JPH0966652A - Ticket processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ticket processing device which can be mounted easily and safely without damaging an ink ribbon. SOLUTION: There is provided a ribbon end detection lever 29 which is arranged on a feed axis in an abutting manner through an ink ribbon 10a mounted on and supported by the feed axis and rotates by following a winding diameter of the ink ribbon 10a. There is also provided a ribbon set lever 30 to be rotated by a winding diameter section of the ink ribbon 10a when it is to be mounted on the feed axis. An end of the ribbon set lever 30 is arranged so as to engage with a part of the ribbon end detection lever 29. At the time of mounting of the ink ribbon 10a, the ribbon end detection lever 29 is rotated separately from the feed axis by the ribbon set lever 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ticket processing device for processing an airline boarding pass or a reservation ticket.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a ticket processing apparatus, a platen roller and a thermal head are provided in a printing section in order to process a ticket such as a boarding ticket for an airplane or a reservation ticket. A supply shaft for a thermal transfer type ink ribbon (hereinafter referred to as an ink ribbon), a take-up shaft, and a guide roller are arranged in front of and behind the printing portion.

The ink ribbon wound around the winding core and attached to the supply shaft is pulled out from the supply shaft and guided by the guide roller between the platen of the printing portion and the thermal head, and then the guide roller. The structure is such that it is guided to the winding shaft and is wound around the winding core mounted on the winding shaft.

On the other hand, the paper sheet is passed between the platen roller and the ink ribbon in the printing section. Further, when passing through the printing section, the thermal head is pressed against the paper sheet via the ink ribbon, and the thermal head melts and transfers the ink. At this time, the ink ribbon is wound up on the winding shaft side.

When a certain number of ticket papers are printed, most of the ink ribbon is taken up by the take-up shaft and is lost on the supply side, and the ink ribbon end detection device detects and replaces the ink ribbon. become.

This ink ribbon end detecting device is disposed on the supply shaft so as to be in contact with the ink ribbon, and constantly applies a load to pulling out the ink ribbon while following the winding diameter of the ink ribbon. An optical reflection sensor is provided on the surface facing the ink ribbon. There is a detector which has the detecting member and which has a portion where the optical reflection sensor reacts at the end of the ink ribbon.

[0007]

However, in the ink ribbon end detecting device having the above-mentioned configuration, the detecting member is in the direction of constantly applying a load to the pulling out of the ink ribbon while following the winding diameter of the ink ribbon, so that the supply side In the state where the ink ribbon has run out, the detection member is in contact with the shaft core.

Although the ink ribbon will be replaced from this state, it is necessary to remove the core of the ink ribbon before mounting a new ink ribbon, but the core is only discarded. It also has strength and can be easily pulled out.

However, care must be taken when installing a new ink ribbon. The reason is that the size of the device has become smaller recently.
Moreover, the ink ribbon material tends to be thin in order to prolong the life of the ink ribbon and to reduce the running cost, and it may be damaged depending on the handling method.

In such an ink ribbon, in particular, in the case of an ink ribbon whose axis on the take-up side is manufactured integrally with the tip of the ink ribbon, since both the supply side and the take-up side are attached at the time of attachment, both hands can be operated. Is preferred. However, there is a problem that it is very difficult to mount the ink ribbon while operating the detection member that comes into contact with the shaft core on the supply side.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ticket processing apparatus which can be easily loaded without damaging the ink ribbon.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is directed to a ticket processing apparatus having an ink ribbon running system for winding an ink ribbon drawn from a supply shaft side through a printing unit on the winding shaft side. , A ribbon end detection member that is disposed in contact with the supply shaft via an ink ribbon that is fitted and supported on the supply shaft, and that rotates following the winding diameter of the ink ribbon; and the ink ribbon is mounted on the supply shaft. And a ribbon setting member that is rotated by the winding diameter portion of the ink ribbon, and one end of the ribbon setting member is disposed so as to engage with a part of the ribbon end detection member. Thus, the ribbon end detecting member is configured to rotate away from the supply shaft.

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, the ribbon end detection member is rotated away from and linked to the operation of inserting a new ink ribbon into the supply shaft, so that the ink ribbon can be moved without operating the ribbon end detection member. Can be installed.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 2 is an external view of the ticket processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the overall configuration of the ticket processing apparatus of the present invention, as seen from the direction of arrow D in FIG. The elements common to the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, 2a and 2b are hoppers for storing the respective ticket papers 3a and 3b.
3b is accommodated in a folded state. In this case, different types of ticket papers 3a and 3b are stored, but it is also possible to store the same type of ticket paper.

It should be noted that the term "ticket paper" means a folded state, and after being cut, it is "ticket paper", and it is not necessary to distinguish the hopper parts 2a, 2b and the ticket papers 3a, 3b. In this case, the hopper unit 2 and the ticket paper 3 will be described.

The ticket paper 3 accommodated in the hopper unit 2 is set on the conveying path 4 by the operator, and when a ticket issuing instruction is received, one of the ticket papers 3 is selected and conveyed to the ticket cutting unit 5. When the ticket cutting unit 5 cuts the ticket paper 3 into a set length, the ticket paper 3 is conveyed to the magnetic processing unit 6. This magnetic processing section 6 is
It has a write head 6a for recording magnetic information on a magnetic stripe provided at a predetermined position on the ticket 3 and a read head 6b for reading the magnetic information.

Plural pairs of feed rollers 4a are arranged in the conveying path 4 so that the ticket 3 can be conveyed by being rotated by a driving means (not shown). Subsequently, the printing unit 7 is arranged downstream of the magnetic processing unit 6. A platen roller 8 rotatably arranged in the printing unit 7 and a thermal head 9 arranged to face the platen roller 8 and locally heat the ticket 3 to perform printing.
And an ink ribbon 10 arranged between the ticket paper 3 and the thermal head 9.

The ink ribbon 10 is a thermal transfer type ink ribbon, and the ink of the heated portion of the thermal transfer type ink ribbon is transferred to the printing surface of the ticket paper 3 by the thermal head 9 to form characters and figures. You can

Reference numeral 11 denotes a discharge stacker, which is a discharge storage portion for the paper sheets 3 which have been processed by this apparatus. Reference numeral 12 denotes an inserter section, which is an insertion section for a paper sheet or the like that has been issued as a reservation ticket or the like. The paper sheet inserted from here is processed by the magnetic processing section 6 or the printing section 7 and the discharge stacker 11 is provided. Discharge again.

A switching blade 13 is located between the magnetic processing unit 6 and the thermal head 9, and at the position of the switching blade 13, the inserter unit 12 and the conveying path 4 are branched. Reference numeral 14 is an operation / display unit.

The ticket paper 3 is formed of continuous paper, and perforations are provided at a set interval (not shown), and the perforations are folded and stored. A printing surface is formed on the surface of the ticket paper 3, and the thermal head 9 prints on the printing surface. On the other hand, a magnetic stripe for magnetically recording the ticket issuing information is formed on the back surface of the ticket paper 3.

Next, the printing section of the ticket processing apparatus having the above-mentioned structure will be described. First, referring to the control block diagram of the printing unit shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 15 is an interface control unit, which controls the connection between the present apparatus and the host apparatus. 16
Is a control unit of this apparatus, but only the control relating to the printing unit will be described in this figure.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a drive circuit, which is a solenoid 1 for pressing the thermal head 9 against the platen roller 8.
8 and the ink ribbon 10, stepping motors 19a and 19b for winding up and removing slack, and a line feed motor 2 for rotating the platen roller 8 for line feed of printing.
It is a drive circuit such as 0.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an amplifier circuit, which is an amplifier circuit for the output of an ink ribbon end detection sensor 22 described later.
A drive circuit 23 of the thermal head 8 is a circuit for forming a predetermined print on the ticket 3 in accordance with a print command from the control unit 16. The above-mentioned control unit 16 controls the operation of each of the above units in a predetermined procedure.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a printing state of the present invention, in which the platen roller 8 is rotated in the direction of arrow E while the thermal head 9 is in pressure contact with the platen roller 8, and at the same time the winding side of the ink ribbon 10 ( Hereafter, referred to as 10b) is rotated in the direction of arrow F by the stepping motor 19a.
At this time, the supply side of the ink ribbon 10 (hereinafter referred to as 10a
Is rotated in the direction of arrow G, but a holding weak current is applied to the stepping motor 19b for removing the slack, and a load is applied to the ink ribbon 10a in a direction to prevent the rotation.

Although the means for rotating the ink ribbon 10a and the load means for preventing the rotation of the ink ribbon 10b are stepping motors, the invention is not limited to this, and a DC motor or a mechanical load means may be used. Needless to say, even if Next, the above-mentioned supply-side ink ribbon 10a will be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a method of loading an ink ribbon in the ticket processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a mounted state of the ink ribbon. First, 10c is a hollow portion provided in the ink ribbon 10a, and is formed with substantially the same diameter (dimension) as the spool shaft 25 to be inserted.

The spool shaft 25 is rotatably supported by a frame 26, and has a ribbon gear 27 at its end.
Is stuck. A motor gear 28 is meshed with the ribbon gear 27, and the motor gear 28 is fixed to the stepping motor 19b. Incidentally, 25a is a flange portion of the spool shaft.

Although not shown, the stepping motor 19b is supported by the frame 26. The spool shaft 25 has a protrusion (not shown), and the hollow portion 10c of the ink ribbon 10a is engaged with the spool shaft 25 so that the spool shaft 25 cannot rotate idly.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a ribbon end detection lever, which is rotatably supported by a post 26a provided upright from the frame 26, and the ink ribbon end detection sensor 22 is fixed to the side farther from the rotation axis. Further, an engagement portion 29a is formed on the side surface of the ribbon end detection lever 29.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a ribbon set lever, which is rotatably supported by a post 26b provided upright from the frame 26. The ribbon set lever 30 is rotated in a direction orthogonal to the ribbon end detection lever 29 as shown in the figure, in the same direction as the spool shaft 25, and the tip 30a is separated from the spool shaft 25. It is arranged to rotate.

The tip end 30a of the ribbon set lever 30 is formed so as to come into contact with the engaging portion 29a of the ribbon end detection lever 29.

The ribbon end detection lever 29 is biased toward the spool shaft 25 by its own weight or a slight spring, and the ribbon set lever 30 is also biased in the direction of arrow B by its own weight. However, the urging force of the ribbon set lever 30 is set weaker than the urging force of the ribbon end detection lever 29, and the ribbon end detection lever 29 does not float. Next, the operation at the time of loading will be described.

When the ink ribbon 10a is supported in the direction of the drawing and inserted into the spool shaft 25 from the direction of arrow A, the outer diameter portion of the ink ribbon 10a is moved to the ribbon set lever 30.
Abut. When the ink ribbon 10a is further pushed in against the biasing force of the ribbon set lever 30, the ribbon set lever 30 rotates in the direction of arrow B around the post 26b, and the tip 30a pushes up the engaging portion 29a. Then, the ribbon end detection lever 29 rotates (is pushed up) in the direction of arrow C.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the ink ribbon 10a is pushed in until it is stopped by the flange portion 25a.
At this time, the ink ribbon end detection sensor 22 provided on the ribbon end detection lever 29 and the ink ribbon 10a
Has a predetermined positional relationship.

As the number of ink ribbons 10a decreases, the ribbon end detection lever 29, which is in contact with the outer diameter portion of the ink ribbon 10a, also moves in the direction opposite to the arrow C direction.

As described above, the loaded ink ribbon 10a is sequentially wound up from the outer diameter state by the spool on the winding side, and when the outer shape is reached, the ink ribbon end detection sensor provided on the ribbon end detection lever 29. 22 detects an end detection mark or the like provided in advance on the ink ribbon 10a. This detection signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 21 and is notified to the above-mentioned operation / display unit 14 by the control unit 16 as a ribbon end display or the like.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the ribbon end detecting member rotates away from and in association with the operation of inserting a new ink ribbon into the supply shaft, it is possible to operate the ribbon end detecting member without operating it. Since the operation can be performed while holding the supply side and the winding side, there is an effect that the ink ribbon can be mounted extremely easily and safely.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a method of loading an ink ribbon in a ticket processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the ticket processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the overall configuration of the ticket processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a printing unit of the ticket processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing state of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounted state of an ink ribbon in the ticket processing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Transport Path 7 Printing Section 8 Platen Roller 9 Thermal Head 10 Ink Ribbon 25 Spool Shaft 29 Ribbon End Detection Lever 30 Ribbon Set Lever

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A ticket processing apparatus having an ink ribbon running system for winding an ink ribbon pulled out from a supply shaft side through a printing section on a winding shaft side, through an ink ribbon fitted and supported on the supply shaft. And a ribbon end detecting member which is disposed in contact with the supply shaft and rotates following the winding diameter of the ink ribbon, and is rotated by the winding diameter portion of the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is mounted on the supply shaft. And a ribbon setting member, one end of the ribbon setting member is disposed so as to engage with a part of the ribbon end detecting member, and the ribbon end detecting member is provided by the ribbon setting member when the ink ribbon is mounted. A ticket processing device characterized in that the ticket processing device rotates further apart. 2. The ticket processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ribbon end detection member is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the supply shaft, and the ribbon set member is arranged in parallel with the supply shaft.