JPH05221557A - Printer or the like output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To detect supply of a document at an arbitrary point of a paper transport passage without increasing numbers of photoemitters and photodetectors. CONSTITUTION: An optical means 2 is provided on a paper transport passage between a photoemitter U1 and a photodetector Q1. The means 2 is disposed at an interval in a transverse direction of a paper transport passage 1 on a surface opposed to the passage 1. Thus, before a light is impinged on the photodetector Q1, the light is passed across the passages several times.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises at least one means for detecting a document provided in combination with a pay-per-transport path, said means comprising a photo-emitter and a photo-detector, said photo-detector comprising a pay-per-transport. A document located in the passageway and thus fed into the light propagation passageway between the photoemitter and the photodetector causes a change in the amount of light received by the photodetector, the document fed into the paper transport passageway. A printer or similar output device that produces characters on top of.

[0002]

Printers used in banking, for example, use a photoelectric component that detects the presence of a document. Such components can be used in several ways, typically three different ways. First, a light source, eg, an LED that emits infrared light.
Can be provided at the bottom of the pay-per-transport path, and the phototransistor can be provided at the corresponding point on the top of the pay-per-transport path, the phototransistor is unobstructed, that is, no document is located between the LED and the phototransistor. At this time, the light emitted by the LED is detected. The second basic principle is to place both the light source and the photodetector in the lower part of the paper transport path, thus allowing light to propagate between them when a document with a reflective lower surface is placed on them. Is. A third basic principle is to position both the photoemitter and the photodetector as above, ie at the bottom of the pay-per-transport path, but they are located at the top of the pay-per-transport path. Are continuously connected to each other through a means for reflecting, for example, a prism. In this case,
The connection between the photoemitter and the photodetector is destroyed when the document is fed into the paper transport path. The aforementioned spot-like detectors are typically provided at the edges of the pay-per-transport path near the edge guides. When using this type of printer, the document must be positioned with respect to the edge guides,
Therefore, it is sufficient to place the document detector near the edge guide. In such cases,
The presence of a document in the paper transport path can be detected by a single spot-like detector.

In order to detect whether a document is straight in the pay-per-transport path, that is, whether its back edge is at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the pay-per-transport path, the basic detection described above. On the basis of a container, a more advanced structure is used, in which two detectors of the type described above lie on the same line, which line is at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the paper transport path. When only one of these detectors indicates the presence of a document in the pay-per-transport corridor, we know that the document is not straight.
Conversely, when both detectors detect the presence of a document, we know that the document is straight. this is,
Of course, it is necessary that the line on which the detector is located is orthogonal at the back edge guide for the document. The purpose of the back edge guides is to ensure that the document is straight before being fed into the pay-per-transport corridor.

In a printer where feeding of the document is virtually possible at any lateral position of the paper-per-transport path, ie where the document does not have to be positioned against the side edge guides, the document and of course also , Can be detected using detectors of the type described above, provided that a sufficient number of detectors are located on a line extending across the paper transport path. However, when using them, the problem arises that the signals of several photoemitters, especially several photodetectors, have to be observed simultaneously. While it is easy to observe several photodetectors at the same time, conventional solutions increase the need for wiring and complicate the detection device itself. These factors are
It is also important in view of the product's competitiveness in printers, which are intended for mass production and should also be as small as possible.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention that the feeding of documents into the pay-per-transport corridor is possible at any lateral position of the pay-per-transport corridor, while the detection of the document is very simple. A printer or similar output device.
A printer or similar output device capable of accomplishing this purpose has optical means provided on the pay-per-transport path between the photoemitter and the photodetector, said optical means being opposite the pay-per-transport path. Spaced apart from one another in the lateral direction of the pay-per-transport path on the surface to be exposed, thus allowing the light to pass several times across the pay-per-transport path before it impinges on the photodetector. ..

In the case where the document is to be monitored at right angles to the paper transport path and thus the photodetectors must be located in pairs, a printer or similar output device according to the present invention may use optical means. Is provided on the paper transport path between the photoemitter and the photodetector, said optical means being located on the opposite surface of the paper transport path, thus allowing light to pour onto the photodetector, Light is passed several times across the paper transport path.

[0007] Preferably, the optical means comprises a prism, which deflects a ray of light so that the ray again traverses the payper transport path from a point located laterally of the payper transport path, spaced from the entry point. ..

In the preferred embodiment, the optical means used to determine whether the document is at right angles is a prism, the prism comprising two light inlets and two light outlets, thus providing both light propagation paths. Form a part of.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A printer or similar output device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the optical means located in the paper transport path 1 of the printer, where a document (not shown) is provided in the light propagation path between the photoemitter U1 and the photodetector Q1. Causes a change in the signal received by the photodetector Q1 when it is fed to substantially any lateral position of the paper transport path. This property is due to the fact that by using the optical means 2 the rays are propagated several times between the upper and lower surfaces of the pay-per-transport path 1 from the point of being located laterally spaced from each other in the pay-per-transport path. Achieved by In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the optical means 2 comprises a prism, which first receives the light beam and then refracts it, so that after the light beam has propagated laterally of the paper transport path 1, they are again reflected. From another point cross the pay-per-transport corridor. By sizing the prisms in the desired manner, the desired number of points at the desired spacing is achieved, from which the rays of light traverse the paper transport path. With suitable sizing of the prism 2, such points can be provided at intervals such that documents equal to or larger than the smallest acceptable document are always reliably detected. The prism 2 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 refracts the ray so that it propagates vertically across the paper transport path 1, but also refracts the ray so that the light ray crosses the paper transport path diagonally. In this case, the optical means could have a simpler structure. Most simply, a more reflective mirror surface could be used to pass light rays laterally along the zigzag-like path over the paper transport path from the photoemitter to the photodetector. .. However, one problem with using it is to produce a beam that is sufficiently thin. This property is improved in the embodiment of FIG. 1, where an optical mask 9 is provided in front of both the optical means 2 and the photoemitter U1 and the photodetector Q1 on both surfaces of the paper transport path,
Optical masks only allow fine light rays to pass through. In this way, the detection is carried out in the most sensitive position and the disruption of the light pouring onto the detector from the environment is avoided.
Environmental effects can be further reduced by modulating the light emitted by the photoemitter in a desired manner.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 1 allows the entire pay-per-transport path to be monitored by a single photoemitter and a single photodetector, if desired. However, if the pay-per-transport path is relatively wide, some of the arrangements shown in FIG. 1 can be provided side-by-side in the lateral direction of the pay-per-transport path. The reason for this is, to the extent that the intensity of the optical signal can no longer be reliably detected over its propagation path.
To decrease.

In FIG. 1 it is shown that the optical means 2 are formed by prisms, which prisms are very simple to make, for example made by casting from a plastic material. The cost of such a prism is so low that in practice it is substantially lower than the cost of an individual photoemitter or photodetector. further,
The dimensions of cast objects of this kind can be made very precisely; such objects can also easily be provided with protrusions etc. to facilitate installation. Alternatively, the optical means shown in FIG. 3 can be used in place of the prism of FIG. The optical means in FIG. 3 consists of a length of optical fiber bent in the shape of an arc. Each optical means 2 in FIG. 2 would thereby be replaced by a length of fiber. However, a problem with the use of optical fibers is that their minimum acceptable bend radius is relatively large, thus requiring a relatively large space in the height direction of the paper-paper transport path. Moreover, they are difficult to install with sufficient accuracy.

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement using the procedure according to the invention for detecting whether a document is at right angles.
Two detectors, which lie on a line transverse to the pay-per-transport path, are typically used when it is to detect whether it is at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the pay-per-transport path. If the document can be fed in virtually any lateral direction of the pay-per-transport path, it is necessary to provide several such pairs of detectors laterally of the pay-per-transport path.
The answer to this problem is shown in Figure 2, where
A photoemitter and photodetector pair U1, respectively,
The propagation of light between Q1 and U2, Q1 is similarly controlled for the embodiment of FIG. Thus, the propagation of the light is controlled by the optical means 4, so that the light passes through the paper transport path 1 several times, from points which are laterally spaced from each other. Since there are two signals transferred and received in this way, the optical means 4 must be designed in terms of the propagation of the two signals. Therefore, they are
Two light inlets 5 and 6 and two light outlets 7 and 8
Consists of. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the photoemitter U
The signal carried by 1 enters the prism through the entrance 5 and is then refracted in the prism 4, so that the signal exits the prism through the exit 7. Correspondingly, the signal carried by the photoemitter U2 enters the prism through the entrance 6 and leaves it through the exit 8. As is clear from FIG. 2, the signal paths intersect, but this is not a problem due to the nature of the light.

The manufacture of the optical means used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has the same advantages as the manufacture of the optical means 2 shown in FIG. 1, provided by the production of a series of plastic objects. Therefore, the cost of the embodiment of Figure 2 would be very low.

FIG. 3 shows another means of the optical means 4 of FIG. Another optical means shown in FIG. 3 consists of two lengths of optical fiber bent in the shape of an arc and positioned so as to overlap one another, so that the light propagation paths also overlap.
The structure shown in FIG. 3 has the same problems as the above-mentioned optical fibers of the same length.

Typically, the photoemitters are LEDs that emit infrared radiation, but they also consist of components that emit some other type of light; in the embodiment of FIG. 2 of the optical mask 9. A single large area photoemitter emitting two optical signals through the aperture could also be used. The photodetector, in turn, is preferably a phototransistor. However, the nature of the photoemitters and photodetectors can differ from those described above; in fact, the use of all common photosensitive components is possible in printers according to the invention, provided that they transport light. Alternatively, it is applied in a manner that is specific to these ingredients for receiving. With respect to the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 2, and also connecting the signals from the photodetectors Q1 and Q2 to logic means in the usual manner, which logic means indicates that the document has been fed into the pay-per-transport path. It detects when both signals are in the indicated state. In such a case, the document is known to be at a right angle to the paper transport path when the detector is positioned at a right angle in the edge guide behind the document.

A printer or similar output device according to the present invention, and in particular a means provided therein for detecting whether a document is present or at right angles, is provided in certain exemplary implementations. Although only mentioned by way of example, it is understood that some modifications are possible in the aforesaid structural arrangements without departing from the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

The main features and aspects of the present invention are as follows.

1. Provided in combination with the pay-per-transport path (1), comprising at least one means for detecting a document, said means comprising a photoemitter (U1) and a photodetector (Q1), said photodetector Is located in the paper transport path (1) and thus the document supplied to the light propagation path between the photoemitter (U1) and the photodetector (Q1) is the amount of light received by the photodetector (Q1). In a printer or similar output device that produces characters on a document fed into the paper transport path (1), the optical means (2; 3) include a photoemitter (U1) and a light detector. Is provided on a light propagation path between the container (Q1) and the optical means (2; 3) on the opposite surface of the paper transportation path (1). Spaced apart from one another laterally of the transport path (1), thus allowing the light to pass several times across the paper transport path before it impinges on the photodetector (Q1). A printer or similar output device.

2. At least one means for detecting whether a document is at right angles to the pay-per-transport path (1), provided in combination with the pay-per-transport path (1), said means comprising at least one Two light sources (U
1, U2) and a photodetector (Q1, Q2), said photodetector being collinear with the payper transport path (1) and the photodetector being located on the same line. ), Thus supplying the light propagation path between the photoemitters (U1, U2) and the photodetector (Q1) at right angles to the paper transport path (1), the two light detection documents. Optical means (2; in a printer or similar output device for producing characters on a document fed into the paper transport path (1) causing a change in the amount of light received by the container (Q1, Q2). 3; 4) are photoemitters (U1, U2)
And a photodetector (Q1, Q2) are provided on a light propagation path, and the optical means is a paper transport path (1).
Are located on opposite surfaces of the photodetector (Q
1, Q2) A printer or similar output device characterized by passing light several times across a paper transport path before pouring onto it.

3. The optical means comprises a prism (2) which deflects the light beam so that the light beam is again transported laterally of the paper transport path from a point spaced from the entry point to the paper transport. Crossing the aisle,
A printer or a similar output device as described in the above item 1 or 2, characterized in that.

4. The optical means comprises an optical fiber of a certain length (3), said optical fiber being bent into the shape of an arc which diverts the light beam so that the light beam is again spaced laterally of the paper transport path from the entry point. A printer or similar output device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it passes through a pay-per-transport path from a point located at

5. The optical means is a prism (4),
Item 2 above, characterized in that the prism (4) consists of two light inlets (5, 6) and two light outlets (7, 8), thus forming part of both light propagation paths. Printer or similar output device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates a method according to the present invention for detecting a document in a printer's pay-per-passage.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method according to the invention for connecting photodetectors in a paired manner to detect whether a document is at right angles.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the optical means to be used with the procedure shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Transport Passage 2 Optical Means, Prism 4 Optical Means, Prism 5 Light Inlet 6 Light Inlet 7 Light Outlet 8 Light Outlet 9 Optical Mask

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method comprising at least one means for detecting a document provided in combination with a pay-per-transport path, said means comprising a photo-emitter and a photo-detector, said photo-detector being within the pay-per-transport path. The document provided in the light propagation path between the photoemitter and the photodetector thus causes a change in the amount of light received by the photodetector, over the document provided in the paper transport path. In a printer or similar output device for producing characters, optical means are provided on the light propagation path between the photoemitter and the photodetector, the optical means being on opposite surfaces of the paper transport path. Spaced from each other laterally of the pay-per-transport corridor, thus allowing the light to pass through before it falls on the photodetector. A printer or similar output device, characterized in that it makes several passes across it. 2. At least one means for detecting whether a document is at a right angle to the pay-per-transport path, provided in combination with the pay-per-transport path, said means comprising at least one light source and a photodetector. And the photodetector is collinear with the paper transport path being perpendicular to it, and the photodetector is located along the paper transport path, thus providing light between the photoemitter and the photodetector. A document fed into the propagation path at a right angle to the pay-per-transport path causes a change in the amount of light received by the two photodetectors, a printer that produces characters on top of the document fed into the pay-per-transport path. In a similar output device, optical means are provided on the light propagation path between the photoemitter and the photodetector, and A printer or similar output characterized in that the optical means are located on opposite surfaces of the paper transport path, thus allowing the light to pass several times across the paper transport path before the light impinges on the photodetector. apparatus.