JP4429893B2 - Printing paper take-up device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing paper take-up device, and more particularly to a printing paper take-up device provided independently of a printer that performs printing on printing paper.

As a conventional printing paper take-up device, it is configured as an external device separate from the printer, and is placed in front of the paper discharge port of the printer, and the continuous paper or printing paper issued by the printer Some rolls are rolled up in a roll (including the backing from which the label is peeled).
Such a printing paper winding device includes a winding shaft for winding a belt-shaped printing paper that has been printed by a printer, a drive unit (for example, a drive motor) that rotationally drives the winding shaft, and the winding shaft. A tension roller that abuts on the printing paper on the upstream side.
The tension roller reciprocates in a predetermined tension area while touching the printing paper as the printing paper is discharged and taken up, so that the tension can be applied to the printing paper so as to absorb the deflection of the printing paper. The winding strength around the shaft can be stabilized.

In such a printing paper take-up device, the belt-shaped printing paper discharged from the printer is usually fixed with the leading end fixed to the take-up shaft, and the tension roller is set in contact with the printing paper, and then the drive unit is started. Then, winding of the printing paper is started.
When the printing operation in the printer is finished or when the printing paper itself is used up, if the head lock is released in the printing section, for example, if the space between the thermal head and the platen roller is released, it is held between them until now. Since the printing paper, that is, the terminal end is suddenly released, the tension applied to the tension roller via the printing paper on the printing paper take-up device side suddenly becomes zero, and the tension roller is at its bottom. Since it falls to the position of and stops, there is a problem of surprise the operator.
Furthermore, it is not preferable for maintaining the mechanical durability of the parts that the tension roller falls to the lowermost part and collides with the stopper part or the stopper equivalent part every time the head lock of the printing part is released. There's a problem.

    The conventional printing paper winding device is controlled integrally with the printer by the printer control unit, and is practically impossible to drive except for a specific printer, and appropriately rolls printing paper discharged from any printer. There is a problem that the combination with the printer is not flexible.

JP 2003-252501 A

    The present invention has been considered in view of the above-mentioned problems. Printing paper winding capable of avoiding dropping of the tension roller to the lowermost part due to the release of one end of the belt-like printing paper when the printing issuance is stopped in the printer. It is an object to provide a take-off device.

    Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing paper take-up device that can move the position of the tension roller slowly to the lowermost part in advance when printing on the printing paper is completed.

    Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing paper take-up device that detects the stop position of the tension roller in the tension region and can move slowly from the position to the most stable position of the tension roller.

    In addition, the present invention provides a printing paper winding device that can slowly move to the most stable position of the tension roller and stop a driving unit such as a driving motor when the printing paper winding operation is completed. Is an issue.

    The present invention also provides a printing paper take-up device that can be controlled independently even if it is arranged independently from a printer or the like and can take up printing paper that is discharged from an arbitrary printer. This is the issue.

    That is, the present invention divides the movable area of the tension roller into four parts so that the position or posture of the tension roller can be grasped sequentially, and the posture of the tension roller is monitored over a predetermined set time, thereby winding the printing paper. Focusing on the fact that the end or printing issuance can be confirmed, and a winding shaft for winding the belt-shaped printing paper that has been printed by the printer, and a drive unit such as a drive motor that rotationally drives the winding shaft And a tension roller that comes into contact with the printing paper on the upstream side of the take-up shaft and reciprocates in a predetermined tension region as the printing paper is taken up to apply tension to the printing paper. A printing paper take-up device that detects in which part of the tension area the tension roller is located. The possible first sensor and the second sensor, and the output signals from the first sensor and the second sensor, the tension regions where the tension rollers are located are successively adjacent to each other, One of the first tension area, the second tension area, the third tension area, and the fourth tension area where the print paper winding path is the minimum length. A winding control unit that determines whether the tension roller is in a tension region other than the first tension region and the tension control unit. When the roller is in the tension region other than the first tension region for a predetermined set time, the drive unit is reversed. The printing paper winding is characterized in that the printing paper is fed from the winding shaft to the winding path so that the tension roller is positioned in the first tension region and the drive unit is stopped. Take-off device.

    A start / stop button for starting and stopping the rotational drive of the take-up shaft is provided, and the take-up control unit can control the drive unit to reverse when the start / stop button is operated.

    A roller arm that holds the tension roller, a roller rotation shaft that rotatably supports the roller arm, and allows the tension roller to reciprocate in both forward and reverse directions so as to intersect the winding path; and It is possible to provide a sensor plate which can be rotated around a roller rotation axis and which has detection convex portions and detection concave portions formed alternately by the first sensor and the second sensor.

    The winding control unit can control the printing paper winding device independently of a printer control unit of a printer that prints on the printing paper.

    In order to provide a margin for the reciprocation of the tension roller, the tension roller is reciprocated in the second tension region and the third tension region other than the first and fourth tension regions, that is, in the middle portion thereof. It is desirable to control as follows.

In the printing paper winding device according to the present invention, the movable area of the tension roller is divided into four, and the positions of the tension roller are the first tension area, the second tension area, the third tension area, and the fourth tension. The position or posture of the tension roller is detected at the end of printing issuance of printing paper from the printer, and the tension roller is slowly moved to the first tension region, which is the most stable position. Since it has been moved in advance, after the tension roller is positioned in the first tension area, the end of the printing paper is released or cut on the printer side to prevent the tension roller from falling and colliding, It does not surprise the operator, and can prevent damage or wear of parts. That.

    According to the present invention, the printing operation of the printing paper by the printer is completed by the posture or position information of the tension roller passing through the first tension area, the second tension area, the third tension area, and the fourth tension area. Since it is determined whether or not it is detected (end of printing issuance of printing paper is detected), the tension roller position is stabilized in advance, the drive unit is stopped, and the printing paper is cut on the printer side. We realized a printing paper take-up device that can be used.

Next, a printing paper winding device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a printer 1 and a printing paper take-up device 2 connected to the printer 1. The printer 1 determines the position of a printing paper 3 supply unit 4 such as a label or a tag and the printing paper 3. A detecting unit 5 for detecting, a printing unit 6 for printing on the printing paper 3, a cutting unit 7 for winding the printed printing paper 3 around the printing paper winding device 2, and cutting a terminal portion thereof, and each of these units A printer control unit 8 for controlling the printer.

The printing unit 6 includes a thermal head 9 and a platen roller 10. The printing paper 3 is sandwiched between the thermal head 9 and the platen roller 10 and the printing paper 3 is rotated by the rotation of the platen roller 10. The paper is discharged in the direction and printed with predetermined information on the printing paper 3.
The cutting unit 7 may be driven by the printer control unit 8 to mechanically cut the printing paper 3, but a member for manually cutting the terminal end of the printing paper 3 may be provided.

    FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printing paper take-up device 2. The printing paper take-up device 2 guides and introduces the apparatus main body 11 and the printed printing paper 3 into the printing paper take-up device 2. Fixed guide roller 12, tension roller 13, second fixed guide roller 14 for guiding the printing paper 3 from the tension roller 13, a winding unit 15 for winding the printing paper 3 into a roll, and an operation unit 16. And a power switch 17 and a winding control unit 18.

A roller rotation shaft 19 is provided on the vertical wall surface portion 11A of the apparatus main body 11, a roller arm 20 is attached to the roller rotation shaft 19 so as to be able to rotate in both forward and reverse directions, and a tension roller 13 is rotatably attached to the tip portion thereof. The tension roller 13 is positioned so as to intersect perpendicularly with the winding path 21 of the printing paper 3 (for example, it appears in a zigzag shape in FIG. 1).
The tension roller 13 can reciprocate up and down in an arc shape as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1 along the arcuate guide groove 22 formed in the vertical wall surface portion 11 </ b> A according to the winding state of the printing paper 3. The length of is changed from minimum to maximum.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the vertical wall surface portion 11A as viewed from the surface opposite to the surface on which the tension roller 13 is located. The position of the tension roller 13 is indicated by the sensor plate 23, the first sensor 24, and the second sensor. It can be detected by the sensor 25.
The sensor plate 23 is attached to the roller rotation shaft 19 so as to be rotatable around the roller rotation shaft 19 together with the tension roller 13, and the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25 are provided on the circumferential portion thereof. Two detection convex portions (first detection convex portion 26, second detection convex portion 27) and three detection concave portions (first detection concave portion 28, second detection concave portion 29, third) Detection recesses 30) are alternately formed.

The first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25 can employ either a transmission type or a reflection type detector. The first detection convex portion 26, the second detection convex portion 27, and the first detection concave portion 28 are used. The second detection recess 29 and the third detection recess 30 are arranged on the circumference of a position where they can be detected.
In the lowest position (bottom dead center, first tension region) of the tension roller 13 indicated by a solid line in FIG. 3, the first sensor 24 faces the second detection recess 29, and the second sensor 25 is the third sensor. It faces the detection recess 30.

The roller rotation shaft 19 is preferably arranged vertically above the tension roller 13, and the relative arrangement makes the tension roller 13 positioned vertically downward in the arc-shaped guide groove 22 by its own weight. The posture to perform is a natural posture, and the tension roller 13 can always apply a predetermined tension to the printing paper 3 that contacts from above in FIGS. 1 and 2.
If necessary, the tension spring 13 (FIG. 1) can be attached to the roller arm 20 to constantly urge the tension roller 13 in the arcuate guide groove 22 in the lowermost (bottom dead center) direction. .

FIG. 4 is a chart showing tension regions where the tension roller 13 is determined based on detection signals from the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of each tension region.
3 indicates the bottom dead center of the tension roller 13 (the lowest point in the first tension region R1), the first sensor 24 detects the position of the second detection recess 29, The second sensor 25 is detecting the position of the third detection recess 30.
As the tension roller 13 moves up in the arcuate guide groove 22, the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25 have the first detection convex portion 26, the second detection convex portion 27, and the first detection concave portion. 28, the second detection concave portion 29 and the third detection concave portion 30 are detected, respectively, and from these detection signals, the winding control unit 18 causes the tension roller 13 to be in the tension region (the first adjacent to each other continuously). It is determined whether it is located in any one of the tension region R1, the second tension region R2, the third tension region R3, and the fourth tension region R4).
The first detection convex portion 26, the second detection convex portion 27, the first detection concave portion 28, the second detection concave portion 29, and the third detection concave portion 30 around the roller rotation shaft 19 of the sensor plate 23. By appropriately designing the respective circumferential angles and the relative positions of the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25, the tension regions of the tension roller 13 (first tension region R1, second tension region R2). The detection timing of the third tension region R3 and the fourth tension region R4) can be adjusted.

    1 and 2, the winding unit 15 includes a driving motor 32 (driving unit), a winding shaft 33 that is rotationally driven by the driving motor 32, and a winding shaft that is detachably fitted to the winding shaft 33. 33, a rewind core 34 for winding the print paper 3 in a roll shape here, and a pair of plate-like paper guides 35 provided at both ends of the rewind core 34 to guide the print paper 3 Have.

The operation unit 16 is provided in a portion of the apparatus main body 11 in the vicinity of the winding unit 15, and the start / stop button 36 for starting and stopping the rotational drive of the winding shaft 33 and the operation state of the start / stop button 36 are changed. A status display unit 37 using LEDs or the like, and a winding direction display unit 38 that indicates a winding direction of the printing paper 3 with an arrow.
When the start / stop button 36 is pressed to perform the winding operation of the printing paper 3, the status display section 37 is lit, and when the winding is stopped, the status display section 37 blinks.
The winding direction display unit 38 displays the distinction between the reverse winding or the front winding of the printing paper 3. The printing paper 3 may be a continuous label or other tag paper that does not have a glue surface, but a plurality of label pieces 3B are temporarily attached on a strip-shaped mount 3A as illustrated in FIG. There is also a case of a label continuum. In the case of this label continuum, the case where the label piece 3B is wound as a roll on the winding shaft 33 (rewind core 34) on the inner side (back side) is wound on the outer side. The case of being wound around (front side) is called front winding.

    The power switch 17 is for turning on / off the power of the printing paper winding device 2. However, even when the power switch 17 is turned on, the drive motor 32 (drive unit) is not started, and the winding operation of the printing paper 3 is not started.

The winding control unit 18 is based on the detection signals from the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25, that is, based on which tension region R1, R2, R3, R4 the tension roller 13 is located. The take-up unit 15 and the operation unit 16 are driven and controlled, but the printing paper winding is not performed by the control signal from the printer control unit 8 (FIG. 1) in the printer 1, that is, independently of the printer control unit 8. The take-up device 2 is controlled.
The winding control unit 18 is provided with a timer 39, and the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25 detect that the tension roller 13 has entered each tension region R1, R2, R3, R4. (See FIG. 4), the timer 39 is started, and when it is detected that the tension areas R1, R2, R3, R4 are exited, the timer 39 is stopped and the respective tension areas R1, R2, R3, R4 are stopped. Can be measured, and in particular, the time during which the tension roller 13 is stopped in each tension region R1, R2, R3, R4 can be measured.

    In the printing paper take-up device 2 and the printer 1 having such a configuration, the printing paper take-up device 2 is mounted on the printer 1 in a posture, and the printing paper 3 discharged and extended from the printer 1 side is shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. In the state shown, the paper is wound around the first fixed guide roller 12, the tension roller 13 and the second fixed guide roller 14 of the printing paper winding device 2, and the leading end of the printing paper 3 is attached to the rewind core 34 of the winding shaft 33. The power switch 17 is turned on.

When the printing paper 3 is set in the winding path 21, when the entire printing paper 3 is slack and the tension roller 13 is at its lowest point (bottom dead center, first tension region R1), The winding control unit 18 confirms that the tension roller 13 is in the first tension region R1 at the start of winding the printing paper 3 around the winding shaft 33 (rewind core 34). In this state, the operator keeps pressing the start / stop button 36 and rotates the winding shaft 33 at a speed lower than the normal winding speed by the drive unit (drive motor 32) only while the signal is output. When the tension roller 13 reaches the fourth tension region R4 (more precisely, when the tension roller 13 reaches the boundary between the third tension region R3 and the fourth tension region R4), the winding shaft The winding of the printing paper 3 by 33 is temporarily stopped to set the initial setting state.
In addition, the normal winding speed in the printing paper winding device 2 is assumed to be faster than the transfer speed associated with the printing discharge of the printing paper 3 by the printer 1.
Furthermore, at the time of transition from the first tension region R1 to the second tension region R2 and the third tension region R3, the winding speed is increased so that the start-up operation and the winding operation can be performed quickly. Can do.

    Of course, depending on the initial setting operation of the operator, the tension roller 13 may be in a tension region other than the first tension region R1, but at this time as well, the winding control unit 18 is not While determining which tension region the roller 13 is in, and while the signal from the start / stop button 36 is being output, the winding shaft 33 is rotated at a lower speed than the normal winding speed, and the tension roller 13 When the ink reaches the fourth tension region R4, the winding of the printing paper 3 by the winding shaft 33 is temporarily stopped to set the initial setting state.

When the initial setting state is completed, the tension roller 13 is set in the fourth tension region R4. In this state, when the printer 1 is started and the printing paper 3 is discharged, the winding is performed. The direction of the second tension region R2 and the first tension region R1 from the fourth tension region R4 through the third tension region R3 while the tension roller 13 is in contact with the printing paper 3 with a predetermined tension in the path 21 And descends along the arcuate guide groove 22.
When the tension roller 13 is lowered and reaches the first tension region R1 (more precisely, when the boundary between the second tension region R2 and the first tension region R1 is reached), the winding is performed. The winding of the printing paper 3 by the take-up shaft 33 is resumed, and the tension roller 13 ascends along the arc-shaped guide groove 22 with this winding operation, and enters the second tension region R2 and the third tension region R3. Then, the winding reaches again the fourth tension region R4 and the winding is stopped. In this stopped state, the printer 1 waits for the printing paper 3 to be further discharged, and as the printing paper 3 is discharged, as described above, when the tension roller 13 reaches the first tension region R1. Rewinding is resumed.
By pressing the start / stop button 36 on the operation unit 16, the winding operation can be terminated at an arbitrary timing.

    In the normal winding operation, the first tension region R1 and the fourth tension region 13 are controlled by controlling the tension roller 13 to reciprocate between the second tension region R2 and the third tension region R3. The tension region R4 can be secured as a margin region.

    Thus, the operator can perform the winding operation of the initial set of the printing paper 3 at a lower speed than the normal winding speed only by continuously pressing the start / stop button 36 in the operation unit 16. During the setting operation, the rotation of the printing paper 3 can be started only by one's own intention, and the winding operation can be performed safely and reliably.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the printing issue end and winding end detection of the printing paper 3 according to the present invention.
First, in step S1, the winding control unit 18 determines that the tension roller 13 has a tension region other than the first tension region R1 (that is, the second tension region R2, the third tension region R3, or the fourth tension region R4). It is determined whether it is in any one).
In the process executed in the tension region other than the first tension region R1, the tension roller 13 rises from the first tension region R1 toward the fourth tension region R4, and the printing paper 3 is wound around the winding shaft 33. This is either the process of taking the print paper 3 or the process of issuing the print paper 3 from the printer 1 and descending from the fourth tension region R4 toward the first tension region R1.

When the tension roller 13 is in any one of the tension regions other than the first tension region R1, it is determined in step S2 whether a predetermined set time T has elapsed since entering the tension region.
The set time T is, for example, from the timing when the tension roller 13 is in the first tension region R1 and the drive motor 32 resumes the winding operation, and the tension roller 13 reaches the fourth tension region R4 and the drive motor. 32 is stopped, the winding operation is stopped, and the time until the print paper 3 issued from the printer 1 side waits for the print paper 3 to extend to the take-up path 21 or the printing of the print paper 3 is printed. A predetermined margin as an error range in the longer time of the time until the tension roller 13 descends from the fourth tension region R4 toward the first tension region R1 with the issue. The time of measurement by the timer 39 exceeds the set time T and the tension roller 13 is the first time. If in either of the tension region other than the tension regions R1 R2, R3, R4, since no more no supply of printing paper 3, it is determined that the printing issuance of the printing paper 3 is completed.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the start / stop button 36 has been pressed in a state where it is stopped in a certain tension region other than the first tension region R1.
If the start / stop button 36 is pressed, the drive motor 32 is reversed in step S4, and the outermost peripheral side of the printing paper 3 that has been wound up from the winding shaft 33 (rewind core 34) up to now is placed on the winding path 21. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the tension roller 13 has reached the first tension region R1.
When the first tension region R1 is reached, in step S6, the drive motor 32 is stopped to lower the tension roller 13 to the lowermost part of the first tension region R1, and in this state the printing paper is printed on the printer 1 side. Even if the end portion 3 is cut, since the tension roller 13 is already positioned at the lowermost portion in advance, the collision phenomenon can be avoided without the tension roller 13 dropping further.
Note that the determination of whether or not the start / stop button 36 has been pressed in step S3 is omitted, that is, without the operator pressing the start / stop button 36, the winding control unit 18 automatically performs the drive motor in step S4. Although it is possible to perform control so as to perform the reverse rotation of 32, it is preferable to perform the determination in step S3 when it is desirable to perform the winding end operation based on the operator's intention.

Thus, by confirming the stagnation state of the tension roller 13 within a predetermined set time T in any one of the tension regions other than the first tension region R1, that is, utilizing the conventionally-provided component called the tension roller 13 By doing this, it is possible to detect the end of printing issuance of the printing paper 3 in the printer 1 with a simple configuration and perform necessary processing.

1 is a schematic side view of a printing paper take-up device 2 and a printer 1 connected to the printing paper take-up device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view of the printing paper winding device 2. FIG. It is the side view seen from the surface on the opposite side to the surface where the tension roller 13 of 11 A of vertical wall surfaces is located. 3 is a chart showing a tension region where a tension roller 13 is determined based on detection signals from the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of each tension area | region similarly. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of detection of printing end and winding end detection of the printing paper 3 according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer (Figure 1)
2 Printing paper take-up device (Example, FIGS. 1 and 2)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Printing paper 3A Mount of printing paper 3 3B Label piece of printing paper 3 4 Printing paper 3 supply part 5 Detection part 6 Printing part 7 Cutting part 8 Printer control part 9 Thermal head 10 Platen roller 11 Printing paper winding device 2 Main unit (Figure 2)
11A Vertical wall surface portion 12 of the apparatus main body 11 First fixed guide roller 13 Tension roller 14 Second fixed guide roller 15 Winding portion 16 Operation portion 17 Power switch 18 Winding control portion 19 Roller rotating shaft 20 Roller arm 21 Printing Winding path 22 of paper 3 Arc-shaped guide groove 23 Sensor plate (FIG. 3)
24 first sensor 25 second sensor 26 first detection convex portion 27 second detection convex portion 28 first detection concave portion 29 second detection concave portion 30 third detection concave portion 31 tension spring (FIG. 1)
32 Drive motor (drive unit)
33 Winding shaft 34 Rewind core 35 Paper guide 36 Start / stop button (Fig. 2)
37 Status display section 38 Winding direction display section 39 Timer (FIG. 1)
R1 first tension region (FIGS. 3 and 5)
R2 Second tension region (FIGS. 3 and 5)
R3 Third tension region (FIGS. 3 and 5)
R4 Fourth tension region (FIGS. 3 and 5)
T Predetermined set time (Fig. 6)

Claims (3)

A take-up shaft for taking up the belt-shaped printing paper that has been printed by the printer;
A drive unit for rotationally driving the winding shaft;
A printing paper having a tension roller that comes into contact with the printing paper on the upstream side of the winding shaft and reciprocates in a predetermined tension region along with the winding of the printing paper to apply tension to the printing paper. A winding device,
A first sensor and a second sensor capable of detecting in which part of the tension region the tension roller is located;
Due to the output signals from the first sensor and the second sensor, the tension area where the tension roller is located is continuously adjacent to each other, and the winding path of the printing paper becomes the maximum length. A winding control unit that determines one of a first tension region, a second tension region, a third tension region, and a fourth tension region in which the winding path of the printing paper has a minimum length;
Have
The winding control unit
When it is detected that the tension roller is in a tension region other than the first tension region over a predetermined set time ,
A printing paper winding device , wherein the winding shaft is reversely rotated to rewind the printing paper from the winding shaft, and the tension roller is controlled to be movable to the first tension region.   The winding control unit
2. The printing according to claim 1, wherein, irrespective of the position of the tension roller, the winding shaft is rotated to wind up the printing paper, and the tension roller is controlled to be movable to the fourth tension region. Paper take-up device. A roller arm for holding the tension roller;
A roller rotation shaft that rotatably supports the roller arm and allows the tension roller to reciprocate in both forward and reverse directions so as to intersect the winding path;
A sensor plate that is rotatable about the roller rotation axis and alternately formed with detection convex portions and detection concave portions that can be detected by the first sensor and the second sensor;
The printing paper winding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that provided.

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