JP2784329B2 - Paper ejection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial applications]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet discharging device which is attached to a printer device and is used for discharging a long recording sheet such as a printed receipt or ticket.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer device used as a device for issuing receipts, tickets, etc., prints a long sheet of paper, discharges the sheet, and cuts the sheet upon completion of printing. doing.

FIG. 21A shows an appearance of the printer. A paper outlet 306 is provided in the front panel 304 of the outer case 302, and the elongated paper 308 is supplied to the paper outlet 306 in accordance with a printing operation.
Is discharged from The recipient can pick up and receive the sheet 308 discharged from the sheet discharge port 306 with a finger.

FIG. 21B shows the internal structure of the printer. In this printer device, a paper transport path 310 is formed from inside the outer case 302 to the paper discharge port 306. The paper transport path 310 includes a paper transport mechanism 312 and a printing mechanism 314.
And a cutter mechanism 316. The paper transport mechanism 312 is a unit that sends out the paper 308 in synchronization with printing. The paper transport mechanism 312 includes a pair of drive rollers 318 and 320, and each of the drive rollers 318 and
The paper 308 is guided and sandwiched between the sheets 20, and is sent out by its rotation in a pressed state. The printing mechanism 314
A print head 322 and a platen 324 are arranged with the paper transport path 310 interposed therebetween, and printing on the paper 308 is performed by driving the print head 322. The form of printing is paper 3
08, the ink ribbon is unnecessary when pressure-sensitive paper is used, and a coloring medium such as an ink ribbon is required when plain paper is used. Further, the cutter mechanism 316 constitutes an independent unit, and a cutter blade 326 that slides in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheet 308 is installed inside the unit. This cutter blade 326
Is driven by a sliding drive mechanism. In such a cutter mechanism 316, the sheet 308 being conveyed is cut when the cutter blade 326 slides downward in the drawing.

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

[0006]

When such a printer device is used as a receipt or ticket issuing device, the recipient holds the end of the sheet 308 to be sent out with a finger and waits for completion of printing. is expected. It is also expected that the recipient will interfere with the ejection of paper 308. For example, FIG. 22 shows an example of a state in which the recipient's paper 308 is on standby. When the recipient grasps the discharged paper 308 and stands by, the conveyance of the paper 308 is hindered, and the paper 308 on the paper conveyance path 310 is bent 328. Such bending of the paper 308 causes unnecessary stress in a direction opposite to the discharge direction of the paper 308. As a result, the paper 308 is bent in a loop inside the printer apparatus, and a normal discharge operation cannot be performed, and thus a jam occurs.

Next, FIG. 23A shows a case where the recipient forcibly pulls out the paper 308 to be discharged. When a tension T is applied to the paper 308, the tension T applies an unnecessary load to the cutting edge of the cutter blade 326 in the cutting direction in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction F.
When the load is extremely large, the cutting edge 330 of the cutter blade 326 is damaged as shown in FIG. And when the cutting edge 330 is bent,
Also, it becomes impossible to slide and the cutting operation is impaired.

Conventionally, in such a printer, measures have been taken to prevent a recipient from touching the paper 308 until printing or discharging of the paper 308 of a predetermined length is completed. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-2976
There is No. 5 "Printer". In this printer, a cover having a depth corresponding to the length of the paper to be issued is attached to the paper discharge section, and the paper is guided into the cover so that the recipient does not touch the cover. Is to send out the paper.

[0009] Such means have the following problems. When the length of the paper 308 to be issued is changed because the cover protrudes from the printer, the cover itself may be damaged, and the size of the cover corresponds to the paper 308 to be issued. Therefore, a device having a size corresponding to that is required, which results in an increase in the size of the issuing device itself.

[0010] With respect to protective measures by such a cover,
A paper discharge device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-181659 and US Pat. No. 5,215,393 has been proposed. Such a paper discharge device is designed to allow the recipient to receive the paper by slacking the paper in the printer until the printing operation is completed in the path on the paper discharging side so that the recipient cannot receive the paper. After cutting the paper, some paper is discharged from the discharge port.

By the way, in such a paper discharge device,
In the case where the receiver intentionally closes the sheet discharge port with a finger and waits, no measures are taken in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-181659, and if the sheet discharge is hindered, a jam occurs. Further, according to US Pat. No. 5,215,393, when paper discharge is obstructed by a discharge port, the paper discharge is abandoned, and the paper kept in the cover is guided downward by a roller. Discharging via another route instead of such a paper outlet has the problem that the recipient cannot receive the paper.

Further, in such a paper discharge device, for example, the path from the printing mechanism to the discharge side becomes long, and a roller is used to discharge the paper. Affect. That is, this type of device is installed both indoors and outdoors, and may be used under adverse conditions of high temperature and high humidity. Standard paper is used as the paper. Even if it is a standard paper, the paper softens under high temperature and high humidity, or the paper is deformed by the pressing of the roller surface at a portion gripped between the rollers in contact. The softened paper causes excessive friction between the paper and the roller or comes into close contact with the roller surface, making it difficult to convey the paper.
The paper having a press wrinkle on the roller surface is curved at the wrinkle portion, so that it is difficult to sandwich the paper between the rollers. Also,
Roll paper tends to have curl and press wrinkles, which hinders pinching between rollers. These can cause jams. In the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-181659, a drive lever is used to assist the biting of the sheet into the roller. However, the structure is complicated and causes a jam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper discharge device which can solve the problems caused by the paper condition such as softening and the like, and can stably discharge the paper even when the paper discharge is prevented by the discharge section. With the goal.

[0014]

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 16, a paper discharge device according to the present invention is provided together with a printer device (2) to discharge a printed sheet. 6) a conveying means (8) for conveying the paper (20) to be printed or the paper (20) being printed;
A discharge roller (68, 70) for holding the leading end of the paper conveyed by the conveyance means and discharging the paper when printing is completed, and a paper conveyed while being held by the discharge roller. Paper storage means (58) for storing the paper in a curved state, and a paper discharge path (60) for guiding the paper discharged by the discharge roller to the discharge port (62).
And a paper sensor (76) for detecting 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, the motor (26) for driving the discharge roller is stopped, and the paper transport means is operated to feed the paper to the paper storage means and curl it, thereby completing the printing operation. The motor is driven to discharge the paper, and when the paper sensor detects that the paper has been discharged, control means (control unit 110) for stopping the motor and a drive shaft of the discharge roller (68) are attached. In addition to transmitting the rotational force from the motor (26) to the drive shaft, and when the paper discharge is hindered, the paper is discharged by preventing the rotational force of the motor (26) from transmitting to the drive shaft (64) by idling. And a discharge buffer means (30) for buffering.

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the configuration of the discharge roller is to sandwich the paper to be discharged, and is attached to the drive shaft (64) and installed below the paper discharge path. A first pair of discharge rollers (68);
A second pair of discharge rollers (70) supported above the paper discharge path, driven by the first discharge roller, and displaced from the first discharge roller to the paper discharge port.

In the paper discharging apparatus of the present invention, the paper storing means is means for storing the bent paper in preparation for discharging, and as an example of the configuration, the first paper supporting means for supporting the paper to be discharged. A guide plate (38), a second guide plate (40) installed above the first guide plate, a side plate (24) supporting the drive shaft, and an upright wall (24) provided between the side plates. 56).

Roll paper or cut paper can be used for the paper used in the paper discharge device of the present invention. If roll paper is used, a cutting means is required. Therefore, the sheet discharging device of the present invention includes a cutting unit (4) for cutting the sheet on which printing has been completed.

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the discharge buffer means is a means for normally discharging the paper. The discharge buffering means may be constituted by a torque limiter (30) for stopping movement of the discharged paper and stopping the rotational force to the discharge roller.

In the sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention, the cutting of the sheet by the cutting means is optional, and the sheet (20) may be cut entirely, or a part of the sheet (20) may be left. May go.

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the operation of the cutter blade in the cutting means is optional, and for example, the cutter blade is controlled so as not to retract until the paper discharge is completed.

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the torque limiter for buffering the paper discharge is provided with a clutch portion (92) attached to the drive shaft and a rotatable motor rotatably mounted on the clutch portion. A gear (98) to which a force is applied and a spring (10) for transmitting a rotational force by pressing a contact portion formed on the gear against a clutch portion.
4).

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the torque limiter includes a clutch as a means for pressing the gear and the clutch unit in place of a spring in addition to a spring.
With the configuration of 2), the gear and the clutch unit can be connected by the attraction force of the magnet.

[0023]

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, during printing, the paper is gripped by the discharge roller at the leading end, and the intermediate portion is bent by the paper storage unit and stored in a curved state. Then, upon completion of printing and cutting, the discharge roller is driven,
The sheet is discharged from a discharge port by a discharge roller.
Further, when the paper discharge is prevented at the discharge port side, the transmission of the driving force of the motor to the discharge roller is set to the release state,
Buffers paper ejection. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of jam due to forcible paper discharge. Then, when the interruption of the sheet discharge is stopped, the driving force to the discharge roller is restored, the sheet is discharged quickly, and the recipient can receive the sheet.

In the sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention, the spread angle of the discharging roller can be made wider for the sheet to be discharged. As a result, the softened or curved sheet can be easily gripped, It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a jam before discharging the paper.

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the bent paper is stored in the paper storage means in preparation for discharge. The configuration includes, as an example, a first guide plate that supports the paper to be discharged, a second guide plate that is installed above the first guide plate, a side plate that supports a drive shaft, A space is formed by the standing wall provided between the side plates,
The discharged paper is stored in the space.

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the paper discharged by the paper discharge device may be either roll paper or cut paper. In the case of roll paper, it is cut by cutting means when a receipt or ticket is issued and after printing is completed.

Further, in the paper discharge device of the present invention, the discharge buffer means is for buffering the discharge when the discharge is interrupted when the paper is discharged, and is constituted by a torque limiter as an example. In the case of this torque limiter, when the movement of the discharged paper is hindered, the rotation of the motor stops being transmitted to the discharge roller, and when the hindrance of the discharge is released, the rotation of the motor is reduced. The sheet is transmitted to the discharge roller to quickly discharge the sheet.

Further, in the sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention, the cutting of the sheet by the cutting means may be performed entirely or partially, for example, by cutting while leaving a part of the sheet. When the paper is cut while leaving a part of the paper, a tension is applied to the paper by pulling out the continuous paper by the recipient, so that the paper can be cut.

In the paper discharge device of the present invention, the cutter blade is maintained in a lowered state until the paper discharge is completed after the paper is cut by the cutting means, so that the cut paper is conveyed to the transport side. Can prevent the return state of
Stable paper discharge is possible.

Then, in the paper discharge device of the present invention,
The torque limiter includes a clutch unit, a motor, a gear, and a spring, and the clutch unit is attached to a drive shaft. The rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the clutch unit through the gear, but the frictional connection between the clutch unit and the gear is based on the pressing force of the spring. If a load acts on the drive shaft and the load exceeds the pressure contact force of the spring,
The clutch unit and the gear are idle. The load on the drive shaft occurs when the paper ejection is prevented. When the paper is pulled out strongly, the load causes the clutch to idle.

Further, in the paper discharge device of the present invention,
Instead of the torque limiter spring, friction coupling between the gear and the clutch can be realized by the adhesive force of the magnet,
Similarly, the clutch unit can be brought into an idle state when the sheet discharge is prevented or when the sheet is forcibly discharged.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a sheet discharging device according to the present invention, and shows an outline of an issuing device used for issuing a receipt, a ticket, and the like. This issuing device includes a printer device 2, a cutter device 4, and a paper discharge device 6. The printer device 2 is provided with a paper transport mechanism 8 for transporting print paper and a printing mechanism 10. The paper transport mechanism 8 includes transport rollers 12 and 14 that rotate by receiving a driving force from a motor (not shown). The printing mechanism 10 includes a print head 16 and a platen 18. A roll paper 22 for supplying paper 20 to be printed is mounted on the printer device 2 side. The cutter device 4 cuts the paper 20 on which printing has been completed.

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

Next, FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration example of the printer device 2, the cutter device 4, and the paper discharge device 6. The paper 20 is conveyed along the paper conveyance path 32, that is, conveyed by the conveyance rollers 12 and 14 of the paper conveyance mechanism 8 and guided between the print head 16 of the printing mechanism 10 and the platen 18. The printing operation on the paper 20 is performed in synchronization with the paper transport by the transport rollers 12 and 14.

The paper 20 conveyed together with the printing is conveyed to the paper discharge device 6 via the cutter device 4. The cutter device 4 has a passage hole 3 through which the paper 20 passes.
4 and 36 are formed. The cutter device 4 is provided with a cutter blade 37 that slides in a direction perpendicular to the paper 20 to be conveyed, and receives a driving force from a motor (not shown) to slide and cut the paper 20 in synchronization with the completion of printing. After the cutting, it returns to the illustrated position.

The paper discharge device 6 has first and second guide plates 38 and 40 as means for guiding the paper 20.
Is installed. One guide plate 38 has a chevron shape, a horizontal portion 42 is formed at an intermediate portion, inclined portions 44 and 46 are formed before and after the horizontal portion 42, and the other guide plate 40 is formed.
The inclined portions 50 and 52 are formed around the curved portion 48.

The inclined portion 44 of the guide plate 38 functions as an introduction portion for guiding the conveyed sheet 20 to the horizontal portion 42 side. In order to further enhance the function as this introduction portion, the inclined portion 44 is provided on the upper surface side of the inclined portion 44. Are guide pieces 54 as auxiliary guide means.
Is attached to the upright wall 56 of the sheet discharging device 6, and bridges the sheet conveying path 32 between the sheet discharging device 6 and the cutter device 4.

A space surrounded 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 upright wall 56 is formed. The paper storage unit 58 for storage is configured.

The inclined portions 46 of the guide plates 38, 40
Numerals 52 are arranged in parallel, and the parallel space forms a paper discharge path 60 that descends obliquely from the horizontally set paper conveyance path 32. The terminal end of the sheet discharge path 60 is a sheet discharge port 62.

The drive shaft 6 which receives the rotational force from the motor 26 via the torque limiter 30 is provided on the rear surface of the guide plate 38.
4. A support shaft 66 is provided on the back side of the guide plate 40. The positional relationship between the drive shaft 64 and the support shaft 66 is as follows.
The support shaft 66 is disposed on the paper discharge port 62 side with respect to the drive shaft 64. The support shaft 66 is supported by a bearing portion 86 and a locking portion 90 formed on the guide plate 40, and the opening 79 is formed by the guide plate 4.
It is formed by press working to form an L-shaped locking portion 90 formed by punching out 0.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of first discharge rollers 68 are attached to the drive shaft 64, and a pair of second discharge rollers 70 that come into contact with the discharge rollers 68 are mounted on the support shaft 66. Are rotatably supported. Further, a window 72 for projecting the discharge roller 68 on the guide plate 38 and a window 74 for projecting the discharge roller 70 on the guide plate 40 for bringing the respective roller surfaces of the respective discharge rollers 68 and 70 into contact with each other. Are formed respectively. That is, the roller surfaces of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 projecting through the windows 72 and 74 are in contact with each other. The drive shaft 6
4 is connected to a motor 26 via a torque limiter 30 serving as a discharge buffering means for buffering the paper discharge. That is, the torque of the motor 26 is controlled by the torque limiter 30.
Is transmitted from the drive shaft 64 to the discharge roller 68 via the
Therefore, the paper 20 is conveyed to the paper discharge path 60 in a press-contact state while being sandwiched between the respective discharge rollers 68 and 70.

A sheet sensor 76 is provided in the sheet discharge path 60 as means for detecting that the leading end of the sheet 20 has arrived. The sheet sensor 76 is installed on the back side of the guide plate 40 and its detection surface is It is directed from the window 78 of the plate 40 to the sheet discharge path 60. This paper sensor 76
For example, it is constituted by optical detection means, includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, and outputs light from the light-emitting element to the paper discharge path 60.
, And the presence or absence of the reflected light can be detected by receiving the reflected light from the paper 20 with the light receiving element.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of the sheet discharge device shown in FIG. 2, and shows a drive system of the discharge rollers 68 and 70. Motor 2 installed on side plate 24
A worm gear 28 is attached to the rotating shaft of the worm gear 6, and the torque of the worm gear 28 is applied to the torque limiter 3.
After being transmitted to 0, it is transmitted to the drive shaft 64 through the torque limiter 30. The drive shaft 64 is supported by bearings 82 and 84 attached to the side plate 24.

FIG. 5 shows a supporting structure of the driven discharge roller 70. An appropriate pressure contact state is required between the discharge rollers 68 and 70 in order to feed the paper 20 by pressure.
Therefore, an elastic metal shaft is used for the support shaft 66 of the discharge roller 70, and the support shaft 66 is connected to the guide plate 4.
The support shaft 66 is movably inserted into the groove 88 of the bearing 86 formed at zero and the support shaft 66 is restrained so as not to be separated from the groove 88 of the bearing 86. As a result, the discharge roller 68 comes into contact with the discharge roller 70 in a pressure-contact state, and the discharge roller 70 elastically moves within the range in which the support shaft 68 is allowed to move in the bearing portion 86 according to the sheet 20 to be discharged. Can be moved.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a specific configuration example of the torque limiter 30. Drive shaft 64 of discharge roller 68
Are supported by the side plate 24 via a bearing 82, and the side plate 2
4 project outside. The clutch part 92 is fixed to the drive shaft 64. The clutch portion 92 includes a small-diameter portion 94 and a flange portion 96, and a gear 98 is rotatably provided in the small-diameter portion 94. This gear 98 has
A concave portion 100 is formed in the axial direction, and a gear 98 is provided between the concave portion 100 and a disc-shaped spring receiver 102 fixed to the small diameter portion 94 of the clutch portion 92. , A coil spring 104 is inserted for pressing the spring. A slip member 106 is attached to the flange portion 96 of the clutch portion 92, and the coil member 10 is attached to the slip member 106.
A ring-shaped contact portion 108 formed on the gear 98 is pressed against the gear 4 under the pressure of 4.

In such a torque limiter 30, the torque of the motor 26 is transmitted from the worm gear 28 to the gear 98. Normally, the gear 98 and the clutch portion 92 are frictionally engaged by the pressure of the coil spring 104, so that the rotation of the gear 98 is transmitted to the drive shaft 64.

However, when a force for preventing rotation is applied to the drive shaft 64 through the discharge roller 68, the stopping force is applied by the pressure of the coil spring 104, the clutch 92 and the gear 9.
If the frictional force of the gear 8 with the contact portion 108 is exceeded, the gear 98 enters an idle state, and the transmission of the rotational force to the drive shaft 64 is blocked. As a result, the sheet 20 is discharged by the discharge rollers 68 and 70.
Will stop discharging. That is, when the ejection of the paper 20 is obstructed, the stress is transmitted through the paper 20 to the drive shaft 64.
To cause the gear 98 to idle.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a control device in the issuing device. The control unit is provided with a control unit 110 as a unit for controlling each of sheet conveyance, printing, sheet cutting, and sheet discharge. In this embodiment, printing and discharging of paper are controlled by a single control unit 110, but these controls may be configured separately.

The control unit 110 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer in order to cooperate with the host computer 112 and execute various controls. The microprocessor (MPU) 114 as a central processing unit
Various controls and calculations, such as sheet transport control, print control, sheet cutting control, and sheet discharge control, are performed according to the program. The MPU 114 includes a timer 116 as a means for performing time setting and time control.

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

The control unit 110 has an input / output unit (I / O) 1 as an input / output unit for taking in various input data from the host computer 112 and taking out the control output of the control unit 110 to the host computer 112.
22 are provided. This I / O 122 is connected to MPU1
14, and linked to the ROM 118 and the RAM 120 via a bus. A switch or the like for inputting an online operation command from the host computer 112 to the I / O 122 via the switch or the like is connected to the I / O 122.
The description is omitted because it has no direct relation to the sheet discharge control in the present invention.

The I / O 122 includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth as means for taking out a control output.
Drivers 124, 126, 128, and 130 are connected. The driver 124 is a driving output unit that supplies a driving output necessary for printing to the printer device 2,
26 is a drive output unit for supplying a drive output to the cutter device 4, a driver 128 is a drive output unit for taking out a drive output of the motor 26 for discharging paper, and the driver 13
Reference numeral 0 denotes a drive output unit for extracting a display drive output for performing an error display or the like on the display 132.

The printer device 2 includes a paper transport mechanism 8 and a printing mechanism 10. The paper transport mechanism 8 is means for transporting the paper 20 to be printed to the printing mechanism 10 side, and includes a transport roller that rotates a motor in synchronization with a printing operation and receives the rotation of the motor. The printing mechanism 10 is based on print data from the host computer 112,
This is a means for printing on the paper 20.

Next, the respective operations of paper transport, printing, paper cutting and paper discharging in the issuing device will be described.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show programs showing the respective operations of paper transport, printing, paper cutting and paper discharging.
a shows a connector.

After the power is supplied to the control unit 110 or the reset switch is pressed to reset the control unit 110 and initialize the control unit 110, the printing operation is performed together with the paper conveyance. In step S1, paper detection is performed by the paper sensor 76. If the paper 20 is detected, the program proceeds to step S2 to rotate the motor 26.

In step S3, the control unit 110 controls the motor 2
6 is measured from the start of driving, and the control unit 110
Determines whether a certain time has elapsed. If the fixed time has not elapsed, the program returns to step S2. As a result, the motor 26 continues to be driven for a certain time, and sends out the paper 20 for a certain time.

Then, in step S4, the paper sensor 76
Performs the detection of the sheet 20 again. If the paper 20 has been detected, the process proceeds to step S5 to stop the motor 26, and then proceeds to step S6. In this case, since it is clear that an error has occurred, the display 132 is turned on to display an error. With this display, the receiver is notified of a paper conveyance abnormality such as a jam.

If the paper 20 is not detected in step S4, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the rotation of the motor 26 is stopped, and then proceeds to step S8 to perform a printing operation. In step S8, one-line printing is performed.
In step 9, the paper is fed. This paper feed is 1
This is a line feed operation corresponding to line printing. In step S10, the motor 26 is rotated, and the discharging operation of the paper 20 is started.

Then, in step S11, the sheet is detected again. If the sheet 20 is not detected, step S8 is performed.
Return to If the paper 20 is detected, step S1
Then, the process proceeds to step 2, and the rotation of the motor 26 is stopped. Step S
In step 13, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the printing is n-line printing. If the printing is not n-line printing, the process proceeds to step S14 to perform one-line printing. In step S15, the sheet is fed by one line, and the process returns to step S13. . If the n-line printing is completed in step S13, that is, step S1
The program proceeds to step 6, where the sheet 20 is advanced by m lines. Such m-row feed of the paper 20 is preparation for paper cutting, and this transport operation is performed by the paper transport mechanism 8.

In step S17, the sheet 20 is cut, and the flow advances to step S18. In step S18, the sheet 20 is discharged, and the motor 26 is rotated. In step S19, paper detection is performed, and if the paper 20 is detected, the process proceeds to step S20. Step S2
In the case of 0, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the detection of the sheet. Before the elapse of the predetermined time, step S1
8, the processing in steps S18 and S19 is performed. If it is determined in step S20 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S21, and paper detection is performed. If the paper 20 is detected, the process proceeds to step S22, where the motor 26 is stopped, and
Then, the process goes to step S23, and an error is displayed on the display 132.

When the sheet 20 is not detected, that is, when the sheet 20 is discharged and the detection is completed, the process proceeds to step S24, and the motor 26 is stopped. When the motor 26 stops, the discharging operation of the paper 20 is completed, and the control unit 110 enters a standby state.

Next, FIG. 10 shows the printing of n lines and the feeding of m lines to the sheet 20 in steps S8 to S13 and step S16 , and the broken line 134 indicates the cutting position. The portion 20A cut at the cutting position 134
Is continuously discharged from the paper discharge port 62, and the portion 20B is placed on the paper transport path 32 side of the cutter device 4.

Next, the printing operation and paper transport will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. FIG. FIG. 11 shows a printing operation after paper detection. In this case, when the sheet is conveyed while being sandwiched between the discharge rollers 68 and 70 rotated by the motor 26, the leading end thereof reaches below the sheet sensor 76,
Is detected. At this time, the motor 26 stops, and the paper 2
0 is held between 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 continuously performed, and the paper 20 is carried out by the paper transport mechanism 8. At this time, the cutter device 4 is also in a standby state. Therefore, the paper 20 is transported in the paper transport path 32 in synchronization with the printing operation, and is sent to the paper storage unit 58. That is, the leading ends are the discharge rollers 68, 70.
When the paper 20 is fed into the paper storage unit 58 in a state where the paper 20 is held, a loop is formed in the space, and the paper 20 rises and forms like the loops 20a, 20b, and 20c according to the paper conveyance, and grows.

FIG. 12 shows cutting of the sheet 20 after the printing operation is completed. After the printing operation is completed and the paper feeding for m lines is completed, the cutter device 4 operates. Cutter blade 3
7 descends, and as a result, the sheet 20 is cut. After cutting the paper, the cutter blade 37 is retracted.

FIG. 13 shows the discharge of the sheet 20 after cutting. After cutting the paper 20, the motor 26 is driven, and the paper 20 is rotated by the rotation of the discharge rollers 68 and 70.
The paper is guided from the paper discharge path 60 to the paper discharge port 62 and continuously discharged. When the trailing end of the sheet 20 to be ejected is out of the detection area of the sheet sensor 76, a detection output indicating completion of ejection is obtained by the sheet sensor 76, applied to the control unit 110, the motor 26 is stopped, and the ejection is completed. I do. Then, the cut paper 20 becomes a plurality of paper pieces, which are issued to the recipient as receipts or tickets.

By the way, in the sheet discharging device 6, as the discharging rollers 68 and 70, rollers having a relatively large diameter are used, and as shown in FIG. 14A, the discharging rollers 68 and 70 are used. In this arrangement, the central axis is inclined by the angle θ1. As a result, the opening angle formed by the tangents L1 and L2 of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 is 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 discharge rollers 68 and 70.
Are set at the same position in the horizontal direction. In this case, the opening angle θ3 formed by the tangents L1 and L2 is 4
5 °, and the opening angles θ2, θ of the discharge rollers 68, 70
3 means that the opening angle is widened by displacing the position of the central axis, that is, by setting the discharge roller 68 forward (θ2> θ3).

By arranging the discharge rollers 68 and 70 in this manner, in the paper discharge device of the present invention, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the curved paper 20 indicated by the two-dot chain line is conveyed due to the curl of the roll paper 22, the leading end can be effectively guided between the discharge rollers 68 and 70. In particular, the discharge roller 68 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow P (that is,
(The clockwise direction), and the discharge roller 70 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow Q in response thereto. Therefore, the sheet 20 whose leading end contacts the discharge roller 70 is guided to the discharge roller 68 by the discharge roller 70. become. The paper 20 is guided between the discharge rollers 68 and 70 by the rotation of the discharge rollers 68 and 70 and the opening angle θ2 of both, so that the paper 20 is surely moved to the paper discharge path 60 side without generating a jam. Can be discharged.

Next, FIG. 16 shows an operation in a case where the sheet discharge is hindered, for example, when the sheet discharge port 62 is closed.
In step S31, for example, when the sheet discharge port 62 is closed and the conveyance of the sheet 20, that is, the discharge is prevented, the stress acting on the sheet 20 acts on the torque limiter 30, as shown in step S32. Then, the torque limiter 30 becomes idle, and the rotation of the discharge roller 68 stops.
As a result, the discharge of the paper 20 is stopped. Then, as shown in step S33, when the discharge inhibition of the paper 20 is released, the release of the stress acts on the torque limiter 30, and
As shown in step S34, the state shifts to the rotation transmission state again, and the discharge of the sheet 20 is performed normally as in step S35.

By providing such a torque limiter 30, a driving force which does not affect the printing accuracy of the printer device 2 can be set on the discharge roller 68 side. In addition, when the supply speed from the printer device 2 and the paper discharge speed do not match, the discharge force can be absorbed by the torque limiter 30, and the occurrence of a jam can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment) Next, FIG. 17 shows a second embodiment of the paper discharge device of the present invention. In this paper discharge device, the guide plate 38 is formed in a flat plate shape and has a slight inclined surface on the discharge side. Also, the guide plate 40
Is formed into an L-shape including inclined portions 136, 138, and 140, and the inclined portion 136 is used as a wall surface of the paper storage portion 58,
The inclined section 138 and the guide plate 38 side serve as an introduction section for the sheet 20, and the inclined section 140 forms the sheet discharge path 60. The discharge rollers 68 and 70 are provided at the entrance of the sheet discharge path 60, and the discharge roller 70 is smaller than the discharge roller 68. Then, a rotational force is applied to the drive shaft 64 of the discharge roller 68 through the torque limiter 30 as in the first embodiment. Even with such a configuration, smooth discharge of the paper 20 can be realized as in the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) Next, FIG. 18 shows a third embodiment of the sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention. This paper discharge device uses cut paper as the paper 20. In the sheet 20 made of such cut sheets, the stacker 142
The paper 20 to be printed and discharged is stored in the feeder 144.
Is supplied to the transport rollers 12 and 14 one by one.
In this case, as the sheet 20, a continuous sheet that can be cut and stitched is used.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, FIG. 19 shows another configuration example of the torque limiter 30 as a fourth embodiment of the paper discharge device of the present invention. Paper discharge device 6 of the first embodiment
In the torque limiter 30 used in the first embodiment, the pressure contact between the clutch portion 92 and the gear 98 is realized by using the coil spring 104. In this embodiment, the gear 98 and the clutch portion 92 are formed of magnets, and both are formed by magnetic force. The gear 98 can be pressed against the clutch portion 92 with an appropriate pressing force. In this case, the gear 98
Is a retaining plate 1 fixed to an end of the clutch portion 92.
The clutch 46 is rotatably restrained on the small diameter portion 94 of the clutch portion 92. Even with such a torque limiter 30, when the discharge of the paper 20 is hindered, it is possible to wait for the paper 20 to be discharged without causing a jam, and immediately discharge the paper 20 at the same time when the discharge hindrance is released. .

(Other Embodiments) Next, other embodiments of the sheet discharging apparatus according to the present invention will be described as follows.

A. By increasing the rotation speed of the motor 26 as compared with the transport speed on the paper transport side, it is possible to reduce the waiting time when discharging the paper.

B. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, the sheet 20 may be cut while leaving a thin connecting portion 148 at an intermediate portion of the sheet 20. In this way, the paper 20
Is held on the printer device 2 side, so that the paper can be transported or discharged more stably on the paper path. By providing such a connecting portion 148, the paper 20 can be pulled out toward the paper discharge device 6 as the paper 20 is discharged, and the user can apply an appropriate tension to the paper 20 to
Can be easily cut at the connecting portion 148.

C. In the control of the cutter device 4, the inconvenience of the paper 20 returning to the paper supply source can be prevented by maintaining the cutter blade 37 in the lowered state until the paper discharge is completed. When the reversal occurs, the next sheet ejection is hindered, but the sheet ejection can be smoothly performed by such a method.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects can be obtained. a. Even if the leading end side of the conveyed sheet is curved in a loop shape, the sheet can be reliably pinched because the pinching allowable angle of the discharge roller with respect to the sheet is set large.
Stable paper transport is possible, and even when roll paper is used, even if the curl is deformed due to pressure contact with the roller on the transport means side, or the paper softened by moisture absorption is transported reliably and smoothly. Therefore, the paper conveyance can be stabilized, and the occurrence of the conventional jam can be reliably prevented. b. Further, when the paper ejection is hindered, the torque limiter is idled to stop the paper ejection, and when the obstruction is released, the paper can be ejected, so that the reliability of the paper ejection and the occurrence of a jam can be prevented. . c. The paper to be printed and discharged can be stored in a paper storage means by being bent in a loop shape, the paper can be discharged separately from the printing operation and the cutting operation, and the interruption to the paper discharge can be prevented. d. Paper discharge can be performed for both roll paper and cut paper. e. By using a torque limiter as the discharge buffering means, when the paper discharge is obstructed, the paper discharge can be made to wait, and when the discharge obstruction is released, the paper discharge can be performed promptly. f. The cutting of the sheet by the cutting means can be performed entirely or partially, and when cutting while leaving a part of the sheet,
When the receiver pulls out the continuous paper, the paper is cut under tension. g. If the cutter blade is not retracted until the paper discharge is completed after the paper is cut by the cutting means, it is possible to prevent the cut paper from returning to the transport side and to perform stable paper discharge. h. With a simple configuration, the torque limiter can stop the paper discharge at the time of the interruption by idling the clutch portion from the disturbance at the time of the paper discharge, and can quickly discharge the paper when the disturbance is released. i. The spring of the torque limiter can realize the frictional connection by the adhesive force of the magnet, and similarly, when the paper discharge is hindered, the clutch part can be idled to protect the paper discharge.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an issuing device which is a first embodiment of a sheet discharging device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a sheet discharging device in the issuing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view illustrating a sheet storage unit and a discharge roller illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the sheet discharge device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an elastic support structure of a discharge roller.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a torque limiter.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a control device of the sheet discharging device.

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

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a control program for printing and paper discharge.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a sheet.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the paper discharge device during printing.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the paper discharge device during printing showing a paper storage state.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet discharge device after printing, which indicates sheet discharge.

14A and 14B are diagrams illustrating an arrangement of discharge rollers, wherein FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of discharge rollers according to the present invention, and FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of other discharge rollers.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a form in which a sheet bites into a discharge roller.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation in the case of sheet discharge prevention.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the paper discharge device of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the sheet discharging device of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the torque limiter in the paper discharge device of the present invention.

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

21A and 21B show a conventional printer device, in which FIG. 21A is a perspective view and FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a case where a sheet to be discharged is picked up and is on standby.

23A and 23B are cross-sectional views illustrating cutting of a sheet to be discharged, in which tension is applied to the sheet to be discharged, and FIG. 23B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cutting edge of the cutter due to the tension applied to the sheet to be discharged. It is a figure which shows a deformation | transformation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 printer device 4 cutting means 6 paper discharge device 8 transport means 20 paper 24 side plate 26 motor 30 torque limiter (discharge buffer means) 38 first guide plate 40 second guide plate 56 upright wall 58 paper storage means 60 paper discharge path 62 Discharge port 64 Drive shaft 68, 70 First and second discharge rollers 76 Paper sensor 92 Clutch section 98 Gear 104 Spring 110 Control means (control section)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-101253 (JP, A) JP-A-2-112973 (JP, A) JP-A-1-99866 (JP, A) JP-A-5-105 270079 (JP, A) JP-A-2-169281 (JP, A) JP-A-50-152743 (JP, A) JP-A-4-66143 (JP, U) JP-A-58-125455 (JP, U) JP-A-1-178963 (JP, U) JP-A-4-87024 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 20 / 04,29 / 20

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper discharge device installed together with a printer device for discharging printed paper, comprising: transport means for transporting paper to be printed or paper being printed; and said paper transported by the transport means. A discharge roller for holding and holding the leading end of the paper, and discharging the paper when printing is completed; a paper storage means for curving and storing the paper conveyed while being held by the discharge roller; A paper discharge path for guiding the paper discharged by the rollers to a discharge port side, a paper sensor for detecting that the leading end of the paper transferred to the paper discharge path side by the discharge rollers has arrived, When the arrival of the sheet is detected, the motor that drives the discharge roller is stopped, and the sheet transporting unit is operated to operate the sheet storing unit. Control to feed the paper to the side and to curl, to drive the motor upon completion of the printing operation to cause the paper to be discharged, and to stop the motor when the paper sensor detects that the paper has been discharged. Means attached to the drive shaft of the discharge roller to transmit the rotational force from the motor to the drive shaft, and when paper ejection is hindered, idle and do not transmit the rotational force of the motor to the drive shaft. And a discharge buffering means for buffering the discharge of the sheet as described above. A first discharge roller attached to the drive shaft and installed below the paper discharge path; and a first discharge roller supported above the paper discharge path. The paper discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising a second discharge roller that is driven by a roller and displaced from the first discharge roller to a paper discharge port. 3. The paper storage means includes: a first guide plate for supporting the paper to be discharged; a second guide plate installed above the first guide plate; and a support for the drive shaft. The sheet discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet discharging device includes: a side plate that is formed; and an upright wall provided between the side plates. 4. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutting unit for cutting the sheet on which the printing has been completed. 5. A discharge limiter according to claim 1, wherein said discharge buffering means is constituted by a torque limiter which stops the rotation of said discharge roller by preventing movement of the discharged paper.
Paper discharge device according to the above. 6. The paper discharge device according to claim 4, wherein the paper cutting by said cutting means is performed while leaving a part of the paper. 7. The paper discharging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said cutting means does not retract the cutter blade until the paper discharging is completed. 8. The torque limiter includes: a clutch unit mounted on the drive shaft; a gear rotatably mounted on the clutch unit and provided with a rotational force from a motor; and a contact formed on the gear. The paper discharge device according to claim 5, further comprising: a spring that presses a portion to the clutch portion to transmit a rotational force. 9. A gear formed of a magnet and attached to the drive shaft, and a gear formed of a magnet and rotatably attached to the clutch to receive torque from a motor. 6. The sheet discharging device according to claim 5, wherein the gear and the clutch unit are coupled by an attraction force of the magnet.