JPH02198996A - Paper jam detecting device for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect jam state in reasonable manners without requiring the adjusting work for a paper having a variety of size by installing a timing means which sets the allowable detection time for a paper part and an interval part on the basis of the length set by a paper length setting means. CONSTITUTION:The existence of a paper 5 and the interval between papers are detected by a sensor 7, and the jam state of the paper is detected. If the paper size is changed in this case, a timing means 10 sets the allowable detection time for the paper and the interval by the sensor 7, receiving the signal of a paper length setting means 8. Therefore, jam detection can be carried out in reasonable manners without requiring the adjusting work for the paper having a variety of size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper jam detection device for a printer that cuts long sheets of paper to create labels or tags.

Conventional technology In general, devices for detecting this type of paper jam are equipped with sensors that detect the presence or absence of paper at various locations along the paper transport path, and when the paper is being fed normally, the sensor detects the paper. Taking advantage of the fact that the time is below a certain value, when the paper detection time by any sensor exceeds a certain value, a signal indicating a paper jam is generated.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In conventional paper jam detection devices, reliable jam detection cannot be performed unless a large number of sensors are arranged throughout the paper conveyance path, making the device complicated. Then there is a problem.

In addition, in conventional devices, the size of the paper to be transported must be a certain length or within a certain range, and if the paper length changes significantly, the detection conditions by the sensor must be adjusted again. The problem is that you have to reconfigure it. Therefore, in printers that print specified information on a long sheet of paper and then cut it into predetermined lengths to create labels or tags, when the length of the label or tag changes to multiple types, cannot be used.

Means for Solving the Problem A cutter for cutting continuous paper is provided, which is connected to a printer main body having a built-in printing mechanism, and after the cutter, the paper is cut at a feed rate higher than that of the printing mechanism. A paper conveyance path for conveying cut sheets and a stacker for storing cut sheets of a certain length are installed in series, and one sensor is provided to detect the presence or absence of paper in the paper conveyance path. a paper length setting means for setting the paper length setting means; and a time limit means for setting the permissible detection time for each of the paper section and the interval section based on the length set by the paper length setting means;
Discrimination means is provided which compares the output from the time limit means with the output from the sensor and generates a determination signal as to whether the feed is normal or jammed.

The action sensor detects the presence or absence of paper and the size of the paper interval, thereby detecting a paper jam state. However, when changing the paper size, a signal is received from the paper length setting means. Since the time limit means sets the permissible time for the sensor to detect the paper and the interval, it is possible to perform reasonable jam detection for paper of various sizes without any adjustment work.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

First, the printer main body 1 is provided with a printing mechanism 2 therein, and the printing mechanism 2 prints necessary information on a long continuous sheet of paper. A cutter 3 is provided close to the paper outlet of the printer main body 1, and a paper conveyance path 4 is provided in series with the second cutter 3.

The conveyance speed of this paper conveyance path 4 is set to a value greater than the conveyance speed of the printing mechanism 2 portion. and,
A stacker 6 is provided at the rear end of the paper conveyance path 4 for stacking and storing paper 5 cut into labels or tags in an upright state. Next, a sensor 7 for detecting the presence or absence of the paper 5 is provided at a position close to the stacker 6 on the paper transport path 4 .

Next, in the operation section (not shown) of the printer main body 1,
A paper length setting means 8 for setting the length of the paper 5 is provided, and a cycle setting means 9 determined according to the set length of the paper 5 is connected to the paper length setting means 8. ing. This cycle is determined by taking into consideration the speed requirements of the paper conveyance path 4. The periods set in this manner are a period P corresponding to the length of the paper 5 and a period P corresponding to the interval between the sheets 5.

Now, the paper detection time T1 detected by the sensor 7
and interval detection time T2, the above-mentioned period P, and period P2
The relationship between P and P is set to be P,>T, and P,>T. Such a cycle is stored in a memory built into the timer 10, and the timer 10 outputs the cycles P, P, as appropriate.

Next, the time limiting means 10 and the sensor 7 are connected to a determining means 11 which compares the outputs of both to determine whether the feeding of the paper 5 is normal or a jam has occurred.

In such a configuration, the length X of the paper 5 is set when printing a label or tag.

That is, the paper length setting means 8 determines the required paper 5.
The length is determined manually. As a result, the length of the sheet 5 is stored in a memory (not shown), and at the same time, the period setting means 9 calculates a period P1 corresponding to the sheet length X and a period P2 corresponding to the interval between the sheets 5. Here, period P1, period P! is determined on the condition that the conveying speed in the conveying means 4 is constant.

Next, the number of sheets of paper 5 is input using a keyboard (not shown) of the printer body 1.

After the preparation work is performed in this way, the printing operation in the printing mechanism 2 is started. Then, at the cutter 3 portion, the continuous paper on which necessary information is printed is cut to a set length X. After this cutting operation is performed, a timer for setting the cycle P1 is started with a delay of a time corresponding to the feeding time from the cutter 3 to the sensor 7 in the paper transport path 4.

That is, the time limit means 10 starts operating. From the start of this operation, the input from the sensor 7 is immediately accepted, and changes in the output level of the sensor 7 are detected.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the feeding time for the length X of the paper 5 is T1, the cycle set by the time limit means 10 is P, and the relationship between the two is P,
>T, so if the paper 5 is being fed normally, the output of the sensor 7 will definitely change within one cycle P. If the determining means 11 detects this change, the paper 5
This means that there is no abnormality in the transmission. On the other hand, the fact that no change appears in the output of the sensor 7 within the period P is shown in Figure 4 (a
) As shown in (b), there is no change in the output during the time T or T2, indicating that a jam has occurred, and the determining means 11 outputs a jam signal and the printer body 1 Stop the operation.

Next, if there is no abnormality in the detection timing of the paper 5, the time limit means 10 sets P1 at the same time as the output of the sensor 7 changes.
The timer starts. Then, the sensor 7 enters the input state, and it is determined whether or not there is an output change within one cycle P. If there is no change in the output within this period P8, it is said that there is a jam, and if there is a change in the output within the period P, it means that normal feeding is being performed.

The same process is repeated until the set number of sheets have been printed, and the printed and cut sheets 5 are stored in the stacker 6, and when the set number of sheets has been printed, the printing operation is stopped.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a cutter that is connected to a printer main body with a built-in printing mechanism to cut continuous paper, and after this cutter, a feed rate higher than the feed rate in the printing mechanism section is provided. A paper conveyance path for conveying the cut paper at a high speed and a stacker for storing the cut paper of a certain length are installed in series, and one sensor is provided to detect the presence or absence of paper in the paper conveyance path. a paper length setting means for setting the length of the paper to be processed; a time limit means for setting the permissible detection time for each of the paper portion and the spacing portion based on the length set by the paper length setting means; Since a discrimination means is provided which compares the output from the time limit means with the output from the sensor and generates a discrimination signal indicating normal feeding or jam, the sensor can detect the presence or absence of paper and the size of the paper interval. With this, the state of paper jam is detected, but when changing the paper size, the time limit means receives a signal from the paper length setting means and sets the permissible time for the sensor to detect the paper and the interval. Therefore, the present invention has the effect that reasonable jam detection can be performed for sheets of various sizes without any adjustment work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between paper conveyance state and sensor output waveform, and FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the sensor waveform at the time of abnormality, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart. 1...Printer main body, 2...Printing mechanism, 3.・Cutter, 4... Conveying means, 5... Paper, 6... Stacker, 7... Sensor, 8... Paper length setting means, 1
0...Time limit means, 11...Discrimination means Applicant: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.] Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A printer body with a built-in printing mechanism, a cutter that cuts continuous paper, a stacker that stores the cut paper of a certain length, and a printer that is disposed between the stacker and the cutter and that operates in the printing mechanism section. A paper transport path that transports the paper cut at a feed speed higher than the feed speed, one sensor that detects the presence or absence of paper in this paper transport path, and a paper length setting that sets the length of the paper to be cut. and a time limit means for setting each detection permissible time for the paper section and the interval section based on the length set by the paper length setting means;
A paper jam detecting device for a printer, comprising: a discriminating means for comparing the output from the time limit means with the output from the sensor and generating a discriminating signal as to whether the paper feed is normal or a jam.