21 and 22 (step S10) and stops at a predetermined position. (Step S11).

  In this process, in the magnetic reading operation of process B, the data indicating the last line of recording on the spread print surface 13 is read together with the passbook owner ID and the magnetic data of the deposit and saving, and based on the data indicating the last line of recording. When the current recording start line of the printing medium 12 is recognized and the recording starting line reaches a position (predetermined position) facing the print head 24 of the printing unit 23, the conveyance (movement) of the printing medium 12 is stopped. Is done.

  Here, the platen 29 ascends from the home position in the print medium conveyance path until it abuts against an abutting portion (not shown) of the print head 24 as indicated by an arrow r in FIG. 7D (step S12). ). As a result, the stepping motor 20 is stepped out and then stopped, and the platen 29 is also stopped (step S13).

  Thereafter, the stepping motor 20 rotates by a predetermined step, the platen 29 is lowered to a position away from the print head 24 by a specified distance, and is moved to a position where the print head and the platen are at an appropriate pressure (step S14). As a result, a predetermined gap is formed between the print head 24 and the platen 29, and the recording start line portion of the spread print surface 13 of the print medium 12 is sandwiched in this gap.

  Subsequently, a printing operation is executed (step S15). In this process, for example, the date, remarks, deposit amount or withdrawal amount, balance, etc. are printed on the recording start line by the print head 24 while the printing unit 23 moves along the recording start line of the print medium 12. The

  Further, in this process, when the recording line reaches several lines in addition to the recording start line, the conveyance and printing operations are repeated by the number of recording lines. When all necessary recording printing is completed, the printing operation is stopped. Therefore, in this case, since the magnetic head pressing portion and the magnetic head are separated from each other, the line feed operation is performed without being obstructed, so that the printing process is appropriately performed without being affected by the skew.

  Although not specifically shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the platen 29 is provided on the held portion so that it can cope with the change in the paper thickness of the spread printing surface of the printing medium 12 at the standard position at the time of printing. The urging member can swing up and down.

Following the above, as shown in FIG. 7B, the platen 29 is lowered to the home position, that is, a position that does not block the print medium conveyance path (step S16).
As a result, the magnetic head unit 31 remains in the lowered position, and the print medium conveyance path is opened from both the platen 29 and the magnetic head 31 for conveyance (movement) of the print medium again.

  Finally, the magnetic writing (rewriting) operation of process D is started. First, conveyance of the print medium 12 in the carry-in direction by the first and second conveyance roller portions 21 and 22 is started (step S17).

  Note that the recording / writing start position of the magnetic recording unit 16 is an end on the opposite side to the recording / reading start position shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). That is, the recording / reading end position of the magnetic unit 16a is the recording / writing start position.

Therefore, regardless of which line is the final print position in the printing operation of the process C, in the magnetic writing process, the first print medium 12 is conveyed in the carry-in direction.
Then, when the optical sensor 71 detects that the recording / writing start position of the magnetic recording unit 16 has reached the position of the magnetic head 31, the conveying operation is stopped (step S18).

Also in this case, the front cover 14 in the carry-in direction of the print medium 12 and the portion of the spread print surface 13 that overlaps the front cover 14 project outside from the conveyance escape port 17 shown in FIG.
Subsequently, the platen 29 is lowered (step S19). The interlocking mechanism 33 urges the magnetic head portion 31 in the direction in which the magnetic head portion 31 is in close contact with the magnetic head pressing member 32.

  Here, the carry-out operation is started, and the magnetic recording data writing process to the magnetic part 16a of the print medium 12 by the magnetic head part 31 is started (step S20). In this process, the magnetic data is rearranged in the reverse direction and written.

When the magnetic head 31 reaches the recording / writing end position of the magnetic unit 16a, the carry-out operation stops (step S21).
Subsequently, the carry-in operation is started, and the magnetic head 31 reads the magnetic data record of the magnetic part 16a (step 22). Then, when the reading is completed, the carrying-in is stopped (step S23). Thereby, it is read and confirmed whether the record of the magnetic data just written is correctly written.

  If it is determined by the above reading and checking that the magnetic data record is correctly written, the platen 29 does not block the print medium conveyance path shown in FIG. 7B from the position shown in FIG. The position is raised (step S24). If it is determined that the magnetic data has not been written correctly, the magnetic recording data is written again.

As a result, the magnetic head unit 31 is lowered, and the print medium conveyance path is released from both the platen 29 and the magnetic head 31 for again conveying (moving) the print medium.
And the 1st and 2nd conveyance roller parts 21 and 22 are rotationally driven, the printing medium 12 is discharged | emitted from the carrying in / out 11 (step S25), and carrying out operation | movement stops (step S26).

Thus, depending on the position of the platen 29, each of the transport operation (see FIG. 7B), the magnetic reading operation (see FIG. 7C), and the printing operation (see FIG. 7D) is performed. .
That is, in general, a printing apparatus that prints on a printing medium such as a passbook performs three processing operations: conveyance of the printing medium, reading and writing of magnetic data, and printing on the printing medium.

  In transporting the print medium, the print medium is transported by sandwiching the print medium between the transport rollers and rotating the transport roller. At that time, the platen should not interfere with the conveyance by protruding into the conveyance path of the print medium.

  In reading and writing of magnetic data, the above-described transport operation is performed with the magnetic head pressed against the magnetic recording unit, and reading and writing of the magnetic data are performed. Also in this case, the platen should not interfere with the conveyance by protruding into the conveyance path of the print medium.

  In printing on a print medium, the print medium is moved to a predetermined position by a transport operation and stopped, and then the platen is operated to sandwich the print medium between the print head and the platen. It must be located at regular intervals.

In this example, all of these operations can be executed in conjunction with the three types of lifting operation of the platen.
And conventionally, to drive the movement of the platen and the magnetic head, each had its own power source, but it can be driven by one motor by the interlocking mechanism of this embodiment, Contributes to making printers smaller and lighter.

  Therefore, it is possible to realize a portable printing apparatus that is small and light enough to be carried around with a small hand with one hand. In addition, since the drive motor is commonly used to move the platen and the magnetic head, the power consumption of the power supply battery can be kept low, and long-time driving is possible. Thereby, since the outside staff can go around all day without worrying about the remaining battery level of the portable printing device, more customers can be visited and the service of the customers can be improved.

  In addition, since the magnetic head unit 31 is attached so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the interlocking rotating shaft 35, the magnetic head unit 31 can be moved even if the position of the magnetic recording unit 16 differs depending on the print medium 12. It can be easily dealt with. This is because the position of the magnetic recording part of the passbook is often different for each financial institution, and the customer can move the magnetic head part to an appropriate position as required. For example, when dealing with multiple types of new and old bankbooks due to the integration of financial institutions, by changing the position of the magnetic head appropriately according to the type of bankbook held by the customer, quick processing can be performed and operability is improved. improves.

  Further, the magnetic head needs to be pressed against the magnetic head pressing member with a constant pressure. In the interlocking mechanism of this example, the magnetic head is moved by the biasing member in the direction of the magnetic head pressing member in accordance with the rotational movement of the interlocking mechanism. Since the magnetic head can be easily pressed against the magnetic head pressing member with an appropriate pressure as appropriate, it is possible to reliably read and write magnetic data in the magnetic recording part of the passbook. Become. For example, even if the bankbook is bent or wrinkles are generated, the magnetic head is pressed flexibly by the biasing member with appropriate pressure. Read and write defects can be kept low.

The interlocking mechanism moves the platen away from the print head when reading or writing magnetic data by the magnetic head, and separates the magnetic head from the magnetic head holding member when printing on the medium. Operates to move in the direction. As a result, the print head and the magnetic head are positioned so as not to obstruct each processing, so that the processing can be performed without being affected by the change in the thickness of the medium in the magnetic recording portion or the binding portion of the booklet. Become.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating the characteristics of the arrangement state of the first and second transport roller portions 21 and 22 in the printing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration. FIGS. 7A and 7B show the same arrangement relationship as in FIG. 7A at the top, the same arrangement relationship as in FIG. 7C at the center, and the magnetic head and magnetic recording below. The positional relationship with the part is shown.

Also, in FIG. 8 (a), the minimum components necessary for the explanation are given the same numbers as in FIGS. 1 to 4, and FIG. 8 (b) refers to FIG. 8 (a). Numbers are omitted where possible.

8A and 8B show the binding portion 68 of the print medium 12, the roller gripping portion 69 of the second transport roller portion 22, and the read / write position s of the magnetic head portion 31. FIG.
Here, FIG. 8A shows the arrangement relationship of each part when the magnetic head part 31 is at the reading start position (also the writing end position) of the magnetic part 16a of the print medium 12. FIG.

  FIG. 8B shows the arrangement relationship of each part when the magnetic head part 31 is at the reading end position (also the writing start position) of the magnetic part 16 a of the print medium 12. The state shown in FIG. 8B is also a state when the print medium 12 is at the maximum movement position.

  As shown in FIG. 8 (b), the second transport roller portion 22 is located on the side of the maximum movement direction with respect to the fold (binding portion 68) at the center of the spread of the print medium 12 when the print medium 12 is at the maximum movement position. It is arranged at a position where the print medium 12 is sandwiched (see the roller gripping portion 69) on the right side in the figure.

  While the magnetic head unit 31 reads and writes the magnetic data of the magnetic unit 16a, the magnetic data is transferred when the second transport roller unit 22 rides on the double-page spread printing surface whose thickness is changed by the binding unit 68 or is separated from the paper surface. There arises a problem that the characteristics of the magnetic head unit 31 for reading and writing are adversely affected.

  However, as described above, if the second transport roller portion 22 is always arranged so as to be positioned on the maximum moving direction side (right side in the drawing) with respect to the fold (binding portion 68) at the center of the spread, the magnetic Between the start and end of the data read / write operation, the second conveying roller unit 22 does not run on the facing spread printing surface whose thickness changes at the binding unit 68 or is not separated from the paper surface. The problem that adversely affects the characteristics of the magnetic head unit 31 is eliminated.

  Thus, in the arrangement configuration of the conveyance roller portion of the printing apparatus 1 of this example, stable operation of the conveyance roller and the magnetic head is ensured.

(a) is an external perspective view showing a printing apparatus according to an embodiment together with a print medium, (b) is a view showing a spread print surface of the print medium on the left, a spread side of the print medium in the center, and a spread back on the right. . It is a figure which shows the structure of the principal part inside the printer in one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which takes out and shows only the printing part of the printing apparatus in one embodiment, a platen, and a magnetic reading and writing apparatus. (a), (b) shows the figure which looked at FIG. 3 in the arrow e direction on the left, respectively, and the figure which looked at FIG. 3 in the arrow f direction on the right. FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the printing apparatus according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing operations executed by a system management task in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is an operation state diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of the present embodiment in the processing operation shown in FIG. 6. (a), (b) is a figure explaining the characteristic of the arrangement state of the 1st and 2nd conveyance roller part in the printing apparatus of one Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 2 Base 3 Case 4 Rotating lid 5 (5a, 5b) Projection part 6 Operation panel 7 Power switch 8 Notification lamp 9 Front surface 10 Guide surface 11 Carrying in / out exit 12 Print medium 13 Facing print surface 14 Table Front cover 15 Back cover 16 Magnetic recording unit 16a Magnetic unit 17 Conveyance escape port 18 Front guide unit 19 Rear guide unit 20 Stepping motor 21 First transport roller unit 22 Second transport roller unit 23 Print unit 24 Print head 25 Carriage 26 Ball screw 27 Ribbon cassette 28 Hinge shaft 29 Platen 29a Deviating direction surface 30 Magnetic read / write device 31 Magnetic head portion 32 Magnetic head pressing member 33 Interlocking mechanism 34 Shaft 35 Interlocking rotating shaft 36 Abutting portion 37 Lifting portion 38 Circuit board 39 Built-in Battery 40 Platen sensor 41 Biasing member (example) For example, a pulling spiral spring)
42 Rotating Support Member 43 Locking Section 44 Support Shaft 45 Fixed Section 46 Printing Device Main Body Frame 47 Support Shaft 48 Magnetic Head Holding Member 49 Fitting Hole 51 Transmission / Reception Task 52 System Management Task 53 Transport Control / Magnetic Control Task 54 Print Editing Task 55 Print Control Task 57 Head Driver 58 Motor Control Driver 59 Sensor Control Driver 60 Magnetic Control Driver 61 Bluetooth Control Driver 62 Serial Control Driver 63 Operation Panel Control Driver 64 Flash ROM (read-only-memory) Control Driver 65 I / O (On Output interface)
66 RC232C interface 67 Flash ROM
68 Binding section (perforation)
69 Roller gripping part 70 bluetooth (wireless transmission / reception part)
71 Optical sensor 72 Portable terminal

Claims (4)

A print unit for performing print processing on a print medium;
When the printing unit performs the printing process, a platen that sandwiches the printing medium with the printing unit;
A drive unit for moving the platen in the contact direction or the detachment direction with respect to the printing unit;
A magnetic head unit for reading or writing magnetic data recorded in a magnetic recording unit of the print medium;
A magnetic head pressing member that sandwiches the print medium with the magnetic head unit when the magnetic head unit reads or writes the magnetic data;
As the platen moves in a direction away from the printing unit, the magnetic head unit moves in the contact direction with respect to the magnetic head pressing member, or the platen moves in the contact direction with respect to the printing unit. Accordingly, an interlocking mechanism in which the magnetic head portion moves in a direction away from the magnetic head pressing member;
With
The interlocking mechanism is
An abutting portion arranged in the divergence direction of the platen and abutting against a surface of the divergence direction of the platen and being pushed in the divergence direction when the platen moves in the divergence direction with respect to the printing unit;
A support shaft when the contact portion rotates in both forward and reverse directions;
The magnetic head portion that extends in a direction opposite to the contact portion with respect to the support shaft and is integrated with the contact portion, and the contact portion is pushed in the separation direction by the platen. A lifting portion that rotates in the same direction as the contact portion with the support shaft as a fulcrum, and biases the magnetic head portion in the direction of the magnetic head pressing member;
Configured to have
Medium printing apparatus according to claim and this. The interlocking mechanism is
A position where the magnetic head is moved with respect to the magnetic head pressing member in a close-contact direction to read or write the magnetic data;
A position for moving the platen in the contact direction with respect to the printing unit and performing the printing process;
A position where the platen and the magnetic head perform a medium conveyance process in which they do not protrude into the medium conveyance path;
The medium printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium printing apparatus is positioned at a position. The medium printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the interlocking mechanism is attached to be slidable in an axial direction of the support shaft. In a case where a printing process is performed on a booklet-shaped medium having a crease at the center of the spread and a magnetic recording unit at a position orthogonal to the conveyance direction,
A first transport roller unit that sandwiches and transports the print medium in the vicinity of the loading / unloading port of the print medium;
A second conveying roller unit for nipping and conveying the print medium at a position farther from the loading / unloading port than the first conveying roller unit;
Further comprising
The second transport roller portion is disposed at a position where the print medium is sandwiched on the maximum movement direction side with respect to the fold of the spread center portion of the print medium when the print medium is at the maximum movement position. The medium printing apparatus according to claim 1.