WO2005050572A1

WO2005050572A1 - Multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2005050572A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/003018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hee Youn Lee
Original assignee: Nico Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-20
Filing date: 2004-11-20
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: KR100436769B1

Abstract

A multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus for simultaneously issuing and withdrawing multiple specifications/certificates. The multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus includes a print unit for printing relevant information on plural specifications/certificates and discharging the information-printed specifications/certificates, a conveyor for conveying the specifications/certificates discharged from the print unit, and a controller for instructing the conveyor to convey a previously printed one of the specifications/certificates to a predetermined alignment position in such a manner that a leading end of a specification/certificate printed currently is coincident with a leading end of the previously printed specification/certificate, and then to convey the previously and currently printed specifications/certificates with their leading ends coincident with each other when the specifications/certificates are discharged from the print unit. Since the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus can collectively issue multiple specifications/certificates, the time required for the issuance of the specifications/certificates can be significantly reduced, and a consumer can receive the specifications/certificates very conveniently. In addition, since the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus can issue the specifications/certificates with different sizes, it cannot only issues various kinds of specifications/certificates but also efficiently use various kinds of papers in conformity with the size of specifications/certificates.

Description

Description MULTIPLE SPECIFICATIONS/CERTIFICATES ISSUANCE APPARATUS Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus, and, more particularly, to a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus for issuing specifications/certificates on which information is printed. Background Art

[2] Generally, a specifications/certificates issuance apparatus is an apparatus for automatically issuing specifications/certificates such as receipts, transaction statements, extracts and copies of family registration, extracts and copies of resident registration, extracts of corporation registration, extracts of real estate registration, which are issued by financial institutions or government and other public offices.

[3] Such a specifications/certificates issuance apparatus includes a paper supply container, a paper withdrawal container, a printer, a driving motor, and a conveyor having a plurality of pulleys connected to a driving shaft of the driving motor by a conveyor belt. The specifications/certificates issuance apparatus is supplied with specifications/certificates papers from the paper supply container, prints relevant information on the supplied specifications/certificates papers using the printer, and then discharges the information-printed specifications/certificates papers into an outlet by driving the conveyor so that consumers take the information-printed specifications/certificates papers.

[4] However, the conventional specifications/certificates issuance apparatus has a problem in that it issues one specification/certificate at one time, and accordingly, it takes so long time to issue multiple specifications/certificates and it is cumbersome to take them out. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] Therefore, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus for simultaneously issuing and withdrawing multiple specifications/certificates . Technical Solution

[6] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus comprising a print unit for printing relevant in- formation on plural specifications/certificates and discharging the information-printed specifications/certificates, a conveyor for conveying the specifications/certificates discharged from the print unit, and a controller for instructing the conveyor to convey a previously printed one of the specifications/certificates to a predetermined alignment position in such a manner that a leading end of a specification/certificate printed currently is coincident with a leading end of the previously printed specification/ certificate, and then to convey the previously and currently printed specifications/certificates with their leading ends coincident with each other when the specifications/certificates are discharged from the print unit. Description of Drawings

[7] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[8] Fig. 1 is a partially cut perspective view of an automation equipment to which a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[9] Fig. 2 is a control block diagram of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

[10] Fig. 3 is a partial side perspective view of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus of FIG. 1 ;

[11] Figs. sky4 to sky 12 are diagrams for explaining an operation method of a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[12] Fig. sky 13 is a partially cut perspective view of an automation equipment to which a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus is applied according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[13] Fig. skyl4 is a control block diagram of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus of Fig. sky 13;

[14] Fig. skyl5 is a partial side perspective view of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus of Fig. sky 13; and

[15] Figs, skylό to sky25 are diagrams for explaining an operation method of a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Mode for Invention

[16] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the Figures.

[17] [First embodiment]

[18] Fig. 1 is a partially cut perspective view of an automation equipment to which a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, an outlet 2 through which the specifications/certificates are taken out is provided in the front of a terminal body 1.

[19] A multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided at a position corresponding to the outlet 2 inside the terminal body 1.

[20] A paper supply container 11 for supplying specifications/certificates papers is provided on the top of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus 10. The specifications/certificates papers supplied from the paper supply container 11 lay in folds with a certain size commonly called a dot print paper size and include papers having dotted lines formed every the certain size and roll papers rolled around a core.

[21] For the papers having dotted lines formed every the certain size, the paper supply container 11 is separated into two z)nes 11a and lib. Specifications/certificates papers of different sizes (for example, a size of A4 and a size of one-third of A4) are placed in each zme 11a and 1 lb of the paper supply container 11.

[22] The specifications/certificates papers placed in each mne 11a and 1 lb are connected to paper input stages of printers 12a and 12b of a print unit 12 installed below the specifications/certificates papers such that the papers are supplied to each printer 12a and 12b. Herein, as one example of the printers 12a and 12b, there is a thermal printer, which is a kind of non-impact printer, for printing characters or pictures by forming color on a thermal paper, which is a special paper reacting to thermal, by heating the thermal paper using a thermal head (print head). This thermal printer has a heating element (resistor), which corresponds to print dots, provided within the thermal head. When a voltage is applied to this heating element, heat is generated in the heating element and the thermal paper is printed by the generated heat.

[23] On the other hand, below each printer 12a and 12b is provided a conveyor 13 for conveying the specifications/certificates, which are printed in and discharged from the print unit 12, to the outlet 2 through which the specifications/certificates are taken out. [24] The print unit 12 and the conveyor 13 are controlled by a controller (not shown) of the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus contained in the terminal body 1.

[25] Fig. 2 is a control block diagram of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a controller 30 for performing the entire control. The controller 30 is composed of a microprocessor.

[26] To the input side of the controller 30 is electrically connected a sensor SI for sensing discharge of the specifications/certificates from a first printer 12a for A4-sized specification/certificates, a sensor S2 for sensing an alignment position of the specifications/certificates on the first printer 12a side, a sensor S3 for sensing discharge of the specifications/certificates from a second printer 12b for A4 1/3-sized specifications/certificates, a sensor S4 for sensing an alignment position of the specifications/certificates on the first printer 12b side, and a sensor S5 for sensing a position of the outlet 2. Each of these sensors is composed of a photo-sensor. Herein, the first and second printers 12a and 12b are configured such that they print the specifications/certificates having different sizes.

[27] To the output side of the controller 30 is electrically connected a printer driver 12c for driving the first and second printers 12a and 12b, and a driving motor driver 14a for driving a reversible driving motor 14 connected to one of a plurality of pulleys placed on a conveying path by a connection member in order to convey the specifications/certificates printed in and discharged from each printer 12a and 12b.

[28] Now, operation of the controller 30 will be described. For issuance of the plurality of A4-sized specifications/certificates or the plurality of A4 1/3-sized specifications/certificates, or a combination thereof, the controller 30 instructs the printer driver 12c to drive each printer 12a and 12b. When the specifications/certificates are printed in and discharged from each printer 12a and 12b, the controller 30 instructs the conveyor 13 (shown in Fig. 1) to convey the discharged specifications/certificates to a predetermined alignment position to which specifications/certificates to be printed and discharged subsequently are conveyed and at which leading ends of the specifications/ certificates that have been printed and discharged are aligned with those of the specifications/certificates that are being currently discharged. If there is no more specifications/certificates to be discharged from each printer 12a and 12b, the controller 30 instructs the conveyor 13 (shown in Fig. 1) to collectively discharge the aligned specifications/certificates to the outlet 2 for collective issuance of the multiple speci- fications/certificates. At this time, a counter electro^notive force is generated in the driving motor when a consumer takes the multiple specifications/certificates. Then, the controller 30 instructs the driving motor driver 14a to drive the driving motor 14 using the generated counter electromotive force to facilitate to take the multiple specifications/certificates. If the consumer does not take the multiple specifications/certificates within a constant time, the controller 30 instructs the driving motor driver 14a to reverse the driving motor 14 to collectively convey and withdraw the multiple specifications/certificates to a withdrawal container.

[29] Fig. 3 is a partial side perspective view of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the first printer 12a and the second printer 12b are provided on a conveying path extending in a horixHital direction, with an angle of inclination for the horixHital conveying path and with a distance spaced therebetween.

[30] A plurality of pulleys, which is divided into a group of upper pulleys and a group of lower pulls, is arranged in zigzags on the conveying path between the specifications/certificates discharge sides of the first printer 12a and the second printer 12b and the outlet 2. The group of lower pulleys is wound by a conveying belt 17 for conveying the specifications/certificates discharged from the printers 12a and 12b and is configured such that the specifications/certificates can be conveyed while the conveying belt 17 is moved by a rotation of any one of the pulleys.

[31] One of the pulleys and a driving shaft of the driving motor 14 are connected each other by a timing belt such that the conveying belt 17 is moved in a forward direction or a backward direction when the lower pulleys are rotated as the driving motor 14 is rotated.

[32] In addition, at the specifications/certificates discharge side of the first printer 12a is provided the sensor SI for sensing the discharge of the specifications/certificates, and on the conveying path between the discharge side of the first printer 12a and the discharge side of the second printer 12b is provided the sensor S2 for sensing the alignment position of the specifications/certificates at the first printer 12a side.

[33] In addition, at the specifications/certificates discharge side of the second printer 12b is provided the sensor S3 for sensing the discharge of specifications/certificates, and on the conveying path between the discharge side of the second printer 12b and the outlet 2 is provided the sensor S4 for sensing the alignment position of the specifications/certificates at the second printer 12b side.

[34] In addition, on the conveying path between the sensor S3 and the outlet 2 is provided the sensor S5 for sensing the position of the outlet 2.

[35] Hereinafter, a control method of the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of an example of a procedure where two A4-sized specifications/certificates and one A4 1/3-sized specifications/certificates are issued at once.

[36] Figs. sky4 to skyl2 are diagrams for explaining an operation method of a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. sky4, first, the controller 30 instructs the first printer 12a to print and discharge a first one of the two A4-sized specifications/certificates. Then, the sensor SI senses the discharge of the first A4-sized specification/ certificate from the first printer 12a.

[37] When the discharge of the first A4-sized specification/certificate is sensed, the controller 30 instructs the driving motor 14 to operate to move the conveying belt 17 and accordingly convey the first A4-sized specification/certificate slowly, as shown in Fig. sky5.

[38] When the first A4-sized specification/certificate conveyed up to the position of the sensor S5 is sensed by the sensor S5, the controller 30 stops the driving motor 14 to stop the conveyance of the first A4-sized specification/certificate, as shown in Fig. sky6.

[39] Then, as shown in Fig. sky7, before a second one of the two A4-sized specifications/certificates is printed, the driving motor 14 is backwardly rotated such that the first A4-sized specification/certificate is moved to a first alignment position PI near the sensor S2. The first A4-sized specification/certificate waits at the position PI after it is minutely adjusted.

[40] Then, when the first printer 12a is driven to print and discharge the second A4-sized specification/certificate, the first and second A4-sized specifications/certificates are overlaid each other with their leading ends coincident with each other. In this state, the driving motor 14 is forwardly rotated to convey the first and second A4-sized specifications/certificates with their leading ends coincident with each other, as shown in Fig. sky8.

[41] Then, as shown in Fig. sky9, the driving motor 14 is backwardly rotated to convey the first and second A4-sized specifications/certificates to a second alignment position P2.

[42] Next, as shown in Fig. sky 10, when the second printer 12b is driven to print and discharge the A4 1/3-sized specification/certificate, the first and second A4-sized spec- ifications/certificates and the A4 1/3-sized specification/certificate are overlaid each other with their leading ends coincident the each other. In this state, the driving motor 14 is forwardly rotated to convey three specifications/certificates with their leading ends coincident with each other, as shown in Fig. skyl 1.

[43] Next, as shown in Fig. skyl2, the driving motor 14 is forwardly rotated to discharge a portion of the aligned leading ends of the three specifications/certificates outside the outlet 2 such that the consumer can receive them. In this case, if the consumer does not receive them in a prescribed time, the driving motor 14 is backwardly rotated to withdraw them into the withdrawal container.

[44] Accordingly, by providing exclusive printers for printing the specifications/certificates with various sizes (for example, a size of A4, a size of A4 1/3, a size of A4 1/2, etc.), the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can prints a paper having dotted lines formed every certain size, which is called a dot print paper, by using the exclusive printers according to the size of paper. Accordingly, the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus has an advantage in that it is efficiently applicable to papers with different sizes.

[45] In addition, since the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus has a door structure where a door is opened while the papers are discharged and the door is closed when the discharge is completed by using a driving force of a solenoid valve moving vertically, which is provided in the vicinity of the outlet, an alien substance can be prevented from being injected into the apparatus from the outside.

[46] In addition, a tool for granting validity to the specifications/certificates, such as a stamp, an official seal and a brass die, which can be moved vertically or horixHitally, can be provided at an appropriate place in the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus. The specifications/certificates can be discharged after stamped by the tool using the driving force of the solenoid valve.

[47] [Second embodiment]

[48] Fig. sky 13 is a partially cut perspective view of an automation equipment to which a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus is applied according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. skyl3, an outlet 2' through which the specifications/certificates are taken out is provided in the front of a terminal body T.

[49] A multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus 10' according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided at a position corresponding to the outlet 2' inside the terminal body 1'.

[50] A paper supply container 11' for supplying specifications/certificates papers is provided on the top of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus 10'. The specifications/certificates papers supplied from the paper supply container 11' include roll papers or papers having dotted lines as in the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. sky 13.

[51] The specifications/certificates papers are connected to a paper input stage of a print unit 12' installed below the specifications/certificates papers such that the papers are supplied to the print unit 12'. Herein, as one example of the print unit 12', there is a thermal printer, which is a kind of non-impact printer, for printing characters or pictures by forming color on a thermal paper, which is a special paper reacting to thermal, by heating the thermal paper using a thermal head (print head). This thermal printer has a heating element (resistor), which conesponds to print dots, provided within the thermal head. When a voltage is applied to this heating element, heat is generated in the heating element and the thermal paper is printed by the generated heat.

[52] On the other hand, below the print unit 12' is provided a conveyor 13' for conveying the specifications/certificates, which are printed in and discharged from the print unit 12', to the outlet 2' through which the specifications/certificates are taken out.

[53] The print unit 12' and the conveyor 13' are controlled by a controller (not shown) of the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus contained in the terminal body 1'.

[54] Fig. sky 14 is a control block diagram of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus of Fig. skyl3. As shown in Fig. skyl4, the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a controller 30' for performing the entire control. The controller 30' is composed of a microprocessor.

[55] To the input side of the controller 30' is electrically connected a sensor SI' for sensing discharge of the specifications/certificates from the print unit 12', a sensor S2' for sensing an alignment position of the specifications/certificates on the print unit 12' side, sensors S3' and S4' installed every prescribed length for detecting the length of paper, and a sensor S5' for sensing a position of the outlet 2'. Each of these sensors is composed of a photo-sensor.

[56] To the output side of the controller 30' is electrically connected a printer driver 12a' for driving the print unit 12', and a driving motor driver 14a' for driving a reversible driving motor 14' connected to one of a plurality of pulleys placed on a conveying path by a connection member in order to convey the specifications/certificates printed in and discharged from the print unit 12'.

[57] Now, operation of the controller 30' will be described. For issuance of the plurality of specifications/certificates, the controller 30' instructs the printer driver 12a' to drive the print unit 12'. When the specifications/certificates are printed in and discharged from the print unit 12', the controller 30' instructs the conveyor 13' to convey the discharged specifications/certificates to a predetermined alignment position to which specifications/certificates to be printed and discharged subsequently are conveyed and at which leading ends of the specifications/certificates that have been printed and discharged are aligned with those of the specifications/certificates that are being currently discharged. If there is no more specifications/certificates to be discharged from the print unit 12', the controller 30' instructs the conveyor 13' to collectively discharge the aligned specifications/certificates to the outlet 2' for collective issuance of the multiple specifications/certificates. At this time, a counter electro^notive force is generated in the driving motor 14' when a consumer takes the multiple specifications/certificates. Then, the controller 30' instructs the driving motor driver 14a' to drive the driving motor 14' using the generated counter electromotive force to facilitate to take the multiple specifications/certificates. If the consumer does not take the multiple specifications/certificates within a constant time, the controller 30' instructs the driving motor driver 14a' to reverse the driving motor 14' to collectively convey and withdraw the multiple specifications/certificates to a withdrawal container.

[58] Fig. sky 15 is a partial side perspective view of the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus of Fig. skyl3. As shown in Fig. skyl5, a plurality of pulleys, which is divided into a group of upper pulleys and a group of lower pulls, is arranged in zigzags on the conveying path between the specifications/certificates discharge side of the print unit 12' and the outlet 2'. The group of lower pulleys is wound by a conveying belt 17' for conveying the specifications/certificates discharged from the print unit 12' and is configured such that the specifications/certificates can be conveyed while the conveying belt 17' is moved by a rotation of any one of the pulleys.

[59] One of the pulleys and a driving shaft of the driving motor 14' are connected each other by a timing belt such that the conveying belt 17' is moved in a forward direction or a backward direction when the lower pulleys are rotated as the driving motor 14' is rotated.

[60] In addition, at the specifications/certificates discharge side of the print unit 12' is provided the sensor SI' for sensing the discharge of the specifications/certificates, and on the conveying path between the sensor SI' and the outlet 2' are provided the sensors S2', S3' and S4' for sensing the length of the specifications/certificates.

[61] In addition, on the conveying path between the sensor S4' and the outlet 2' is provided the sensor S5' for sensing the discharge of the specifications/certificates.

[62] Figs, sky 16 to sky25 are diagrams for explaining an operation method of a multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. sky 16, first, the controller 30' instructs the print unit 12' to print and discharge a first specification/certificate of a prescribed size. Then, the sensor SI' senses the discharge of the first specification/certificate from the print unit 12'.

[63] When the discharge of the first specification/certificate is sensed, the controller 30' instructs the driving motor 14' to operate to adhere closely the first specification/ certificate between the conveying belt 17' and a pulley 16', as shown in Fig. skyl7.

[64] As shown in Fig. sky 18, when the first specification/certificate is conveyed to a position conforming to the paper size as the driving motor 14' is driven, the controller 30' stops the driving motor 14' to stop the conveyance of the first specification/ certificate. A convey stop point of time depends on the paper size. For example, in the case of a paper of the size of 100 mm, the first specification/certificate stops when reaching a position of the sensor S3', in the case of a paper of the size of 200 mm, the first specification/certificate stops when reaching a position of the sensor S4' plus 20 mm, and in the case of a paper of the size of 300 mm, the first specification/certificate stops when reaching a position of the sensor S5' plus 10 mm. At this time, the paper size is determined using an interval between a time when the paper appears at the sensor SI' and a time when the paper disappears from the sensor SI' and a rotation speed of the driving motor 14'.

[65] Then, as shown in Fig. skyl9, the driving motor 14' is backwardly rotated such that the specification/certificate is moved to a first alignment position PI' near the sensor S2' before a second specification/certificate is printed, and thereafter, the first specification/certificate waits at the position PI' after it is minutely adjusted, as shown in Fig. sky20. Accordingly, when the second specification/certificate is printed and discharged, the first and second specifications/certificates are overlaid each other with their leading ends coincident with each other.

[66] When the sensor SI' senses the discharge of the second specification/certificate, as shown in Fig. sky21, the driving motor 14' is forwardly rotated to convey the second specification/certificate, as shown in Fig. sky22. Accordingly, as shown in Figs. sky23 and sky24, with the leading ends of the first and second specification/certificates coincident with each other, a portion of the aligned leading ends of them is discharged outside the outlet 2 such that the consumer can receive them. At this time, when the consumer receives the specifications/certificates, the driving motor 14' is forwardly further rotated to discharge them to the consumer such that the consumer can easily take them with little effort. On the contrary, if the consumer does not receive them in a prescribed time, as shown in Fig. sky25, the driving motor 14' is backwardly rotated to withdraw them into the withdrawal container.

[67] In addition, since the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus has a door structure where a door is opened while the specifications/certificates are discharged and the door is closed when the discharge is completed by using a driving force of a solenoid valve moving vertically, which is provided in the vicinity of the outlet.

[68] In addition, a tool for granting validity to the specifications/certificates, such as a stamp, an official seal and a brass die, which can be moved vertically or horixHitally, can be provided at an appropriate place in the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus. The specifications/certificates can be discharged after stamped by the tool using the driving force of the solenoid valve. Industrial Applicability

[69] As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus can collectively issue multiple specifications/certificates, the time required for the issuance of the specifications/certificates can be significantly reduced, and troublesomeness attendant to the issuance can be alleviated.

[70] In addition, the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus can issue specifications/certificates with different sizes and can efficiently use papers for issuance of specifications/certificates as specifications/certificates are issued in conformity with the size of papers with dotted lines or rolled papers.

[71] In addition, when a consumer receives specifications/certificates, the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus discharges them to the consumer such that the consumer can easily take them with little effort.

[72] In addition, if a consumer does not receive specifications/certificates in a prescribed time, the specifications/certificates issuance apparatus withdraws them into a withdrawal container in order to prevent the unauthorized from taking out them. [73] In addition, since the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus has a door structure where a door is opened while specifications/certificates are discharged and the door is closed when the discharge is completed by using a driving force of a solenoid valve moving vertically, which is provided in the vicinity of the outlet, an alien substance can be prevented from being injected into the apparatus from the outside.

[74] In addition, the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus has a tool for granting validity to the specifications/certificates, such as a stamp, an official seal and a brass die, which is vertically or horixHitally movably provided at an appropriate place in the apparatus. Accordingly, the specifications/certificates can be discharged after stamped by the tool using the driving force of the solenoid valve.

[75] Furthermore, the multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus can form a self-service specification/certificate automatic issuance apparatus in combination with a card reader, a specification printer, a TFT-LCD, a controller, a keypad, etc.

[76] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[1] L Claim 1 1 A multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus comprising: a print unit for printing relevant information on plural specifications/certificates and discharging the information-printed specifications/certificates; a conveyor for conveying the specifications/certificates discharged from the print unit; and a controller for instructing the conveyor to convey a previously printed one of the specifications/certificates to a predetermined alignment position in such a manner that a leading end of a specification/certificate printed cunently is coincident with a leading end of the previously printed specification/certificate, and then to convey the previously and cunently printed specifications/certificates with their leading ends coincident with each other when the specifications/certificates are discharged from the print unit.

[2] L Claim 2 J The multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the print unit includes at least two printers, which are provided on a conveying path of the specifications/certificates with an angle of inclination for the conveying path and are supplied with specifications/certificates papers with different sizes for dot printing.

[3] L Claim 3 J The multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the print unit includes one printer, which is supplied with specifications/certificates papers of a roll shape or a fold shape having dotted lines.

[4] L Claim 4 J The multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller includes an optical sensor for detecting whether the specifications/certificates reach a predetermined alignment position, and a microprocessor for controlling the conveyor to convey the specifications/certificates to the predetermined alignment position and stop the conveyance of the specifications/certificates based on an output from the optical sensor.

[5] L Claim 5 J The multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conveyor includes a plurality of upper pulleys wound by a conveying belt, a plurality of lower pulleys wound by the conveying belt, and a driving motor connected to one of the plurality of lower pulleys by a timing belt, and wherein, when a counter electromotive force is generated in the driving motor due to an attractive force with which a consumer attracts the specifications/certificates, the controller operates the conveyor such that a consumer can easily take the specifications/certificates.

[6] L Claim 6 J The multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein, if a consumer does not receive the specifications/certificates in a prescribed time, the controller operates the conveyor such that the specifications/certificates are withdrawn into a withdrawal container.

[7] L Claim 7 J The multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: an outlet open/close structure for opening an outlet using a tensile force of a solenoid valve only when the specifications/certificates are discharged in order to prevent an alien substance from being injected into the apparatus from the outside.

[8] L Claim 8 J The multiple specifications/certificates issuance apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a structure for impressing a tool such as a stamp, an official seal and a brass die on the specifications/certificates using the solenoid valve for granting validity to the specifications/certificates when the specifications/certificates are issued.