JP5049401B1 - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

A printer capable of improving the throughput regardless of the posture when the rewrite card is taken in is provided.
A storage unit that stores a QR code read by a QR code (registered trademark) reader, a QR code position search unit that searches a posture of the rewrite card from a stored cut symbol of the QR code, and a search result A decoding unit that analyzes data of the QR code stored in the storage unit corresponding to the position of the QR code, an arithmetic process based on the analyzed data and newly input information, and new information after the arithmetic process is obtained. A processing unit for outputting, an editing unit for editing the new information on the top and bottom surfaces of the rewrite card in a direction corresponding to the orientation, and the editing result on the first thermal head and the second thermal head. And a printing control unit for printing.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that prints on a rewritable card (hereinafter referred to as a rewritable card) that can be repeatedly rewritten (printed and erased) by a thermoreversible recording method.

  In recent years, rewrite cards capable of repeatedly rewriting information such as letters and numbers have been widely used for applications such as point cards, commuter passes, prepaid cards, leisure cards, and examination tickets. There is also known a printer that uses a rewritable card provided with a thermoreversible recording layer and rewrites the information by a thermoreversible recording method (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

  The conventional rewrite card has the issuer information such as the card issuer's name and service name printed on the surface of the card, and the name, date of birth, family structure, etc. of the card user (customer) can be rewritten. No or little customer information is recorded invisible, and customer usage history, transaction contents or current status, history information such as earned points, and other variable information are printed in a visible manner. For recording basic information such as issuer information and customer information, a magnetic recording method for recording on a magnetic stripe or the entire magnetic surface and a data recording method for contact or non-contact IC cards are adopted. A thermoreversible recording method is employed in which the thermoreversible recording layer provided on the back surface of the thermoreversible recording layer can be repeatedly decolored and colored by heating (see, for example, Patent Documents 4 to 6).

Japanese Patent No. 3567241 JP 2005-186495 A JP 2004-322348 A JP 2000-94866 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-251042 JP 2002-103654 A

  Therefore, since the conventional rewrite card has a magnetic recording layer (magnetic stripe or full magnetic surface) in contact with the magnetic head of the printer on at least one surface, a thermoreversible recording layer cannot be provided on that surface. As a method, a thermal reversible recording method in which an image is erased and formed by controlling thermal energy applied from each heating element using a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a row at the tip is applied. In this case, since the surface on which the image can be erased or formed is limited to one side of the card, the amount of information that can be recorded is limited. Also, the recording capacity of the magnetic recording layer is small. Therefore, the conventional rewritable card has a problem that there is a limit to the amount of information that can be provided.

  In a conventional printer that rewrites information by a thermoreversible recording method, visible variable information is printed by a thermal head, and erasure is performed by a ceramic heater or a heat roller dedicated to erasure. A magnetic head for reading and recording basic information on the magnetic stripe or the entire magnetic surface is provided. Therefore, since a long conveyance path is required for processing from reading information to rewriting of the rewrite card, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size of the printer.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the applicant of the present application has disclosed, in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-066176, a printer using a thermoreversible recording medium capable of repeatedly performing color development and decoloration by heating. (1) Thermoreversibility It is possible to rewrite as much visible variable information as possible on the recording medium, (2) to shorten the processing time and to reduce the size of the apparatus, and (3) wasteful rewriting operation. In order to solve these problems, the following three inventions have been proposed in order to solve these problems.

  The first invention according to the previous proposal is a printer that prints on a rewrite card coated on both the front and back sides by a thermoreversible recording method with a component that develops and decolors by applying heat energy and cooling. Conveying means along the conveying path, a thermal head capable of applying thermal energy enabling color development and decoloring of the component to the rewritable card to be conveyed, and each of the conveying means and the thermal head The thermal head is arranged up and down across the transport path so as to correspond to the front and back of the rewrite card transported through the transport path. The control means rewrites the rewritable card by the thermal head based on the new information after the arithmetic processing.

According to a second invention related to the previous proposal, in the printer, the basic information and customer information of the rewrite card are represented by QR code (registered trademark) , and the QR code is applied to the surface of the rewrite card conveyed in the take-in direction. A QR code reader for reading the QR code and a first thermal head are provided at a position where reading is performed and a position where information is rewritten, and a second thermal head is provided at a position where rewriting is performed on the back surface of the rewrite card conveyed in the discharge direction. the head is provided, the control means first thermal head with respect to rewritable card being conveyed to write direction preparative based on new information after processing using the information newly input the information read by the QR code reader The rewrite is performed by the second thermal head for the rewrite card conveyed in the ejection direction. That.

  The third invention according to the previous proposal is a method of using the printer, wherein the rewrite card is reciprocally conveyed by the conveying means between the intake / discharge port and the rear of the second thermal head. Process, a process of reading a QR code recorded on a rewrite card conveyed in the take-in direction with a QR code reader, and basic information obtained by reading the QR code on the surface of the rewrite card carried in the take-in direction; A step of printing basic information including a QR code by the first thermal head based on new information after arithmetic processing using newly input information, and the new information on the back surface of the rewrite card conveyed in the discharge direction. A printing process using the second thermal head, and a verification check by reading the QR code rewritten by the first thermal head. It is characterized in further comprising the step of performing. That is, the QR code is read and the card surface is rewritten by the first thermal head when the card is transported in the card loading direction, and the card back surface is rewritten and the QR code by the second thermal head when the card is transported in the card discharge direction. Perform a verify check.

When the above-mentioned invention specific matters are described in detail,
(A) The first invention according to the previous proposal uses a rewritable card in which components that are colored and decolored by application of heat energy and cooling are applied to both front and back surfaces. The rewritable card is provided with a thermoreversible recording layer by applying a component that develops and decolors by applying thermal energy and cooling on both the front and back sides of the support, that is, a mixed material of a leuco dye and a developer. is there. When the colorless leuco dye and the developer are in a decolored state, and when a predetermined amount of heat energy is applied to reach the first specific temperature (170 to 180 ° C.), the cohesive force between molecules is increased. The developer and the leuco dye, which have the property of enhancing and the color of the leuco dye, are melted and the leuco dye develops a color. Further, the developer and the leuco dye melted and crystallized in a colored state are separated by heating at a second specific temperature (120 to 140 ° C.) below the melting point of both, and cooled to be crystallized. And the leuco dye returns to its original colorless state.
The support of the rewritable card is PVC or PET, and the coefficient of thermal expansion is different from that of the thermoreversible recording layer. Therefore, when a thermoreversible recording layer is provided only on one side of the support, stress may be generated by heating during printing to curl the rewrite card, but the rewrite card used in the present invention is on both sides of the support. Since the thermoreversible recording layer is provided, curling of the rewrite card is effectively prevented.

(A) The printer of the first invention according to the previous proposal applies thermal energy to the rewrite card to cause the thermoreversible recording layer to simultaneously perform color development and color erasing, that is, an image forming unit and an image erasing unit. Use a thermal head that doubles as The first invention according to the proposal is that a single thermal head serves as an image forming unit and an image erasing unit, and uses a single thermal head as the image forming unit and a ceramic heater or a heat roller as the image erasing unit. Different.

  The thermal head used in the first invention according to the previous proposal has a large number of minute heating elements arranged in a line at the tip, and heat generation control of each heating element based on printing information given from the host device, that is, A control circuit for controlling heating and cooling; As a general characteristic of the thermal head, the heating element is rapidly heated by voltage application, and the heating element is rapidly cooled by interruption of voltage application. Therefore, by controlling the heat generation based on the print information, it is possible to print an image such as a desired character or number on the thermoreversible recording layer of the rewrite card.

(C) In the printer of the first invention according to the previous proposal, the two thermal heads are attached up and down across the transport path of the rewrite card. One thermal head is used to rewrite basic information and / or variable information on one side of the rewrite card, and the other thermal head is used to rewrite other variable information on the other side of the rewrite card. Used. In other words, the first invention according to the proposal is characterized in that two thermal heads are used on both the front and back surfaces of one rewrite card to repeatedly print and erase an image.

The effects of the above inventions are as follows.
According to the first invention related to the previous proposal, the thermal head is arranged up and down across the conveyance path so as to correspond to the front and back of the rewrite card conveyed along the conveyance path, and print information given from the host device is received. When rewriting is necessary based on this, the rewrite card is rewritten by the thermal head, so that as much of the visible variable information as possible can be rewritten. In addition, since rewriting is performed on the front and back surfaces of the rewrite card by the upper and lower thermal heads, the transport distance and processing time can be reduced, that is, the throughput can be improved, and the apparatus can be downsized. Further, the rewrite card is manufactured by simply applying a component that develops and decolors by applying heat energy and cooling to both sides of the support, and it is not necessary to provide a magnetic recording layer, so that the card manufacturing cost is low.

According to the second invention according to the previous proposal, the QR code reader to perform the reading of the QR code for rewritable card being conveyed to the take - Direction, QR code and variable information to the surface of the rewritable card after reading Is provided with one thermal head for rewriting and another thermal head for rewriting variable information on the back side of the rewrite card conveyed in the ejection direction. Print new QR code (basic information and customer information) and variable information on the front side of the rewrite card and new variable information on the back side based on the new information after the arithmetic processing using the information and newly inputted information. be able to.

  According to the third invention related to the previous proposal, the QR code is read and the card surface is rewritten when the card is conveyed in the card taking direction, and the card back surface is rewritten and the QR code is conveyed when the card is conveyed in the card ejecting direction. Thus, the throughput can be improved so as not to cause unnecessary operations for rewriting.

However, the rewrite card used in the printer according to the above-mentioned proposal is one in which only one QR code is printed on the right side of the front portion of the rewrite card on the one side (front surface) of the rewrite card. Therefore, when the rewrite card is inserted in the correct orientation , that is, when the QR code reader is installed on the upper side of the card transport surface, the surface of the rewrite card faces upward, and the QR code is in the front direction of the rewrite card. When the printer is inserted into the intake / discharge port of the printer in the direction that exists on the right side, the QR code can be read by the QR code reader, so that arithmetic processing for the rewrite card and appropriate rewriting for the rewrite area are executed. If the card is inserted in any other direction (incorrect direction) , the QR code cannot be read by the QR code reader. Therefore, the rewrite card is returned to the loading / ejecting port, and the rewrite card is sent to the rewrite card user. It was necessary to give a voice or text guidance indicating that it should be reinserted in the correct orientation .

  For example, in an environment where there are many customers using rewrite cards such as a ticket gate at a railway station and a cashier counter at a convenience store, if the rewrite card is reinserted frequently, there is a risk that a long queue may occur due to a decrease in throughput. Expected to improve throughput.

Thus, according to the present invention, the information of the rewrite card is represented by the QR code, and the QR code is read at the position where the upper surface (or the lower surface, hereinafter the same) of the rewrite card conveyed in the take-in direction is read. The code reader, the first thermal head at the position where the information is rewritten, and the second position at the position where the information is rewritten with respect to the lower surface (or the upper surface, hereinafter the same) of the rewrite card conveyed in the ejection direction. A thermal head is provided for each of the top surfaces of the rewrite card that is conveyed in the take-in direction based on the information read by the QR code reader and the new information after the arithmetic processing using the newly input information. The QR code and the readable information are rewritten, and other readable information is applied to the lower surface of the rewrite card conveyed in the ejection direction by the second thermal head. In the printer having a control unit by rewriting and QR code reader performs verification checks of the QR code after rewriting, regardless of the orientation how when taking the rewritable card, to provide a printer capable of improving the throughput It is an object.

To achieve the above object, the present invention, the position and information expressed basic information and customer information rewritable card in the QR code, performs reading of the QR code with respect to the upper surface of the rewritable card being conveyed to the take - Direction A QR code reader for reading the QR code and a first thermal head are provided at positions where rewriting is performed, and a second thermal head is provided at a position where rewriting is performed on the lower surface of the rewrite card conveyed in the ejection direction. The first thermal head rewrites the upper surface of the rewrite card transported in the take-in direction based on the new information after the arithmetic processing using the information read by the code reader and the newly input information, and ejected. A printer having control means for rewriting the lower surface of the rewrite card conveyed in the direction by the second thermal head. Te, QR a storage unit in which the code reader stores the QR code took to read, a determination unit orientation when taking the cut symbol or we rewrite card QR code to be the storage, the determined rewritable card A decoding unit that analyzes the QR code data stored in the storage unit corresponding to the orientation at the time of capture , and an arithmetic process based on the analyzed data and newly input information, and a new after the arithmetic process A processing unit for outputting information, an editing unit for editing the new information on the upper and lower surfaces of the rewrite card in an orientation corresponding to the orientation at the time of loading the rewrite card, A thermal head and a print control unit for printing on the second thermal head are provided.

The determination unit , the decoding unit, the editing unit, and the print control unit are configured by a CPU (arithmetic processing unit). The input unit and the processing unit may be provided inside a stand-alone (independent type) printer, or may be a host device connected to the printer.

There are the following three types of rewrite cards applicable to the printer.
The first type of rewrite card is a rectangular card that is symmetrical with respect to a center line that is orthogonal to the short side of the rectangle, and one side of the card (hereinafter referred to as A side) and the other side. Two QR codes each having a positioning symbol in the short side direction are provided at a position close to one short side of the surface (hereinafter referred to as B surface).
“One QR code that has a positioning symbol in the short side direction at a position that is symmetrical with respect to the center line orthogonal to the short side of the rectangle and that is close to one of the short sides of the A and B sides. the two one provided ", as an example, the case with its front short side in the taking-direction by the a side up, facing the front short side in taking direction to the B side up In any case, when the orientation at the time of capture is the correct orientation, the front short side direction of the front surface near the long side on the right side of the capture direction of the center line orthogonal to the short side A rewrite card on which a QR code having a positioning symbol is printed.

  The second type of rewrite card is a rectangular card, and the QR code is 1 at the position of inversion symmetry with respect to two center lines orthogonal to the short side and the long side of the rectangle on each of the A side and the B side. A total of four pieces are provided.

“A total of four QR codes are provided on each of the A plane and the B plane at positions of inversion symmetry with respect to the two center lines orthogonal to the short and long sides of the rectangle” as, in the case toward the write-retrieving direction by the a side up, in any case when for the write-retrieving direction by the B side up, the take-right direction of the center line orthogonal to the short side length A QR code having a positioning symbol in the front short side direction is printed at the top front position near the side, and the top rear position near the long side on the left side in the direction of taking in the center line perpendicular to the short side is thereafter A rewrite card on which a QR code having a positioning symbol in the short side direction is printed.

The third type of rewritable card is in any case when for the write-retrieving direction by the case and B side toward the write-retrieving direction by the A side up upward, the direction at the time of acquisition When the card is in the correct orientation, it is located in the center of the A and B sides of the card, that is, on the front and back sides of the intersection of the center line orthogonal to the short side and the center line orthogonal to the long side. A QR code having a symbol is printed.

A preferred embodiment for application to the first type of rewritable card, the tip of the print area of the rewritable card in the time of completion of the reading of the QR code rewrite cards QR code reader is transported to write Direction preparative when it has not reached the printing position of the first thermal head performs the printing on the print area by the first thermal head, ends the reading of the QR code rewrite cards QR code reader is transported to write direction preparative If the leading edge of the printing area of the rewrite card passes through the printing position of the first thermal head at that time, until the leading edge of the printing area of the rewrite card matches the printing position of the first thermal head or more than the printing position. conveyed in the discharging direction to just before, again and transported to the take - direction, characterized by performing printing on the print area by the first thermal head It is said.
That is, when the distance x2 from the front short side of the rewrite card to be taken in to the end of the QR code is larger than the distance y1 from the QR code reader to the first thermal head (x2> y1), the QR code reader is the QR code. reading stops incorporation of the rewritable card upon completion of the tip of the print area of the rewritable card is conveyed in the discharging direction until it matches the printing position of the first thermal head, again transporting the take - direction Then, printing is performed on the print area by the first thermal head.

  Another embodiment applied to the first type of rewrite card is that the distance y2 from the QR code reader to the first thermal head is slightly larger than the distance x2 from the other short side of the rewrite card to the end of the QR code ( x2 <y2) and the second thermal head is set slightly behind the first thermal head.

  A preferred embodiment to be applied to the third type of rewrite card is that the distance from one short side of the rewrite card to the QR code is x3, and the distance from the QR code reader to the first thermal head is y3. Then, y3 is set so that the relational expression x3 <y3 is satisfied.

[When the first type of rewrite card is used in the printer according to the invention]
The first type of rewritable card, when incorporated into the printer in the upward (1) the A plane, or, (2) in either case when capturing the printer with its B side up, QR Based on the QR code positioning symbol read by the code reader and stored in the storage unit, the determination unit determines the orientation when the rewrite card is taken in, so that the data in the QR code is decoded as it is by the decoding unit. The processing unit performs arithmetic processing based on the decoded data and newly input information, and the new information as the processing result is processed by the editing unit by the first print area on the A side of the rewrite card and the second print on the B side. The print area is edited to print information corresponding to the orientation when the rewrite card is loaded. Then, in the first print area on the A side of the rewrite card to be taken in, the first thermal head prints the edited QR code and basic information in an orientation corresponding to the orientation at the time of taking in the rewrite card. In addition, for the second print area on the B side of the rewrite card conveyed in the discharge direction, the readable information, which is the edited content by the second thermal head, is in a direction corresponding to the direction when the rewrite card is taken in. Printed. Further, the QR code is verified by a QR code reader.

That is, when using the first type of rewritable card as long as taking time facing rewritable card is Ru tare towards the front short side to taking direction, A plane, related to one is whether the upward B face Instead, the QR code is read in the normal order, the QR code is printed at a predetermined position, and the readable information is printed at a predetermined print area.

[When the second type of rewrite card is used in the printer according to the present invention]
The second type of rewritable cards, (1) when incorporated into one short side Karapu printer to the A side up, (2) when the B side up and incorporated into one short side Karapu printer, (3 ) when capturing by the a side up from the other short side to the printer, (4) when the B surface facing upward imported from the other short side to the printer, in any case, the memory unit reads the QR code reader since determining the orientation at the time of acquisition of the rewrite card determination unit pixel on the basis of the positioning symbols QR code stored in, data in the QR code by the decoding portion is decoded as it is, in the processing unit, A calculation process is performed based on the decoded data and the newly input information, and the new information as a result of the processing is processed by the editing unit in the first print area on the A side and the second print area on the B side of the rewrite card. In contrast, it is edited to print information corresponding to the orientation at the time of acquisition of the rewrite card. Then, the QR code and basic information after editing by the first thermal head correspond to the orientation when the rewrite card is taken in the first print area on the A side of the rewrite card to be taken in by the print control unit. In the second print area on the B side of the rewrite card that is printed in the direction to be ejected and conveyed in the ejection direction, the readable information that is the edited content by the second thermal head is in the orientation at the time of taking in the rewrite card. Printed in the corresponding orientation. Further, the QR code is verified by a QR code reader.

That is, when using the second type of rewritable card, the orientation A surface upon uptake rewritable card, one is either a upward B face, also regardless of whether it is a direction longitudinal, QR Code Is read, a QR code is printed at a predetermined position, and readable information is printed in a predetermined first print area and second print area.

[When the third type of rewrite card is used in the printer according to the present invention]
The third type of rewritable card, when incorporated into the printer from one short side in the upward (1) A plane, (2) when capturing the B-side from one short side facing up to the printer, if any of the In addition, since the determination unit determines the orientation at the time of taking in the rewrite card based on the QR code positioning symbol that is read by the QR code reader and stored in the storage unit, the decoding unit performs QR determination based on the determination result. The data in the code is decrypted as it is, and the processing unit performs arithmetic processing based on the decrypted data and the newly input information, and the new information as the processing result is read by the editing unit on the A side of the rewrite card. The first print area and the second print area on the B side are edited to print information corresponding to the orientation when the rewrite card is taken. Then, the QR code and the basic information, which are the contents after editing, are printed in the first print area on the surface of the rewrite card to be captured in a direction corresponding to the direction when the rewrite card is captured , In the second print area on the back side of the rewrite card conveyed in the discharge direction, the readable information as the edited content is printed in a direction corresponding to the direction when the rewrite card is taken in by the second thermal head. Further, the QR code is checked by the QR code reader.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the throughput regardless of the orientation at the time of taking in the rewrite card.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a printer according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function implementation means of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration with the housing of the printer of FIG. 1 removed. FIG. 4 is a front view of the printer of FIG. 3. It is also a plan view. Similarly, it is a right side view. It is a figure which shows the state which opened the upper frame of the printer of FIG. 3, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a left view. It is a side view which mainly shows the structure of a conveyance means, the arrangement | positioning position of a card sensor, a QR code reader, and a thermal head. It is a top view explaining the whole structure of a mode switching mechanism. It is the perspective view which shows the member attached to the lower frame, (a) is the perspective view seen from the left front side, (b) is the perspective view seen from the opposite side of (a). It is a figure which shows the state which removed the lower frame of FIG. 10, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a top view. It is a bottom view of an upper frame. It is the perspective view seen from the arrow V1 direction of FIG. It is a top view which extracts and shows a 1st raising / lowering means, a 2nd raising / lowering means, a 3rd raising / lowering means, and a mode switching mechanism. It is the perspective view seen from the arrow V2 direction of FIG. It is a side view explaining the whole structure and operation | movement of all the raising / lowering means. It is a side view explaining the structure and operation | movement of a 1st raising / lowering means. It is a side view explaining the structure and operation | movement of a 2nd raising / lowering means and a 3rd raising / lowering means. It is a figure which shows the angle of the cam in HP mode in the operation | movement transition of mode switching, and the positional relationship of each element. It is a figure which shows the angle of the cam in the upper surface rewrite mode in the operation | movement transition of mode switching, and the positional relationship of each element. It is a figure which shows the angle of the cam in the lower surface rewrite mode in the operation | movement transition of mode switching, and the positional relationship of each element. 6 is a flowchart of an initial operation of the printer. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing details of a paper discharge operation in the flowchart of FIG. 20. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of HP transfer operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart of a series of operations from card insertion to removal from the printer. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the paper feeding operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of QR code reading operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the upper surface rewrite transfer operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the upper surface rewrite operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the lower surface rewrite transfer operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the lower surface rewrite operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of QR verification check operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a time chart of a series of operation in an example of an embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of QR code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of QR Code. It is an expanded view which shows the position of QR code at the time of front-back inversion and front-back inversion of a 1st type rewrite card. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the position of the rewrite card in the card transport path when using the first type of rewrite card as one embodiment of the present invention, and the processing steps for the rewrite card at that position. It is an expanded view which shows the position of QR Code at the time of front-and-back inversion and front-back inversion of a 2nd type rewrite card. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the position of the rewrite card in the card transport path when using the second type of rewrite card as another embodiment of the present invention, and the processing steps for the rewrite card existing in that position. It is an expanded view which shows the position of QR code at the time of front-and-back inversion and front-back inversion of a 3rd type rewrite card. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the position of the rewrite card in the card transport path when using the third type of rewrite card as a further embodiment of the present invention, and the processing steps for the rewrite card existing in that position. It is a figure which examines the structure for being able to cope with the case where the direction at the time of taking in a rewrite card | curd is either forward or reverse .

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[overall structure]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer A according to the embodiment includes upper and lower frames 1 and 2 serving as attachment bases in a housing H that performs exterior and internal protection, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 8. Is provided. The frames 1 and 2 are coupled by a shaft 11 penetrating through the rear portion thereof so that the upper frame 2 can be rotated around the shaft 11 and the front portion can be opened and closed. When the upper frame 2 is closed, the hooks 13 rotatably attached to both ends of the shaft 12 provided at the front portion of the lower frame 1 are engaged with the pins 13 protruding from both sides of the upper frame 2. It can be kept closed. A horizontally long opening is formed between the front end surfaces of the frames 1 and 2 in the closed state. This opening communicates with the intake / exhaust port 3 provided on the front surface of the housing H.

In the frames 1 and 2, the rewrite card (hereinafter simply referred to as “card”) C to be inserted is reciprocally conveyed to a predetermined position along a predetermined conveyance path, the presence / absence of the inserted card and the conveyance Detecting means 200a, 200b, 200c for detecting that a card to be reached has reached a predetermined position, a QR code reader 300 for reading a QR code recorded on the card to be conveyed, and a conveyance path, Based on signals or print information from two thermal heads 400a and 400b for rewriting the conveyed card C by a thermoreversible recording method, detection means 200a to 200c, a QR code reader 300, and a host device (not shown). Transport control for the transport means 100 and heat generation control for the thermal heads 400a and 400b (thermal reversible recording control). A control unit 500 that performs control) is provided as a component of most small limit.

In a preferred embodiment, in addition to the above-described components, a lifting / lowering means 600 (not shown in FIG. 1) and a mode switching mechanism 700 for improving print quality by two thermal heads are provided. . When the mode switching mechanism 700 is provided, the control device 500 also performs mode switching control for the mode switching mechanism 700. In FIG. 1, M <b> 1 is a transport drive motor that is one of the components of the transport unit 100, and M <b> 2 is a mode motor that is one of the components of the mode switching mechanism 700.
Hereinafter, each component will be sequentially described in detail.

[Conveying means]
Regarding the card transport, the card inserted from the intake port provided on the front surface of the housing H is transported in one direction, the image forming process is performed during that time, and the card is discharged from the discharge port provided on the back surface of the housing H. Although a one-pass method is also possible, in this embodiment, in order to enable the card to be taken in and ejected from the front side of the printer A, the take-in / discharge port 3 provided in the front of the housing H is used. The card taken in is reciprocally conveyed, and after the image forming process is performed in the meantime, the reciprocating conveyance method in which the card is discharged from the take-in / discharge port 3 is adopted.

At the upper part of the lower frame 1, feed rollers 101f1 to 101f3 are provided between the left and right side plates 1a and 1b with a predetermined interval from the take-in / discharge port 3 in the take-in direction. Pinch rollers 101p1 to 101p3 are provided to face each of 101f1 to 101f3. Conveying rollers 101 R 1 - 101 R 3 is composed of a feed roller 101f1~101f3 and the pinch roller 101p1~101p3 opposing respectively.

  Synchronized pulleys 102p1 to 102p3 are fixed to a portion of each of the feed rollers 101f1 to 101f3 extending to one side plate of the lower frame 1, for example, the outside of the right side plate 1a. Is stretched.

  Reference numeral 104a in FIG. 8 denotes a first platen roller provided on the lower side of the conveying surface between the left and right side plates 1a and 1b of the lower frame 1 corresponding to a first thermal head 400a to be described later. A synchro pulley 102p4 is also fixed to a portion of the shaft of the platen roller 104a extending to the outside of the right side plate 1a, and the timing belt 103 is also wound around the synchro pulley 102p4.

  The gear trains 106a to 106e, which serve both as speed reduction means and transmission means, are provided on the left and right side plates 1a and 1b of the lower frame 1 in order to give the rotation rollers 101R1 to 101R3 a rotational driving force of the conveyance motor M1 which is an important component of the conveyance means. The last gear 106f of the gear train is engaged with a gear 105a fixed on the shaft of the first platen roller 104a.

  Reference numeral 104b in FIG. 8 denotes a second platen roller provided on the upper side of the conveying surface between the left and right side plates 2a, 2b of the upper frame 2 corresponding to a second thermal head 400b described later. A gear 105b is fixed to a portion extending to the outside of the side plate 2a or 2b on the same side as the gear train 106a to 106e of the shaft of the roller 104b, and the gear 105b is engaged with the gear 105a.

  Thus, the card C inserted from the take-in / discharge port 3 can be carried in the take-in direction or the discharge direction via the carry rollers 101R1 to 101R3 by the forward drive or reverse drive of the carry motor M1. ing.

[Detection means]
The detection means includes a detection means 200a (hereinafter referred to as a first card sensor) for detecting whether or not a card is present in the intake / discharge port 3, and a card is present in the vicinity of the rear end of the transport path. Detecting means 200b (hereinafter referred to as a second card sensor) for detecting whether or not the leading edge of the card conveyed in the take-in direction is printed on the card by the first thermal head 400a (thermo-reversible recording). Detection means 200c (hereinafter referred to as a registration sensor) for detecting whether or not a predetermined reference position for starting the operation has been reached. As these detection means, a reflection type or transmission type photoelectric sensor can be used.

[QR code reader]
In the card used in the present invention, basic information and variable information of the card issuer and / or card user are recorded so as to be rewritable by a thermal head described later. The card issuer is, for example, a store in the case of a point card, a financial institution in the case of a credit card, a transportation in the case of a commuter pass, a medical institution in the case of an examination ticket, etc. ID, such as a person's name, sales PR, service content, name of person in charge, etc., and variable information is, for example, guidance information such as events and campaigns, news, and the like. The card user is, for example, a customer, a trader, a patient, etc., and the basic information is an ID of the card user's address, name, date of birth, age, gender, name of an attendant or attending physician, etc. The variable information is information that changes every time the card is used, such as a usage history or transaction history such as a customer's usage amount or transaction amount, or a medical history or examination result.

  Conventionally, the basic information has been recorded on the magnetic recording surface of the card by a magnetic head. In the present invention, both basic information and variable information are recorded on the thermoreversible recording surface of the card by a thermal head. In the present invention, a card having a thermoreversible recording surface on both front and back sides is used. Therefore, only basic information may be recorded on the front surface of the card, and only variable information may be recorded on the back surface, or basic information and variable information may be recorded on one or both of the front and back surfaces.

  Basic information and variable information include information that cannot be read by humans but is recorded so as to be readable by a reader (hereinafter referred to as non-readable information, and information recorded so as to be readable by humans is referred to as readable information). . Since the printer according to the present invention records by the thermoreversible recording method, such non-readable information is recorded by QR code. The QR code is preferable in that a large amount of information can be recorded in a small area as compared with the barcode, so that a wide recording area of readable information can be secured. The present invention is configured so that non-readable information is also recorded with a QR code by a thermal head used for printing readable information, and a QR code reader 300 is provided to read the QR code. The QR code reader 300 is a well-known device composed of CCDs arranged in a line, and can read a fine QR code.

As shown in FIGS. 9, 12, and 13, the QR code reader 300 can move up and down with these pinch rollers between the pinch roller 101p1 of the first transport roller 101R1 and the pinch roller 101p2 of the second transport roller 101R2. Installed on. That is, two support rods that pass through the QR code reader 300 in a direction perpendicular to the card conveying direction between the side plates 2a and 2b of the upper frame 2 in the support member 301 existing in the vicinity of the side plates 2a and 2b. fixing a 302, longitudinal side plates 2a, 2b of the lower support and the other end of the arm member 304 at one end on both sides of the Li broth Yafuto 303 is suspended rotatably mounted (upper in FIG. 2) member 301 A shaft is rotatably supported at the intermediate portion.

  The pinch roller 101p1 of the first transport roller 101R1 and the pinch roller 101p2 of the second transport roller 101R2 are rotatably supported by a support shaft 305 that is held between the front and rear ends of the support members 301 on both sides. A transport roller assembly that can be moved up and down by a combination of an arm member 304, a support member 301 supported by the arm member 304, a QR code reader 300 supported by a support bar 302, and front and rear pinch rollers 101p1 to 101p3. RA is configured. The structure capable of ascending and descending is related to first elevating means 610 described later.

[Thermo-reversible recording means]
In the present invention, thermal heads 400a and 400b having the following structure and characteristics are used as thermoreversible recording means, and the two thermal heads are arranged on the upper and lower sides of the conveyance path with the conveyance path interposed therebetween. is there. Each of the thermal heads 400a and 400b has a predetermined heat applied to each heating element based on the minute heating element group arranged in a line at the tip at a density of 200 to 300 dots per inch and printing information given from the host device. And a control circuit for generating energy. A thermistor, which is a resistor whose resistance value changes with the heat generation temperature, is used for the heat generating element. When printing, the card is brought into contact with the tip of the thermal head, and if the density of the heating elements of the head is 200 dpi, printing is performed by moving (conveying) the card at a pitch of 1/200 inch.

  The thermal heads 400a and 400b are characterized in that when a current is applied, the heating element is rapidly heated, and when the current application is interrupted, the heating element is rapidly cooled. Further, the color is developed at the first specific temperature (170 to 180 ° C.), and the color is erased at the second specific temperature (120 to 140 ° C.) lower than the first specific temperature. Therefore, by controlling the heat generation of each heat generating element based on the print information, desired characters, numbers or QR codes are put on the thermoreversible recording surface of the card conveyed (sub-scanned) in contact with the tips of the thermal heads 400a and 400b. The included image can be printed (colored).

  The thermal heads 400a and 400b can be used as components of the printing control apparatus described in Patent Document 1, respectively. The print control device converts the temperature value of each heating element into a voltage value from the current flowing at the time of temperature detection, a control circuit that switches between the thermal head and the current circuit that flows to each heating element at the time of heat generation driving and temperature detection. And an analog / digital conversion circuit for digitally converting the same voltage, an integrator for integrating the digital value from the start of heating, and an integrated value of the integrator and a higher-order device set in advance. The comparator comprises a comparator for comparing the print density setting value of the corresponding portion with a circuit, and a circuit for stopping the heat generation drive of the heating element when the comparator detects that the target density has been reached.

  Since the integrated thermal energy value for each line on the card surface is sequentially detected while detecting the surface temperature, it is possible to manage the coloring temperature with extremely high accuracy for the thermoreversible recording layer. Therefore, by adding a gradation designation signal for designating the gradation degree to the print information (print density setting value) sent from the host apparatus, the multi-stage density of the image having the desired gradation degree is obtained by one or both of the thermal heads 400a and 400b. Printing is possible, and printing that is the same as the picture quality can be performed at high speed.

  As the thermoreversible recording layer, a monochrome coloring thermoreversible recording layer, a two-color coloring thermoreversible recording layer, a color coloring thermoreversible recording layer, or the like can be used. The color generation characteristics of these thermal recording apparatuses are that the color density during printing is determined by the heat generation energy applied by the heat generating elements on the thermal head. In the print control, the temperature of the heating element on the card is measured, the values are integrated momentarily, and heating is performed until the integrated value reaches the target set value, and the integrated value becomes the target set value. When the heating drive is stopped.

[First thermal head]
As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 16, the first thermal head 400a (hereinafter also referred to as P head) is located immediately above the card conveying surface immediately below the card conveying surface of the registration sensor 200c. It is installed to face the first platen roller 104a provided on the side. The first thermal head 400a is mounted so as to be able to move up and down and is always biased in the direction of the first platen roller 104a in order to surely cause a thermoreversible reaction with respect to the card being conveyed.

  An example of the mounting structure for this purpose will be described. The other end of the head arm 401 whose one end is pivotally supported by the side plates 2a and 2b on both sides of the upper frame 2 is rotatably coupled to both sides of the first thermal head 400a. The first thermal head 400a is held by a guide member 402 provided on the side plates 2a and 2b so as to be movable up and down, and is always urged downward by the urging member so that the heat generating surface of the first thermal head 400a becomes the first platen roller 104a. It is designed to be pressed against. The urging member is, for example, a coil spring 403a, the upper end of which is coupled to the first thermal head 400a, and the lower end of the urging member is fixed to a shaft 404a protruding from the upper frame 2.

[Second thermal head]
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 16, the second thermal head P head (hereinafter also referred to as “S head”) is a card carrying surface at a position slightly away from the first thermal head 400a in the card taking-in direction. The second platen roller 104b provided on the upper side of the conveying surface is disposed on the lower side of the conveying surface. Then, in order to surely cause a thermoreversible reaction with respect to the card to be conveyed, as with the first thermal head 400a, the card is mounted by a coil spring 403a and a shaft 404a so as to be movable up and down, and always the second platen roller 104b. The heat generation surface of the second thermal head can be in contact with the second platen roller 104b.

[Elevating means and mode switching mechanism]
If the pinch rollers 101p1 to 101p3 of the transport roller are always in pressure contact with the feed rollers 101f1 to 101f3, the card is subjected to an impact when entering the nip portion of the transport roller 101, thereby affecting the card transport accuracy. Similarly, when the QR code reader 300 is always present at the reading position, the conveyance accuracy is similarly affected. Furthermore, if the two thermal heads 400a and 400b are always in pressure contact with the platen rollers 104a and 104b, the card is subjected to an impact when entering between the thermal head and the platen roller, thereby affecting the card conveyance accuracy. give. Such a change in conveyance accuracy is not preferable because it causes a decrease in print quality by the thermal heads 400a and 400b and reading accuracy by the QR code reader 300.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has the purpose of enabling printing of high resolution images similar to a photograph in basic information or variable information, with the conveyance accuracy of the conveyance means and the printing accuracy by two thermal heads. In order to enhance, an elevating means 600 and a mode switching mechanism 700 described below are provided.

[Elevating means]
The elevating means includes a first elevating means 610 for elevating the pinch rollers 101p1 to 101p3 and the QR code reader 300 at a predetermined timing, a second elevating means 620 for elevating the first thermal head 400a at a predetermined timing, and a second There is a third raising / lowering means 630 for raising and lowering the thermal head P head at a predetermined timing.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the first elevating means 610 has a leader drive cam 611 fixed to a control shaft 701, which will be described later, and an L-shape, and the bent portion thereof is attached to the lower frame 1 by a support shaft 612a. The lower frame 1 is swingably supported by a reader drive arm 615 that is swingably mounted, has a cam follower 613 at the lower end, and a pressing piece 614 at the upper end, and a support shaft 612b at a substantially intermediate point in the card conveying direction. It consists of a lead 617 having a pressed piece 616 provided below the pressing piece 614 of the reader drive arm 611 at the rear end of the card taking-in direction, and a reader retract arm 618 provided at the tip of the lead 617. Yes.

In the side plates 1a and 1b of the lower frame 1, a vertical hole or a vertical groove 619 is formed in the vicinity of the front end of the lead 617, and a support bar 6110 continuous between both side plates is fitted in the vertical groove so as to be movable up and down. . The reader retract arm 618 formed in the shape of a balance that is long in the card conveying direction is fixed in the vicinity of the inside of both side plates of the support bar 6110 at the intermediate portion thereof. A guide shaft 6111 extending from the upper part of the reader retract arm 618 in the direction of the both side plates 1a and 1b is fitted to the vertical groove 619 so as to be movable up and down, so that the reader retract arm 618 is always maintained in a horizontal state. As shown in FIG. 16, the support shafts of the first pinch roller 101p1 and the second pinch roller 101p2 of the transport roller assembly RA are supported on the upper side of both ends of the reader retract arm 618.
Note that reference numeral 6112 in FIG. 17 denotes an elliptical hole provided so that the ream 617 is not prevented from swinging by the feed roller 101f2 of the second transport roller 101R2.

  As shown in FIGS. 9, 15, and 18 (a), the second elevating means 620 includes a P head retract cam 621 fixed to a control shaft 701, which will be described later, and a support shaft 622 at a bent portion of the frame 1. An L-shaped P-head retract arm 625 is mounted so as to be swingable and has a cam follower 623 at the lower end and a pressing piece 624 at the upper end. The pressing piece 624 of the P head retract arm 625 is in contact with the lower surface of the first thermal head 400a.

  As shown in FIGS. 9, 15, and 18 (b), the third elevating / lowering means 630 includes an S head retract cam 631 fixed to a control shaft 701, which will be described later, and a support shaft 632 at a bent portion of the frame 1. The L-shaped S head retract arm 635 is mounted so as to be swingable and has a cam follower 633 at the upper end and a pressing piece 634 at the lower end. The pressing piece 634 of the S head retract arm 635 is in contact with the lower upper surface of the second thermal head 104b.

[Mode switching mechanism]
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the pinch rollers 101p1 to 101p3 of the transport rollers and the QR code reader 300 are supported to be movable up and down, and the thermal heads 400a and 400b are attached to be movable up and down. The shaft 701 is rotated at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction to control its elevation at a predetermined timing, thereby preventing a decrease in conveyance accuracy. A mode switching mechanism 700 is provided to switch the elevation patterns of the pinch rollers 101p1 to 101p3 and the QR code reader 300 and the elevation patterns of the thermal heads 400a and 400b.

  The mode switching mechanism 700 includes an HP mode for maintaining the lifting / lowering means 610, 620, and 630 at the home position (HP), and an upper surface rewrite for moving the lifting / lowering means to a position for rewriting the upper surface (front surface) of the card. The mode is set to one of three modes: a lower surface rewrite mode in which each of the elevating means is moved to a position for rewriting the lower surface (back surface) of the card.

Next, the configuration and operation of the mode switching mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 16, and 19A to 19C.
The mode switching mechanism 700 has a mode motor M2 attached to the lower frame 1. As the mode motor M2, a pulse motor whose rotation direction is one direction (CW) is used. A gear G1 is fixed on the rotation shaft of the mode motor M2. A gear G6 is also fixed on a mode switching control shaft 701 that is rotatably suspended on both side plates 1a and 1b of the lower frame 1. The case of the mode motor M2 is provided with gear trains G2 to G5 serving both as transmission means and speed reduction means. The start gear G2 is engaged with the gear G1 of the mode motor M2, and the end gear G5 is connected to the control shaft 701. The control shaft 701 is rotated in a fixed direction by the rotation of the mode motor M2.

  On the control shaft 701, as shown in FIG. 9, the QR code reader 300, the pinch rollers 101p1 to 101p3, the P head 400a and the S head 400b are provided on the left and right sides of the control shaft 701 via the lifting means 610, 620 and 630, respectively. A cam for switching the position to the three modes of the HP mode, the upper surface rewrite mode, and the lower surface rewrite mode, that is, the mode of the reader drive cam 611 and the second lifting means 620 constituting the mode switching mechanism of the first lifting means 610 The P head retract cam 621 constituting the switching mechanism and the S head retract cam 631 constituting the mode switching mechanism of the third elevating means 630 are fixed.

  The mode switching mechanism 700 detects whether the driving element is currently in the HP mode, the upper surface rewrite mode, or the lower surface rewrite mode, and shifts to a predetermined mode when receiving a control signal. It has mode detection means. The mode detecting means detects the rotation angle of the control shaft 701, and accordingly whether or not the rotation angle of each of the leader drive cam 611, the P head retract cam 621, and the S head retract cam 631 is at a predetermined angle. The first slit disk 702a and the second slit disk 702b fixed to the control shaft 701, and the first mode sensor 703a and the second mode sensor for detecting the slits of these two slit disks, respectively. It consists of two mode sensors 703b. Each of the slit disks has two slits such that the center-to-center angle is 120 degrees. The two slit disks 702a and 702b and the two mode sensors 703a and 703b have a control shaft 701 of 120. Two slit discs are attached with the positions of the slits shifted by a predetermined angle in the rotation direction so that only one of the two mode sensors or both of them are turned on each time it is rotated. For example, a photoelectric sensor that turns on the mode sensor when a slit is detected is used as the mode sensor.

  The driving elements and mode sensors in each mode are as follows. That is, when the angle of the control shaft 701 exists in the HP, in other words, in the HP mode, as shown in FIG. 18A (b), the second slit s2 of the first slit disk 702a moves the first mode sensor 703a. The second slit disk 702b turns off the second mode sensor 703b.

  In the HP mode, as shown in FIG. 19A (a), the rotation angle of the leader drive cam 611 is such that the conveyance roller assembly RA is closed via the leader drive arm 615, the lead 617, and the reader retract arm 618, that is, the conveyance roller. The pinch rollers 101P1 and 101P2 of 101R1 and 101R2 are pressed by the feed rollers 101f1 and 101f2 so that the card can be conveyed, and the rotational angle of the P head retract cam 621 is the retracted position of the P head 400a via the P head retract arm 622. In other words, the rotation angle of the S head retract cam 631 is at the retracted position, that is, the position at which the S head 400b is lowered via the S head retract arm 632.

  When the mode motor M2 rotates by a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction and the control shaft 701 rotates 120 degrees in a predetermined direction (clockwise in the drawing), as shown in FIG. 19B (b), the first slit disk 702a When the first mode sensor 703a is turned off and the second slit disk 702b is turned on by the first slit s1 and the second mode sensor 703b is turned on, the mode motor M2 stops rotating and enters the upper surface rewrite mode. In this upper surface rewrite mode, as shown in FIG. 19B (a), the rotation angle of the leader drive cam 611 is such that the transport roller assembly RA is opened via the leader drive arm 615, the lead 617, and the leader retract arm 618, The transport roller pinch rollers 101p1, 101p2 are spaced upward from the feed rollers 101f1, 101f2, and the QR code reader 300 is spaced upward from the card transport surface. The rotational angle of the P head retract cam 621 is the P head retract arm. The P head 400a is lowered through 625 and is brought into pressure contact with the first platen roller 104a. The rotation angle of the S head retract cam 631 is such that the S head 400b is retracted through the S head retract arm 635, that is, the second platen. It is maintained at a position spaced downward from the roller 104b.

  Then, when the mode motor M2 is rotated by a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction and the control shaft 701 is further rotated by 120 degrees in the predetermined direction, the first slit disk 702a is moved to the first direction as shown in FIG. 19C (b). When the first slit sensor 703a turns on the first mode sensor 703a and the second slit disc 702b turns on the second mode sensor 703b, the mode motor M2 stops rotating and enters the lower surface rewrite mode. In the lower surface rewrite mode, as shown in FIG. 19C (a), the rotation angle of the leader drive cam 611 is such that the transport roller assembly RA is opened, that is, the transport rollers 101p1, 101p2 are separated from the feed rollers 101f1, 101f2. The rotation angle of the P head retract cam 621 raises the P head 400a to the retracted position, that is, the position separated from the first platen roller 104a, and the rotation angle of the S head retract cam 631 is S head retract. Through the arm 635, the S head 400b is lowered to a position where it is pressed against the second platen roller 104b.

[Control means]
The control device 500 controls the drive of the transport motor M1 of the transport unit, the read control of the QR code reader 300 based on the detection signals from the detection units 200a to 200c and the mode sensors 703a and 703b and the print information from the host device. It controls printing of the two thermal heads 400a and 400b and drive control of the mode motor M2 of the mode switching mechanism 700, and is constituted by an input / output interface and a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the storage unit.

  When the printer A is used as a stand-alone type, although not shown, a display unit that displays the content converted into readable information on the upper surface of the housing H based on the QR code read from the card, When a numeric key or other input unit for inputting transaction contents is provided and the printer A is used by being connected to a host device, for example, a computer such as a POS system, there is nothing on the upper surface of the housing H. It is not provided.

Next, the operation of the above-described configuration of the printer A will be described with reference to FIG.
[Initialization operation]
When the power is turned on to use the printer A, a plurality of preset programs are sequentially executed, and first, an initial operation is started as shown in FIG. That is, in step (hereinafter referred to as S) 11, it is checked whether or not the current mode is designated as the HP mode. If the current mode is designated as the HP mode, the first card sensor 200a, the second card sensor 200b, It is checked whether or not a card is detected from detection signals of the registration sensor 200c and the QR code reader 300 (S12). If there is a card, in S13, the routine proceeds to a discharge operation routine which will be described later with reference to FIG. 21, and after executing the discharge operation routine, the mode motor M2 is rotated clockwise (CW) ( S14), when the first mode sensor 703a is switched from OFF to ON (Y in S15), the mode motor M2 is further rotated clockwise (CW) by a predetermined minimum number of steps (for example, 18 steps) (S16), End initial operation.

  If the current mode is designated to be other than the HP mode in S11, in S17, the routine proceeds to an HP transition operation routine described later with reference to FIG. The motor M1 is counterclockwise (CCW) by a number of steps capable of transporting a distance slightly larger than the maximum distance among the distances between adjacent detection means (for example, the distance between the first card sensor 200a and the registration sensor 200c). After the rotation (S18), it is checked whether or not only the first card sensor 200a detects the card (S19). As a result, when there is a card only in the first card sensor 200a, the initial operation is terminated. However, if not, it will be judged as a jam and an alarm will be issued. If no card is detected in S12, the process proceeds to S18.

[Output operation]
In the paper discharge operation routine, first in S21, it is confirmed whether or not the current mode is the HP mode. If not in the HP mode, the routine proceeds to an HP transition operation routine to be described later in S22, and in the HP mode, It is checked whether only the second card sensor is ON (S23). When only the second card sensor is ON, that is, when the card is at the back of the transport path, the transport motor M1 is rotated counterclockwise until the first card sensor 200a is turned on (S24, S25). When the first card sensor 200a is turned on, the conveyance motor M1 is further rotated for a predetermined step, that is, until the front end of the card protrudes into the intake / discharge port (S26), and only the first card sensor 200a is It is checked whether or not it is turned on (S27). When only the first card sensor 200a is turned on, the paper discharge operation is terminated. However, if only the first card sensor 200a is not turned on, an error display such as a transport error is displayed.

  In S23, when only the second card sensor 200b is not ON, it is checked whether or not both the registration sensor 200c and the second card sensor 200b are ON (S28). If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to S24. When the result is negative, it is checked whether or not both the registration sensor 200c and the first card sensor 200a are ON (S29). When the determination is positive, the conveyance motor M1 is rotated counterclockwise until the registration sensor 200c is turned OFF. (S210, S211). Then, after the registration sensor 200c is turned OFF, the conveyance motor M1 is further rotated in a predetermined step (for example, 1800 steps) until the leading end of the card projects into the take-in / discharge port 3, and stopped (S212). ). In S29, when both the registration sensor 200c and the first card sensor 200a are not ON, it is checked whether only the first card sensor 200a is ON (S213). If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to S212. Displays an error.

[HP transition operation]
The HP transition operation in S17 of FIG. 20 and S22 of FIG. 21 has the same contents. As shown in FIG. 22, first, in S31, the first mode sensor 703a is ON and the second mode sensor 703b is OFF. If the result is affirmative, the HP transition operation is terminated. On the other hand, when the result is negative, after the mode motor M2 is rotated clockwise (S32) by a predetermined step (for example, 150 steps), the first mode sensor 703a is turned on again and the second mode sensor 703b is turned on again. It is checked whether or not it is OFF (S33). If the result is affirmative, the mode motor M2 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined step (for example, 18 steps) and then stopped (S34).

  If the determination in S33 after starting the rotation of the first mode motor M2 is negative, it is checked whether the number of pulses given to the mode motor M2 at that time is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 500 steps). If YES, the process proceeds to S32. If NO, that is, if the number of pulses to the mode motor M2 exceeds the predetermined value, an error is displayed.

  After the above initialization operation is completed and the printer is normally initialized, the printer A is used for regular operation. When a predetermined card, that is, a card having the above-described thermoreversible recording layers on both the front and back sides is inserted into the intake / exhaust port 3, a program of a series of operations is executed as shown in FIG.

[Series operation]
First, in S41, a paper feed operation routine described later is executed, and subsequently, an upper surface rewrite transition operation routine described later is executed (S42), and then an upper surface rewrite command for printing on the upper surface of the card is input. Whether or not is checked (S43). When the affirmative, top rewrite dynamic Sakul routine to be described later is executed (S44). When the upper surface rewrite operation is completed, it is checked whether or not a lower surface rewrite command for printing on the lower surface of the card is input (S45). If the determination is affirmative, a lower surface rewrite transition operation routine described later is executed (S46), and then a lower surface rewrite operation routine described later is executed (S47). When the lower surface rewrite operation is finished, the counter-clockwise rotation of the transport motor M1 is started (S49).

  When the lower surface rewrite command is not input in S45, the HP transition operation routine is executed and at the same time, the rotation of the transport motor M1 is stopped instantaneously (for example, 50 Ms), and then the process proceeds to S49 to counterclockwise the transport motor M1. Starts rotating.

  Next, in S49, it is checked whether or not a QR verify check command for checking whether or not the QR code is normally printed is input (S410). If the result is affirmative, a QR verify check operation described later is performed. A routine is executed (S411). Thereafter, the conveyance motor M1 continues to rotate counterclockwise (S412), and it is checked whether or not the QR code reader detects that there is no card (S413). If negative, the conveyance motor M1 is detected until no card is detected. When the absence of a card is detected, the transport motor M1 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined step (for example, 1000 steps) and then stopped (S414). If no QR verify check command is input in S410, the discharge operation routine described above is executed in S415, and the series of operations ends.

[Paper feed]
When the paper feeding operation in S41 of FIG. 23 is positive as shown in FIG. 24, it is checked in S51 whether the first mode sensor 703a is ON and the second mode sensor 703b is OFF. Checks whether the first card sensor 200a detects that a card is present (S52). When the result is negative in S51, the above-described HP transition operation routine is executed (S53), and then the process proceeds to S52. If the result in S52 is affirmative, the conveyance motor M1 is rotated clockwise (S54), and then S55 and S56 are performed in parallel to determine whether or not the registration sensor 200c has detected a card. Checks if the card is detected.

  If the result in S55 is affirmative, the conveyance motor M1 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined step (for example, 776 steps), that is, after the card is conveyed to the reading area by the QR code reader 300, it is stopped (S57). When the result is negative in S55, it is checked whether or not the number of pulses given to the transport motor M1 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 2000 steps) (S58). When the result is affirmative, the process returns to S54 and the transport motor clockwise Continue to rotate. However, when it is negative, a jam is displayed.

  When the result in S56 is affirmative, that is, when the QR code reader 300 detects a card, a QR code reading routine described later is executed in S59. When the result is negative in S56, it is checked whether or not the number of pulses given to the transport motor M1 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 2000 steps) (S510). If the result is affirmative, the process returns to S54 and the transport motor is rotated clockwise. Continue rotating. However, when the determination is negative, the rotation of the transport motor M1 is stopped (S511), and a display requesting card resetting is performed.

  After the QR code reading in S59 is completed, it is determined whether or not the reading result is normal (S512). If normal, the registration sensor 200c detects the presence of a card, and the first card It is checked whether or not the sensor 200a detects no card (S513). When the result is affirmative, the paper feeding operation is terminated, and when the result is negative, a jam is displayed. If the QR code reading result is not normal in S512, the paper discharge operation routine is executed and a reading error is displayed in S514.

[QR code reading]
In the QR code reading performed in S59 during the paper feeding operation, as shown in FIG. 25, the rotation of the front speed of the transport motor M1 is continued (S61), and it is checked whether or not the QR code on the card is recognized ( When it is recognized, the QR code cell is read while being conveyed at the previous speed (S63). In the invention according to the previous proposal, the QR code reading process is completed by reading the QR code cell. However, in the present invention, the QR code reading process is not completed by reading the QR code cell.

  The QR code has three cut-out symbols sy, one alignment pattern ap, format information fi, a timing pattern tp, and a separator sp, as indicated by QR in FIGS. 32 and 33. A data cell ds is provided between the two. The cut-out symbol sy can be detected at any angle from the shape of the cut symbol sy, and the rotation angle can be recognized from the positional relationship of the three cut-out symbols sy. Therefore, the QR code can be read from any direction. It has the property that it is possible.

Therefore, the present invention has devised to utilize the characteristics of the QR code in order to achieve the purpose of improving the throughput regardless of the orientation when the rewrite card is taken in. In order to utilize this, first, as shown in FIG. 2, the control device 500 includes a determination unit 501, a decoding unit 502, an arithmetic processing unit 503, an editing unit 504, and a print control unit 505. It was. When the printer A is an independent type, an input unit 506 for inputting new information to the control device 500 is connected. When the printer A is not an independent type, an external host device, for example, a computer such as a POS system is connected to the control device 500 via an interface (not shown) instead of or together with the input unit 506.

Second, when reading the QR code, as shown in FIG. 25, the QR code cell of the card is read by the QR code reader 300 (S63) and stored in the memory 800. the positional relationship of the three clipped symbols sy determines the orientation during acquisition of the card (S64), stores the determination result (orientation during acquisition) in the memory 800, in accordance with the determination result The QR code read from the card is decoded by the decoding unit 502, the decoded data and information given from the input unit 506 are processed by the arithmetic processing unit 503, and the new information as the processing result is processed by the editing unit 504. printing orientation corresponding to an orientation at the time of taking-in the card by the first thermal head 400a and the second thermal head 400b Edited so that, and so as to process (S65, S66) to be supplied to the print control unit 505 and the edited result as a rewrite command.

  In the form in which the printer A is connected to the host device, the data decoded by the decoding unit 502 is output to the host device via the interface, and the calculation result by the processing unit of the host device is used as new information via the interface. Thus, the data is input to the editing unit 504 of the printer A.

[Upper surface rewrite transition operation]
In the upper surface rewrite transition operation of S42 in FIG. 23, as shown in FIG. 26, it is checked in S71 whether the first mode sensor 703a is OFF and the second mode sensor 703b is ON. When the result is affirmative, the upper surface rewrite transition operation is terminated. On the other hand, when the result is negative, the mode motor M2 is rotated clockwise (S72), and it is checked again whether the first mode sensor 703a is OFF and the second mode sensor 703b is ON. (S73). If the result is affirmative, the mode motor M2 is rotated by a predetermined step (for example, 18 steps) and then stopped (S74). If the result in S73 is negative, it is checked whether or not the number of pulses given to the mode motor M2 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 500 steps) (S75). If the result is affirmative, the process returns to S72. Continue to rotate M2. On the other hand, when the result is negative in S75, an error is displayed.

[Top-side rewrite operation]
Top rewrites operation of S44 in FIG. 23, as shown in FIG. 27, in S81, after a predetermined step rotating the conveying motor M1 in the clockwise direction, (described as the upper head in FIG. 27) the first thermal head 400a is applied with a current for each heating element for performing predetermined printing based on the editing result (S82), and then the steps necessary to move the conveyance motor M1 by one line of the card (sub-scan) ( For example, after rotating (S83) by 3 steps), it is checked whether or not the card movement (sub-scan) has been completed for all the lines to be rewritten (S84). The current application to the first thermal head and the movement of the card by one line (sub-scanning) are repeated until the completion of several minutes. Decelerated, to stop (S85).

[Lower surface rewrite transition operation]
In the lower surface rewrite transition operation in S46 of FIG. 23, as shown in FIG. 28, it is checked in S91 whether both the first mode sensor 703a and the second mode sensor 703b are ON. When the determination is affirmative, the lower surface rewrite transition operation is terminated. On the other hand, when the determination is negative, the mode motor M2 is rotated clockwise (S92), and it is checked again whether both the first mode sensor 702a and the second mode sensor 703b are ON (S93). If the result is affirmative, the mode motor M2 is rotated by a predetermined step (for example, 18 steps) and then stopped (S94). If the result in S93 is negative, it is checked whether or not the number of pulses given to the mode motor M2 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (eg, 500 steps) (S95). Continue to rotate M2. On the other hand, when the result is negative in S95, an error is displayed.

[Lower surface rewrite operation]
In the lower surface rewrite operation of S47 in FIG. 23, as shown in FIG. 29, first, in S101, the transport motor M1 is rotated by a predetermined step in the counterclockwise direction, and then the second thermal head (described as the lower head in FIG. 29). ) 400b is applied with current for each heating element for performing predetermined printing based on the editing result (S102), and then the steps necessary to move the conveyance motor M1 by one line of the card (sub scanning) After rotating (for example, three steps) (S103), it is checked whether or not the card movement (sub-scan) has been completed for all the lines to be rewritten (S104). The current application to the second thermal head and the movement of the card by one line (sub-scan) are repeated until the predetermined number of lines are completed (S106, S107, S10). After the rewrite for the predetermined number of lines is completed (Yes in S108), the counterclockwise rotation of the transport motor M1 is stopped (S109), and the HP transition operation is performed in S110.

[QR verify check operation]
In the QR verify check operation in S411 of FIG. 23, as shown in FIG. 30, the front speed of the transport motor M1 continues to be rotated counterclockwise (S111), and whether or not the QR code reader detects the card is determined. Check (S112). If the result is affirmative, it is checked whether the QR code of the card is recognized (S113). When it is recognized, cell reading of the QR code (S114) is performed while maintaining the counterclockwise rotation of the front speed of the transport motor M1, and the QR verify check operation is completed. The arithmetic processing unit 503 in the control device 500 determines whether the QR verify check is correct or not. If the QR code reader does not detect the card in S112, the number of pulses applied to the transport motor M1 at that time is less than a predetermined value (for example, 1500 steps) required for the leading edge of the card to reach the reading area of the QR code reader. Whether or not is checked (S115), if affirmative, the process returns to S111, and if negative, jam display is performed.

[Time chart]
A time chart of a series of operations of the printer A is illustrated in FIG. This will be described below. It is not assumed that an abnormality such as a jam of the card being conveyed, an error of the mode motor M2, a reading error of the QR code reader, or the like occurs.

  Based on the detection of the card inserted in the HP mode by the first card sensor 200a, the transport motor M1 starts to rotate clockwise and the card is transported in the take-in direction. Then, the QR code is read by the QR code reader from the time when the QR code reader 300 detects the leading edge of the card to be conveyed and then conveyed for a predetermined step. Then, after the predetermined number of steps from when the registration sensor 200c detects the leading edge of the card, that is, at the QR code reading end value, the mode motor M2 is rotated at a predetermined angle simultaneously with the rotation of the transport motor M1 being stopped. The mode is switched from the HP mode to the upper surface rewrite mode through the upper surface rewrite transition operation.

  Accordingly, the P head 400a that has been held in the retracted position until then is pressed against the first platen roller 104a, and the transport roller assembly RA that has been closed is released. That is, it is avoided that vibration is applied to the card when the card leaves the transport roller assembly RA, and subsequent card transport is performed only by the lower platen roller pressed against the P head, so that the card does not vibrate. It is transported very stably.

Data obtained by reading the QR code ( direction determination result at the time of fetching and data decoded by the decoding unit 50) is given to the arithmetic processing unit 503 in an independent printer, and input to the arithmetic processing unit 503. and arithmetic processing using the information and decoded data provided from section 506, the orientation at the time of taking-in the card by the first thermal head 400a and the second thermal head 400b by the editing unit 504 a new information which is the processing result The print control unit 505 generates a rewrite command corresponding to the orientation at the time of taking in the card and outputs the result. The head performs an upper surface rewrite operation and a QR code rewrite operation on the upper surface (A surface) rewrite area of the card.

In the printer connected to the host device, the data decoded by the decoding unit 502 is sent to the host device and used for arithmetic processing in the host device. When the result of the arithmetic processing by the host device is sent to the printer as new information, the new information is edited by the editing unit 504 in the same manner as described above, and the editing result is given to the print control unit 505. A rewrite command corresponding to the card loading direction is output, and an upper surface rewrite operation and QR code rewrite operation for the upper surface (A surface) rewrite area of the card by the P head are performed.

  When the input of the rewrite command (printing information) is lost, the rotation of the transport motor M1 is stopped and the mode motor M2 is rotated by a predetermined angle and switched from the upper surface rewrite mode to the lower surface rewrite mode through the lower surface rewrite operation. That is, the P head that has been in pressure contact with the lower platen roller 104b is retracted, and the S head that has been retracted until then is pressed against the upper platen roller 104a. Thereafter, the transport motor M1 is rotated counterclockwise, and a lower surface rewrite operation for the B surface (lower surface) rewrite area is performed based on a rewrite command (printing information) for the back surface of the card. During this time, the transport roller assembly RA is maintained in an open state.

  When the rewrite on the B side of the card is completed, the mode motor M2 is rotated by a predetermined angle, returned to the HP mode through the HP mode transition operation, and a QR verify check operation is performed by the QR code reader 300 in close contact with the card. QR data obtained by this QR verify check operation is used for QR verification by the controller 500. The counterclockwise rotation of the carry motor M1 is stopped after the QR verify check operation is finished, and the printing operation for one card is finished.

Printing on the card by the first thermal head 400a and the second thermal head 400b in the upper surface rewrite operation and lower surfaces rewrite operation is more in the direction of the determination result at the time of taking the card in the reading above QR code, when taking the card It is done according to the direction . In the following, in the printer according to the present invention, the types of cards that can read and print QR codes and print readable information on a predetermined print area regardless of the orientation when the cards are taken in, and the QR for the cards of that type The code reading process and the printing process will be described below.

  FIG. 34 shows an example of the first type of card C1 that can be used in the printer according to the present invention. The first type card C1 is a rectangular card, and is close to one of the short sides, for example, the front short side a, of the A plane and the B plane that are symmetrical with respect to the center line orthogonal to the short side of the rectangle. A total of two QR codes AQR1 and BQR1 each having a positioning symbol in the short side direction are provided at each position.

FIG. 4A shows the A side of the card C1 with the front short side a oriented in the take-in direction, and FIG. 4B shows the B side of the card. A surface, any of the B plane, when having its front short side a to taking direction towards this upward, i.e., field position direction of the cut-out symbol sy of the QR code that match the capturing direction In this case, the QR codes AQR1 and BQR1 are present at positions close to the right long sides d and c at the same distance close to the front short side a.

Therefore, when taking the first type of card C1 to the front short side a side Karapu printer also when the A surface, any B side up, as shown in Figure 35, the card C1 is conveyed At a predetermined arrival position, the card is detected by the card sensor, the QR code is read by the QR code reader 300, the QR code and readable information are rewritten to the upper surface of the card by the first thermal head 400a, and the card is read by the second thermal head 400b. Predetermined processing such as rewriting of readable information on the lower surface is performed.

FIG. 34 (c) shows the A side of the card C1 with the rear short side b oriented in the take-in direction, and FIG. 34 (d) shows the B side of the card. A surface, any of the B plane, facing it in the upper surface, and, towards the rear short side b in the taking-direction, i.e., have positional direction of the cut-out symbol sy of the QR code that match the capturing direction in case, two QR code AQR1, BQR1 is present at a position closer to the left long side d, c equidistant away from both the rear short side b.

In general, in order to shorten the card transport distance and shorten the card processing time, as shown in FIG. 40A, the front short side of the first print area pa1 of the card C1 inserted in the correct orientation is used. The distance y1 from the QR code reader 300 to the first thermal head 400a (the printing position thereof) in the printer is set slightly larger (x1 <y1) than the distance x1 from the tip of the a side to the end of the QR codes AQR1 and BQR1. . Therefore, if the orientation of the time taking the card C1 is the correct orientation, i.e., if it is the orientation shown in (a) (b) of FIG. 34, or QR code AQR1 by QR code reader 300 BQR1 Immediately after reading, the first thermal head 400a can perform predetermined printing on the first print area pa1.

However, as shown in (b) of FIG. 40, when taking the time direction of the card C1 are opposite, i.e., if it is the orientation shown in (c) (d) of FIG. 34, the card A distance x2 from the front end of the rear short side b of the first printing area pa1 of C1 to the end of the QR codes AQR1 and BQR1 is larger than a distance y1 from the QR code reader 300 to the first thermal head 400a (the printing position). (X2> y1). Accordingly, it is impossible to perform predetermined printing on the first print area pa1 by the first thermal head 400a immediately after reading the QR code AQR1 or BQR1 by the QR code reader 300 in one-pass conveyance of the card.

  Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the number of card transport steps from when the registration sensor 200c detects the leading edge of the card C to when the QR code reader 300 finishes reading the QR code AQR1 or BQR1 is monitored. If it is not determined that the leading edge of the first print area pa1 has exceeded the first thermal head 400a (the print position) at the end time, predetermined printing is performed on the first print area pa1, but at the end of reading the QR code, If it is determined that the leading edge of one printing area pa1 has exceeded the first thermal head 400a (the printing position thereof), the predetermined printing is not performed on the first printing area pa1, and the conveyance of the card in the take-in direction is stopped, The conveying means is driven in the reverse direction, and the leading end of the first printing area pa1 of the card C1 is the first thermal head. 00a (printing position) or a position that coincides with (or the printing position of) 00a, or further to the intake / discharge port side in the discharging direction, and again in the taking direction, so as to perform predetermined printing on the first printing area pa1. In addition, a control means is configured.

Thus, only slightly changing the card transport control, the first type of card C1, the direction of the time acquisition is FIG 34 (a) (b) orientation and Figure 34 (c) (d) in the case of the orientation of any, it is possible to rewrite the predetermined QR code and readable information to the card.

Given in the case of using the first type of card C1, taking time of orientation correct orientation of the card C1, in each case opposite to the predetermined printing region without the reverse conveyance after completion reading QR codes In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 40 (c), from the QR code reader 300 to the first thermal head 400a (the printing position), as shown in FIG. The distance y2 (y1 <y2) is made slightly larger (x2 <y2) than the distance x2 from the leading edge of the rear short side b of the first printing area pa1 of the card C1 to the end of the QR codes AQR1 and BQR1. At the same time, the second thermal head 400b is also moved slightly rearward.

As described above, the orientation of the first type of card C1 is as shown in FIG. (a) in the case of correct orientation and Figure 34 (b) of any reverse (c) (d) also, only the transfer time is only slightly extended, and a predetermined QR code on the card Readable information can be rewritten.

As shown in FIGS. 34C and 34D, when the card is taken in the reverse direction , the determination unit 501 reads the card based on the QR code read by the QR code reader 300 and stored in the storage unit 800. orientation determined to be opposite when the uptake, based on the determination result, the data in the QR code is decoded is substituted in reverse order by the decoding unit 502. The decrypted data is used for arithmetic processing by the arithmetic processing unit 503, and the arithmetic result is taken into the first printing area on the upper surface and the second printing area on the lower surface of the card C1 by the editing unit 504. Print information for printing corresponding to the direction of time (reverse direction ) is edited.

  FIG. 36 shows an example of the second type of card C2 that can be used in the printer according to the present invention. The second type of card C2 is a rectangular card, on the long sides opposite to each other of the A surface and the B surface that are symmetrical with respect to the two center lines that are orthogonal to the short and long sides of the rectangle. A total of four QR codes are provided at close positions.

A total of four QR codes are provided, each having two QR codes at positions close to the long sides on the opposite sides of the A and B surfaces at symmetrical positions with respect to the two center lines orthogonal to the short and long sides of the rectangle. For example, as shown in FIG. 36 (a), the card refers to a center line orthogonal to the short side when the front side A is oriented in the direction of loading with the A side of the card C2 facing upward. Positioning in the direction of short sides a and b close to the front side of the A surface near the long side d on the right side of the insertion direction and the rear side position of the A surface near the long side c on the left side of the center line orthogonal to the short side. In a posture in which the QR codes AQR1 and AQR2 having symbols are printed and the front short side a is directed in the take-in direction with the B surface of the card C2 facing upward as shown in FIG. Directly in front of the B surface near the long side c on the right and the short side QR codes BQR1 and BQR2 having printing symbols in the short side a and b directions, respectively, are printed at the rear side of the B surface near the long side d on the left side of the center line in the capture direction. The two QR codes AQR1 and AQR2 and the two QR codes BQR1 and BQR2 on the B surface side are cards that exist in symmetrical positions with respect to the center line orthogonal to the short side and the center line orthogonal to the long side.

FIGS. 36 (c) and 36 (d) show those obtained by reversing the direction of taking in the cards of FIGS. 36 (a) and 36 (b), respectively, without changing the upper and lower surfaces. Referring to these drawings, the second type of card C2 is first read by the QR code reader 300 regardless of which side A or B is directed to the upper surface, and whichever short side is preceded. the position direction of the cut-out symbol sy reading is QR code (AQR1, AQR2, BQR1 or BQR2) coincides with the taking-direction, determines that the determination unit 501 is oriented positive correct orientation at the time of card capture To do. Therefore, subsequent decoding processing and print information editing processing are normally performed.

When the second type card C2 is taken in any of the above directions , as shown in FIG. 37, at a predetermined arrival position of the card C2 to be conveyed, position detection by the card sensor with respect to the card, QR code reader Predetermined processes such as QR code reading by 300, rewriting of QR code and readable information on the upper surface of the card by the first thermal head 400a, and rewriting of readable information on the lower surface of the card by the second thermal head 400b are performed.

  FIG. 38 shows an example of a third type of card C3 that can be used in the printer according to the present invention. This card C3 has one short side (a or b) at the center of the A side and B side of the card, that is, on the front and back of the intersection of the center line orthogonal to the short side and the center line orthogonal to the long side. ) Or QR codes (AQR, BQR) having positioning symbols in directions or short sides (a and b) different from each other are printed.

For card C3 shown in FIG. 38, when inserted into the printer toward the take-direction front short side a to the upward surface A as shown in FIG. (A), in FIG. (B) Thus, when inserting the front short side a into the printer with the B surface facing upward, the determination unit 501 reads the QR code based on the QR code read by the QR code reader 300 and stored in the storage unit. It determines that acquisition upon orientation positive correct orientation of the card is (QR code read may have short sides a direction of positioning symbols close), based on the result of the determination, in the QR code by the decoding unit 502 The input / output unit 503 gives the decoded data to the host device, and the editing unit 504 uses the printing information supplied from the host device to the A side and B of the card C3. Surface printing Against the pass, the print information corresponding to the acquisition time of the attitude of the card is edited. Then, the QR code and the basic information, which are the edited contents, are printed on the A side of the card C3 to be captured by the first thermal head 400a in the first print area in a direction corresponding to the direction when the card is captured. In addition, the edited content is printed by the second thermal head 400b in the second print area on the B side of the card C3 conveyed in the discharge direction in a direction corresponding to the direction when the card is taken in.

On the other hand, when the card C3 is inserted into the printer with the A side facing upward as shown in FIG. 38C and the rear short side b in the direction of taking in , the card C3 is inserted as shown in FIG. When inserting the rear short side b into the printer with the B surface facing upward, the determination unit 501 reads the QR code AQR, BQR based on the QR codes AQR and BQR read by the QR code reader 300 and stored in the storage unit. determines that the orientation of the card C3 are opposite, based on the determination result, QR code AQR by the decode unit 502, data in the BQR is decoded is substituted in reverse order. The arithmetic processing unit 503 performs arithmetic processing based on the decrypted data and the information input from the input unit 506, and the arithmetic result is processed by the editing unit 504 in the first print area on the A side of the card C3 and the B side. For the second print area, print information corresponding to the card loading direction ( reverse direction) is edited.

  In the third type card C3 shown in FIG. 38, the distance from the front short side a or b to the QR codes AQR and BQR (x3, not shown) is the front short side in the first type card C1. Since it is larger than the distance (y1) from a to the QR code, the distance from the QR code reader to the first thermal head 400a (y3, not shown) and the second thermal are the same as described in FIG. By setting the distance to the head 400b (not shown) so that the relational expression x3 <y3 is satisfied, in any of the cases (a) to (d) of FIG. Can be realized.

In other words, when using the third type of card C3, the orientation of the card is taken in by devising the installation position of the QR code reader, the installation positions of the first and second thermal heads, and the distance between them. Regardless of the method, the QR code is normally read, and the QR code and the readable information can be printed at a predetermined position on the A side, and the readable information can be printed on the B side.

When the third type card C3 is used in the printer for processing the first type card C1, the print area of the QR code is read at the end of reading the QR code, as in the control for the directions (c) and (d) of FIG. When it is determined that the leading edge has exceeded the first thermal head 400a (the printing position), the card is not transported in the print direction without performing the predetermined printing, and the transporting unit is driven in the reverse direction. Then, the leading end of the printing area of the card C3 is conveyed in the discharging direction to the position where the first thermal head 400a (the printing position) matches (or to the intake / discharge port side), and again conveyed in the taking direction. Then, predetermined printing may be performed on the print area.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the throughput regardless of the card loading direction .

  Since the printer A according to the present invention prints on a card that does not have a magnetic recording surface of a conventional card and prints on both sides of the card, the amount of printable information can be dramatically increased. From, for example, point cards, prepaid cards, hospitals, etc. used in mass retailers, supermarkets, retail stores, department stores, gas stations, rental shops, beauty salons, esthetic salons, hotels, shopping streets, amusement facilities, fitness clubs, etc. When printing on medical cards, medical examination cards, and rental cards used in libraries, for example, on the surface, in addition to card type and other basic information such as store names and point cards, facility information or Print advertising information and QR codes for events and campaigns, and use cards on the back , It can be printed earn points, coupons, the variable information that changes every time of use, such as booking date and time. The thermal head used in the present invention is capable of printing multicolor images with high image quality and high gradation similar to those in photographs. The card can have a strong appeal.

  In the above description, for convenience of explanation, the print medium is limited to a card having a thermoreversible recording surface on both sides, but the present invention basically has a thermoreversible recording surface on both sides other than the card. It can also be applied to media. Therefore, it should be understood that the card having the thermoreversible recording surface on both sides described in the specification and claims of the present application includes media other than the card.

A Printer 100 Conveying means 300 QR code reader 400a First thermal head 400b Second thermal head 500 Controller 501 QR code position search unit 502 Decoding unit 503 Input / output unit 504 Editing unit 505 Print control unit 800 Storage unit

Claims (4)

Rewrite card basic information and customer information are written in QR code, and the QR code reading position and the rewriting position after information reading are performed on the upper surface (or lower surface) of the rewriting card conveyed in the direction of taking in, respectively. A QR code reader for reading the QR code and a first thermal head are provided, and a second thermal head is provided at a position where rewriting is performed on the lower surface (or upper surface) of the rewrite card conveyed in the ejection direction. Rewriting the upper surface (or lower surface) of the rewrite card transported in the take-in direction based on the read information and the new information after the calculation process using the newly input information by the first thermal head; and Control means to rewrite the lower surface (or upper surface) of the rewrite card conveyed in the ejection direction with the second thermal head In the obtained printer,
A storage unit for storing the QR code read by the QR code reader, and orientation of the determination unit when taking the rewritable card from clipped symbols of the QR code to be the storage, at the time of acquisition of the determined rewritable card A decoding unit that analyzes QR code data stored in the storage unit corresponding to the direction , a process that performs arithmetic processing based on the analyzed data and newly input information, and outputs new information after the arithmetic processing , An editing unit for editing the new information on the upper and lower surfaces of the rewrite card in an orientation corresponding to the orientation at the time of capture , and the editing result to the first thermal head and the second thermal head. A printer comprising a print control unit for printing.   If the leading end of the printing area of the rewrite card has not reached the print position of the first thermal head when the QR code reader of the rewrite card conveyed in the take-in direction has finished reading, the first thermal head When the QR code reader finishes reading the QR code of the rewrite card conveyed in the take-in direction, the tip of the print area of the rewrite card has passed the print position of the first thermal head. In this case, the rewrite card is conveyed in the discharge direction until the leading end of the printing area of the rewrite card matches the printing position of the first thermal head or before the printing position, and is conveyed again in the take-in direction. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that performs printing on a print area.   The rewrite card is a rectangular card, and has a positioning symbol in the short side direction at a position close to one of the short sides of the A plane and the B plane that are symmetrical with respect to the center line orthogonal to the short side of the rectangle. In the case where two QR codes are provided one by one, the distance y2 from the QR code reader to the first thermal head is greater than the distance x2 from the other short side of the rewrite card to the end of the QR code. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is slightly larger and the second thermal head is installed slightly behind the first thermal head.   The rewrite card is a rectangular card, and the position of the short side direction or the short side direction different from each other on the front and back of the intersection of the center line orthogonal to the short side and the center line orthogonal to the long side of the card. If the QR code having the outgoing symbol is printed, the distance from one short side of the rewrite card to the QR code is x3, and the distance from the QR code reader to the first thermal head is y3. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein y3 is set so that a relational expression of x3 <y3 is established.

Images