Paper ejection mechanism and paper ejection method

Abstract

To prevent paper from bending or creasing even if the paper receiving slot is blocked by an obstacle. [Solution] The paper discharge mechanism according to the present disclosure comprises a printer having a continuous sheet-like paper discharge port, a feed member including a lower member attached to the discharge port and located below the discharge port, and an upper member located above the discharge port and provided with a slit extending in the width direction of the paper, and a guide member including a lower guide plate arranged to extend from the lower member side and an upper guide plate arranged to extend from the upper member side, which guides the paper discharged from the discharge port along its longitudinal direction to the receiving port.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a paper discharge mechanism and a paper discharge method. [Background Art]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a paper discharge apparatus having a presenter mechanism that performs discharge processing for paper fed from a paper conveyance path on a printer main body side. Inside the presenter mechanism, a paper storage portion is formed by a space without a ceiling. A guide plate having a U-shaped cross section for curving paper is provided in the paper storage portion. When a paper jam occurs in the paper storage portion, the paper curves in the paper storage portion and jumps out toward the outside of the space. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-105764 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] When paper discharged from a discharge port of a printer collides with an obstacle such as a finger at a receiving port, the paper discharge is hindered, and a paper jam occurs. At this time, if the paper is guided from the discharge port to the receiving port by guide plates disposed above and below the paper at a predetermined interval, the paper may be curved in a wavy shape between the guide plates or wound around the paper discharge mechanism of the printer, resulting in bending of the paper.

[0005] In view of the above problem, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a paper discharge mechanism and a paper discharge method capable of preventing paper bending even when a paper receiving port is blocked by an obstacle. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] The paper ejection mechanism according to this disclosure includes a printer having an ejection port for continuous sheet-like paper; a feed member including a lower member attached to the ejection port and located below the ejection port, and an upper member located above the ejection port and provided with a slit extending in the width direction of the paper; and a guide member including a lower guide plate arranged to extend from the lower member side and an upper guide plate arranged to extend from the upper member side, which guides the paper ejected from the ejection port along its longitudinal direction to a receiving port.

[0007] The paper ejection method according to this disclosure involves transporting a continuous sheet of paper ejected from the ejection port of a printer through a feed member attached to the ejection port, between a lower member located below the ejection port and an upper member located above the ejection port and provided with a slit extending in the width direction of the paper, and guiding the paper to the receiving port with a guide member including a lower guide plate arranged to extend from the lower member side and an upper guide plate arranged to extend from the upper member side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to prevent the paper from bending even if the paper receiving slot is blocked by an obstacle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example configuration of an external unit in this disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows the door of the external unit in Figure 1 in the open position. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the external unit shown in Figure 1 with the door closed. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the feed member. [Figure 5] This figure shows the external device of the embodiment in a state where the receiving port is blocked by an obstacle. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a paper ejection method in this disclosure. [Figure 7]This figure shows the externally mounted machine in the comparative example, with the receiving port blocked by an obstacle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted where necessary for clarity.

[0011] This disclosure relates to a paper ejection mechanism for a printer. The paper ejection mechanism of this disclosure is applicable to printers built into or attached to POS (Point of Sales) terminal devices, such as external units at self-service gas stations. The printer prints on roll paper and outputs the printed roll paper as a receipt, ticket, etc. The following description will use an external unit used at a self-service gas station (service station) as an example.

[0012] Figure 1 shows an example configuration of the external unit 1. The external unit 1 is one of the devices that make up the gas station system. The external unit 1 is installed outdoors and is used for setting refueling conditions and payment methods for refueling charges, and for settling refueling charges.

[0013] The external unit 1 includes various devices housed within the casing 2, with a portion of it exposed to the outside. The external unit 1 may include, for example, a touch-panel display 3 and a printer 10. The touch-panel display 3 is used for setting refueling conditions, etc. The external unit 1 may also include a banknote handling device and a card reader device used for refueling payments.

[0014] The external unit 1 has several openings that open outwards. For example, the external unit 1 has a receipt receiving slot 11 for receipts sent from the printer 10 as one of its openings. The housing 2 comprises a main body 2A and a door 2B. The door 2B is provided to open and close relative to the main body 2A. Figure 2 shows the external unit 1 in Figure 1 with the door 2B open. As shown in Figure 2, a paper transport path 14 is provided in the door 2B, communicating from the back to the front of the door 2B to the receipt receiving slot 11.

[0015] The printer 10 prints the fuel charge settlement result on a continuous sheet of paper (hereinafter referred to as roll paper) and sends out the printed roll paper as a receipt. The printer 10 may be equipped with a printer control device, a printer mechanism, and a cutter mechanism (none of which are shown) for printing on the roll paper. The printer 10 is connected to a host computer installed at the gas station, for example.

[0016] The printer control unit is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, in order to coordinate with the host computer and perform various controls. The microprocessor (MPU), acting as the central processing unit, performs various controls and calculations according to the program, such as print control, paper transport control, paper cutting control, and paper ejection control.

[0017] The printer mechanism has a general configuration, including a paper transport mechanism, a printing mechanism, and a paper ejection mechanism, which are not shown in the diagram. The paper transport mechanism transports the roll paper to the printing mechanism. The paper transport mechanism drives a pair of drive rollers by rotating a motor in synchronization with the printing operation of the printing mechanism, for example. The roll paper is transported by the rotation of the drive rollers while being held between them.

[0018] The printing mechanism performs printing on the roll paper based on print data from a host computer. The printing mechanism has a general configuration including, for example, a print head and a platen. After printing is completed and a predetermined amount of roll paper is fed, the cutter mechanism cuts the roll paper. The cutter mechanism includes, for example, a cutter blade that slides in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the roll paper. The paper discharge mechanism conveys the printed roll paper to the discharge port 13. The conveyance path of the roll paper in the printer 10 is not particularly limited, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts in a state where the door 2B of the externally installed device 1 of Fig. 1 is closed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the feed member 12. The feed member 12 is attached to the discharge port 13. The feed member 12 guides the roll paper from the discharge port 13 of the printer 10 to the paper conveyance path 14 provided on the door 2B.

[0020] The feed member 12 includes a lower member 12A and an upper member 12B. The lower member 12A is positioned below the discharge port 13. The upper member 12B is positioned above the discharge port 13. In the example shown in Fig. 3, combining the lower member 12A and the upper member 12B forms a frame surrounding four sides of the discharge port 13. The roll paper is conveyed toward the paper conveyance path 14 through the inside of the frame surrounded by the lower member 12A and the upper member 12B.

[0021] The upper member 12B is provided with a slit 12C extending in the width direction of the conveyed roll paper. The slit 12C is an opening that penetrates the upper member 12B and communicates the roll paper conveyance path with the space inside the housing 2 where the printer 10 is disposed.

[0022] The paper conveyance path 14 is formed by a lower guide plate 14A and an upper guide plate 14B. The lower guide plate 14A is disposed so as to extend from the lower member 12A side. The upper guide plate 14B is disposed so as to extend from the upper member 12B side. The lower guide plate 14A and the upper guide plate 14B are guide members that guide the roll paper discharged from the discharge port 13 along the longitudinal direction of the roll paper to the receiving port 11.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the distance between the lower guide plate 14A and the upper guide plate 14B decreases as you move from the feed member 12 towards the receiving opening 11. In other words, the height of the paper transport path 14 for the roll paper narrows as you approach the receiving opening 11.

[0024] The user can obtain a receipt by grasping it with their hand as it is sent out from the receiving slot 11 after passing through the paper transport path 14. When the user grasps the receipt with their hand, they may accidentally block the receiving slot 11 with their hand. In this case, the receipt will not be ejected, and a paper jam will occur.

[0025] Figure 7 shows the external machine 1 of the comparative example, in which the receiving slot 11 is blocked by an obstacle 30 such as a user's finger. As shown in Figure 7, when the receiving slot 11 is blocked by an obstacle 30, the roll paper 20 bends in a wavy manner between the lower guide plate 14A and the upper guide plate 14B. In addition, the roll paper 20 jammed in the paper transport path 14 may get tangled in the printer 10's return direction or paper ejection mechanism, causing the paper to fold. As a result, it becomes impossible to provide the user with a receipt in good condition.

[0026] In contrast, in this embodiment, the upper member 12B is provided with a slit 12C that extends in the width direction of the conveyed roll paper. Figure 5 shows a state in the external machine 1 of the embodiment where the receiving opening 11 is blocked by an obstacle 30 such as a user's finger. As shown in Figure 5, when the receiving opening 11 is blocked by an obstacle 30, the roll paper 20 hits the obstacle 30 at the receiving opening 11, the roll paper 20 bends, and pops out of the slit 12C. The space through which the roll paper 20 pops out of the slit 12C is inside the housing 2. As a result, the roll paper 20 does not get jammed, and bending of the roll paper 20 and entanglement with the paper ejection mechanism of the printer 10 can be suppressed.

[0027] When the obstacle 30 is removed, the sag in the roll paper 20 is released, and the roll paper 20 is discharged from the receiving slot 11. This prevents the roll paper 20 from being folded or deformed, making it possible to hand over a clean receipt to the user. If the roll paper 20 does not come into contact with the obstacle 30 at the receiving slot 11, the roll paper 20 is discharged from between the lower guide plate 14A and the upper guide plate 14B.

[0028] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the paper discharge method of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 6, the roll paper 20 is discharged from the discharge port 13 of the printer 10 (step S1). The roll paper 20 is then transported through the space between the lower member 12A and the upper member 12B of the feed member 12 attached to the discharge port 13 (step S2). As described above, the upper member 12B is provided with a slit 12C that extends in the width direction of the roll paper 20.

[0029] If the roll of paper 20 hits an obstacle 30 at the receiving opening 11, the roll of paper 20 bends and pops out of the slit 12C into the interior of the housing 2 (step S3). Thus, according to this embodiment, even if the receiving opening 11 is blocked, the roll of paper 20 can be released into the interior of the external machine 1, making it possible to prevent paper jams.

[0030] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present disclosure can be made as understandable to those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate.

[0031] Each drawing is merely illustrative to illustrate one or more embodiments. Each drawing may be associated with one or more other embodiments rather than with only one specific embodiment. As those skilled in the art will understand, various features or steps described with reference to any one drawing can be combined with features or steps shown in one or more other drawings, for example, to create embodiments not explicitly shown or described. Not all features or steps shown in any one drawing to illustrate an exemplary embodiment are necessarily required, and some features or steps may be omitted. The order of steps shown in any of the drawings may be changed as appropriate.

[0032] Some or all of the above embodiments may also be described as follows, but are not limited to the following: (Note 1) A printer having a continuous sheet-like paper output port, A feed member comprising a lower member attached to the discharge port and located below the discharge port, and an upper member located above the discharge port and provided with a slit extending in the width direction of the paper, The device includes a guide member comprising a lower guide plate positioned to extend from the lower member side and an upper guide plate positioned to extend from the upper member side, which guides the paper discharged from the discharge port along its longitudinal direction to the receiving port. Paper ejection mechanism. (Note 2) The distance between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate decreases as you move from the feed member side towards the receiving port side. The paper ejection mechanism described in Appendix 1. (Note 3) If the paper does not encounter an obstacle at the receiving opening, it is ejected from between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate. If the paper hits the obstacle at the receiving opening, it will bend and fly out of the slit. The paper ejection mechanism described in Appendix 1. (Note 4) A continuous sheet of paper discharged from the printer's output port is transported through a feed member attached to the output port, passing between a lower member located below the output port and an upper member located above the output port, which is provided with a slit extending in the width direction of the paper. A guide member including a lower guide plate positioned to extend from the lower member side and an upper guide plate positioned to extend from the upper member side, guides the paper to the receiving slot. Paper ejection method. (Note 5) The distance between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate decreases as you move from the feed member toward the receiving port. The paper ejection method described in Appendix 4. (Note 6) If the paper does not encounter an obstacle at the receiving opening, it is ejected from between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate. If the paper hits the obstacle at the receiving opening, it will bend and fly out of the slit. The paper ejection method described in Appendix 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 External equipment 2 cabinets 2A Main body 2B Door 3. Touchscreen display 10 Printers 11 Receiving slot 12 Feed member 12A Lower part 12B Upper member 12C Slit 14. Paper transport path 14A Lower guide plate 14B Upper guide plate 13 Outlet 20 rolls of paper 30 Obstacles

Claims

1. A printer having a continuous sheet-like paper output port, A feed member comprising a lower member attached to the discharge port and located below the discharge port, and an upper member located above the discharge port and provided with a slit extending in the width direction of the paper, The device includes a guide member comprising a lower guide plate positioned to extend from the lower member side and an upper guide plate positioned to extend from the upper member side, which guides the paper discharged from the discharge port along its longitudinal direction to the receiving port. Paper ejection mechanism.

2. The distance between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate decreases as you move from the feed member side towards the receiving port side. The paper ejection mechanism according to claim 1.

3. If the paper does not encounter an obstacle at the receiving opening, it is ejected from between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate. If the paper hits the obstacle at the receiving opening, it will bend and fly out of the slit. The paper ejection mechanism according to claim 1.

4. A continuous sheet of paper discharged from the printer's output port is transported through a feed member attached to the output port, passing between a lower member located below the output port and an upper member located above the output port, which is provided with a slit extending in the width direction of the paper. A guide member including a lower guide plate positioned to extend from the lower member side and an upper guide plate positioned to extend from the upper member side, guides the paper to the receiving slot. Paper ejection method.

5. The distance between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate decreases as you move from the feed member toward the receiving port. The paper ejection method according to claim 4.

6. If the paper does not encounter an obstacle at the receiving opening, it is ejected from between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate. If the paper hits the obstacle at the receiving opening, it will bend and fly out of the slit. The paper ejection method according to claim 4.

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