JPH05368Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention relates to a printer suitable for a check writer that prints amounts on paper such as checks and receipts.
In particular, it relates to a serial printer that prints by sending paper in the digit direction every time one character is printed.

(Prior Art) In recent years, electric check lighters have been widely used as this type of check lighter instead of manual ones. In this electric check writer, the user sets the paper in a predetermined position and then inputs the amount of money to be printed using the keyboard.
This is very convenient because the input amount is automatically printed on the paper by pressing the print button after confirming the input amount on the display section. However, such electric check lighters are generally expensive;
In particular, parallel type printers that complete printing with a single press are particularly expensive because they are equipped with a plurality of expensive type wheels, and the device itself is large and heavy.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, a serial printer has been proposed in which a single type wheel is used and the paper is moved in the digit direction each time one character is printed. This type of serial printer controls the type selection operation performed by rotating the type wheel, the printing operation in which the type is printed by pressing it against the printing stand, and the paper feeding operation in which the paper is sent in the digit direction for each printing. It is equipped with a control system, and is configured to repeat the above operations based on commands from the control system. Then, in order to select the type mentioned above, the position of the type is rotated in synchronization with the type wheel, a detection plate having a slit corresponding to the type is provided, and the timing pulse generated by detecting the light from the slit with a photo sensor etc. The control system counts and detects the position of the printed characters.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, in such a conventional example, the position of the type wheel is detected by counting the timing pulses generated as the type wheel rotates. It is necessary to keep the type wheel position (reference position) constant at all times. Therefore, in order to ensure that the designated type is selected accurately even at the start of printing, a braking mechanism such as an electric braking mechanism or a detent mechanism is required so that the position of the type at the end of printing is always at the reference position. The problem is that the use of a plurality of braking mechanisms hinders the cost reduction of the device. In addition, when controlling the type position at the end of printing in this way, if the device stops due to a power loss etc. during use, the type position will stop without returning to the reference position, and the next print will start. There was a problem that incorrect printing was performed at the start.

Therefore, in order to allow the type wheel to stop at an arbitrary position at the end of printing, a method can be considered in which the type wheel rotates one revolution idly at the start of printing to detect the reference position, but this adds an extra process at the start of printing. There will be a loss of time.

Therefore, the present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to simplify the mechanism and achieve low cost, and to To provide a serial printer that can perform accurate printing immediately after receiving a print start command.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the serial printer according to the present invention has a plurality of types arranged on a type wheel and a ratchet corresponding to each type integrated with the type wheel. In a serial printer, the serial printer selects and prints characters by engaging and operating a locking lever with the ratchet based on a signal input in advance,
One of the plurality of characters is set as a predetermined character to be printed first, and in the first printing cycle, the character selection signal sent out as the character wheel rotates is not detected. The locking lever mechanically detects the reference portion of the ratchet that rotates with the ratchet to print the predetermined characters corresponding to the reference portion, and from the next printing onwards, a control signal is sent out in accordance with the printing cycle. The control means is configured to control a series of operations for detecting the character position based on the input signal and printing by detecting the character selection signal after the detection of the character selection signal.

(Function) The present invention having the above-mentioned configuration sets one of a plurality of types arranged on the type wheel of a serial printer as a predetermined type to be printed first, and controls the control means to print the first type. In the printing cycle, a locking lever mechanically detects a reference portion of the ratchet rotating together with the type wheel without detecting a type selection signal, thereby selecting the predetermined type corresponding to the reference portion; In addition, from the next printing, the type selection signal is detected after the control signal sent in accordance with the printing cycle is detected, thereby detecting the type position and selecting the type based on the signal input in advance. It is used to print printed characters.

(Example) The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated example.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a check writer to which an embodiment of the serial printer according to the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a cover member forming the upper part of the check writer, 2 is a numerical value to be printed,
An input section 3 is used to input marks, issue keys, memory keys, etc., and a display section 3 displays input numerical values.A serial printer is installed in a box-shaped printing section 1a provided on one side of the cover member 1. Equipped.

And this check creditor is, first of all, a check,
With the printing paper P such as a receipt inserted into the printing paper insertion path 5 on the paper table 4, input printing data such as the amount from the input section 2, and after confirming this on the display section 3, press the issue key. By pressing the button, desired printing is performed on the printing paper P. Since this check writer performs printing using a serial printer having one type wheel, the printing paper P is fed in the direction of arrow A (digit direction) for each print.

2 to 4 a and b show the structure of a serial printer installed in the printing section 1a,
2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a side view, FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4b is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. In the figure, 10 is a horizontal board, 1
Reference numeral 2 indicates a fixed frame that stands upright perpendicular to the horizontal substrate 10, and reference numerals 14 and 16 indicate swing frames. One end of the swing frames 14 and 16 is a support shaft 18
It is swingably supported by one end portion of the fixed frame 12 via.

The swing frame 14 has a base end (one end)
A motor 20, a gear transmission means 22, and a type wheel 24 driven by the type wheel drive mechanism constitute the type wheel drive mechanism from the side toward the free end (the other end).
and an ink roller 26 as an ink application means for applying ink in contact with the type ring 24. A printing stand is placed directly below the type ring 24 and exposed through the window hole of the horizontal substrate 10 so as to face the type characters of the type ring 24.

On the circumferential surface of the type ring 24, typed characters 24a are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction, and these typed characters 24a include tamper-proof end marks ``*'', commas ``,'', digits ``0'', and digits ``. 1 to 9", monetary unit mark "¥", etc.

The type wheel drive mechanism is constructed as follows. That is, the gear transmission means 22
8, 30, 32, and 34, and the final stage type wheel gear 34 is installed coaxially with the type wheel 24 via a support shaft 35. A ratchet is integrally provided on the type wheel 24 to constitute a ratchet wheel 36, and a locking recess 36a formed on the inner circumferential surface of the ratchet wheel 36 has an elastic engagement provided integrally with the type wheel gear 34. The locking protrusion 38a of the stopper 38 is fitted.

Further, teeth 36b are formed on the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel 36 in correspondence with each type of the type wheel 24, and one of the teeth 36b is made to protrude outward in the radial direction to set the initial stage of the type wheel 24. A reference tooth 36b' is formed for determining the position in the state.

On the other hand, the reference tooth 36 of the ratchet wheel 36
b' is a lock that is held by a position holding member, which will be described later, even when the solenoid 42 is in the OFF state and the other end 40b of the lock lever is not being sucked (the lock lever 40 is not operated to select type). Stop lever 40
It is formed at a height that can be locked to one end portion 40a, and in a reset operation to return the type ring 24 to its initial state, the type ring 24 is moved to the position where the locking lever 40 is engaged with the reference tooth 36b'. Stop and set the initial position. When the solenoid 42 is not in suction operation, the locking lever 40 is connected to the pin 14a fixed to the swing frame 14, and the pin 14a is fixed to the swing frame 14.
It is held at the original position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 by a position holding member 60 and a spring 64, which has an elongated hole 60a into which the holder 60a is loosely fitted, and which is elastically held by the swing frame 14 via a spring 62.

Furthermore, when the solenoid 42 is turned on, the other end 40b of the locking lever 40 is suctioned toward the right in the figure, and the locking lever 40 rotates against the spring 64 to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. Teeth 3 of wheel 36
6b to stop the rotation of the type wheel 24. In addition, a control gear 32 rotates at a rotation ratio of 1/3 to the final stage type wheel gear 34.
An annular recess 32a is formed on the side surface of the annular recess 32a, and a protrusion 32b and a protrusion 32c lower than the protrusion 32b are formed at predetermined positions on the inner periphery of the annular recess 32a. As the gear 32 rotates, these protrusions 32b and 32c move toward the corner 40c of the locking lever 40.
It can be engaged with. Therefore, when starting the type selection operation (control gear 0° position), the locking lever 40 that locks the reference tooth 36b' of the ratchet wheel 36 is moved to the other end 40b of the locking lever 40. When the corner portion 40c engages with the protrusion 32b, the locking lever 40 is pushed up from its original position against the holding member 60 and the reference tooth 36 is pushed up.
The locking lever 40 is released from b', thereby starting selective rotation of the type wheel 24. The low protrusion 32c has the effect of pushing up the locking lever 40, which is attracted to the type selection position by the residual magnetic force even after the solenoid 42 is turned off, back to its original position, thereby reliably releasing the lock of the type wheel 24. fulfill Note that the protrusions 32b, 3
2c indicates the rotation angle of the control gear at 0 degrees at the start of the selection process and at the end of printing, as shown in the operation of the f locking lever in the timing chart in Figure 6.
It is set at 224 degrees.

When the locking lever 40 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 36, rotation is transmitted from the motor 20 to the gears 28, 30, 32, and 34 of the gear transmission means 22, and the locking protrusion 38a and the locking recess 36a are rotated.
Rotation is transmitted from the type wheel gear 24 to the type wheel 24 through the insertion of the type wheel 24 . When the locking lever 40 is locked to the ratchet wheel 36, the type wheel 2
4 remains stopped, and as the type ring gear 34 rotates, the locking convex portion 38a is disengaged from the locking recess 36a, and the type ring gear 34 slips and rotates with respect to the type wheel 24.

The support shaft 43 that supports the control gear 32 has
A cam member 44 (see FIG. 4b) is fixed coaxially with the control gear 32. This cam member 4
4, one rotation is divided into three predetermined rotation angle ranges (120 degrees each in this example), and in FIG. 4b, the first rotation angle range rotates clockwise, and the second rotation angle range continues. A third rotation angle range is assigned to the printing process, and a third rotation angle range is assigned to the paper feeding process. Incidentally, in the above paper feeding process, a reset process for returning the type wheel 24 to the reference position is also carried out in parallel.

At one end of the support shaft 35 that supports the type wheel 24 and the ratchet wheel 36, there is a detection disk 4 that rotates integrally with the type wheel 24, as shown in FIG.
8 is fixed. This detection disk 48 has slits 4 corresponding to the type letters arranged on the type ring 24.
8a is formed, and by detecting the light passing through the slit 48a with a photo sensor 50, a timing pulse (TP) as a type selection signal is sent to a control section 52 as a control means (see FIG. 6).

On the other hand, a support shaft 43 integrated with the control gear
A detection disk 54 having a slit 54a is fixed to the slit 54, and a photo sensor 56 detects the light passing through the slit 54a and sends a control pulse CP as a control signal to the control section 52.
, CP, CP are sent. These control pulses CP, CP, CP are applied to the cam member 44.
The start pulse (CP) is emitted at a timing corresponding to the rotation angle of the cam member 44, and as shown in the timing chart (Fig. 6), the start pulse (CP) is generated when the rotation angle of the cam member 44 is 0 degrees.
is emitted, and the print position is determined by counting the timing pulses (TP) after this pulse.
At the rotation angle of 220 degrees, the solenoid pulse (CP
) is emitted, and a motor stop pulse (CP) is emitted at 320 degrees to stop energizing the motor 20. Furthermore, this motor stop pulse (CP)
Stopping the motor by means of timing for turning off the motor after the final type printing is completed.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained based on the block diagram shown in FIG.

When print data such as the amount to be printed is input from the input unit 2, the display unit 3 is operated by the control unit 52 to display the input print data. When printing is commanded from the input unit 2, the motor 20 operates as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 6, and the character selection process is started. The subsequent operations will be described after the second printing, that is, after the first predetermined printing is completed, and will be explained from the state where the type wheel 24 is at the reference position shown in FIG. 4a. Here, at the same time as the start, one end of the locking lever 40 passes over the reference tooth 36b' by the protrusion 32b, and at the same time the control pulse CP is detected. In this type selection process, the type wheel 24 is rotated by the motor 20, and as the type wheel 24 rotates, a timing pulse (TP) signal is output from the type position selection photo sensor 50 to the control section 52. Then, when the type wheel 24 rotates to a position where a predetermined type character faces the printing stand, the solenoid 42 operates to suck the end portion 40b of the locking lever 40. As a result, the locking lever 40 is attached to the ratchet wheel 36.
to stop the type wheel 24. Next, the printing process begins; at this time, the locking protrusion 38a is removed from the locking recess 36a, and the type ring gear 34 is moved to the type ring 2.
Slip rotation against 4. And the cam member 4
4 and the cam follower 46, the swing frames 14 and 16 are rotated toward the horizontal substrate 10 to perform a printing operation, and predetermined characters are printed on the paper P. When this printing operation is completed, the control unit 52 detects the control pulse CP and turns off the solenoid 42 to release the attraction of the locking lever 40. However, even after the solenoid 42 is turned off, the locking lever is still attracted by the residual magnetic force. 40, the other end 40b of the locking lever 40 is attached to the protrusion 32c formed on the control cam as described above.
When the locking lever 40 is engaged, the locking lever 40 is forcibly returned to its original position.

When the locking of the type wheel 24 by the locking lever 40 is released, in the reset process, the type ring gear 34 is engaged with the inner circumferential surface of the ratchet wheel 36 in a frictional state by the elastic engagement protrusion 38a. type wheel 2
4 rotates together with the type ring gear 34. type wheel 2
4 rotates in this state to the reference position where the reference tooth 36b' engages with the locking lever 40, and here the locking lever 4
0 prevents rotation.

Further, the type ring gear 34 slips and rotates with respect to the type ring 24, and the relative position between the type ring 24 and the type ring gear 34 is returned to the reference state, and the engagement recess 36a is fitted into the engagement protrusion 38a to initialize. Return to position.
In this reset process, the paper is fed by one digit as shown in e of the timing chart of FIG.

As explained above, in this embodiment, the sixth
As shown in the figure, in the second printing, after detecting the rise of the control pulse (start pulse) from the control pulse photo sensor 50 (c in the figure) in the type wheel selection step (a in the figure), the timing pulse (c in the figure) is detected. The count value of the timing pulse corresponding to the data inputted in advance from the input unit 2 after starting the count shown in FIG.
By rotating the type wheel 24 until the input data is input (see b in the same figure), the type based on the input data is set at a predetermined position facing the printing stand.

However, in order to accurately set the position of the type wheel on the type wheel by detecting the timing pulse from the reference position as described above, it is necessary to set the position of the type wheel 24 at a predetermined constant position (reference position) at the start of the type selection process. ). For this reason, countermeasures such as braking mechanisms and idling, as shown in the conventional example, are required to ensure accurate printing due to the position of the type being shifted at the start of the next printing due to a power loss at the end of printing or during use. It had been taken.

In this embodiment, even if the type wheel stops at an arbitrary position without using these measures, the next character can be printed accurately and quickly. By setting this, the following control is possible. That is, for example, in a check writer, the monetary unit mark "¥" is always printed at the beginning of the printed amount. In this example, focusing on this point,
The reference position of the printing wheel is set as the first printed mark "\", and the predetermined printing character "\" mark is set at the position corresponding to the reference tooth, and in the first printing cycle after the printing start command, the above timing is set. Rather than selectively controlling the type wheel 24 by counting pulses, the first printing is executed by mechanically detecting the mark "¥" with a locking lever. For this purpose, one of the tooth rows formed on the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel 36, which rotates in synchronization with the type wheel 24, is formed so that one of the teeth protrudes from the other. When the mark "¥" (used only for printing) is locked by the locking lever 40, the mark "¥" is stopped at a position facing the stamp stand. In the printing cycle after selecting the mark "¥" and printing, the printing position is selected by counting specified timing pulses after detecting the control pulse sent from the photo sensor 56. Print the amount by repeating the normal printing cycle.

By controlling the series of printing operations as described above, no matter where the type wheel 24 stops at the end of printing, the mark "\" will always be displayed first when starting new printing. Printing is performed, and from the next printing cycle, the characters of the numerical value input in advance are selected by the detection of the timing pulse and printing is executed. This not only eliminates the need for a type wheel position setting mechanism at the end of printing and idling operation at the start of printing, but also eliminates the need for a type wheel position setting mechanism at the end of printing, and even if power is lost during use.
Printing can be started accurately and quickly when starting the next printing.

Next, the control operation in the above embodiment will be explained in detail based on the flowchart of FIG. However, in the present invention, the control unit 52 generates timing pulses and control pulses (start pulses,
Solenoid OFF pulse, motor stop pulse)
A series of controls are performed by monitoring the pulses, and it is not possible to distinguish between control pulses CP, CP, and CP. In order to be able to determine the role of each control pulse, additional detectors and control systems would be required.

First, as case 1, a case where printing is executed from a state where the type wheel position is between CP and CP in the control pulse shown in FIG. 6c will be described. However, this range includes the standard stop position of the type wheel.
Including 0°. In this case, when a print start instruction is given, the motor 20 rotates, and in step, the control section 52 determines whether or not a control pulse CP (start pulse) from the photo sensor 56 is detected. When CP is detected as a start pulse, the locking lever 40 simultaneously moves to the reference tooth 3.
8b', the type wheel 24 rotates, and in the next step, it is determined whether or not the first character to be printed is the mark "¥", and since the mark "¥" is printed at first, it is YES and the reference tooth 36b is turned. After rotating the type wheel until '' is locked by the locking lever, the mark "\" is printed. Next, in the step,
The control section 52 detects the control pulse CP, regards it as a motor stop pulse, and returns to the step again. Here, solenoid 42
The selection operation of the locking lever 40 and the OFF operation of the solenoid 42 are not performed. Next, in the step, the control pulse CP is detected as a start pulse, and in the step it is determined whether or not the printed character is the mark "\". 2
Since the print after the th mark will not be the mark "\", the judgment will be NO, and in step, the control section will start detecting the timing pulse. Therefore, here, the control section 52 outputs the control pulse CP.
The type wheel selection is performed based on the count of timing pulses (TP) without detecting the timing pulses (TP).

After that, when the TP count reaches a predetermined count value, the solenoid is turned on to fix the type wheel (step) and execute the printing operation (Fig. 6 d).
Upon detection of the control pulse CP in step, the solenoid is turned off and the engagement of the locking lever with the ratchet is released, after which it is determined whether printing is complete (step). If there is still data to be printed, the process returns to the step and repeats the same printing cycle. When printing is finished, the control pulse CP is detected in step and the motor is stopped (step) to complete the printing operation.

Next, as case 2, the type wheel position is from CP to CP.
The case where printing is executed from a state within the range will be explained. However, the paper cannot be inserted during the printing operation using the swing frame, and therefore the following explanation does not include the case where printing is started from the printing process. First, when you instruct to start printing, the motor 20
rotates. In this case, the mark "¥" on the type wheel 24 reaches the printing position before the control pulse CP is detected, so the mark "¥" is printed before the step. next,
The control pulse CP is detected in the step, and a YES determination is made in the step.
In the step, the control pulse CP is detected and the process returns to the step, where the control pulse CP is detected and the ¥ data is judged again. Here, if the determination is YES, the control unit 52 starts counting timing pulses from then on. The control unit 52 executes type wheel selection based on the count of timing pulses (step), fixes the type by turning on the solenoid (step) and executes printing, and turns off the solenoid (step) by detecting the control pulse CP. After that, it is determined whether printing is finished (step). The subsequent operation is the same as in case 1, so its explanation will be omitted.

Finally, as case 3, the type wheel position is CP~
The case where printing is executed from a state within the CP range will be explained. In this case, when a printing start is instructed and the motor rotates, the control pulse CP is first detected as a start pulse (step). Next, it is determined whether the data to be printed is the mark "¥" (step). The first print is the mark “¥”, so YES
CP is recognized as a motor stop pulse in the step, and after that, the reference teeth are locked by the locking lever, the type wheel is stopped at a predetermined "¥", and the printing operation is started. . Control unit 5
In step 2, CP is detected as a start pulse, and since the data to be printed is not the mark "¥", a NO judgment is made in step. The control unit 52 starts counting timing pulses from the step, but in this reset process range, the type wheel 24 is engaged with the reference tooth 36b' by the locking lever 40 since the reference "\" mark has been printed. Since it is in the state, here is the type wheel 2
4 does not rotate, therefore, no timing pulse is generated in this range, and the timing pulse is awaited due to the rotation of the type selection by starting the second type selection process. Also, the control section 52 does not detect the control pulses CP and CP here. In the step, type wheel selection is executed based on the count of timing pulses for the second printing, and after a predetermined count, the solenoid is turned on (step) to fix the type wheel and printing is executed, and then the solenoid is turned off (step). ), it is determined whether printing has ended or not (step). The subsequent operation is the same as in case 1, so its explanation will be omitted.

As explained above based on the flowchart for Cases 1 to 3, no matter what state in the print cycle you start printing from, the first character to be printed is the mark "¥" corresponding to the reference position. , this is mechanically detected and fixed by the cooperation of the reference teeth and the locking lever, and printing is performed, so the type does not rotate until the next type is selected in this state, and only a predetermined number of control pulses are applied. Even if timing pulse detection is started after the detection, no timing pulse is generated in the reset process, and no discrepancies occur in counting. That is, timing pulse detection is started when the start position corresponds to the first range (case 1), second range (case 2), and third range (case 3), respectively, and when the CP is detected. After the detection of the CP, the counting of timing pulses in the second character selection is performed accurately even if it is different from after the detection of the CP. Therefore, printing operations can be performed quickly and reliably.

In this invention, the timing pulse count corresponding to the type is started by the start pulse, and the solenoid is turned off.
Control is performed using control pulses generated at the timing of pulses and motor stop pulses, and the individual pulses of these control pulses are not differentiated. Therefore, it is not determined which control pulse is the start pulse that serves as the reference for timing pulse counting. In normal printers, in order to distinguish this start pulse, other detectors are provided, or the pulse interval of the start pulse is changed from other pulses to distinguish them. There is no need for a means for determining the start pulse.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the first character to be printed is the monetary unit mark "¥", but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a check writer that prints from the end of the amount. In some cases, a tamper-prevention stop mark such as "*" can be set on the printed characters that should be printed first.

Further, in this embodiment, a case where a type wheel is oscillated as a printing mechanism has been described, but it is also applicable to other printing mechanisms such as one using a printing hammer.

(Effects of the invention) The present invention consists of the above-mentioned structure and operation.
The type to be printed first is printed by mechanically detecting it with the reference tooth that sets the initial state of the type wheel, and from the next printing, the type is printed based on the input signal by detecting the type selection signal after the control signal is detected. It has a simple configuration that detects the position and controls printing, and makes effective use of the reference teeth, so that no matter what position the print is at the end of printing, it will not affect the next print and will always be accurate. Printing becomes possible, and there is no need for idle rotation at the start of printing, resulting in effects such as shortening of printing time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a check writer to which an embodiment of the serial printer according to the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the serial printer according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is the same embodiment. side view, 4th
Figure a is a sectional view taken along the - line in Figure 2, Figure 4b is an enlarged view of the main part of Figure a, Figure 5 is a block diagram of the same embodiment, and Figure 6 is a timing diagram showing the printing operation of the same embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control section of the same embodiment. Explanation of symbols, 24...Print wheel, 24a...Print, 32...Control gear, 34...Print wheel gear, 36...Ratchet wheel, 36b'...
Reference tooth (reference part), 40...Lock lever, 48...
...Detection disk, 50...Photo sensor, 52...
...Control unit (control means), 54...Detection disk,
56...Photo sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It is equipped with a plurality of type letters arranged on a type wheel and a ratchet corresponding to each type integral with the type wheel, and a locking lever is engaged with the ratchet based on a signal input in advance to select a type character. In a serial printer that performs printing, one of the plurality of characters is set as a predetermined character to be printed first, and in the first printing cycle, the character selected is sent out as the type wheel rotates. The locking lever mechanically detects the reference portion of the ratchet that rotates together with the type wheel without detecting a signal, thereby printing the predetermined type corresponding to the reference portion;
From the next printing, by detecting the type selection signal after detecting the control signal sent in accordance with the printing cycle, the control means controls a series of operations for detecting the type position based on the input signal and printing. A serial printer characterized by: