JPH11349197A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of securing a function of paper end detection and winding curl correction of a paper terminal end part in the case of a coreless roll sheet and using regardless of kinds of rolled type sheets. SOLUTION: A sheet 7 of either of starched roll paper with a core, non- starched roll paper with a core and roll paper without a corebecomes lighter in weight than a specified value as it approaches a paper end, a paper terminal end separator 25 displaces to a state to intrude inside a sheet storage part 6 in accordance with energizing force, and an end sensor 28 reacts and detects the paper end. Additionally, concerning the roll paper without a core, as a correction part 25b on a head end of the paper terminal end separator 25 to displace so as to intrude into the inside of the sheet storage part 6 bites into an inner peripheral surface side of a drawing part and shows correction work, movement of the sheet 7 becomes smooth and the sheet is not drawn into the insides of sheet draw-in parts 21a, 22a as it is folded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for performing printing using roll-shaped paper such as receipt paper or label paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Roll paper used in this type of printer includes roll paper with a core and roll paper without a core, and some roll paper with a core glued to the core. And some are not glued,
All of these three types of paper are appropriately used. Further, the printer is provided with a paper holder (paper storage unit) for storing and setting these papers in a roll state, and when a paper runs out, a new roll paper is replaced and set.

Here, in the case of glued roll paper with a core, when the paper reaches the paper end, the core is forcibly lifted up following the paper in the paper holder, and the movement of the core is monitored by monitoring the movement of the core. End is detected. In the case of roll paper with a core and no glue, when it reaches the paper end,
Since only the core remains in the paper holder and the end of the paper is drawn into the paper draw-in section, the paper is monitored by monitoring whether the end of the paper has passed through a photo sensor or the like arranged in the transport path that is the paper draw-in section. End is detected. In the case of roll paper without a core, when the paper end is reached, the end of the paper is drawn into the paper draw-in section. The end of the paper is detected by monitoring whether the end of the paper has passed by a photo sensor or the like provided.

[0004] On the other hand, in the case of roll paper without a core, there is no core near the end of the paper, and since it is lightweight and has a strong curl, it tends to be flat as a whole while floating from the paper storage section. When the paper is continuously transported by the paper transport mechanism in such a state, the paper is folded into the paper draw-in section on the entrance side of the transport path and easily pulled in, and as a result, a paper jam occurs or the paper transport mechanism is not used. An inherent problem arises in that the feed motor is overloaded and loses synchronism. Therefore, in a printer using roll paper without a core, in order to avoid such a problem caused by the end portion of the roll paper without a core, for example, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-1022, a guide is provided to a paper draw-in section. By providing a member and a pressing member capable of applying a pressing force to a drawn-out portion of the roll-shaped paper sandwiched between the guide member and the guide member in a set state in the abutting direction so as to be able to contact and separate from the guide member,
The curl at the end is loosened. Further, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-316126, the rotational force of the terminal end is directly applied to the movable guide member (pressing member) in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the terminal end of the conveyed sheet on the upstream side of the paper drawing section. The function of the movable guide member is maintained by providing a pair of rotational force addition preventing portions for preventing the operation of the movable guide member.

[0005]

In such a conventional example, the function of detecting the end of paper and the function of loosening the curl at the end of the paper are configured in three ways according to the form of the roll paper used. . As a result, the manufacturer must prepare three types of configurations in consideration of the types of roll paper in advance, and as a user, the type of roll paper that can be used is specified once the printer is determined. Lack. On the other hand, if two types of paper end sensors are provided, it is possible to deal with three types of roll paper, but this results in a wasteful configuration.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the functions of detecting the paper end and loosening the curl at the end of the paper in the case of roll paper without a core can be ensured with a simple structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer which can be used without any problem.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer which can achieve the above object at low cost.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A paper storage section in which roll-shaped paper is stored in a direction in which the outer peripheral surface side of the drawer portion is the upper surface, and a paper drawer portion that continuously draws the paper drawer in a direction in which the outer peripheral surface is the upper surface in the paper storage portion Forming a pair of guide members for guiding the paper conveyed by the paper conveyance mechanism from the paper storage unit to a predetermined conveyance path in which a printing unit is arranged;
When the weight of the paper in the paper storage unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the paper is retracted from the paper storage unit when the weight of the paper is smaller than a predetermined value. A paper end separator having a loosening portion at the front end that is urged to advance into the paper storage portion and that bites into the inner peripheral surface side of the drawn-out portion of the paper when advanced into the paper storage portion; and An end sensor for detecting a paper end in response to the paper end separator when the paper enters the paper storage unit.

Therefore, regardless of the type of paper used, the cored glued roll paper, the cored non-glued roll paper, or the coreless roll paper, the remaining amount in the paper storage unit is reduced, and the paper approaches the paper end. In this case, the weight becomes lighter than a predetermined value, and the paper end separator is displaced into the advanced state according to the urging force. Therefore, the paper end can be detected by the end sensor responsive to the paper end separator. Further, with respect to the roll paper without a core, even if the paper reaches the end of the paper, the unraveling portion at the end of the paper end separator that is displaced so as to advance into the paper storage section in accordance with the lightened paper is the inner peripheral surface of the drawn portion. Since the paper is loosened by biting into the side, the movement of the paper is smooth, and the paper is prevented from being drawn into the paper draw-in part while being folded. Therefore, regardless of the type of roll-shaped paper that can be used, the functions of detecting the paper end and loosening the curl of the end of the paper with respect to roll paper without a core can be ensured with a simple structure.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the printer according to the first aspect, wherein the end sensor is opened and closed by the paper end separator. Therefore, the end sensor including the paper end detection in the case of roll paper without a core can be constituted by an inexpensive switch.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a POS terminal or an ECR
A description will be given of an example of application to a receipt printer that is built in a rear side position of a keyboard unit and issues a receipt on a keyboard surface.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a schematic sectional structure of the printer, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of the printer, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer with a part thereof cut away. First, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a lower housing 2 and an upper housing 3. The upper housing 3 is openable and closable about the support shaft 4 with respect to the lower housing 2. The lower housing 2 is provided with a platen 5 having a roller structure and a paper storage section 6 having an arc shape. The paper storage section 6 stores and holds a receipt paper (paper) 7 made of thermal paper in a roll state. . Here, in the present embodiment, the setting direction of the paper 7 is such that the outer peripheral surface (thermally sensitive printing surface) side of the drawer portion is the upper surface. On the other hand, on the side of the upper housing 3, a thermal head 9, which is in opposing contact with the platen 5 and forms the printing unit 8, is provided. Thus, when the upper housing 3 is closed, a transport path 10 that is connected from the paper storage unit 6 to the paper discharge side via the printing unit 8 is formed linearly, and the thermal head 9 is transferred via the transport path 10. It is configured to be able to contact the platen 5 with a predetermined pressure. Here, the platen 5 also serves as a paper transport mechanism, and is rotationally driven by a motor 11 as a drive source via a gear train including a motor gear 12, an idle gear 13, and a platen gear 14.

A cutter mechanism 15 is provided at a discharge side exit of the transport path 10. This cutter mechanism 15 is composed of a combination of a fixed blade 16 and a movable blade 17 each having a long and flat plate shape.
The movable blade 17 slides with respect to the fixed blade 16 to cut the sheet 7 conveyed along the conveyance path 10. Here, the fixed blade 16 is provided on the upper housing 3 side, and the movable blade 17 is provided on the lower housing 2 side, so that the two blades 16 and 17 are separated when not in operation.
The movable blade 17 in such a cutter mechanism 15 is driven using a stepping motor (not shown) as a drive source.

Next, the transport path 10 and the like will be described.
The transport path 10 is connected to the paper storage unit 6 in the lower housing 3 and is integrally formed substantially horizontally and integrally in the front paper discharge direction. It is formed by an upper guide plate (guide member) 22 and the like facing the guide plate 21 in the vicinity of the storage section 6. Further, in the upper housing 3, the rear fulcrum side continuous with the guide plate 22 is formed as an arc-shaped cover portion 23 that is continuous with the arc shape of the paper storage unit 6. This allows
When the upper housing 3 is closed, the paper storage section 6 and the arc-shaped cover section 23 form a cylindrical space 24 when viewed in cross section. In addition, these guide plates 2
The portion connected to the paper storage units 6 of the first and second paper storage units 6 is
1a and 22a. On the guide plate 22 side, there is provided a guide roller 26 which is located at the bent portion of the transport path 10 and reduces the load when the sheet passes.

Further, a paper end separator 25 is provided for the paper storage section 6. The paper end separator 25 is a wire-shaped member formed in a substantially U-shape in plan view and in a substantially arc shape similar to the shape of the paper storage section 6 in side view. Lower housing 3 at the bottom
Is mounted to be rotatable. 25a is the pivot point. Here, a cutout 6 a corresponding to the shape of the paper end separator 25 is formed in the paper storage unit 6,
Paper end separator 2 rotatable about rotation fulcrum 25a
Numeral 5 can freely move into and out of the paper storage unit 6 through the notch 6a. The paper end separator 25 has a length such that the leading end thereof can reach the vicinity of the paper draw-in portions 21a and 22a when viewed from the rotation fulcrum 25a. The loosening portion 25b is further bent so as to face the radial direction of the portion. The loosening portion 25b exerts a loosening function by digging into the inner peripheral surface side of the drawn-out portion near the end in the case where the stored paper 7 is a roll paper without a core. Further, a tension spring 27 that urges the paper end separator 25 in a direction to advance into the paper storage section 6 is locked to the lower housing 3 near the rotation fulcrum 25a. Here, this tension spring 27
When the weight of the paper 7 in the paper storage unit 6 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the paper end separator 25 retreats from the paper storage unit 6, but when the weight of the paper 7 is smaller than the predetermined value, The strength is set to such a degree as to advance into the storage section 6. The predetermined value is a weight assumed in consideration of the end of the paper regardless of the type of the paper 7. That is, the predetermined value is generally a weight of only the core.

Further, in the lower housing 3, a pivot 25
In the vicinity of a, a microswitch 28 as an end sensor which is opened and closed in response to the displacement operation of the paper end separator 25
Is provided. That is, the microswitch 28 is open (off) in the normal state where the paper end separator 25 is located outside the paper storage unit 6, but the tension spring 27
When the end-of-paper separator 25 advances into the paper storage section 6 due to the urging force described above, it is mechanically closed (turned on) in response to the advance displacement operation.

In such a configuration, the roll-shaped paper 7 is stored and set in the paper storage section 6 with the upper housing 3 opened, and is pulled out over the platen 5. At this time, the setting direction is such that the outer peripheral surface side of the drawer portion is the upper surface. In the present embodiment, the transport path 10
Is completely opened by opening the upper housing 3. Even if the paper storage section 6 has the paper end separator 25, it is sufficient to simply set it so that it can be placed on the paper storage section 6. Ease of set is maintained. When the sheet 7 is set, the end-of-sheet separator 25 is retracted from the sheet storage section 6 as shown in FIG. 1A, and does not hinder the sheet 7 feeding operation. Also, the microswitch 28 is turned off.

Thus, the printing / receipt issuing operation can be performed as usual. That is, the roll-shaped paper 7 stored and held in the paper storage unit 6 is transported by the platen 5 in contact with the thermal head 9 and is transported in the transport path 10, while the thermal head 9 is on the outer peripheral surface side by the thermal head 9. A predetermined receipt print content is sequentially printed on the print surface. At this time, since the paper 7 is stored in the cylindrical space 24 including the paper storage unit 6 as shown in FIG. 1A, the roll body rotates as the paper 7 is pulled out and conveyed. 2
4, the paper moves smoothly, and the paper conveyance is stabilized. When printing is completed, the trailing end of the paper 7 is cut by the driving of the movable blade 17 in the cutter mechanism 15 and is issued as a receipt in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 (on the keyboard surface of the POS terminal) via the discharge side outlet. You. That is, since the printing surface is on the upper surface side in the linear transport path 10, the receipt can be directly issued as a receipt to the front side.

After that, the receipt issuance proceeds, and the case where the remaining of the roll-shaped paper 7 decreases and reaches the vicinity of the end of the paper is considered. In this case, the remaining amount in the paper storage unit 6 is reduced regardless of the type of the paper 7 to be used, that is, the cored glued roll paper, the cored non-glued roll paper, or the coreless roll paper. When the paper approaches the paper end, its weight becomes lighter than a predetermined value. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, the paper end separator 25 advances into the paper storage unit 6 according to the urging force of the tension spring 27. To be displaced.
The microswitch 28 is turned on in response to the advance displacement operation of the paper end separator 25. As a result, the paper end is detected, and the user is notified of the paper end through a buzzer sound, blinking display, and the like. However, in the case of roll paper without a core, this paper end detection is a near-end detection. Therefore, if it is desired to use up the end of the paper 7, the detection operation by the microswitch 28 and then a predetermined instruction operation The paper end may be released (or invalidated) so that the receipt issuing operation can be continued. Even in this case, since it is already recognized that the paper is near end, it is known that it is time to replace the paper.

The behavior of the end-of-paper separator 25 near the end of the paper will be further described. In this case, for example, if the paper 7 used is a roll paper without a core,
As described above, the weight is reduced and the winding habit is increased.
As shown in (b), the sheet is likely to be in a flat state as a whole while floating from the sheet storage unit 6. When the sheet is conveyed to the printing unit 8 via the conveyance path 10 in such a state, if there is no paper end separator 25, as shown in FIG.
It is folded into 1a and 22a and pulled in. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the loosening portion 25b is formed at the leading end of the paper end separator 25 that functions when the paper 7 is lightened. As shown in FIG. 1B, the paper 7 is cut into the inner peripheral surface side of the drawn-out portion of the paper 7, so that the loosening portion 2
5b acts in the direction of loosening the sheet 7 to be conveyed. Therefore, the movement of the paper 7 is smooth even at the end of the paper, and the paper 7 is prevented from being drawn into the paper draw-in sections 21a and 22a while being folded, and a trouble such as a paper jam can be prevented.

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, regardless of whether the paper to be used is a cored roll paper with a core, a non-glued roll paper with a core, or a roll paper without a core, When the remaining amount decreases and approaches the paper end, the weight becomes lighter than a predetermined value, and the paper end separator is displaced into the advanced state according to the urging force. The end of the paper end separator that can detect the end and is displaced so as to advance into the paper storage section in accordance with the lightened paper even if the paper reaches the end of the roll paper without the core. Portion can be cut into the inner peripheral surface side of the drawer portion, and eventually, regardless of the type of roll-shaped paper that can be used, the paper end detection and the roll paper without the core It is possible to ensure the functions of the unwinding peculiarity of the terminal portion with a simple structure.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, since the end sensor is a micro switch that is opened and closed by the paper end separator,
The end sensor including the paper end detection in the case of roll paper without a core can be constituted by an inexpensive switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a schematic side view at the time of initial setting, and (b).
Is a schematic side view at the time of reaching the end of the paper.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the printer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer with a part thereof cut away.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining a drawback when a paper end separator is not provided.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 paper storage unit 7 paper 8 printing unit 10 transport path 21 guide member 21a paper draw-in unit 22 guide member 22a paper draw-in unit 25 paper end separator 25b loosening unit 28 end sensor, micro switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A paper storage portion in which a roll-shaped paper is stored in a direction in which an outer peripheral surface side of a drawer portion is an upper surface, and a paper withdrawal portion in which an outer peripheral surface is an upper surface continuous with the paper storage portion. A pair of guide members for forming a paper draw-in section for drawing in the paper, and guiding the paper conveyed by the paper conveyance mechanism from the paper storage section to a predetermined conveyance path in which a printing section is arranged; When the weight of the paper in the paper storage unit is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the paper is retracted from the paper storage unit, and when the weight of the paper is smaller than the predetermined value, the paper advances into the paper storage unit. And a paper end separator having a loosening portion at the front end that bites into the inner peripheral surface side of the paper withdrawal portion when the paper end is advanced into the paper storage portion. An end sensor that detects the end of the paper in response to the paper end separator when the paper enters the storage section. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the end sensor is a micro switch that is opened and closed by the paper end separator.