JPH0761737B2 - Stamp device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print position control device for a stamp device, and more particularly, to accurately set a print position by remote control from a console panel. The present invention relates to a printing position control device of a stamp device that can perform.

(Prior Art) Printing a date, drawing number, drawing name, and other patterns on a recording paper on which a visible image is formed by a copying machine, a printer, or another printing machine (hereinafter, simply referred to as a main copying machine) The stamping device is disposed inside the main copying machine or in the recording paper discharge section.

The stamp device is composed of a stamper, a power source, a stamper moving mechanism that moves the stamper in the width direction of the recording sheet by the power source, and the like.

The structure of the stamp device is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 58-24481 and 58-24482. The stamp device disclosed in each of the above specifications is a rubber stamp type stamper.

On the other hand, development of a stamp device using a thermal recording head as the printing device is also in progress.

Now, the printing position of each printing pattern by the stamp device (hereinafter, simply referred to as the stamper printing position) is usually at a predetermined position (for example, simply referred to as copy) on a recording sheet on which a visible image is formed (hereinafter simply referred to as copy). Although it is performed at a predetermined position on the lower right of the recording sheet, it may be required to be performed at an arbitrary position on the copy depending on the nature of the copy or the intention of the user of the main copying machine.

In the conventional stamping device, the print position control in the feeding direction of the recording paper is performed by using a sensor that detects the leading edge or the trailing edge of the recording paper and a CR timer including a resistance element and a capacitance element.

When the printing position in the feeding direction of the recording paper is arbitrarily set, the setting is performed by changing the resistance value of the variable resistor used as the resistance element of the CR timer.

Further, the print position control in the direction perpendicular to the recording paper feed direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as the width direction of the recording paper) controls which size of the recording paper is used when the printing position of the stamper is set to a predetermined position. This is performed by a width detection sensor that detects whether there is a gap and an induction motor that conveys the stamper to the position determined by the width detection sensor.

Then, the printing position in the width direction of the recording paper is arbitrarily set by the user of the main copying machine directly moving the stamper arranged inside the main copying machine by hand.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The above-described conventional technique has the following problems.

(1) As described above, the print position control in the feeding direction of the recording paper is performed when the printing is performed at a predetermined position set in advance for the copy, or when the printing is performed at an arbitrary position (that is, when the print position is changed). Even when setting manually), the CR timer is used.

The resistance element and the capacitance element used for the CR timer are
Even if they are sold or manufactured as elements having the same performance, the resistance and the capacitance vary from element to element. I will end up.

Further, in order to eliminate the deviation of the printing position in each stamping device, it is necessary to move the position of the sensor that detects the leading edge or the trailing edge of the recording sheet, which is troublesome to adjust.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned elements, the resistance and the capacitance may change due to aging, so that the printing position also shifts in this case.

Furthermore, since the manual setting of the print position is performed simply by manually changing the resistance value of the variable resistor,
Printing cannot be set correctly.

(2) When the print position in the width direction of the recording paper is set at a predetermined position for copying, as described above, a width detection sensor for detecting which size of the recording paper is used, An induction motor that conveys the stamper to a position determined by the sensor is used.

However, using the induction motor as a power source,
The stamper moving mechanism that moves the stamper in the width direction of the recording sheet usually has a mechanical resistance value that is a reaction force of the force that moves the stamper increases due to the change over time.
--- That is, since the load increases and the characteristics of the induction motor change with the lapse of time, the induction motor cannot stop at a predetermined rotation angle as it is used,
--- That is, the overrun occurs and the stop position of the stamper changes.

Further, even if the mounting position of the width detection sensor is deviated, the stop position of the stamper changes.

(3) When manually setting the print position in the width direction of the recording paper, the stamper must be moved by hand immediately after that. Therefore, at each setting, the user moves to the place where the stamper is arranged. It must be troublesome and the setting cannot be performed accurately.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

(Means and Actions for Solving Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a paper detection for detecting that a recording paper has been conveyed in print position control in the feeding direction of the recording paper. Uses a sensor and a digital timer that operates for a scheduled time with clock pulses.
A means of using a stepping motor to control the print position in the width direction of the recording paper is used, whereby printing is performed at a predetermined position set in advance for copying.
Or, regardless of whether the print position is set to an arbitrary position, the print position in the feed direction and width direction of the recording paper can be digitally controlled, and the print position of the stamper can be set extremely accurately, easily, and by the user. It can be set and controlled without moving to the place where the stamper is placed, and even if the stamper moving mechanism changes over time,
The feature is that it produces the action and effect that the setting of the printing position does not go wrong.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention.

In the figure, the stamper 8 is moved in the width direction of the recording paper 5 by the operation of the stepping motor 1. The stepping motor 1 is driven by a motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20.

The motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 is energized by the clock pulse output from the clock generator 22, and further, the stepping is performed depending on whether the output of the flip-flop 24 is “1” or “0”. The motor 1 is normally or reversely rotated.

A signal indicating that the power switch of the main copying machine or the stamping device is turned on is input to the reset terminal R of the flip-flop 24, and the set terminal S thereof is set.
An output signal of a home position sensor 9 for detecting that the stamper 8 has reached a reference position in the recording paper width direction is input to the.

The timer 23 is a clock counter that counts clock pulses output from the clock generator 22. The timer
23 is activated by the output signal of the home position sensor 9.

The output line of the clock generator 22 and the output terminal (count-up terminal) of the timer 23 are connected to the AND circuit 21, and the output terminal of the AND circuit 21 is connected to the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20. .

In the timer 23, the number of clock pulses to be counted is preset according to the recording paper size and the stamp position in the width direction of the recording paper.

The stamper 8 is energized by a stamper control circuit 17. The stamper 8 has a thermal recording head as its printing device. (More specifically, it is a transfer type thermal recording method using an ink donor film.) What information is to be printed on the stamper 8 in advance by the stamper control circuit 17--that is, the date, the figure The stamp content information such as number and figure name is preset.

Further, the stamper control circuit 17 is activated by a count-up output output from the output terminal (count-up terminal) of the timer 16 described later.

The timer 16 has a clock generator 22 similar to the timer 23.
It is a clock counter that counts the clock pulses output from. The timer 16 is started by the output signal of the paper detection sensor 7.

The timer 16 is preset with the number of clock pulses to be counted according to the conveyance speed of the recording paper, the distance between the paper detection sensor 7 and the stamper 8, and the stamp position in the recording paper conveyance direction.

The timer 16 is reset each time printing by the stamp device is completed. The reset is performed, for example, by a count-up output of the timer 16, a trailing edge detection signal of the recording paper detected by the paper detection sensor 7, or a signal indicating that one copy is completed.

Now, the operation of the basic functional configuration of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

First, the number of clock pulses to be counted is preset in the timer 16 and the timer 23 in advance according to the recording paper size and the printing position. In this state, the timer 16 and the timer 23 do not operate.

Next, when the power switch of the main copying machine or the stamping device is turned on, the clock generator 22 generates a clock pulse, and the Q output of the flip-flop 24 becomes "0". As a result, the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 reversely rotates the stepping motor 1 so that the stamper 8 moves toward the home position sensor 9.

When the stamper 8 reaches the home position sensor 9, the home position sensor 9 sends a signal indicating that the stamper 8 has been detected to the timer 23 and the flip-flop.
Output to 24.

As a result, the output of the flip-flop 24 becomes "1", and the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 rotates the stepping motor 1 forward so that the stamper 8 moves away from the home position sensor 9.

The timer 23 is started by the output of the home position sensor 9, and when the number of clock pulses preset in the timer 23 is counted, it outputs a count-up signal to the AND circuit 21.

As a result, no clock pulse is output from the AND circuit 21, so that the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 is deenergized and the stepping motor 1 is stopped.

As described above, the number of clock pulses preset in the timer 23 is set according to the size of the recording paper and the stamp position in the width direction of the recording paper. The stamp position in is set.

Next, when the paper detection sensor 7 detects the leading edge or the trailing edge of the recording paper, the timer 16 is started. The timer 16 is
When the number of clock pulses preset in the timer 16 is counted, a count-up signal is output to the stamper control circuit 17.

As a result, the stamper control circuit 17 operates and the stamper 8 starts printing. Thereafter, the timer 16 is reset by an appropriate signal as described above.

As described above, the number of clock pulses preset in the timer 16 is determined according to the conveyance speed of the recording paper, the distance between the paper detection sensor 7 and the stamper 8, and the stamp position in the recording paper conveyance direction. Because
By this operation, the stamp position in the conveyance direction of the recording paper is set.

Next, a specific example of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 represent the same or equivalent parts.

In FIG. 2, a sheet conveying roller 4 is arranged in the sheet conveying path 6 as shown in the drawing, and the recording sheet 5 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the sheet conveying roller 4.

The paper detection sensor 7 is arranged on the upstream side of the paper transport path 6.

The stamper 8 is arranged on the downstream side of the paper transport path 6. The stamper 8 includes a pulley as shown.
The ends 2A and 2B of the belt 2 wound around 1A and 3 are fixed.

The pulley 1A is connected to the stepping motor 1, and the rotation of the stepping motor 1 allows the stamper 8 to move in the width direction of the recording paper 5. The stepping motor 1 may be, for example, a two-phase stepping motor.

The home position sensor 9 is arranged to define the reference position of the stamper 8. In FIG. 2, the home position sensor 9 is arranged outside the paper transport path 6, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and as long as printing by the stamper 8 is not hindered, It may be arranged above the paper transport path 6.

The microcomputer 30 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an input / output interface 14, a timer 16, a stamper control circuit 17 having an input / output interface 17A, and a common bus 15 connecting the above-mentioned components.

The stepping motor 1 is connected to a motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20, and the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 is connected to the input / output interface 14.

The paper detection sensor 7 and the home position sensor 9
Is also connected to the input / output interface 14.

Information indicating the size of the recording paper 5 detected by the main copying machine or other means is further input to the input / output interface 14.

The stamper 8 is connected to the input / output interface 17A of the stamper control circuit 17.

Now, in one embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration,
First, when the power switch of the main copying machine or the stamp device is turned on, the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 energizes the stepping motor 1, and the drive shaft of the stepping motor 1 moves the stamper 8 in the direction of arrow B. Reverse rotation to move.

When the stamper 8 reaches the reference position, that is, when the home position sensor 9 detects the stamper 8, the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 causes the stepping motor 1 to rotate forward. 1 is urged to move the stamper 8 in the direction of arrow C.

At this time, the CPU 11 has the ROM 12 or the RAM 13 in advance.
Since a predetermined number of clock pulses are supplied to the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 on the basis of the information of the size and stamp position of the recording paper 5 stored in the stamper 8, the stamper 8 is provided with a predetermined or predetermined position. Can be stopped exactly.

The position of the stamper 8 is determined by the number of clock pulses input to the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20, so that the stamper moving mechanism that transmits the driving force of the stepping motor 1 to the stamper 8 may change with time. , Its stop position does not change.

Next, the copy (recording paper 5) made by the main copying machine is carried in the direction of arrow A by the paper carrying roller 4 or other means. When the paper detection sensor 7 detects the leading edge or the trailing edge of the recording paper 5, the timer 16 is activated.

The timer 16 is a counter that counts clock pulses output from the CPU 11, and stores the conveyance speed of the recording paper 5, the distance between the paper detection sensor 7 and the stamper 8, and the timer 16 or the ROM 12 or the RAM 13. By the information such as stamp position, the operation time, that is,
The number of clock pulses to be counted is determined.

When the timer 16 detects that the scheduled time has elapsed, the CPU 11 outputs a trigger signal to the stamper control circuit 17, which causes the stamper 8 to print.

In this way, the stamp position in the transport direction of the recording paper 5 is controlled by the clock pulse output from the CPU 11, so that the stamp position can be set extremely accurately.

(1) and (2) of FIG. 3 are flowcharts showing the main operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, steps S1 to S10 and step S17 show the operation for setting the position of the stamper 8, in other words, the stamp position in the width direction of the recording paper 5. In addition, steps S11 to S16,
And step S18 shows an operation for setting the stamp position of the recording sheet 5 in the conveying direction.

First, when the power switch of the main copying machine or the stamp device is turned on, in step S1, the CPU 11 outputs a clock pulse to the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20, and the clock pulse is amplified by the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20. Has been
It is supplied to the stepping motor 1.

The pulse output from the CPU 11 causes the drive shaft of the stepping motor 1 to rotate in the reverse direction so that the stamper 8 moves in the direction of the home position sensor 9 (direction of arrow B in FIG. 2).

In step S2, it is determined whether the home position sensor 9 has detected the stamper 8.

When the home position sensor 9 detects the stamper 8,
In step S3, the supply of the clock pulse to the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 of the stepping motor 1 is temporarily stopped.

When the size of the recording paper 5 is detected in step S4, it is then determined in step S5 whether or not the stamp position change key for selecting the print position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 has been pressed.

The stamp position changing key for selecting the printing position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 is used to set the printing position of the stamper 8 in the width direction of the recording paper 5 to a predetermined position, or the main copying machine or stamper. 8 is a switch for selecting whether to perform the manual setting at a console panel (not shown).

In the following description, when the stamp position changing key for selecting the print position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 is pressed, the stamp position is set to the manually set position.

If the stamp position change key for selecting the print position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 is pressed in step S5, the program proceeds to step S6, and in step S6, the recording paper 5 is printed by the console panel. It is determined whether or not the stamp position in the width direction of is set.

If the stamp position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 is set, the size of the recording paper 5 and / or the stamp position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 is read in step S7, and the stepping motor 1 The number of clock pulses to be supplied to the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 is set. Then, the program moves to step S8.

In step S5, if the stamp position change key for selecting the print position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 is not pressed, the program proceeds to step S17, and step S4
The size of the recording paper 5 detected in step 1 is read, and the number of clock pulses to be supplied to the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 of the stepping motor 1 is set accordingly. Then, as in step S7, the program steps
Move to S8.

In step S8, the CPU 11 causes the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20
To output a clock pulse to, in the reverse of step S1,
The drive shaft of the stepping motor 1 is rotated forward so that the stamper 8 moves in the direction opposite to the home position sensor 9 (direction of arrow C in FIG. 2).

In step S9, the clock pulse is
If it is determined that the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20 has been output by the number determined in S7 or step S17, the output of the clock pulse is stopped in step S10.

By the above operation, the stamp position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 is set.

Next, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the stamp position changing key for selecting the printing position of the recording paper 5 in the transport direction has been pressed.

The stamp position changing key for selecting the printing position of the recording paper 5 in the conveying direction corresponds to the stamp position changing key for selecting the printing position of the recording paper 5 in the width direction described in step S5.

That is, the stamp position change key for selecting the printing position of the recording paper 5 in the carrying direction is used to set the printing position of the stamper 8 in the carrying direction of the recording paper 5 to a predetermined position or the main copying machine. Alternatively, it is a switch for selecting whether to perform the manual set position via a console panel (not shown) of the stamper 8.

In the following description, when the stamp position change key for selecting the printing position of the recording paper 5 in the transport direction is pressed, the stamp position is assumed to be the manually set position.

If the stamp position change key is pressed, step
In S12, the stamp position in the transport direction of the recording paper 5 input from the console panel is read, and the timer drive time--that is, the number of clock pulses is set in the timer 16 accordingly.

When the timer drive time is set, then step S1
In 3, the program waits until the paper detection sensor 7 detects the recording paper 5.

When the paper detection sensor 7 detects the recording paper 5, the step
In S14, the timer 16 is started.

Then, in step S15, it is determined whether or not the timer drive time set in the timer 16 has elapsed. When the timer driving time has elapsed, the stamper 8 is energized in step S16. Then, when printing is completed, the program ends.

If it is determined in step S11 that the stamp position change key is not pressed, the program proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, the stamp position in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 5 stored in advance in the ROM 12 is read, and the driving time is set in the timer 16 accordingly. After that, the program moves to step S13.

By the above operation, the stamp position in the conveying direction of the recording paper 5 is set and printing is performed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the printing position of the stamper 8 in the conveying direction and the width direction of the recording paper 5 can be set and controlled by the clock pulse output from the CPU 11, in other words, Since it can be digitally controlled, the printing position can be set extremely accurately.

In the above description, the stamp position changing key is described as one that selects the printing position in the width direction of the recording paper 5 and one that selects the printing position in the transport direction. The present invention is not limited to this, and one of the above-mentioned one-direction printing positions may be selected, or one key may be used to select the two-direction printing positions. .

Further, although the stamper 8 is described as one which prints by the thermal recording head, the stamper 8 is not particularly limited to this, and it goes without saying that the stamper 8 may print by a rubber stamp system or an inkjet system. .

In addition, the setting and control of the printing position of the recording sheet 5 in both the conveying direction and the width direction are described as being performed by digital control. However, the printing position of the recording sheet 5 in either one of the conveying direction and the width direction is set. Obviously, even if only the setting / control is digitally controlled, it does not depart from the basic spirit of the present invention.

Further, when the position of the stamper 8 is set by the stepping motor 1, the stamper 8 is described as temporarily moving to the home position defined by the home position sensor 9. However, for example, the current position of the stamper 8 is stored. Means for comparing the present position with the position of the stamper input from the console panel, and in accordance with the comparison result, the printing position of the stamp device so as to output a clock pulse to the motor forward / reverse drive circuit 20. If the control device is configured, the above-described operation of moving the stamper 8 to the home position is unnecessary.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

(1) Since the print position control in the feed direction of the recording paper uses the paper detection sensor that detects that the recording paper has been conveyed and the digital timer that operates for the scheduled time by the clock pulse, the paper detection sensor is used. It is possible to accurately measure the scheduled time that should be measured after the detection of, and to set and control the printing position extremely accurately.

Also, when setting the print position to any position,
The setting can be set accurately and the position can be set extremely finely.

Further, since the clock pulse is used, there is no variation in the set print position for each stamper to be manufactured, and the adjustment and maintenance are easy.

(2) Since the stepping motor is used for controlling the print position in the width direction of the recording paper, the print position can be controlled by controlling the number of clock pulses supplied to the stepping motor or the drive circuit of the stepping motor. This makes it possible to set and control the position of the stamper extremely accurately.

Further, the stepping motor or a stamper moving mechanism that moves the stamper in the width direction of the recording sheet by using the stepping motor as a power source changes with time,
Even if each mechanical resistance value or characteristic changes, the setting and control of the printing position can be performed accurately.

In addition, the print position can be manually set to any position.
Even when controlling, the printing position information can be remotely input from the console panel of the main copying machine or the stamper, which is convenient for the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. (1) and (2) of FIG. 3 are flowcharts showing the main operation of the embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Stepping motor, 1A, 3 ... Pulley, 2 ... Belt, 6 ... Paper transport path, 7 ... Paper detection sensor, 8 ...
… Stamper, 9 …… Home position sensor, 11 …… CP
U, 12 …… ROM, 13 …… RAM, 14,17A …… I / O interface, 15 …… Common bus, 16,23 …… Timer, 17 ……
Stamper control circuit, 20 …… Motor forward / reverse drive circuit, 21 ……
AND circuit, 22 ... Clock generator, 24 ... Flip-flop, 30 ... Microcomputer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A stamper and a stamper starting means are provided,
A stamping device for printing a predetermined pattern on a recording sheet conveyed along a carrying path, comprising a stepping motor, a drive circuit for the stepping motor, and a stamper connected to the stepping motor, the stamper A stamper moving mechanism for moving in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, a paper size detecting means, a stamp position instructing means, and a predetermined number of drive circuits of the stepping motor based on the outputs of the paper size detecting means and the stamp position instructing means. A means for outputting a clock pulse, a paper detection sensor arranged along the recording paper carrying path, and a predetermined time measured by the clock pulse after the paper detection sensor detects the recording paper, and the predetermined time has elapsed And a stamping means for urging the stamper activating means.