JPH047253A - Detector for residual amount of roll paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a residual amount of roll paper easily confirmable, by detecting a feed amount of paper delivered and conveyed from the roll paper by a mark detection signal through a sensor, and arithmetically analyzing the roll paper residual amount from the detected feed amount to display the residual amount. CONSTITUTION:A detecting means 23 detects roll paper 15 rotating at a predetermined angle from a mark detection signal by a sensor 21 and simultaneously detects a feed amount of paper 16 delivered and conveyed from the roll paper 15 during this time. Since a feed amount of the paper 16, fed out while the roll paper 15 is rotated at a fixed angle, is in a predetermined relation to a diameter (residual amount of the roll paper 15) of the roll paper 15, its residual amount is obtained and displayed on a display device 13 by arithmetically analyzing a paper feed amount, while the roll paper 15 is rotated at a fixed angle, in the detecting means 23. In this way, the residual amount can be easily confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roll paper remaining amount detection device for detecting the remaining amount of roll paper used in facsimile IJ receiving devices, copying machines, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, a facsimile machine or the like in which roll paper 2 for recording is dropped into a body case 1 has been widely used.

In this type of device, in order to detect the remaining amount of the roll paper 2, a viewing window 3 is formed on the side of the main body case 1, and the end face of the roll paper 2 is visually observed from the outside. .

In addition, instead of providing such a window, as shown in FIG. 11, a remaining amount display pointer 5 that can be rotated around a spindle 4 is arranged inside the main body case 1, and its tip can be visually observed from the outside. The remaining amount display pointer 5 is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the roll paper 2 by a spring 7, and as the diameter of the roll paper decreases. There is also known a configuration in which the remaining amount display pointer 5 is displaced and the position of its tip within the roll paper remaining amount indicator 6 is visually observed.

Problems that the invention aims to solve However, all such configurations have problems.

In other words, in the device shown in FIG. 10, the viewing window 3 is for viewing the end face of the roll paper, so it has to be formed on the side of the device. Just visually check.

Further, depending on the installation location of the device, the viewing window may be hidden, and in this case, there are problems such as the inability to check the remaining amount of roll paper.

In addition, in the case shown in FIG. 11, a support shaft 4. Guidelines 5. A mechanical part such as a spring 7 must be provided,
Not only does this increase the number of parts, it also makes it difficult to miniaturize the device, and the operation of setting the roll paper becomes troublesome.

Furthermore, as a result of restrictions on the installation position of the roll paper remaining amount indicator 6, it may be difficult to visually check the remaining amount of roll paper, or it may be difficult to visually check the amount of roll paper remaining due to the size or diameter of the roll paper.
There was also the problem that the remaining amount display scale sometimes did not match.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a roll paper remaining amount detection device that has a relatively simple configuration and is capable of easily checking the remaining amount of roll paper. shall be.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a linear side edge extending directly in the radial direction from the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the roll paper. A mark detection sensor is arranged in the main case into which the marked roll paper is dropped and stored, so as to face the marked end surface of the roll paper, and a mark detection signal from the sensor is Related to this is a detection means that detects the feed amount of paper that is unwound from the roll paper and is conveyed, and calculates and analyzes the remaining amount of roll paper from the detected amount, and a display that displays the remaining amount of roll paper based on the output thereof. It is equipped with a configuration in which the following are provided.

In addition, in the case of a configuration in which the roll paper is supported by a spool, instead of directly marking the end surface of the roll paper, it is possible to place a mark at an appropriate position on the spool and place a sensor at a position to detect the mark. good.

Operation According to the above-described structure, when the paper is unwound from the roll paper and the roll paper is rotated, the mark on the end face of the roll paper crosses in front of the sensor, and the sensor detects the mark. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the roll paper has been rotated by a certain angle based on the mark detection signal from the sensor. Here, as mentioned above, the side edge of the mark is a straight line that extends approximately radially to the end surface of the roll paper, so it does not matter how much paper remains on the roll (no matter which position of the mark the sensor detects). , it is possible to detect that the roll paper has rotated by a certain angle based on the mark detection signal of the sensor. The detection means described above is
Based on the mark detection signal from the sensor, it is detected that the roll paper has rotated by a predetermined angle, and at the same time, the feed amount of the paper unwound from the roll paper and conveyed during that time is detected. Since the amount of paper fed while the roll paper rotates at a certain angle has a predetermined relationship with the diameter of the roll paper (remaining amount of roll paper), the detection means detects when the roll paper rotates at a certain angle. Calculate and analyze the amount of paper fed between the two to determine the amount of paper remaining on the roll, and display it on the display.

Thus, the remaining amount of roll paper is displayed on the display.

Here, since the display is activated by an electric signal from the detection means, there is no restriction on the location where it can be placed, and it can be provided at an easily visible position such as the operating section of the device. Thus, in the present invention, it is extremely easy to check the remaining amount.

Note that even when a mark is attached to the spool, it is possible to detect when the roll paper has rotated by a certain angle using the mark detection signal from the sensor, and calculate the amount of paper feed during that time.
Through analysis, the remaining amount of roll paper can be detected.

Example Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a facsimile machine equipped with a roll paper remaining amount detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 11 is a main body case, 12 is an operation section, and an easy-to-see location of the operation section 12. Multiple LEDs to display the amount of paper remaining on the roll
A display device 13 is arranged. In addition, display unit 1
3 is not limited to the one using LEDs, and can be changed as appropriate.

FIG. 1 (al, (bl) schematically shows the main parts of the facsimile machine, and each shows a state in which the remaining amount of roll paper is different. 15 is the roll paper, and the main part of the main body case 11 is It is accommodated so as to be in contact with the bottom surface 11A and rear surface 11B of the accommodating portion.

Reference numeral 16 indicates a paper fed out from the roll paper 15, 17 a roller that guides the paper 16, 18 a recording head, and 19 a conveyance roller. Marks 20 are directly attached to the end surface of the roller 15 from the outer circumference to the inner circumference. The mark 20 in this embodiment is a narrow straight line formed in the radial direction.
g, 20b. The marks 20 are formed symmetrically across the center of the end surface of the roll paper, but instead, only one mark 20 may be provided, or three or more marks may be provided at a constant pitch.

A mark detection sensor, for example, a reflective sensor 21 is attached to the main body case 11 so as to face the end surface of the roll paper 15 on which the mark 20 is attached. This reflective sensor 21 detects the mark 20 on the roll paper 15 both when the remaining amount of the roll paper 15 is large as shown in FIG. 1 (al) and when it is small as shown in FIG. 1 (bl). The bottom surface 11A and rear surface 11 of the main body case 11
It is placed near the intersection with B.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remaining raw paper amount detecting device equipped with the reflective sensor 21 described above. 23 is a reflective sensor 21
The reflective sensor 21 outputs an ON signal while the mark 20 crosses in front of the reflective sensor 21.

Reference numeral 24 designates a central control unit that inputs a signal from the reflected light amount detection unit 23, detects the paper feed amount by the conveyance roller 19 in relation to the signal, and detects the remaining amount of roll paper in the manner described later. . A display section 25 includes a display 13 that displays the remaining amount of roll paper according to instructions from the central control section 24.

The operation of the roll paper remaining amount detection device configured as described above will be described below.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a paper 16 is fed out from a roll paper 15 by a conveying roller 19, and is being recorded by a recording head 18. This roll paper 15 is housed in a state where it is always in contact with the bottom surface 11A and rear surface 11B of the main body case 11.

During the recording operation, the paper 16 is pulled out by the transport roller 19, so the roll paper 15 rotates. During the rotation, the reflective sensor 21 detects the mark 20 on the end surface of the roll paper, and outputs an ON signal every time the mark 20 passes the reflective sensor 21, as shown in FIG. The central control unit 24 inputs this ON signal and selects the end point (mark 20) of one ON signal.
Measure how many lines are recorded as the paper feed amount between the start point of the next ON signal (corresponding to the other side edge 20b of the other mark 20) . Here, as described above, the side edges 20a,
20b is formed in a substantially radial straight line on the end surface of the roll paper, so that the roll paper 15 always moves at a constant angle (approximately 180°). And roll paper 15
The amount of paper feed while the roll rotates at a certain angle decreases as the remaining amount of roll paper decreases, as shown in FIG.

The central control unit 24 measures how many lines have been recorded as the paper feed amount between the end point of one on signal and the start point of the next on signal, and uses that data as the paper feed amount that has been input in advance. In light of the relationship between the feed amount and the remaining amount of roll paper, it is performed and analyzed, and the remaining amount of roll paper is divided into appropriate levels and detected. The display unit 25 displays this detection result.

Thus, the remaining amount of roll paper is displayed on the display 13.

Note that in the above embodiment, the paper feed amount between the detection signal between the trailing edge of the mark 20 and the leading edge of the next mark was measured, but the present invention is not limited to this case. It is also possible to use a signal that detects the tip end edge of the mark. Alternatively, the amount of paper feed while the ON signal for detecting one mark continues may be measured. However, in this case, if the mark width is narrow, the error may become large, so as shown in FIG. It is desirable to increase .

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of a facsimile machine equipped with a roll paper remaining amount detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view thereof, and the same or similar parts as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, a spool 31 having a shaft portion 31A and a flange portion 31B is attached to both ends of the roll paper 15, and the shaft portion 31A of the spool 31 is supported by a bearing provided on the main body case 11, so that the roll paper 15 is The configuration is maintained. Flange portion 3 of one spool 31
A plurality of marks 32 of the same width are made at the same pitch on the outer surface of 1B, and the reflective sensor 21 is arranged at a position where the marks 32 can be detected. The rest of the structure is the same as the embodiment described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this embodiment as well, when the roll paper 15 rotates as the paper 16 is pulled out, the reflective sensor 21 detects the mark 32 and outputs an on/off signal as shown in FIG. Central control:.

24 (see FIG. 2) measures how many lines have been recorded as the paper feed amount while this ON signal continues. Here, the duration of the ON signal is the central angle θ of the mark 32 at the detection position by the sensor (see FIG. 7).
In other words, while the ON signal continues, the roll paper 15 is always kept at a constant angle θ, regardless of the remaining amount.
It's only rotating. Therefore, the remaining amount of roll paper can be detected based on the amount of paper feed #) during this time, and similarly to the embodiment described above, the central control unit 24 measures how many lines have been recorded as the paper feed amount, and The remaining amount of roll paper is detected by calculating and analyzing the feed amount, and the display unit 25 displays this detection result. Thus, the remaining amount of roll paper is displayed on the display 13. In this embodiment as well, the period for detecting the paper feed amount is not limited to the period during which the ON signal continues, but may be from the end point of the ON signal to the start point of the next ON signal.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention uses a sensor to detect a mark attached directly to the end surface of a roll paper or a mark attached to a spool attached to the roll paper, so that the roll paper is rotated at a certain angle. By detecting the rotation and detecting the paper feed amount during that time, the remaining amount of roll paper can be calculated, analyzed, and detected, and it can be displayed on the display. Since the remaining amount of roll paper is electrically detected and displayed in this way, there are no restrictions on where the display can be placed, and it can be placed in an easily visible position such as the operating section of the device, making it easy to check the remaining amount. It becomes extremely easy. Moreover, the sensor for detecting the mark on the end face of the roll paper or the mark on the spool can be made extremely small and does not require a mechanical part like the conventional example shown in Fig. 11, so the overall device It has the effect of being able to realize miniaturization.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

A block diagram of the device, FIG. 3 is a diagram of the output level transition of the reflective sensor in the above embodiment, FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the remaining amount of roll paper and the amount of paper feed, and FIG. 5 is a modification of the mark. FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing the entire facsimile device, and FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of a facsimile device equipped with a roll paper remaining amount detection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 8 is a schematic perspective view thereof, FIG. 9 is an output level transition diagram of a reflective sensor in the embodiment, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are a schematic side view and a schematic sectional view, respectively, showing the conventional device. . 11... Main body case, IIA... Bottom, IIB...
・Rear surface, 12...Operation unit, 13...Display unit, 15.
...roll paper, 16...paper, 18...recording head,
19...Transportation row 2.20---7-ri, 20a,
20b... Side edge, 21... Reflective sensor, 26...
・Mark, 31... Spool, 32... Mark. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shige Awano and one other person (Figure 7) Roll Maro, Ki 1st fig fig fig fig.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A mark attached to the end surface of the roll paper from the outer periphery to the inner periphery, the side edge of which is approximately straight in the radial direction, and the main body into which the roll paper is dropped and accommodated. A sensor for detecting a mark is placed in the case so as to face the marked end surface of the roll paper, and a feed amount of the paper that is unwound from the roll paper and conveyed in relation to the mark detection signal from the sensor. What is claimed is: 1. A roll paper remaining amount detection device comprising a detection means for detecting and calculating and analyzing the remaining amount of roll paper from the detected amount, and a display device for displaying the remaining amount of roll paper based on the output thereof. (2) A spool attached to the end surface of the roll paper, a mark attached to the spool, a mark detection sensor placed at a position to detect the mark, and a mark detection signal from the sensor. A roll that has a detection means that detects the amount of paper fed from the roll paper and calculates and analyzes the remaining amount of roll paper from the detected amount, and a display that displays the remaining amount of roll paper based on the output thereof. Remaining paper amount detection device.