JP5101674B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to, for example, a printing apparatus mounted on an automatic teller machine, and more particularly, to a structure of a storage unit that temporarily stores a plurality of printed sheets in a stacked state.

  In this type of printing apparatus, there is a printing apparatus that transports a sheet along a transport path, prints transaction information on the sheet by a printing unit, and then discharges the printed sheet to a discharge unit to be received by a customer.

  In addition, a plurality of sheets of paper may be printed continuously. In this case, in order to make it easier for customers to receive the sheets, the plurality of printed sheets are temporarily stored in the storage unit in a stacked state. After that, it is taken out from the storage portion in a lump and discharged to the discharge portion.

JP 2007-156406 A

  However, in the past, the printed paper was dropped into the storage unit by its own weight and stored vertically. Therefore, the storage unit requires a vertical space at least as long as the length of the paper. There was a problem that would become larger.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the embodiment is arranged in a substantially horizontal state and in an opposed state on a printing unit that prints out a sheet after printing on the sheet and on a sheet feeding side of the printing unit. In a state where the pair of conveying members and the pair of conveying members are moved away from each other, the printed sheets are sequentially received and overlapped between the pair of conveying members. housed in a state, after the storage, and a control means for controlling so as to discharge by holding and conveying the sheet of the superposed state by the pair of conveying members, wherein the control unit, the paper mentioned above discharged If left unattended, the pair of conveying members sandwich and convey in the direction opposite to that during ejection and take in .

1 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. The side view which shows the printing apparatus of FIG. The side view which expands and shows the accommodating part of FIG. The perspective view which shows the lower conveyance block provided in the accommodating part of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the stopper block of FIG. 4 is moved downstream in the paper conveyance direction. The perspective view which shows the state by which the stopper of FIG. 5 was fallen horizontally. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the stopper of FIG. 5 is erected vertically. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the lower conveyance belt of FIG. 3 is separated downward from the upper conveyance belt to store paper. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the lower conveyance belt in FIG. 9 moves upward after storing the paper, and the storage paper is nipped and conveyed by the upper conveyance belt to be discharged. The figure which shows the state which collect | recovers the paper discharged | emitted in FIG. The block diagram which shows the drive system of the paper stopper block which is other embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus mounted in an automatic teller machine according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing an internal configuration thereof.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body, and a paper loading section 54 for loading a fanfold thermal paper 52 as a paper is provided on one side of the apparatus main body 1. The fanfold heat sensitive paper 52 is taken out from the paper loading section 54, passed over the supply reel 55, and supplied to the printer engine 1a. The printer engine 1 a is provided with a thermal head 3 constituting a printing unit, and the thermal head 3 is provided with a platen 2 via a main conveyance path 56. The thermal head 3 is pressed against the platen 2 by a head spring 4. The fanfold thermal paper 52 is nipped and conveyed between the platen 2 and the thermal head 3 for printing.

  A cutter 5 for cutting the printed paper 52 is provided on the downstream side of the thermal head 3.

  A paper storage portion 58 for storing the cut paper is provided on the downstream side of the cutter 5. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3, the sheet storage portion 58 is configured by upper and lower transport belts 9 and 12 that are substantially in the horizontal direction and are opposed to each other with the transport path 6 therebetween. The conveyance path 6 is connected to the main conveyance path 56 described above.

  The upper conveyor belt 9 is stretched between the upper drive pulley 7 and the upper idler pulley 8. The lower conveyor belt 12 is stretched between the lower drive pulley 10 and the lower idler pulley 11. The upper drive pulley 7 and the lower drive pulley 10 are driven by a first drive motor 13.

  A first pinch roller 14 and a second pinch roller 15 are disposed on the upstream side of the upper conveyance belt 9. Further, a flapper 17 is provided upstream of the first and second pinch rollers 14 and 15. The flapper 17 guides the reversely fed paper from the transport path 6 of the paper storage unit 58 to the collection transport path 16 as will be described later. The flapper 17 is biased so that the downstream end is lifted by its own weight or a weak spring force.

  A drive roller 19 having a one-way clutch and a third pinch roller 21 biased by a spring are disposed on the introduction side of the collection transport path 16. On the discharge side of the collection transport path 16, a collection box 22 for collecting sheets is provided.

  The lower drive pulley 10 and the lower idler pulley 11 are pivotally supported on the frames 23 and 24 as shown in FIG. The frames 23 and 24 are connected via a central stay 25 to form a lower transport block 26.

  A paper stopper block 42 as shown in FIG. 6 is mounted on the lower transport block 26 so as to be slidable along the paper transport direction. The paper stopper block 42 includes a stopper frame 44, and a drive motor 45 is mounted on the stopper frame 44.

  A worm 73 is attached to the drive motor 45, and a worm wheel 74 is engaged with the worm 73. The boss part 74 a of the worm wheel 74 is inserted into a long hole 68 a formed in the middle part of the rotating arm 68. The rotation arm 68 has a base end portion supported by a support shaft 69 so as to be rotatable.

  Further, a link arm 70 is attached to the rotating arm 68, and the link arm 70 is connected to a stopper shaft arm 71 via a link arm shaft 72.

The stopper shaft arm 71 is fixed to the stopper shaft 46 with screws or the like (not shown). Stoppers 47 are respectively provided on both sides of the stopper shaft 46.

  Further, first and second sensors 51a and 51b for detecting the stopper position are disposed in the turning locus of the tip of the turning arm 68. When the first sensor 51 a detects the tip of the rotating arm 68, it is determined that the stopper 47 is in the open position (substantially horizontal state), and the second sensor 51 b detects the tip of the rotating arm 68. By doing so, it is determined that the stopper 47 is in the paper stopper position (substantially vertical state).

  The paper stopper block 42 is provided with a fixing screw 43. By loosening the fixing screw 43, the paper stopper block 42 can be moved in the paper transport direction according to the paper size. It is fixed to the block 26.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a downstream cam mechanism 60 is provided on the downstream side of the lower conveyance block 26, and an upstream cam mechanism 61 is provided on the upstream side.

  The downstream cam mechanism 60 includes a front arm 30 and a front cam 31 that rotates the front arm 30 in the vertical direction about the fulcrum shaft 29. The fulcrum shaft 29 is attached between the left and right main frames 27 and 28. The front cam 31 is rotationally driven by a front cam drive shaft 32. Note that the downstream side of the lower transport block 26 is biased downward by a spring 33.

  The upstream cam mechanism 61 includes a rear cam 34 that is rotated by the rear cam drive shaft 35. The front cam drive shaft 32 and the rear cam drive shaft 35 described above are driven by a second drive motor 36.

  A first paper guide 37 that rotates around a guide fulcrum shaft 53 located on the most downstream side is provided on the upper side of the lower transport block 26.

Further, a second paper guide 38 is provided on the lower side of the upper drive pulley 7, and a third paper guide 39 is provided on the upper side of the first pinch roller 14 and the second pinch roller 15. In addition, a fourth paper guide 40 is provided on the lower side of the upper idler pulley 8, and a fifth paper guide 41 is provided on the upper side of the lower drive pulley 10.

  The second paper guide 38 and the third paper guide 39 are provided with a first paper detection sensor 48, and the fourth paper guide 40 and the fifth paper guide 41 are provided with a second paper detection sensor 49. Is provided.

  The main frame 27 is provided with a rear cam position detection sensor 50 that detects the position of the rear cam 34.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a drive control system of the printer.

  In the figure, reference numeral 62 denotes a control unit as control means. The control unit 62 includes the host PC 67, the first paper detection sensor 48, the second paper detection sensor 49, the rear cam detection sensor 50, and the stopper position. The detection sensors 51a and 51b are connected via a signal circuit. The control unit 62 is connected to the printer engine 1a, the first drive motor 13, the second drive motor 36, and the third drive motor 45 through a control circuit.

  Next, the storage operation of the printed paper will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 9 to 11.

  In the standby state before printing, as shown in FIG. 3, the paper stopper block 42 is fixed to the lower conveyance block 26 by a fixing screw 43 at a position of a predetermined paper length, and the stopper 47 is brought down to a horizontal state. Is open. The lower transport block 26 is set at the upper position.

  When a print instruction is transmitted from the host PC from this state, printing is performed by the printer engine 1a, and the first drive motor 13 and the upper drive pulley 7 and the lower drive pulley 10 are rotated. By this rotation, the upper conveyor belt 9 and the lower conveyor belt 12 travel.

  The leading edge of the sheet sent out from the printer engine 1a is inserted into the gap between the paper guide 38 and the flapper 17, and is sandwiched between the upper conveying belt 9 and the first and second pinch rollers 14 and 15 to be stored in the sheet storage portion 58. It is transported toward the transport path 6.

  When the first paper detection sensor 48 detects the leading edge of the paper, the second drive motor 36 rotates and the front cam 31 and the rear cam 34 rotate 180 degrees. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the lower transport block 26 is moved to the lower position, and the third drive motor 45 of the paper stopper block 42 is rotated to bring the stopper 47 upright.

  When the printing is completed, the paper conveyance by the printer engine 1a and the first drive motor 13 is once stopped, and the paper is cut by the cutter 5. The cut first sheet is conveyed again by the rotation of the first drive motor 13. The leading edge of the sheet comes into contact with the stopper 47 and the trailing edge of the sheet falls from the third paper guide 39 and stops on the first paper guide 37.

  At this time, the upper conveyor belt 9 and the lower conveyor belt 12 continue to run, but the upper conveyor belt 9 does not come into contact with the sheet because the sheet is placed on the first paper guide 37. When the lower transport block 26 is in the upper position, the lower transport belt 12 protrudes upward from the first paper guide 37. However, when the lower transport block 26 is in the lower position, as shown in FIG. The lower conveying belt 12 is recessed below the first paper guide 37 and therefore does not contact the paper.

  Further, the printed second sheet is stacked on the first sheet on the first paper guide 37 in the same manner as the first sheet while the lower transport block 26 is positioned below. Then, after the printing instruction is completed for n sheets and the nth sheet is overlaid on the first paper guide 37, the second drive motor 36 rotates. By this rotation, the front cam 31 and the rear cam 34 are rotated 180 degrees again, and the lower transport block 26 is moved to the upper position as shown in FIG. Thus, the n sheet bundles 52a are sandwiched between the upper and lower transport belts 9 and 12. At this time, the third drive motor 45 of the paper stopper block 42 is rotated to release the stopper 47 in a substantially horizontal state.

  From this state, the first drive motor 13 is rotated, the upper drive pulley 7 and the lower drive pulley 10 are rotated, and the upper conveyor belt 9 and the lower conveyor belt 12 are run. As a result, the n stacked sheet bundles 52 a are transported downstream while being sandwiched between the upper transport belt 9 and the lower transport belt 12.

  When the second sheet detection sensor 49 detects the leading edge of the sheet bundle 52a, it passes through the gap between the third paper guide 39 and the fourth paper guide 40 as shown in FIG. After the leading edge of the paper is ejected from the exit, the first drive motor 13 is stopped and the conveyance is stopped.

  Usually, the user pulls out the n stacked sheet bundles 52a to complete one operation.

  Here, if the user does not pull out the n stacked sheet bundles 52a even if the predetermined time has passed, the first drive motor 13 rotates in the reverse direction. As a result, the upper drive pulley 7 and the lower drive pulley 10 rotate in the reverse direction, and the upper transport belt 9 and the lower transport belt 12 travel in the reverse direction from the downstream side to the upstream side. As a result of this travel, the n stacked sheet bundles 52 a are conveyed upstream while being sandwiched between the upper conveyance belt 9 and the lower conveyance belt 12. When the first sheet detection sensor 48 detects the trailing edge of the sheet bundle and the trailing edge of the sheet bundle enters the gap between the flapper 17 and the third paper guide 39, as shown in FIG. It is conveyed by the third pinch roller 21 and collected in the collection box 22.

  After the first sheet detection sensor 48 detects the trailing edge of the sheet, the first drive motor 13 rotates in the reverse direction by a preset length necessary for all the sheets to enter the collection chamber 22 and stops.

  On the other hand, when the size of the paper to be printed is changed, the position of the paper stopper block 42 is adjusted and changed according to the paper size.

  At this time, the operator loosens the fixing screw 43 and then moves the paper stopper block 42 to a predetermined position. After that, the fixing screw 43 is tightened to fix the paper stopper block 42. Next, the third drive motor 45 of the paper stopper block 42 is rotated to raise the stopper 47 in a substantially vertical state as shown in FIG. As a result, the conveyed paper comes into contact with the stopper 47 and is stopped at a predetermined position and stored.

  According to this embodiment, since the paper storage unit 58 is configured by the upper and lower transport belts 9 and 12 that are substantially along the horizontal direction and are opposed to each other via the transport path 6, the height dimension of the paper storage unit is set. The paper discharge mechanism can be realized with a small height space.

  In addition, since the position of the sheet stopper block 42 can be changed along the sheet conveyance direction, sheets of various sizes can be stopped and stored at predetermined positions.

  Furthermore, since the collection | recovery store | warehouse | chamber 22 is arrange | positioned under the paper storage part 58, a space can be utilized effectively.

  Further, even when a sheet bundle stacked on the first paper guide 37 causes a sheet jam, it can be removed from the gap of the upper conveyance belt 9.

  In the above-described embodiment, the position of the paper stopper block 42 is manually adjusted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position of the paper stopper block 42 may be automatically adjusted.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a drive mechanism 66 for moving the paper stopper block 42 is provided, and the CPU 65 receives the paper size from the display 64 of the automatic teller machine based on the inputted information. Thus, the drive mechanism 66 may be operated to move the paper stopper block 42 to a predetermined position. This embodiment also has the same effect as the above-described embodiment.

  The above-described embodiment is presented as an example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Thermal head (printing part), 9 ... Upper side conveying belt (conveying member), 12 ... Lower side conveying belt (conveying member), 22 ... Collection box (collecting part), 42 ... Stopper block (stopping means), 52 ... paper, 58 ... paper storage unit, 62 ... control means.

Claims (4)

After printing on paper, a printing unit that sends out the paper;
A paper storage unit having a pair of conveying members arranged in a substantially horizontal state and in an opposed state on the paper delivery side of the printing unit;
In a state where the pair of transport members are moved away from each other, the printed sheets are sequentially received between the pair of transport members and stored in a stacked state. Control means for controlling to sandwich and convey and discharge the stacked sheets ,
When the discharged sheet is left unattended, the control unit sandwiches and conveys the sheet by the pair of conveying members in a direction opposite to that during discharge .   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stopping unit that is provided in the paper storage unit and stops the paper conveyed between the pair of conveying members by contacting the paper.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the stopping unit is movably provided along a conveyance direction of the paper and is moved to a position corresponding to the size of the paper. Printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a recovery unit for recovering the sheet to be captured.

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