KR100203756B1 - Sheet extractor - Google Patents

Abstract

It is used in conjunction with a printer device to solve the problems caused by the condition of the paper such as softening and to provide a paper ejection device capable of stable paper ejection even when paper ejection is obstructed at the ejector. A paper ejector that prints and ejects documents such as tickets and tickets. That is, this paper discharging device stores the paper 20 conveyed during printing therein and performs discharging operation upon completion of printing. As a result, stable printing operation and paper ejection are possible without the recipient contacting the paper under printing. In addition, to prevent the discharge of the paper on the discharge diagram, the paper discharge is stopped in accordance with the stress applied to the paper when the discharge of the paper is blocked, and the paper is discharged quickly when the blocked state is released.

Description

Paper ejector

1 is a side view showing a issuing apparatus as a first embodiment of a sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a paper ejecting device in the issuing device shown in FIG.

3 is a broken perspective view showing the paper storage part and the discharge roller shown in FIG.

4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the paper ejecting apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a view showing the elastic support structure of the discharge roller.

6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a torque limiter.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a control device of the paper ejecting device.

8 is a flowchart showing a control program for printing and paper ejection.

9 is a flowchart showing a control program for printing and paper ejection.

10 is a plan view showing a sheet of paper.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the operation of the paper ejecting device during printing.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the paper ejecting device during printing showing the paper storage state.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the paper ejecting device after completion of printing showing paper ejection.

14 shows the arrangement of the discharge roller,

14A is a view showing the arrangement of the discharge roller according to the present invention.

Figure 14b shows the arrangement of other discharge rollers.

FIG. 15 is a drawing showing the shape of the paper on the discharge roller. FIG.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation in the case of paper ejection blocking.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment of the paper ejecting apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view showing the third embodiment of the paper ejecting apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the torque limiter in the sheet ejecting apparatus of the present invention.

20 is a plan view showing another embodiment of a paper to be discharged.

21 shows a conventional printer device,

Fig. 21A is a perspective view thereof.

Fig. 21B is a sectional view showing the internal structure thereof.

22 is a sectional view showing a case where the paper to be discharged is held and waiting.

23 shows the cutting of the discharged paper,

FIG. 23A is a sectional view showing a case where tension is applied to the discharged paper; FIG.

Fig. 23B is a diagram showing the deformation of the cutter blade tip due to the tension applied to the discharged paper.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

2: printer device 4: cutter device (cutting means)

6: paper ejecting device 8: paper conveying mechanism (paper conveying means)

20: paper 24: side plate (側板)

26: motor 30: torque limiter (discharge buffering means)

38: first guide plate 40: second guide plate

56: mouth wall 58: paper storage unit (paper storage means)

60: paper discharge path 62: discharge port

64: drive shaft 68: first discharge roller

70: second discharge roller 76: paper sensor

92 clutch portion 98 gear

104: coil spring (spring) 110: control unit (control means)

[Industrial use]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a paper ejection apparatus which is attached to a printer apparatus and used for ejecting elongated recording paper such as printed sheets or tickets.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, in a printer apparatus used as an issuing device such as a receipt or a ticket, the elongated paper is printed and the paper is discharged, and the paper is cut at the same time as the printing is completed.

Fig. 21A shows an appearance of this printer apparatus. The paper outlet 306 is provided in the front panel portion 304 of the outer case 302, and the elongated paper 308 is discharged from the paper outlet 306 in accordance with the printing operation. The recipient can pick up the paper 308 discharged from the paper discharge port 306 with his or her finger.

Next, Fig. 21B shows the internal structure of this printer apparatus. In this printer apparatus, a paper conveyance path 310 is formed in the exterior case 302 toward the paper discharge port 306. The paper conveying path 310 is provided with a paper conveying mechanism 312, a printing mechanism 314, and a cutter mechanism 316. The paper conveying mechanism 312 is a means for feeding out the paper 308 in synchronization with printing. The paper conveying mechanism 312 is provided with a pair of drive rollers 318 and 320, and the paper 308 is introduced and inserted between the drive rollers 318 and 320, and is discharged by the rotation in the press-bonded state. The print mechanism 314 is provided with a print head 322 and a platen 324 with a paper conveyance path 310 interposed therebetween, and prints on the paper 308 as the print head 322 is driven. Do The printing form differs depending on the type of paper 308, and when a pressure-sensitive paper is used, an ink ribbon is unnecessary, and when ordinary paper is used, a colored medium such as an ink ribbon is required. In addition, the cutter mechanism 316 constitutes an independent apparatus, and a cutter blade 326 sliding in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the paper 308 is provided therein. This cutter blade 326 is driven by a sliding drive mechanism. In the cutter mechanism 316, the conveyed sheet 308 is cut when the cutter blade 326 slides downward in the drawing.

In such a printer device, the paper 308 is discharged from the paper discharge port 306 while being printed, and after completion of printing, the paper 308 is discharged continuously and cut by sliding of the cutter blade 326.

By the way, when such a printer apparatus is used for a receipt or ticket issuing apparatus, the recipient is expected to hold the end of the sent sheet 308 with a finger and to expect the completion of printing. It is also anticipated that the addressee will interfere with the discharge of the paper 308. For example, Fig. 22 shows an example of the waiting state of the paper 308 of the recipient. That is, when the recipient catches and waits for the paper 308 to be discharged, the paper 308 is conveyed, and the warp 328 occurs in the paper 308 on the paper conveying path 310. This bending of the paper 308 generates unnecessary stress in the direction opposite to the discharge direction of the paper 308. As a result, the paper 308 is bent in a loop shape inside the printer device, and thus a normal discharge operation cannot be performed, so a jam occurs.

Next, Fig. 23A shows a case where the recipient tries to pull out the paper 308 to be discharged by force. When a tension T is applied to the sheet 308, this long section T is applied with unnecessary load in the direction orthogonal to the slide direction F at the end of the knife of the cutter blade 326 on the cutaway. If the load is very large, the cutting edge 330 of the cutter blade 326 will be damaged as shown in Fig. 23B. And when the knife point 330 is bent, it may become a cause which a sliding action becomes impossible and a cutting operation is reduced.

Conventionally, in such a printer apparatus, countermeasures are taken so that the recipient cannot collide with the paper 308 until printing or ejection of the paper 308 of a certain length is completed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-29765, "Printer" is available. In this printer, a cover having a distance from the front to the inside corresponding to the length of the paper to be issued is attached to the paper discharge unit, and the paper is introduced into the cover to prevent the recipient from intruding and when the cutting of the paper 308 is completed. Paper was sent out of the cover.

Such means have the following problems. The cover may protrude from the printer and the cover itself may be damaged. In addition, if the size of the paper 308 to be issued is changed because the size of the cover corresponds to the paper 308 to be issued, It is necessary to have a size that is large enough to increase the size of the issuing device itself.

As a countermeasure against such a cover, a paper discharge device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-181659 or US Patent No. 5215393 has been proposed. Such a paper ejecting device stops the recipient as the paper is loosely held in the printer while the printing operation is completed in the path of the paper discharge side until the printing operation is completed, and the paper is cut at the same time as the printing operation is completed. Emissions from

However, in such a paper dispensing apparatus, if the recipient deliberately blocks the paper discharging outlet with a finger and waits, there is no problem in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-181659, and if the paper discharging is disturbed, a problem occurs. . In addition, U.S. Patent No. 5215393 discloses that when paper discharge is disturbed at the discharge port, the paper is abandoned and the paper held in the cover is introduced below the roller. The discharge via other routes instead of the outlet of such paper has a problem that the recipient cannot receive the paper.

Moreover, in such a paper ejecting apparatus, for example, the path from the printing mechanism to the ejecting side becomes long, and since a roller is used for ejecting the paper, the state of the paper affects the roller conveyance of the paper. That is, this kind of device may be installed regardless of indoors and outdoors, and may be used under adverse conditions of high temperature and high humidity. A standard product is used for the paper, but even a standard product is softened under high temperature and high humidity, or deformed by press on the roller surface at a location held firmly between the contacted rollers. The softened paper generates more friction than necessary with the roller, or comes into close contact with the roller surface, making it difficult to transport the paper. Since paper having press wrinkles on the roller surface is curved at the wrinkles, it becomes difficult to sandwich the rollers between rollers. Moreover, in a roller, it is easy to generate | occur | produce the flaw and press wrinkle at the time of winding, and therefore interrupts the insertion between rollers. These are the causes of the failure. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-181659, a drive lever is used to help feed the paper into the roller, but its structure is complicated and causes a breakdown.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper discharging device capable of solving a problem caused by a state of a paper such as softening and at the same time enabling stable paper discharging even when paper discharging is disturbed at the discharging unit.

[Means for solving the problem]

That is, the paper ejection apparatus of the present invention is a paper ejection apparatus 6 which is installed at the same time as the printer apparatus 2 and ejects the printed paper, as illustrated in Figs. Or the paper conveying mechanism 8 as a paper conveying means for conveying the paper 20 being printed, and the front end of the paper conveyed by the paper conveying means are inserted and supported, and the paper is finished when printing is completed. The first and second discharge rollers 68 and 70 as discharge rollers to discharge, the paper storage unit 58 as a paper storage means for bending and storing the papers supported and conveyed by the discharge rollers, and the discharge rollers. A paper discharge path 60 for guiding the paper discharged by the discharge port 62 toward the discharge port 62, a paper sensor 76 for detecting that the leading end of the paper conveyed by the discharge roller toward the paper discharge path has arrived; 76) When the arrival of the paper is detected, the motor 26 driving the discharge roller is stopped, the paper transport mechanism 8 is operated, the paper is sent to the paper storage portion, and the paper is curled to complete the print operation. It is attached to the drive shaft of the discharge roller 68 and the control unit 110 as a control means for driving the motor to discharge the paper and stopping the motor when the paper sensor detects that the paper is discharged. Torque limiter as a discharge buffer means for buffering the discharge of paper by transmitting the rotational force from the drive shaft 26 to the drive shaft and revolving when the discharge of the paper is disturbed so as not to transmit the rotational force of the motor 26 to the drive shaft 64. It characterized by having 30.

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the configuration of the discharge roller is a configuration for sandwiching the discharged paper, the first pair of discharge rollers 68 attached to the drive shaft 64 and provided below the paper discharge path, and the paper discharge. A second pair of discharge rollers 70 supported by the upper side of the furnace and driven by the first discharge roller and displaced from the first discharge roller to the paper discharge port are provided.

In the paper discharging device of the present invention, the paper storage means is a means for storing the sagging paper in preparation for discharge, and as an example of the configuration, a first guide plate 38 for supporting the paper to be discharged, and this first The second guide plate 40 provided on the upper side of the guide plate 38, the layer plate 24 which supports a drive shaft, and the mouth wall 56 provided between this side plate can be comprised.

The rolled paper or cut paper used for the paper discharge apparatus of the present invention can be used. If a roll paper is used, the cutting means is necessary. Thus, the sheet discharging device of the present invention is provided with cutting means 4 for cutting the printed sheet.

In the paper discharge apparatus of the present invention, the discharge buffer means is a means for normal discharge of the paper. This discharge buffering means can be constituted using a torque limiter 30 which stops the movement of the discharged paper and stops the rotational force to the discharge roller.

In the paper discharging device of the present invention, the paper cutting in the cutting means is arbitrary, and the paper 20 may be cut entirely, or a part of the paper 20 may be left.

In the sheet discharging device of the present invention, the operation of the cutter blade in the cutting means is arbitrary, for example, so as not to retreat the cutter blade until the sheet discharging is completed.

In the paper discharging device of the present invention, the torque limiter for buffering the paper discharge is attached to the clutch portion 92 attached to the drive shaft and rotatably attached to the clutch portion to impart rotational force from the motor 26. The gear 98 and the coil spring 104 as a spring which press-bonds the contact part formed in this gear to a clutch part, and transmits a rotational force are provided.

Further, in the paper ejecting apparatus of the present invention, the torque limiter is capable of engaging the gear and the clutch portion with the attraction force by the magnet, as the clutch portion 92 is constituted by another magnet of the spring as a means for force-bonding the gear and the clutch portion. .

[Action]

In the paper discharging device of the present invention, during printing, the paper is held in a curved state while its front end is caught by the discharge roller, and the middle part thereof is bent by the paper storage means. Then, as the printing is completed and cut, the discharge roller is driven and the paper is discharged from the discharge port by the discharge roller. In addition, when discharging the paper on the discharge outlet side, the transfer of the driving force of the motor to the discharge roller is released and the paper discharge is buffered. For this reason, the occurrence of failure due to forced paper ejection can be prevented. When the interruption of the discharge of the paper stops, the driving force for the discharge roller is returned and the discharge of the paper is made quickly so that the recipient can receive the paper.

In the paper ejection apparatus of the present invention, the expansion and development angle of the ejection roller can be held wide with respect to the ejected paper, and as a result, it becomes easy to catch the softened or curved paper and prevent the occurrence of failure before ejecting the paper. Can be.

In the paper discharge apparatus of the present invention, the sagging paper is stored by the paper storage means in preparation for discharge. The configuration is, for example, a first guide plate for supporting the paper to be discharged, a second guide plate provided above the first guide plate, a side plate for supporting the drive shaft, and a mouth wall provided between the side plates. The space part is formed and the discharged paper is stored in the space part.

In the paper discharging device of the present invention, the paper discharged by the paper discharging device may be either roll or cut paper. In the case of a roll paper, it is cut by the cutting means after completion of printing at the time of issue or ticket issuance.

In the paper discharge apparatus of the present invention, the discharge buffer means buffers the discharge when the discharge is interrupted when the paper is discharged, and is configured as a torque limiter as an example. In the case of this torque limiter, when the movement of the discharged paper is interrupted, the rotational force of the motor stops being transmitted to the discharge roller. When the disturbance of discharge is released, the torque of the motor is transmitted to the discharge roller to discharge the paper. Do it quickly.

In the paper discharging device of the present invention, the paper cutting by the cutting means may be carried out in whole or in part, for example, cutting the paper leaving a part of the paper. In the case of cutting a portion of the paper, the paper can be cut because tension is applied to the paper as the recipient pulls out the continuous paper.

In addition, in the paper ejecting apparatus of the present invention, the cutter blade is kept in a lowered state after the paper cutting by the cutting means until the paper ejection is completed, thereby preventing the return of the cut paper back to the conveying side. It is possible to make stable paper discharge.

In the paper discharge apparatus of the present invention, the torque limiter is composed of a clutch portion, a motor, a gear, and a spring, and the clutch portion is attached to the drive shaft. The rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the clutch portion through the gear, but the frictional engagement of the clutch portion and the gear is due to the pressure bonding force of the spring. When a load acts on the drive shaft and the load exceeds the pressure bonding force by the spring, the clutch portion and the gear are in an idle state. The load on the drive shaft occurs when paper ejection is disturbed. In addition, when the paper is taken out with a strong force, the load idles the clutch portion.

In addition, in the paper ejecting apparatus of the present invention, the frictional engagement of the gear and the clutch portion can be realized by the adhesive force of the magnet instead of the spring of the torque limiter, and similarly when the paper ejection is impeded or the forced paper ejection is performed. The clutch portion can be idled.

EXAMPLE

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

Example 1

Fig. 1 shows an outline of an issuing apparatus used for issuing a receipt or a ticket as Embodiment 1 of the sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention. This issuing apparatus is constituted by a printer apparatus 2, a cutter apparatus 4 as cutting means for cutting a sheet on which a printer is completed, and a sheet discharging apparatus 6. The printer device 2 is provided with a printing mechanism 10 simultaneously with a paper conveying mechanism 8 for conveying the paper to be printed or the paper being printed. The paper conveying mechanism 8 is provided with conveying rollers 12 and 14 which rotate by receiving a driving force by a motor not shown. In addition, the print mechanism 10 is provided with a print head 16 and a platen 18. On the printer device 2 side, a roll paper 22 for supplying the paper 20 to be printed is mounted. The cutter apparatus 4 cut | disconnects the paper 20 which completed printing.

The paper discharging device 6 is a means for discharging the paper 20 conveyed from the cutter device 4 side, and the side plate 24 is provided with a motor 26 as a driving means. The rotational force of 26 is transmitted to the torque limiter 30 via the worm gear 28 attached to the rotating shaft.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration example of the printer apparatus 2, the cutter apparatus 4, and the paper ejecting apparatus 6. As shown in FIG. The paper 20 is conveyed by the paper conveying path 32, that is, conveyed by the conveying rollers 12 and 14 of the paper conveying mechanism 8, so that the printhead 16 and the pressure plate 18 of the printing mechanism 10 can be conveyed. Is introduced in between. The printing operation on the sheet 20 is performed in synchronism with the sheet conveyance by the conveying rollers 12 and 14.

The paper 20 conveyed at the same time as the printing is conveyed to the paper discharge device 6 side via the cutter device 4. In the cutter device 4, passage holes 34 and 36 for passing the paper 20 are formed. The cutter device 4 is provided with a cutter blade 37 sliding in the orthogonal direction with respect to the paper 20 to be conveyed, and receives the driving force from a motor not shown in the figure and slides it in synchronism with the completion of printing to deliver the paper 20. After cutting, it returns to the position shown.

The paper discharge device 6 is provided with first and second guide plates 38 and 40 as a means for guiding the paper 20. One guide plate 38 has a mountain shape, horizontal portions 42 are formed in the middle portion, and inclination portions 44 and 46 are formed before and after, and the other guide plate 40 has a curved portion ( Slope portions 50 and 52 are formed around 48.

The inclined portion 44 of the guide plate 38 functions as an introduction portion for guiding the conveyed paper 20 to the horizontal portion 42 side, and in order to further enhance the function as the introduction portion, the upper surface of the inclined portion 44 On the side, a guide part 54 as an auxiliary guide means is attached to the mouth wall 56 of the paper discharging device 6 to mediate the paper conveying path 32 between the paper discharging device 6 and the cutter device 4. have.

Then, a space enclosed by the horizontal portion 42 of the guide plate 38, the inclined portion 50 of the guide plate 40, the side plate 24, and the mouth wall 56 is formed, and the paper 20 being printed. ), The paper storage part 58 is temporarily stored.

Incidentally, the inclined portions 46 and 52 of the guide plates 38 and 40 are arranged in parallel, and the parallel spaces thereof form a paper discharge path 60 which is inclined and descends from the paper conveying path 32 set horizontally. Doing. The end of this paper discharge path 60 is a paper discharge port 62.

The back of the guide plate 38, the drive shaft 64 receives the rotational force from the motor 26 via the torque limiter 30, the support shaft 66 is provided on the back side of the guide plate 40, respectively have. The arrangement relationship between these drive shafts 64 and the support shafts 66 was provided with the paper discharge path 60 interposed therebetween, and the support shafts 66 formed the bearing portion 86 formed on the guide plate 40 and Supported by the connecting portion 90, the opening 79 is formed by pressing to form the L-shaped connecting portion 90 formed by punching the guide plate 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of first discharge rollers 68 are attached to the drive shaft 64, and a pair of second discharges contacting the discharge rollers 68 are attached to the support shaft 66. The roller 70 is supported to rotate. Moreover, in order to contact each roller surface of each discharge roller 68 and 70, the door plate 72 for protruding the discharge roller 68 to the guide plate 38, and the discharge roller 70 to the guide plate 40 are made. The door part 74 for protruding) is respectively formed. That is, the roller surfaces of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 which protrude through these door parts 72 and 74 are in contact with each other. In addition, a motor 26 is connected to the drive shaft 64 via a torque limiter 30 as a discharge buffer means for buffering paper discharge. That is, the rotational force of the motor 26 is transmitted from the drive shaft 64 to the discharge roller 68 via the torque limiter 30. Therefore, the paper 20 is sandwiched between the discharge rollers 68 and 70 and conveyed to the paper discharge path 60 in the pressure-bonded state.

The paper discharge path 60 was provided with a paper sensor 76 as detection means for detecting that the tip of the paper 20 had arrived, and this paper sensor 76 was provided on the back side of the guide plate 40. The detection surface is directed from the door portion 78 of the guide plate 40 to the paper discharge path 60. The paper sensor 76 is composed of, for example, optical detection means, and includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element to receive the light from the light emitting element to the paper discharge path 60 to receive the reflected light from the paper 20. By the light reception by the element, the presence or absence thereof can be detected.

Next, Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the paper ejecting apparatus shown in Fig. 2, showing the drive system of the discharge rollers 68 and 70. Figs. The worm gear 28 is attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 26 installed in the side plate 24, and the torque of the worm gear 28 is transmitted to the torque limiter 30, and then the torque limiter 30 It is transmitted to the drive shaft 64 through). The drive shaft 64 is supported by the bearings 82 and 84 attached to the side plate 24.

5 shows the supporting structure of the discharge roller 70 on the driven side. In order to press the paper 20 between the discharge rollers 68 and 70, an appropriate pressure bonding state is necessary. Thus, an elastic metal shaft is used for the support shaft 66 of the discharge roller 70, and the support shaft 66 can be moved to the groove portion 88 of the bearing portion 86 formed on the guide plate 40. At the same time, the support shaft 66 is restrained from being separated from the groove of the bearing portion 86. As a result, the discharge roller 68 is in contact with the discharge roller 70 in a press-bonded state, and at the same time, the discharge roller 70 has a support shaft 66 in the bearing portion 86 in accordance with the paper 20 to be discharged. It is possible to move flexibly in a range where movement is allowed.

6 shows an example of the specific configuration of the torque limiter 30. As shown in FIG. The drive shaft 64 of the discharge roller 68 is supported by placing a bearing 82 on the side plate 24 and protrudes outward of the side plate 24. The clutch portion 92 is fixed to the drive shaft 64. The clutch portion 92 has a small diameter portion 94 and a flange portion 96, and the small diameter portion 94 is provided so that the gear 98 can rotate. The gear 98 is provided with a recessed portion 100 in the axial direction, and between the recessed portion 100 and the disk-shaped spring bearing 102 fixed to the small diameter portion 94 of the clutch portion 92. The coil spring 104 as a spring for pressing the gear 98 to the wall surface of the flange portion 96 is inserted therein. A slip member 106 is attached to the flange portion 96 of the clutch portion 92, and the slip member 106 forms a ring shape formed in the gear 98 by the pressure of the coil spring 104. The contact part 108 is press-bonded.

In such a torque limiter 30, the rotational force of the motor 26 is transmitted from the worm gear 28 to the gear 98. Normally, the gear 98 and the clutch 92 are frictionally engaged by the pressure of the coil spring 104, and as a result, the rotation of the gear 98 is transmitted to the drive shaft 64. As shown in FIG.

However, when a force for blocking rotation on the drive shaft 64 through the discharge roller 68 acts, the stopping force is the pressure by the coil spring 104, that is, the portion in which the clutch 92 and the gear 98 are in contact with each other. When the frictional force with 108 is exceeded, the gear 98 is in an idle state and transmission of rotational force to the drive shaft 64 is prevented. As a result, the discharge of the paper 20 by the discharge rollers 68 and 70 is stopped. That is, when the paper 20 is prevented from being discharged, the gear 98 is idle as the stress is applied to the drive shaft 64 through the paper 20.

Next, Fig. 7 shows the configuration of a control device as a control means in the issuing device. In this control apparatus, a control unit 110 is provided as a control means for controlling each of paper conveyance, printing, paper cutting, and paper ejection. In this embodiment, the paper printing and paper ejection are controlled by a single control unit 110, but such control may be a separate configuration.

The control unit 110 is configured of, for example, a microcomputer in order to perform association with the host computer 112 and various controls. The microprocessor (MPU) 114 as the central processing unit performs various kinds of control and calculation such as paper conveyance control, print control, paper cutting control, paper ejection control and the like according to a program. This MPU 114 has a timer 116 as a means for time setting and time control.

The ROM 118 and the RAM 120 are provided as main control means for storing a control program executed by the MPU 114 or data during control or calculation. The ROM 118 is a control program or a read-only memory having a table or the like, and the RAM 120 is a write-in memory that stores data in operation and the like. Although not shown, a storage medium such as a flexible disk may be used instead of the RAM 120 as an auxiliary storage means. The storage means attached to the host computer 112 side can also be used as the auxiliary storage means of the control unit 110.

In addition, the control unit 110 includes an input / output unit (I / O) 122 as input / output means for extracting various input data from the host computer 112 or for extracting the control output of the control unit 110 to the host computer 112. It is installed. This I / O 122 is associated with the MPU 114, ROM 118, and RAM 120 via a bus. This I / O 122 is connected to a switch or the like for inputting an online operation command from the host computer 112 to the I / O 122 via a switch or the like, but has a direct relationship with the paper ejection control in the present invention. Since the description is omitted.

The I / O 122 is connected with first, second, third and fourth drivers 124, 126, 128 and 130 as a means for extracting control output. The driver 124 is a drive output means for supplying the drive output required for printing to the printer device 2, the driver 126 is a drive output means for supplying a drive output to the cutter device 4, the driver 128 is paper The drive output means for taking out the drive output of the motor 26 for discharge | emission, and the driver 130 is the drive output means for taking out the display drive output which displays an error etc. on the display 132, and the like.

The printer apparatus 2 is provided with the printing mechanism 10 with the paper conveyance mechanism 8. As shown in FIG. The paper conveying mechanism 8 is a means for conveying the paper 20 to be printed to the printing mechanism 10 side, and comprises a conveying roller or the like which rotates the motor and receives the motor rotation at the same time as the printing operation. The printing mechanism 10 is a means for printing on the paper 20 based on the print data from the host computer 112.

Next, each operation of paper conveyance, printing, paper cutting, and paper ejection in the apparatus of the present invention will be described.

8 and 9 show a program showing the respective operations of paper conveyance, printing, paper cutting and paper ejection, and a denotes a joiner.

The power is supplied to the control unit 110, or by pressing the feedback switch to reset the control unit 110 to perform initial settings for the control unit 110, and then prints together with the paper transport. In step S1, the sheet sensor 76 detects the sheet. When the sheet 20 is detected, the process proceeds to the program step S2 and the motor 26 is rotated.

In step S3, the control unit 110 measures the configuration time from the start of the drive of the motor 26, and the control unit 110 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the program returns to step S2. As a result, the motor 26 continues to drive for a predetermined time, and the paper 20 is sent out only for a predetermined time.

In step S4, the paper sensor 76 detects the paper 20 again. When the paper 20 is detected, stopping the Motor 26, the process proceeds to the step (S ₅₎ and then, it proceeds to Step (S6). In this case, since it is clear that an error has occurred, the indicator 132 is turned on to display an error. In accordance with this indication, the recipient is notified of an abnormality in the conveyance of the paper such as a trouble occurrence.

If the paper 20 is not detected at step S4, the flow advances to the stem S7 to stop the rotation of the motor 26, and then the stem S8 is moved to print operation. The stem S8 prints in a single line, and in step S9, the paper transfer is performed accordingly. This paper feed is a line feed operation corresponding to one line of printing. In step S10, the ejecting operation of the paper 20 is started by rotating the motor 26.

Then, step S11 returns to step S8 when the sheet is detected again and the sheet 20 is not detected. When the paper 20 is detected, the flow advances to step S12 to stop the rotation of the motor 26. In step S13, the control unit 110 determines whether or not n-line printing is performed. If it is not n-row printing, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S14 to print one line, and in step S15, the paper feed for one line is transferred. The process returns to step S13. When n-row printing is completed in step S13, i.e., upon completion of the print process, the process proceeds to step S16 to transfer the m-rows of the paper 20. This m-line feed of the sheet 20 is prepared for cutting the sheet, and this conveying operation is performed by the sheet conveying mechanism 8.

In step S17, the paper 20 is cut and the flow advances to step S18. Step S18 is to discharge the sheet 20 to rotate the motor 26. In step S19, the sheet is detected. When the sheet 20 is detected, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, it is determined whether or not elapsed by a predetermined time from the sheet detection. Before the elapse of the predetermined time, the process returns to step S18 to perform steps S18 and S19. The flow advances to step S21 to detect the sheet. When the paper 20 is detected, the process proceeds to step S22, the motor 26 is stopped, the process proceeds to step S23, and the display 132 displays an error.

If the paper 20 is not detected, that is, the paper 20 is discharged and the detection is completed, the process proceeds to step S24 to stop the motor 26. The stop operation of the motor 26 completes the discharge operation of the paper 20, and the control unit 110 enters the standby state.

10 shows the processing in steps S8 to S16, that is, the n-line printing and the m-row transfer to the paper 20, and the broken line 134 shows the cutting position. The portion 20A curled at this cutting position 134 is continuously discharged from the paper discharge port 62 so that the portion 20B is placed on the paper conveying path 32 side of the cutter device 4.

Next, the print operation and the sheet conveyance will be described with reference to Figs. 11, 12 and 13. Fig. 11 shows the print operation after sheet detection. In this case, when the discharge rollers 68 and 70 which rotate to the motor 26 are inserted and conveyed, the tip part reaches under the paper sensor 76 and is detected. At this time, the motor 26 stops, and the paper 20 is held in the discharge rollers 68 and 70. That is, the discharge rollers 68 and 70 are in a standby state. At this time, the printing operation is performed continuously so that the paper 20 is carried out by the paper conveying mechanism 8. At this time, the cutter apparatus 4 is also in a standby state. Therefore, the paper 20 is conveyed in the paper transport path 32 in synchronization with the print operation, and is supplied to the paper storage section 58. That is, when the paper 20 is sent to the paper storage portion 58 with the tip end side supported by the discharge rollers 68 and 70, it is looped in the space and loops 20a and 20b in accordance with the conveyance of the paper. , 20c) is formed by swelling and growing.

12 shows the cutting of the paper 20 after completion of the print operation. After the printing operation is completed and the sheet feeding of m rows is completed, the cutter device 4 is operated. The cutter blade 37 is lowered, and as a result, the paper 20 is cut. After the paper is cut, the cutter blade 37 is retracted.

13 shows the discharge of the paper 20 after cutting. After cutting the paper 20, the motor 26 is slid so that the paper 20 is guided from the paper discharge path 60 to the paper discharge port 62 according to the rotation of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 and discharged continuously. . When the rear end of the paper 20 to be discharged is out of the detection area of the paper sensor 76, a detection output indicating completion of discharge is obtained from the paper sensor 76 and applied to the controller 110 so that the motor 26 is stopped. To complete the discharge. The cut paper 20 is then made up of pieces of paper, which are issued to the recipient as a receipt or a ticket.

By the way, in this paper discharge apparatus 6, the discharge rollers 68 and 70 have comparatively large diameter rollers, and the arrangement relationship of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 as shown in FIG. Is inclining the central axis by the angle θ1. As a result, the opening angles formed by the tangents L1 and L2 of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 become (θ2). That is, when the diameters of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 are the same and the inclination angle θ1 is 45 °, the opening angle θ2 is 90 °.

Fig. 14B shows a case where the central axes of the discharge rollers 68, 70 are set at the same position in the horizontal direction. In this case, the opening angles θ3 formed by the tangents L1 and L2 become 45 °, and the opening angles θ2 and θ3 of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 shift the position of the central axis, that is, the discharge. By installing the roller 68 in front, the opening angle is meant to be widened (θ 2> θ 3).

By arranging the discharge rollers 68 and 70 in this manner, in the paper ejection apparatus of the present invention, the curved sheet 20 shown by the dashed line by the dashed line of the roll paper 22 as shown in FIG. When the tip is conveyed, the tip can be effectively introduced between the discharge rollers 68 and 70. In particular, since the discharge roller 68 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow P (that is, clockwise), and the discharge roller 70 correspondingly rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow Q, the discharge roller 70 The sheet 20 in contact with the tip is introduced into the discharge roller 68 by the discharge roller 70. Since the rotation of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 and the opening angle θ2 of both are matched with each other, the paper 20 is introduced between the discharge rollers 68 and 70 so that the paper discharge path 60 does not occur. Can be discharged reliably to the side.

Next, Fig. 16 shows an operation in the case where paper discharge is disturbed, such as the paper discharge port 62 being blocked. In step S31, for example, when the paper discharge port 62 is blocked and conveyance of the paper 20, that is, discharge is prevented, as shown in step S32, the stress acting on the paper 20 is limited in torque. As a result of acting on the machine 30, the torque limiter 30 is idle, and the rotation of the discharge roller 68 is stopped. As a result, the discharge of the paper 20 is stopped. Then, when the discharge stop of the paper 20 is released as shown in step S33, the stress release acts on the torque limiter 30 to shift to the rotation transfer state again as shown in step S34. As in step S35, the paper 20 is discharged normally.

By providing such a torque limiter 30, the driving force which does not affect the printing precision of the printer apparatus 2 can be set in the discharge roller 68 side. Furthermore, when the feed rate and the sheet discharge speed do not coincide with each other from the printer apparatus 2 side, the discharge force can be absorbed by the torque limiter 30, thereby preventing the occurrence of a failure in advance.

Example 2

Next, Fig. 17 shows Embodiment 2 of the paper ejecting apparatus of the present invention. In this paper discharging device, the guide plate 38 is made flat and the discharge side is slightly inclined. In addition, the guide plate 40 is formed in an L shape having the inclined portions 136, 138, and 140, and the inclined portion 136 is used as the wall surface of the paper storage portion 58. The paper discharge path 60 is formed by the inclined portion 140 as the introduction portion of the paper 20 toward the 38th side. The discharge rollers 68 and 70 are installed at the inlet of the paper discharge path 60, and the discharge rollers 70 are smaller than the discharge rollers 68. Then, the drive shaft 64 of the discharge roller 68 is passed through the torque limiter 30 as in the first embodiment to give a rotational force. Even in such a configuration, smooth discharge of the paper 20 can be realized as in the first embodiment.

Example 3

18 shows Embodiment 3 of the sheet ejecting apparatus of the present invention. This paper discharging device uses cut paper for the paper 20. In the sheet of paper 20 as described above, the sheet 20 to be printed and discharged is stored in the stacker 142 and supplied to the feed rollers 12 and 14 by the feeder 144 one by one. In this case, the paper 20 may be a continuous paper that can be cut with a stitch inserted in the cut point.

Example 4

Next, Fig. 19 shows another configuration example of the torque limiter 30 as Embodiment 4 of the paper ejecting apparatus of the present invention. In the torque limiter 30 used for the sheet ejecting device 6 of the first embodiment, the pressure contact between the clutch unit 92 and the gear 98 is realized using the coil spring 104. By forming a magnet 98 and the clutch portion 92 by magnets, the gear 98 can be press-bonded to the clutch portion 92 with an appropriate pressure bonding force. In this case, the gear 98 is cornered by the extraction prevention plate 146 fixed to the edge part of the clutch part 92 so that it may rotate on the small diameter part 94 of the clutch part 92. As shown in FIG. When the discharge of the paper 20 is disturbed by the torque limiter 30 as described above, the discharge can be waited without release of the failure and the discharge disturbance is released. Can be.

Other Examples

Next, another embodiment of the sheet ejecting apparatus of the present invention is listed as follows.

a. By increasing the rotation speed of the motor 26 as compared with the conveyance speed on the paper conveying side, the waiting time at the time of discharging the paper can be shortened.

b. For example, as shown in Fig. 20, the paper 20 may be cut away leaving a thin connecting portion 148 in the middle of the paper 20. In this way, since the paper 20 is supported on the printer device 2 side, the paper can be transported and discharged more stably on the paper path. As the connection part 148 is installed, the paper 20 can be pulled out toward the paper discharge device 6 according to the discharge, and the paper is connected to the paper 20 by applying a proper tension to the paper 20. It can be easily cut at 148.

c. In the control of the cutter device 4, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the paper 20 is returned to the paper supply source by keeping the cutter blade 37 in the folded state until the paper discharge is completed. If a return occurs, it will hinder the next paper ejection, but the paper ejection can be facilitated in this way.

[Effects of the Invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

a. Even if the leading edge of the paper to be conveyed is curved in the shape of a loop, the allowable angle of insertion of the discharge roller relative to the paper is set so that the paper can be reliably inserted and stable paper conveying can be performed. Even if deformation occurs due to the pressurization by the roller on the conveying means side, or the softened paper due to moisture absorption, it is possible to convey the softened paper reliably and smoothly, and stabilize the conveyance of the paper. The occurrence of a conventional failure can be reliably prevented.

b. In addition, when the discharge of the paper is disturbed, the torque limiter is placed in the idle state, and the discharge of the paper is stopped. When the disturbance is released, the paper can be discharged.

c. The paper to be printed and discharged can be stored in a loop shape in the paper storage means, and the paper can be discharged separately from the printing operation or the cutting operation, thereby preventing interference with paper discharge.

d. Paper can be ejected from either roll or cut.

e. By using the torque limiter as the discharge buffer means, it is possible to wait for the discharge of the paper when the discharge of the paper is interrupted, and to discharge the paper quickly when the discharge is released.

f. Paper cutting by the cutting means can be cut in whole or in part, and when cutting with a part of the paper remaining, the following paper can be cut by applying tension to the paper as the recipient pulls out the paper.

g. When the paper is cut by the cutting means, and the cutter blade is not retracted until the paper discharge is completed, the return to the conveying side of the cut paper can be prevented and stable paper discharge can be performed.

h. The torque limiter stops the discharge of the paper at the time of interruption by turning the clutch unit from the disturbance at the time of paper discharge according to the simple configuration, and can promptly discharge the paper when the interference is released.

i. The spring of the torque limiter can realize frictional engagement by the adhesive force of the magnet, and likewise, it is possible to prevent the paper ejection by making the clutch part idle when paper ejection is prevented.

Claims (9)

A paper discharge device installed with a printer device and discharging printed paper, comprising: paper conveying means for conveying paper to be printed or paper being printed; An ejection roller for sandwiching and supporting the leading end of the above-mentioned paper conveyed by the paper conveying means and discharging the paper when printing is completed; Paper storage means for bending and storing the paper supported by the discharge roller and conveyed; A paper discharge path for guiding the paper discharged by the discharge roller toward the discharge port side; A paper sensor which detects that the leading end of the paper conveyed to the paper discharge path by the discharge roller has arrived; When the paper sensor detects the arrival of the paper, it stops the motor driving the discharge roller, operates the paper conveying means, sends the paper to the paper storage means, and curls the paper. Control means for driving the motor to eject the paper and stopping the motor when the paper sensor detects that the paper is discharged; It is attached to the drive shaft of the discharge roller is provided with a discharge buffer means for transmitting the rotational force from the motor to the drive shaft, and at the same time when the discharge of the paper is interrupted so as not to transmit the rotational force of the motor to the drive shaft to buffer the paper discharge Paper ejection device characterized in that. The discharge roller according to claim 1, further comprising: a first discharge roller attached to the drive shaft and installed below the paper discharge path; And a second discharge roller which is supported on the upper side of the paper discharge path and is driven by the first discharge roller to be displaced from the first discharge roller to the paper discharge port. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the paper storage means comprises: a first guide plate for supporting paper to be discharged; A second guide plate provided on an upper side of the first guide plate; A side plate supporting the drive shaft; A paper discharging device, characterized by comprising a standing wall provided between the side plates. The paper ejection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising cutting means for cutting the paper completed by the printing. The paper discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the discharging buffer means comprises a torque limiter for stopping the rotational force on the discharge roller by preventing movement of the discharged paper. 5. The paper ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the paper cutting in the cutting means is performed leaving a part of the paper. 5. The paper ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cutting means does not retreat the cutter blade until paper ejection is completed. 6. The torque limiter of claim 5, further comprising: a clutch portion attached to the drive shaft; A gear attached to the clutch unit so as to rotate, to which rotational force from the motor is given; And a spring which press-bonds the abutting portion formed on the gear to the clutch portion to transmit rotational force. 6. The torque limiter of claim 5, further comprising: a clutch portion formed of a magnet and attached to the drive shaft; A gear formed of a magnet and attached to the clutch unit so as to rotate, and to which a rotational force from the motor is given; A paper ejecting device characterized in that the gear and the clutch portion are coupled by a suction force by a magnet.