JPH11278727A - Method and device for discharging printing paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for discharging printing paper capable of preventing the generation of paper jam while forming a constant deflection of the paper at the time of storing the paper independently of a length limitation of the printing paper. SOLUTION: When a printing paper arrives at the inlet side of a discharge port 8, the printing paper is stored there, and the printing paper is continuously carried from a printer unit so as to store the printing paper under a paper guide passage 6 in the condition that the paper is deflected. With this structure, even in the case where stiffness of the printing paper is lowered, the loop-like deflection is beautifully formed at the time of storing the printing paper so as to reduce the generation of troubles such as paper jam at the time of discharging the paper. Furthermore, any printing paper having various length can be used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer paper discharging method and apparatus for discharging print paper such as printed receipts and tickets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a device for discharging printed sheets such as printed receipts and tickets, if the recipient presses the receipt discharge port with a finger or the like while the print paper is being discharged, the print paper is discharged from the discharge port. In some cases, paper jam occurred due to folding. Therefore, in order to prevent a paper jam at the time of printing and discharging the print paper, the paper is bent upward in a loop shape and held on the discharge printer paper transport path in the apparatus until the end of printing and paper cutting, and printing is conventionally performed. The printing paper is discharged in a lump after completion. As shown in FIG. 7, a notch 6 'is formed in a part of the upper part of the printing paper guide path as an apparatus, from which the paper 11 is released upward. The paper was retained by forming a loop-like deflection.

An example of a paper discharge device having such a print paper holding mechanism is disclosed as a "paper discharge device" in JP-A-8-73095 and JP-A-9-208095.

[0004]

Although the problem of paper jam due to the mistake of the recipient has been reduced by adopting the printing paper batch discharging method after printing, the printing paper may be placed in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, or the paper type may be reduced. If the quality of the paper changes and the paper stiffness is reduced, the deflection caused by holding the paper will cause the loops to be formed neatly under the influence of gravity, causing the paper to be ejected in a folded state when ejected. There was a problem that it was easy to do.

[0005] Further, since the use of the bending of the paper, even when the paper becomes long, the loop is crushed by its own weight, causing a paper jam. Therefore, there is a restriction on the printable length.

According to the present invention, by providing a sheet holding space below the sheet conveying path, the influence of gravity is not used as a negative factor but is used in reverse. It is possible to form deflection,
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for discharging printer paper in which paper jam is unlikely to occur. Further, by using the paper holding space, it is possible to collect the printing paper when the printing paper is not received.

[0007]

The present invention employs the following means to solve the above-mentioned problems. In other words, the print paper discharging method according to the first invention of the present application holds the print paper when the print paper reaches the discharge inlet side, and continuously transports the print paper from the printer unit. This is a method in which the print paper is deflected below the paper guide path and held.

According to this method, even if the stiffness of the printing paper is lowered, a loop-shaped flexure can be formed cleanly when the printing paper is held until the paper is discharged, and the trouble of paper jam at the time of discharging can be reduced. Further, the restriction on the length of the print paper can be released.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print sheet discharging method according to the first aspect, in which the print sheet is cut when printing is completed, and the print sheet is stopped at the discharge inlet side and discharged. The sheet is conveyed to the exit, and the end of the discharged print sheet is held by the sheet conveying means on the entrance side of the exit. As a result, it is possible to wait for receiving at the discharge port without dropping the print sheet at the time of discharge.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, when the print sheet is not received, the holding is completed and the print sheet is conveyed to the inside of the print sheet discharge device. The print paper down and store it. With this method, the print paper can be collected when the print paper is not received, and the next print paper can be provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print sheet discharging device provided in a printer section for transferring print sheets, and a sheet transfer section provided on a discharge port entrance side capable of holding print sheets. Means, a paper guide path capable of guiding a print sheet from the printer section to the discharge port entrance side, and an openable lower side; a sheet holding space for bending and holding the print sheet below the sheet guide path; and a print sheet. When the paper reaches the outlet, the print paper is held at the outlet inlet side, the lower side of the paper guide path is opened, and the print paper is continuously transported from the printer unit to the lower paper storage space. And a control means for causing the sheet to be deflected and held.

With this apparatus, even if the stiffness of the printing paper is lowered, a loop-shaped flexure can be formed cleanly when the printing paper is held until the paper is discharged, and the trouble of paper jam at the time of discharging can be reduced. Further, the restriction on the length of the print paper can be released.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing paper discharge device according to the fourth invention, wherein the cutting means is provided on the printer exit side for cutting the printing paper, and the printing paper is cut when the printing is completed. Control means for terminating the printing paper at the outlet entrance side, terminating the holding of the print paper, transporting the print paper to the outlet side, and holding the end of the discharged print paper at the paper entrance means at the outlet entrance side. It is characterized by the following. With this apparatus, it is possible to wait for receiving at the discharge port without the print sheet falling down during discharge.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print sheet discharging apparatus according to the fifth aspect, further comprising: a sheet collection box provided at a lower portion of the sheet holding space; and a printer which terminates the holding when the print sheet is not received. A control to convey the print paper to the inside of the print paper discharge device by the paper conveyance means on the inlet side of the discharge outlet, open the lower side of the paper guide path, drop the print paper downward, and store it in the paper collection box. Means. With this device, the print paper can be collected when the print paper is not received, and the next print paper can be provided.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a print sheet discharging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The configuration of the print sheet discharging device will be described with reference to FIG. The printing paper discharging apparatus according to the present embodiment presses a platen 2 by a spring 1a to apply a necessary tension force to the paper at the time of printing or line feed, and a drive transmission unit 2b, a gear 2c, and a drive transmission unit 2d. A printer unit which also includes a platen 2 connected to a motor 2a and also serves as a sheet transporter; a cutter mechanism 3; an upper pressing roller 4 for pressing a lower driving roller 5 by a spring 4a; a motor 5a to a drive transmitting unit 5b; 5c, a clutch mechanism 5d, a drive force is transmitted via a drive transmission unit 5e, and a discharge port entrance-side paper conveyance means including a lower drive roller 5 which rotates by rotation; an upper paper guide path 6;
a through a worm gear 7b and a drive transmission portion 7c, a lower paper guide path 7 that can be opened and closed by rotating about a fulcrum 7d, a print paper discharge port 8, and a paper collection box 9 And a control device 10 for controlling the entire system.

Next, the operation of the print sheet discharging device will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing paper 11 in the printing unit is sandwiched between the thermal head 1 and the platen 2 at a constant pressure by the spring 1a, and the driving force of the motor 2a is transmitted by the driving transmission unit 2b, the gear 2c, The print paper 11 is conveyed by the rotation of the platen 2 transmitted through the drive transmission unit 2d, and guided between the upper paper guide path 6 and the lower paper guide path 7 toward the discharge port 8. At the same time, the print paper 11 is printed by the thermal head 1 and the platen 2. The lower drive roller 5 from the start of printing on the print paper 11 is driven by the motor 5a to the drive transmission unit 5b, the worm gear 5c, the clutch mechanism 5
d, which is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the transmission of the driving force via the drive transmission section 5e, and the motor is rotated immediately after the leading end 11a of the printing paper passes between the lower driving roller 5 and the upper pressing roller 4. When the drive 5a stops driving, the lower drive roller 5 stops rotating, and the spring 4
By pressing the upper pressing roller 4 in the direction of the lower driving roller 5 by a, the printing paper 11 is fixed in a form sandwiched therebetween. At this time, the print paper tip 11
The arrival of “a” between the lower drive roller 5 and the upper pressing roller 4 is detected by a change in the pressure of the spring 4a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when the leading end 11a of the printing paper is fixed between the lower driving roller 5 and the upper pressing roller 4, the driving force of the motor 7a is reduced.
b, the lower paper guide path 7 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 with reference to the fulcrum 7d transmitted through the drive transmitting section 7c, thereby opening the guide path downward. At this time, printing and conveyance of the printing paper 11 in the printing section are continued, and the lower paper guide path 7 is opened downward for the length after the printing paper front end 11a is fixed. The space is deflected and held. Then, when the portion of the print paper 11 where the printing is completed passes the cutter mechanism 3, the print paper 11 is cut by the cutter mechanism 3.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, when the motor 5a starts driving, the lower drive roller 5 starts rotating counterclockwise in FIG. 4, and the cut print paper 11 is discharged from the discharge port 8 to the outside of the apparatus. Convey and discharge. At this time, the clutch mechanism 5d is set to run idle when a certain torque is applied, and if the end user receiving the print paper 11 presses the discharge port 8 with a finger or the like, the print paper 11, the clutch mechanism 5d is idled by the torque transmitted via the lower drive roller 5 and the drive transmission section 5e, and the lower drive roller does not rotate, so that a paper jam is prevented.

When the printing paper 11 is discharged smoothly, the motor 5a stops driving immediately before the end of the printing paper 11b passes between the lower driving roller 5 and the upper pressing roller 4, whereby the lower driving roller 5 is stopped. Stops the rotation, and the upper press roller 4 is pressed in the direction of the lower drive roller 5 by the spring 4a, so that the print paper end 11
b is fixed so as to be sandwiched therebetween. At this time, the end of the print paper 11b is fixed at such a pressure that the end user can receive the print paper 11 without breaking it by pinching and pulling the print paper 11 with the end user. The position of the print paper end 11b is calculated and determined from the relationship between the printed length and the drive distance of the lower drive roller after the start of discharge.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, after a certain period of time has elapsed from the completion of the ejection of the print paper, for example, when the end user has forgotten to receive the print paper, the drive of the motor 5a starts the lower drive roller 5 in FIG. The printing paper 11 which has been started to rotate clockwise and has been waiting for discharge is conveyed into the apparatus, and the leading end 11a of the printing paper is passed between the upper holding roller 4 and the lower driving roller 5, so that the printing paper 11 is forgotten. The print paper 11 is collected in the paper collection box 9. Thereafter, the motor 7a starts to be driven, and the lower paper guide path 7 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5 with reference to the fulcrum 7d, whereby the lower opening is closed and the next print paper 11 can be discharged. .

As shown in FIG. 6, a method in which the lower paper guide path 7 'is opened downward by sliding in the print paper transport direction is also possible. In addition, when plain paper is used other than the thermal printer using thermal paper as a printing method, printing is performed by using a colored medium such as an ink ribbon, and when pressure-sensitive paper is used, printing can be performed by a dot impact method. It is possible.

[0022]

According to the printing paper discharging method of the first aspect, even if the stiffness of the printing paper is lowered, it is possible to form a loop-shaped flexure when holding the printing paper until discharging. Trouble of paper jam at the time of discharge can be reduced. Further, the restriction on the length of the print paper can be released.

According to the printing paper discharging method of the present invention, it is possible to wait for receiving at the discharge port without the printing paper falling down at the time of discharging.

According to the printing paper discharging method of the third aspect, the printing paper can be collected when the printing paper is not received, and the next printing paper can be provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even when the stiffness of the printing paper is lowered, a loop-shaped flexure can be formed cleanly when the printing paper is held until the paper is discharged. Paper jam trouble can be reduced. Further, the restriction on the length of the print paper can be released.

According to the printing paper discharge device of the present invention, it is possible to wait for receiving at the discharge port without the printing paper falling down when discharging.

According to the printing paper discharge device of the sixth aspect, the printing paper can be collected when the printing paper is not received, and the next printing paper can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a printer paper discharge device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which print paper reaches a paper discharge opening entrance side in the first embodiment of the printer paper discharge device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which print paper is held below the paper guide path in the first embodiment of the printer paper discharge device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating a state in which print paper is discharged from a paper discharge port in the first embodiment of the printer paper discharge device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which print paper is collected in a paper collection box in the first embodiment of the printer paper discharge device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the printer paper discharge device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a conventional printer paper discharge device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal head 1a Spring 2 Platen 2a Motor 2b Drive transmitting part 2c Gear 2d Drive transmitting part 3 Cutter mechanism 4 Upper pressing roller 4a Spring 5 Lower driving roller 5a Motor 5b Drive transmitting part 5c Worm gear 5d Clutch mechanism 5e Drive transmitting part 6 Upper Paper guide path 6 'Cutout portion of upper paper guide path 7 Lower paper guide path 7a Motor 7b Worm gear 7c Drive transmission section 7d Support point 7' Lower paper guide path 8 Print paper discharge port 9 Paper collection box 10 Control circuit 11 Print paper 11a Paper end 11b Paper end

Claims (6)

[Claims] When the print paper arrives at the discharge inlet, the print paper is held there and continuously fed from the printer unit so that the print paper is located below the paper guide path. A printer paper discharging method, wherein the printer paper is bent and held. 2. When the printing is completed, the printing paper is cut, the holding of the printing paper is finished at the discharge inlet side, and the print paper is conveyed to the discharge opening. 2. The print sheet discharging method according to claim 1, wherein the print sheet is held by the sheet conveying means. 3. When the print sheet is not received, the holding is terminated, the print sheet is conveyed into a print sheet ejection device, and the print sheet is dropped and stored. 2. The printing paper discharging method according to 2. 4. A paper transport means provided in a printer section for transporting print paper, a paper transport means provided on a discharge port entrance side capable of holding print paper, and a print paper from a printer section to a discharge port entrance side. A paper guide path that can be opened at the lower side that guides to the paper guide, a paper holding space that holds print paper under the paper guide path and holds it, and an exit entrance side when print paper reaches the exit Control means for holding the print paper at the same time, opening the lower side of the paper guide path, and continuously transporting the print paper from the printer unit to bend and hold the lower paper storage space. A printer paper discharge device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. A cutting means provided on the printer output side for cutting print paper, and when the printing is completed, the print paper is cut by the cutting means, and the holding of the print paper is terminated at the discharge inlet side. 5. The print paper discharge device according to claim 4, further comprising control means for conveying the discharged print paper to the discharge outlet, and holding the end of the discharged print paper by a paper transfer means on the inlet side of the discharge outlet. 6. A paper collection box provided in a lower portion of the paper holding space, and when the print paper is not received, the holding is completed and the print paper is discharged by a paper transport means on the side of an outlet. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a control unit that conveys the printing paper inside, opens a lower side of the paper guide path, drops the printing paper downward, and stores the printing paper in the paper collection box. Paper ejection device.