JPH11208040A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform printing without bending of a sheet paper by surely setting so as not to bend a tip of the paper in terms of a printer wherein a printing section is shared by printing on a receipt and printing on a journal as well as performs printing on the sheet paper. SOLUTION: A pair of feeding rollers 24 for performing paper feeding of a sheet paper 22 is used as a tip stopper. As a result, when the sheet paper 22 is set such that the tip of the sheet paper 22 is aligned to a nip section of the feeding rollers 24, the paper can be fed straight. When an auxiliary feeding roller 25 provided to the upstream side is driven to be rotated earlier than the pair of feeding rollers 24, the tip of the sheet paper 22 is abutted to the nip section of the pair of feeding rollers 24 so that the sheet paper 22 is corrected to be aligned straight.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer having a receipt / journal printing function and a slip printing function for sheet paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ECR (electronic cash register) and P
2. Description of the Related Art Some receipt / journal printers used in POS terminals of an OS (point of sale information) system have a slip printing function capable of printing a receipt after issuing a receipt as a slip on a sheet of paper. In this case, the receipt / journal printing and the slip printing are selectively performed by sharing the printing unit. However, in the case of the slip printing, printing of receipt paper or journal paper by roll paper is performed. Unlike the case, since a sheet of paper is to be printed, a dedicated paper feed system is required for the printing unit.

As a configuration for this purpose, for example, a feed roller pair including a feed roller and a pinch roller is provided at a position upstream of the shared print section in the paper feed direction, and the feed roller pair is used to feed sheet paper to the print section. The sheet is fed and conveyed, and after printing, the feed roller is rotated in reverse to return the printed sheet paper. Here, the sheet paper is manually set by an operator, and at the time of setting, a pinch roller is opened and separated from the feed roller so that the leading end of the sheet paper is disposed downstream of the feed roller pair in the sheet feeding direction. I try to hit it. Thereafter, setting of the sheet paper is completed by bringing the pinch roller into contact, and the printing operation is enabled by driving the feed roller by releasing the stopper at an appropriate timing to drive the feed roller.

[0004]

However, in the case of such a conventional system, if the operator sets the sheet paper while keeping it bent with respect to the stopper, the sheet paper is fed toward the printing section with the leading end bent. Since printing is performed after the paper is conveyed, printing on sheet paper is also inclined, and printing quality is impaired. In particular, according to the conventional method, even if the sheet paper is set by abutting the leading end of the sheet paper against the stopper, there is nothing to hold the sheet paper in the set state until the pinch roller is closed. Is big.

In view of the above, the present invention relates to a printer of the type that prints on a sheet paper by sharing a printing section for receipt / journal printing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of performing the following.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a printer for selectively performing printing on receipt / journal roll paper and printing on sheet paper by sharing a printing unit, the printing unit is configured to print the sheet paper upstream of the printing unit in the paper feeding direction. A pair of feed rollers for reciprocating the sheet is also used as a stopper for the leading end of the sheet paper inserted toward the feed roller pair. Therefore, by using the feed roller pair itself that feeds and conveys the sheet paper as a leading end stopper, if the sheet paper is set so that the leading end thereof is aligned with the nip portion of the feed roller pair, the paper can be fed straight. This allows printing without paper skew.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the printer according to the first aspect, an auxiliary feed is disposed upstream of the feed roller pair in the sheet feeding direction and is rotationally driven prior to the feed roller pair. Has rollers. Therefore, the auxiliary feed roller disposed upstream of the feed roller pair rotates in advance and feeds the sheet so that the leading end of the inserted sheet paper abuts against the feed roller pair also serving as a stopper. The front end of the sheet paper is surely aligned straight at the roller pair.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the second aspect, the preceding rotational drive of the auxiliary feed roller has a feed amount capable of feeding the leading end of the sheet paper to the feed roller pair. Therefore, since the feed amount of the sheet paper by the preceding rotation drive of the auxiliary feed roller is sufficient, not only the leading edge alignment at the feed roller pair portion but also the biting of the feed roller pair into the nip portion is ensured, and a good set state is obtained. can get.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printer according to the second or third aspect, further comprising a pressing member which comes into contact with the auxiliary feed roller with a force smaller than the stiffness of the sheet paper. Therefore, it is possible to reliably feed the auxiliary sheet paper by the auxiliary feed roller without interfering with the sheet paper insertion operation, and to release the hand from the sheet paper after the sheet paper insertion operation. The sheet does not go into a free state.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is applied to, for example, a receipt / journal printer 1 built in a POS terminal. As shown in FIG. 1, the receipt / journal printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a clamshell structure in which an upper frame 3 is connected to a lower frame 2 so as to be openable and closable about a fulcrum 4. The full-open type can open the roll paper transport path by opening the upper frame 3.

The receipt / journal printer 1 has a receipt printer area on the left side when viewed from the near side,
The right side is divided into two as a journal printer area.
A storage section (not shown) for storing a receipt roll paper 5 is provided on the receipt printer area side in the lower frame 2, and a receipt feed roller 6 and a pinch roller are provided in front of the storage section. 7 while forming a predetermined bent conveyance path via a roller pair with the platen 8, a platen 8, and the like.
It is continuous with the receipt issuing port 9 exposed on the OS terminal surface. Similarly, a storage section (not shown) for storing the roll paper 10 for the journal is provided on the journal printer area side in the lower frame 2, and the journal feed roller 11 is moved toward the near side from the storage section. And pinch roller 1
While forming a predetermined bent transport path via the roller pair 2 and the platen 8 and the like, it is connected to a winding device 14 such as a winding reel 13 via a journal window (not shown). Here, the platen 8 is formed continuously from the receipt printer area to the journal printer area, and the printing unit 16 is formed by the platen 8 and the ink head 15 which is a print head that moves on the platen 8 left and right.
Is configured.

The ink head 15 has a guide rail 17 and a carrier shaft 18 on the upper frame 3 side.
The upper frame 3 is opened together with the upper frame 3 when the upper frame 3 is fully opened as described above.
The upper surface is largely opened. The upper frame 3 is also provided with a carrier motor 20 that can rotate forward and reverse, and a carrier belt 21 that is rotationally driven by the carrier motor 20 is stretched across the left and right directions. The carrier 19 is connected to a part of a carrier belt 21, and the carrier 1 is driven by a carrier motor 20.
9 also has a structure that reciprocates in the left-right direction. Thus, the ink head 15 mounted on the carrier 19 can perform a serial printing operation on the roll papers 5 and 10 conveyed by the respective roller pairs on the platen 8.

Such a receipt / journal printer 1 is provided with a slip printing function capable of printing a receipt after issuing a receipt as a slip on a sheet 22. This slip printing function shares the printing section 16 over the entire area of the receipt printer area and the journal printer area, and a sheet insertion port 23 is formed on the front side of the printing section 16 in the horizontal direction. Between the printing unit 16 and the sheet insertion slot 23, a pair of feed rollers 24 located immediately upstream of the printing unit 16, an auxiliary feed roller 25 further upstream, and an auxiliary feed roller 25 A pressing spring 26, which is a pressing member that is in contact with the upper surface, is provided. The feed roller pair 24 includes a feed roller 27 and the pinch roller 2 pressed against the feed roller 27 via a spring 28.
9. These auxiliary feed rollers 2
5, holding spring 26, feed roller 27, spring 28, and
The pinch roller 29 is divided into two parts according to the receipt printer area and the journal printer area, and is configured to be driven simultaneously. Here, the pressing spring 26 has a leaf spring structure in which the insertion side of the sheet paper 22 is expanded in a tapered shape, and presses against the auxiliary feed roller 25 with a force smaller than the stiffness of the sheet paper 22. . Although not shown, an insertion detection sensor is provided between the auxiliary feed roller 25 and the feed roller 27 to detect the insertion of the sheet paper 22.

Next, a drive system such as the feed roller 27 relating to the slip printing function will be described with reference to FIGS. First, there is provided a forward / reverse free motor 30 which is driven forward / reversely when printing a slip. The rotational force of the drive gear 31 on the motor 30 is applied to the shaft 3 of the auxiliary feed roller 25.
A gear train 34 for transmission to the upper gear 33 is provided. A gear 36 rotatable with respect to a shaft 35 of the feed roller 27 is meshed with a gear 33 via an idle gear 37. Here, a clutch body 38 is fixed on the shaft 35. The clutch body 38 and the gear 36 are formed so as to protrude in the axial direction and are engaged with and disengaged from each other at a position shifted by substantially one rotation. Are formed. Therefore, in the initial state, the pawl 36a is set to be locked in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the pawl 38a, and the motor 30 rotates the gear 33 (auxiliary feed roller 25) in the sheet paper feeding direction (clockwise). The gear 36 also rotates at the same time, but after a delay of approximately one rotation when the claw 36a is locked clockwise with respect to the claw 38a, the clutch body 38
, The feed roller 27 is rotated in the sheet feeding direction. That is, the auxiliary feed roller 25 is driven to rotate prior to the feed roller pair 24. The feed amount of the sheet paper 22 by the preceding auxiliary feed roller 25 is set to an amount that can feed at least the leading end of the sheet paper from the auxiliary feed roller 25 to the position of the feed roller pair 24.

The printing operation on the sheet paper 22 in such a configuration will be described. This printing operation is selectively performed, for example, when a cashier inserts a predetermined sheet paper 22 from the sheet insertion slot 23 when a formal receipt is requested after a receipt is issued to a certain customer. Here, the sheet paper 22 is in the sheet insertion slot 2
3 is inserted toward the feed roller pair 24 through the auxiliary feed roller 25 and the pressing spring 26. At this time, the nip portion of the feed roller pair 24 also serves as a stopper for the leading end of the sheet paper 22. Such sheet paper 22
The pressing spring 26 has a force lower than the stiffness of the sheet paper 22 at the time of the inserting operation of the sheet paper 22. Therefore, the pressing spring 26 does not hinder the insertion of the sheet paper 22 and also temporarily suspends the sheet paper 22 by the auxiliary feed roller. Even if the user releases his / her hand after passing through the portion 25 and the holding spring 26, the sheet paper 22 does not enter a free state and is held in a temporary holding state.

When the insertion sensor detects that the sheet 22 has been inserted, the motor 30
Is driven in the paper feeding direction. Thereby, the drive gear 31,
The auxiliary feed roller 25 is rotationally driven in the sheet feeding direction via the gear train 34 and the gear 33, and feeds the sheet paper 22 toward the feed roller pair 24 side. At this time, the gear 36 and the gear 33 are simultaneously driven to rotate in the sheet feeding direction.
The feed roller 27 does not rotate for substantially one rotation until the clutch 6a is engaged with the claw 38a of the clutch body 38 in the sheet feeding direction. During approximately one rotation of the gear 36 (feed roller pair 2
4 is stopped), the leading edge of the sheet paper 22 is reliably fed by the auxiliary feed roller 25 that has been rotationally driven in advance so as to abut the nip portion of the feed roller pair 24. As a result, the left and right ends of the sheet paper 22 are aligned in a straight line at the nip portion of the feed roller pair 24, and are simultaneously and surely bitten into the nip portion. Here, the extra paper fed on the auxiliary feed roller 25 side escapes so as to become flat at the portion of the pressing spring 26 that is weaker than the stiffness of the sheet paper 22.

Thus, the setting operation of the sheet paper 22 proceeds, and the pawl 36a of the gear 36 is
a at the stage where the feed roller 27 is locked in the sheet feeding direction.
Is rotated in the paper feeding direction, and the pinch roller 29 is driven to rotate, and the sheet paper 22 sandwiched between these nip portions is fed and conveyed toward the printing unit 16 at a predetermined speed. In parallel with this operation, the ink head 15
9 and a predetermined printing is performed on the sheet paper 22.

When printing on the sheet paper 22 is completed, the motor 30 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction in the sheet paper return direction. At this time, the gear 33 is driven to rotate in the return direction, and the gear 36 is also driven to rotate in the return direction. However, it takes approximately one rotation until the claw 36a of the gear 36 is locked to the claw 38a of the clutch body 38 in the return direction. Does not rotate the feed roller 27. Although the auxiliary feed roller 25 rotates in the return direction, the auxiliary feed roller 25 idles without applying a return conveyance force to the sheet paper 22 held between the feed roller pairs 24. Then, gear 3
When the pawl 36a of the sixth clutch engages with the pawl 38a of the clutch body 38 in the return direction (thereby returning to the initial state), the feed roller 27 is driven to rotate in the return direction together with the auxiliary feed roller 25, and the pinch roller 29 is driven to rotate. By doing
The printed sheet paper 22 is conveyed back to the near side, and is issued as a receipt from the sheet insertion slot 23.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the feed roller pair 24 that feeds and conveys the sheet paper 22 is used as the leading end stopper without providing a dedicated stopper. If the sheet paper 22 is set so that the leading edge of the sheet paper 22 is aligned with the nip portion 24, the paper can be fed straight as it is, and printing without paper curl becomes possible. In particular, the auxiliary paper feed roller 25 disposed upstream of the paper feed roller pair 24 is rotated in advance, so that the leading end of the inserted sheet paper 22 is abutted against the paper feed roller pair 24 also serving as a stopper. Since the paper is fed, the correction can be made so that the leading end of the sheet paper 22 becomes straight at the feed roller pair 24. At this time, the feed amount of the sheet paper 22 by the preceding rotational drive of the auxiliary feed roller 25 is sufficient, and not only the leading end alignment at the feed roller pair 24 but also the biting of the feed roller pair 24 into the nip portion is ensured. A good set state is obtained. At the time of inserting and setting the sheet paper 22 as described above, the sheet paper 22 is temporarily pressed by the pressing spring 26 which is opposed to the auxiliary feed roller 25 with a force smaller than the stiffness of the sheet paper 22, so that the sheet paper 22 is The sheet paper 22 does not go into a free state even if the hand is released, and the insertion setting property is improved.

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the feed roller pair itself for feeding and conveying the sheet paper is used as a leading end stopper, so that the leading end of the sheet paper with respect to the nip portion of the feed roller pair is used. The paper can be fed straight as it is by setting so that the sheets are aligned with each other, so that it is possible to perform printing on the sheet paper without curling.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the front end of the inserted sheet paper is turned to the feed roller pair also serving as a stopper by rotating the auxiliary feed roller disposed upstream of the feed roller pair in advance. Since the sheet is fed so as to abut against the feed roller, it can be surely corrected so that the leading end of the sheet paper is aligned in a straight state at the pair of feed rollers.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the preceding rotational drive of the auxiliary feed roller has a feed amount capable of feeding the leading end of the sheet of paper to the pair of feed rollers, and is driven by the preceding rotary drive of the auxiliary feed roller. Since the feeding amount of the sheet paper is sufficient, not only the leading edge alignment at the feed roller pair portion but also the biting of the feed roller pair into the nip portion can be surely performed, and a good set state can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the pressing member is provided so as to oppose the auxiliary feed roller with a force smaller than the stiffness of the sheet paper, there is no hindrance to the sheet paper inserting operation. The auxiliary feed roller can reliably feed the auxiliary sheet paper, and the sheet paper does not go into a free state even if the user releases his / her hand from the sheet paper after the operation of inserting the sheet paper. The operability for inserting and setting paper can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a receipt / journal printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a paper transport system.

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a drive system.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view extracting and showing the clutch system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5, 10 Roll paper 16 Printing unit 22 Sheet paper 24 Feed roller pair 25 Auxiliary feed roller 26 Holding member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printer for selectively performing printing on a receipt / journal roll paper and printing on a sheet paper by using a printing unit in common, wherein the printing unit is located upstream of the printing unit in the sheet feeding direction. A printer, wherein a pair of feed rollers for reciprocating the paper with respect to the printing section is also used as a stopper for the leading end of the sheet paper inserted toward the pair of feed rollers. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary feed roller disposed upstream of the feed roller pair in the sheet feeding direction and driven to rotate prior to the feed roller pair. 3. The preceding rotary drive of the auxiliary feed roller is:
3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the printer has a feed amount capable of feeding the leading end of the sheet paper to the feed roller pair. 4. The printer according to claim 2, further comprising a pressing member that comes into contact with the auxiliary feed roller with a force smaller than the stiffness of the sheet paper.