Transaction machine with pivotally inverted guide mechanism

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transaction machine with a pivotally flipping guide mechanism, comprising: a feeding mechanism; first to third passages; an image processing unit located at the first passage, wherein a first side of a medium is processed by the image processing unit for a first time, and then the medium is fed by the feeding mechanism to the second passage, the feeding mechanism feeds the medium processed for the first time partially out of the second passage, and then feeds the medium back into the second passage to enter the third passage, and then the medium enters the first passage from the third passage, so that a second side of the medium is processed by the image processing unit for a second time; and a guide assembly rotatably arranged at a communication position of the third passage, the second passage and the first passage, and maintaining a forward path of the first passage to the second passage in a normally closed state, and a reverse path of the second passage to the third passage in a normally open state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a transaction machine, and more particularly to a transaction machine with a pivoting flipping guide mechanism. BACKGROUND

[0002] Nowadays, when a laser printer performs double-sided printing, the document needs to be flipped at least twice to maintain the order of the printed document. For example, after printing the first side of the document, the document needs to be temporarily fed out, then enters a flipping channel, and after the first flip, the second side of the document is printed, and then the document can be fed out to the output tray. If the document is to be temporarily fed out of the channel and then enter the flipping channel, the intersection of the three sub-channels needs to be designed to avoid misoperation, so the intersection of the three sub-channels needs to occupy a considerable volume to avoid the document entering the wrong sub-channel. Alternatively, an actively driven guide mechanism is needed to actively guide the document into the correct sub-channel.

[0003] The above-mentioned guide mechanism needs an additional driving mechanism to perform active control, or needs a larger space to design the intersection of the sub-channels, making the printer high in cost and large in size, which is not conducive to the current demand for low cost and thin and small size. SUMMARY

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a transaction machine with a pivoting flipping guide mechanism, which can achieve the advantages of reducing cost and size by using a pivoting flipping guide mechanism.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transaction machine with a pivoting flipping guide mechanism, comprising: a feeding mechanism; a first channel; an image processing unit located on the first channel; a second channel communicating with the first channel, wherein the first side of the medium is processed by the image processing unit for the first time, and then fed by the feeding mechanism into the second channel; a third channel communicating with the first channel and the second channel, wherein the feeding mechanism feeds the medium that has been processed for the first time out of the second channel, then feeds it back into the second channel and enters the third channel, and then enters the first channel from the third channel, so that the second side of the medium is processed by the image processing unit for the second time; and a guide assembly rotatably arranged at the communication between the third channel, the second channel and the first channel, and maintaining the normally closed forward path of the first channel to the second channel, and the normally open reverse path of the second channel to the third channel, wherein the medium from the first channel pushes the guide assembly to open the forward path, and the medium from the second channel is guided by the guide assembly into the third channel without entering the first channel.

[0006] By the transaction machine of the above-mentioned embodiment, since no additional driving mechanism is needed to perform active control, and no large space is needed to design the intersection of the sub-channels, the volume of the transaction machine can be reduced and the cost of the transaction machine can be lowered, which is beneficial to the current demand of low cost and thin and small size.

[0007] In order to make the above content of the present application more apparent and easy to understand, the following preferred embodiments are specifically described below in combination with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The specific embodiments of the present application will be further described below in combination with the accompanying drawings.

[0009] Figure 1 The path schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of the transaction machine provided according to the present application is shown in the figure.

[0010] Figure 2 The perspective structural schematic diagram of the transaction machine provided according to the present application is shown in the figure. Figure 1

[0011] Figures 3A to 3D The partial enlarged schematic diagram of the four states of the transaction machine provided according to the present application is shown in the figure. Figure 2

[0012] Figure 4 The perspective view of the switching gate of the transaction machine provided according to the present application in the first state is shown in the figure.

[0013] Figure 5 The perspective view of the switching gate of the transaction machine provided according to the present application in the second state is shown in the figure.

[0014] Figure 6 The front view of the mechanism of the transaction machine provided according to the present application under the driver is shown in the figure.

[0015] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] A, B, C, D: points;

[0017] CP: communication place;

[0018] M: medium;

[0019] M1: first surface;

[0020] M2: second surface;

[0021] M20: second medium;

[0022] PF: forward path;

[0023] PR: reverse path;

[0024] W1: first channel wall;

[0025] ​​W2: second passage wall;

[0026] 10: first passage;

[0027] 15: input passage;

[0028] 20: second passage;

[0029] 21: bidirectional passage;

[0030] 21A: outlet;

[0031] 22: unidirectional passage;

[0032] 22A: outlet;

[0033] 30: third passage;

[0034] 40: guide assembly;

[0035] 41: body;

[0036] 42: pivot;

[0037] 43: blade;

[0038] 44: hollow;

[0039] 45: torsion spring;

[0040] 50: image processing unit;

[0041] 51: pressure roller;

[0042] 52: heating roller;

[0043] 53: photosensitive drum;

[0044] 60: feeding mechanism;

[0045] 61-68: rollers;

[0046] 70: output tray;

[0047] 70D: horizontal dimension;

[0048] 75: supply tray;

[0049] 76: manual feed tray;

[0050] 80: switching gate;

[0051] 81: recess;

[0052] 82, 83: pivot;

[0053] 90: driver;

[0054] 91: control arm;

[0055] 92: guide slot

[0056] 93: pivot

[0057] 100: transaction machine DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] The following detailed description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present application. Various modifications to the embodiments described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty. Therefore, the present application is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described herein, but is to be accorded the full scope that comprises all equivalents to which the claimed application is entitled. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0059] The present application is mainly to provide a transaction machine, such as a printer, a scanner, or other document processing device, with a pivotally flipping guide mechanism that does not require an active driver. By using a pivotally flipping guide mechanism, the cost and size of the transaction machine can be reduced.

[0060] Figure 1 A path diagram of a preferred embodiment of the transaction machine according to the present application. Figure 2 A perspective structural diagram of the transaction machine according to the present application. Figure 1 A perspective structural diagram of the transaction machine according to the present application. Figures 3A to 3D A perspective structural diagram of the transaction machine according to the present application. Figure 2 A perspective structural diagram of the transaction machine according to the present application. Figures 1 to 3D As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the transaction machine 100 according to the present application includes a feed mechanism 60, a first passage 10, an image processing unit 50, a second passage 20, a third passage 30, and a guide assembly 40.

[0061] The image processing unit 50 is located in the first passageway 10. The second passageway 20 is connected to the first passageway 10. Although the second passageway 20 is shown as a double passageway in the drawing, in other embodiments, the second passageway 20 can be implemented as a single passageway. The first face Ml of the media M is fed by the feeding mechanism 60 into the second passageway 20 after being processed by the image processing unit 50. The third passageway 30 is connected to the first passageway 10 and the second passageway 20. The feeding mechanism 60 feeds the media M processed by the image processing unit 50 into the third passageway 30 after feeding the media M into the second passageway 20 in the reverse direction and then feeding the media M into the first passageway 10, so that the second face M2 of the media M is processed by the image processing unit 50. The guide assembly 40 is rotatably arranged at the connection point CP of the third passageway 30, the second passageway 20 and the first passageway 10, and maintains the forward path PF of the first passageway 10 to the second passageway 20 in a closed state and the reverse path PR of the second passageway 20 to the third passageway 30 in an open state. In order to achieve the effect of the present embodiment, the media M from the first passageway 10 pushes the guide assembly 40 to open the forward path PF, and the media M from the second passageway 20 is guided by the guide assembly 40 into the third passageway 30 without entering the first passageway 10. Through the above structure, the above advantages of the present application can be achieved.

[0062] Optionally, the second passageway 20 comprises a bidirectional passageway 21 and a unidirectional passageway 22. The bidirectional passageway 21 is connected to the first passageway 10, the third passageway 30 and the output box 70. The unidirectional passageway 22 is connected to the first passageway 10, the third passageway 30 and the output box 70. The feeding mechanism 60 feeds the media M in the forward and reverse directions through the bidirectional passageway 21, and feeds the media M in the forward direction through the unidirectional passageway 22. Therefore, when the first media is fed out of the unidirectional passageway 22 by the guide assembly 40, the second media can be fed into the third passageway 30 from the bidirectional passageway 21 by the guide assembly 40, which has the effect of accelerating the processing of the file. In the present embodiment, the forward path PF is an upward path, and the reverse path PR is a downward path.

[0063] The feeding mechanism 60 comprises a plurality of rollers 61 to 68, which can perform a feeding function on the media M. For example, the media M placed in the supply tray 75 is fed by the roller 61 into the input channel 15, and then through point C (the intersection of the first channel 10, the third channel 30 and the input channel 15) into the first channel 10, and then fed by the roller 62 through the image processing unit 50 (under the first image processing), and then through point A, and then fed by the roller 63 to the guide assembly 40, and then through point B (the intersection of the first channel 10, the second channel 20 and the third channel 30) into the bidirectional channel 21 of the second channel 20, and then temporarily fed out by the rollers 64 and 66 but not detached, and then the rollers 64 / 66 are reversed to feed the media M into the bidirectional channel 21, and then through the guide assembly 40 into the third channel 30, and then fed by the roller 67 through point D, and then fed by the roller 68 through point C into the first channel 10 again. Therefore, the bidirectional channel 21 of the second channel 20 and the third channel 30 are a channel combination for flipping the media M, so that the media M is in a flipped state when passing through point C the second time, and then passes through the image processing unit 50 (under the second image processing), and then passes through point A and the guide assembly 40 into the unidirectional channel 22 of the second channel 20, and then is output to the output tray 70.

[0064] Alternatively, when it is necessary to flip the media M again, the media M can not be fed into the unidirectional channel 22, but is fed into the bidirectional channel 21 again to perform the temporary feeding out and feeding back, and then is fed into the third channel 30, and then through point D and point C into the first channel 10 again, and then passes through the image processing unit 50 (which can not be under image processing), and then passes through point A and the guide assembly 40, and finally is fed out from the unidirectional channel 22 to the output tray 70.

[0065] Of course, the transaction machine 100 can further comprise a manual feeding tray 76, in which another media can be placed by a user to be fed through point C into the first channel 10.

[0066] The image processing unit 50 described above can be a printing module for printing data on the media M. The printing module is, for example, a laser printing module, which transfers dry toner to the media M through the photoconductor drum 53, and then fixes the dry toner on the media M through the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 52 of the image processing unit 50. Since the media M is processed by heating, the temperature of the media M when passing through the guide assembly 40 is quite high. By designing the guide assembly 40 as a hard assembly or an assembly with high temperature resistance, the normal operation and long service life of the guide assembly 40 can be ensured, and the guide assembly 40 will not be softened and fail to function due to the high temperature.

[0067] Alternatively, the image processing unit 50 described above can be an optical image scanning module for capturing images of the medium M. In this case, the guiding component 40 can be a flexible component, presented as a sheet, using its own elasticity and / or gravity to maintain the path between the normally closed first channel 10 and the second channel 20.

[0068] In addition, the transaction machine 100 may also include a switching gate 80, located between the bidirectional channel 21 and the unidirectional channel 22, for switching between a first state and a second state. In the first state (see...) Figure 4 In the second state (see below), media M enters bidirectional channel 21 from the first channel 10, and then enters the third channel 30 from the bidirectional channel 21. Figure 5 Under these conditions, media M enters one-way channel 22 from the first channel 10.

[0069] The following describes the path of media M guided by guide component 40 and switching gate 80. First, after the initial image processing, media M enters the bidirectional channel 21 of the second channel 20 from the first channel 10, and is output between rollers 64 and 66, but without detaching from rollers 64 and 66, as shown below. Figure 3A As shown. Next, as Figure 3B As shown, media M is fed back from between rollers 64 and 66 to bidirectional channel 21 and enters third channel 30, then from third channel 30 into first channel 10. At this time, the guiding component 40 is not pushed by media M, thus closing the path from first channel 10 to second channel 20. Then, as... Figure 3C As shown, the media M, after undergoing the second image processing, enters the unidirectional channel 22 of the second channel 20 from the first channel 10 and is output between rollers 64 and 65, as... Figure 3C As shown. Of course, if a second media M20 follows media M, then as... Figure 3D As shown, when media M is fed out from unidirectional channel 22, the second media M20 can enter the third channel 30 from bidirectional channel 21, as... Figure 3D and Figure 1 As shown, since the outlet 22A of the unidirectional channel 22 is located below the outlet 21A of the bidirectional channel 21, or the outlet 22A is located between the outlet 21A and the image processing unit 50, the above operation can be achieved, and the two media will not interfere with each other, thereby accelerating file processing.

[0070] Figure 4 A 3D view of the switching gate in its first state is displayed. Figure 5 A 3D view showing the switching gate in the second state. Figure 6 Displays a front view of the mechanism under the drive. For example... Figures 3A to 6As shown, the guide assembly 40 includes a body 41 and multiple blades 43. The body 41 has a pivot 42, which is mounted on the body structure of the transaction machine 100. There is no active driver to drive the guide assembly 40. The multiple blades 43 are fixed to the body 41 with spacing between them. The blades 43 arranged in a row are the component that allows the medium M to be directly pushed open, which can disperse the thrust of the medium M and avoid stress concentration. The body 41 of the guide assembly 40 has multiple hollow parts 44, thus reducing weight. In addition, a torsion spring 45 can provide preload, but it is not a necessary component.

[0071] It is worth noting that there is no specific state between the switching gate 80 and the guiding component 40, therefore in Figure 4 and Figure 5 The state of the guide assembly 40 is not specifically discussed here. In order to avoid interference between the guide assembly 40 and the switching gate 80, the switching gate 80 may have multiple grooves 81, such that when the guide assembly 40 and the switching gate 80 rotate relative to each other, the blades 43 are movably accommodated in these grooves 81 respectively.

[0072] It should be noted that the transaction machine 100 including the switching gate 80 may optionally include the guiding component 40. In this case, a transaction machine with a switching gate is provided, wherein the switching gate can be used to switch between a first state and a second state to divide the second channel 20 into a bidirectional channel 21 and a unidirectional channel 22, so as to facilitate the reversal operation of the media M.

[0073] In addition, such as Figures 3A to 6 As shown, the transaction machine 100 may further include a driver 90 that drives the switching gate 80 to switch between a first state and a second state. The driver 90 may include, for example, a solenoid valve. When the control arm 91 of the driver 90 is driven, the control arm 91 rotates around a pivot 93, causing the pivot 82 of the switching gate 80 to move within a guide groove 92 in the control arm 91, allowing the switching gate 80 to enter both the first and second states. In this embodiment, the switching gate 80 has two pivots 82 and 83. The axial position of pivot 83 is fixed relative to the transaction machine's body (e.g., from the perspective of the output box 70), while the axial position of pivot 82 is floating relative to the transaction machine's body to cooperate with the movement of the guide groove 92.

[0074] Since no driver is used to drive the guide assembly 40, the guide assembly 40 can be designed to rest against the first passage wall Wl of the transaction machine 100 by its own weight to maintain the normally closed forward path PF. On the other hand, the guide assembly 40 can be limited by the transaction machine 100's own weight from being turned by the media M beyond the vertical position, in which case the guide assembly 40 will never close the path from the second passage 20 to the third passage 30. Of course, the second passage wall W2 of the transaction machine 100 can also be used to limit the guide assembly 40 from being turned by the media M beyond the vertical position. The advantage of limiting the guide assembly 40 from being turned beyond the vertical position is that no other driving force or mechanism is needed to turn the guide assembly 40 to rest against the first passage wall Wl. The involvement of other driving force or mechanism would affect whether the media M can push the guide assembly 40. In one embodiment, the working angle (the angle with the horizontal line) of the guide assembly 40 is between 50 degrees and 75 degrees, preferably between 54 degrees and 67 degrees, to maintain its normal function. In another embodiment, the turnable angle (the angle with the horizontal line) of the guide assembly 40 is between 50 degrees and 89 degrees.

[0075] With the above-mentioned scheme, no driver is needed to drive the guide assembly 40, and no special passage structure is needed to maintain the normal feeding path, so the horizontal dimension 70D of the transaction machine 100 in Figure 2 can be shortened, and the cost of the transaction machine 100 can be reduced.

[0076] With the transaction machine of the above-mentioned embodiment, since no additional driving mechanism is needed to perform active control, and no large space is needed to design the intersection of the sub-passages, the volume of the transaction machine can be reduced, and the cost of the transaction machine can be reduced, which is beneficial to the current demand for low cost and thin and small size.

[0077] In summary, the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application are only illustrative of the principles and effects of the present application, and are not used to limit the present application. Any person skilled in the art can modify or change the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or changes made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical thought of the present application should be covered by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A transaction machine having a pivotal flip guide mechanism, characterized by, Comprising: a feeding mechanism; a first passage; an image processing unit located on the first passage; a second passage communicating with the first passage, wherein a first side of a medium is processed by the image processing unit and then fed by the feeding mechanism into the second passage; a third passage communicating with the first passage and the second passage, wherein the medium processed by the image processing unit is fed by the feeding mechanism into the third passage from the second passage in a reverse direction, and then fed into the first passage from the third passage in a forward direction, so that a second side of the medium is processed by the image processing unit; and a guide assembly rotatably disposed at a communication between the third passage, the second passage and the first passage, and maintaining a forward path of the first passage to the second passage in a closed state and a reverse path of the second passage to the third passage in an open state, wherein the medium from the first passage pushes the guide assembly to open the forward path, and the medium from the second passage is guided by the guide assembly into the third passage without entering the first passage; wherein the second passage comprises: a bidirectional passage communicating with the first passage, the third passage and an output box, wherein the medium is fed by the feeding mechanism in a forward direction and a reverse direction through the bidirectional passage; and a unidirectional passage communicating with the first passage, the third passage and the output box, wherein the medium is fed by the feeding mechanism in a forward direction through the unidirectional passage; wherein the bidirectional passage and the unidirectional passage are located on two sides of a same roller feeding the medium. wherein the guide assembly comprises:

2. The transaction machine of claim 1, wherein, a body having a pivot; and a plurality of blades fixed on the body and spaced apart from each other. Further comprising:

3. The transaction machine of claim 1, wherein a switching gate disposed between the bidirectional passage and the unidirectional passage, for switching between a first state and a second state, wherein: in the first state, the medium enters the bidirectional passage from the first passage, and enters the third passage from the bidirectional passage; and in the second state, the medium enters the unidirectional passage from the first passage. wherein:

4. The transaction machine of claim 3, wherein, the guide assembly comprises: a body having a pivot; and a plurality of blades fixed on the body and spaced apart from each other; and the switching gate has a plurality of recesses, wherein when the guide assembly and the switching gate are rotated relative to each other, the plurality of blades are movably accommodated in the plurality of recesses, respectively. Further comprising:

5. The transaction machine of claim 3, wherein, a driver driving the switching gate to switch between the first state and the second state. wherein the guide assembly is abutted against a first passage wall of the transaction machine by its own weight, to maintain the forward path of the first passage to the second passage in a closed state.

6. The transaction machine of claim 1, wherein, wherein a second passage wall of the transaction machine limits the guide assembly to be rotated by the medium beyond a vertical state.

7. The transaction machine of claim 6, wherein, wherein the own weight of the transaction machine limits the guide assembly to be rotated by the medium beyond a vertical state.

8. The transaction machine of claim 6, wherein, wherein the image processing unit is a printing module for printing data on the medium.

9. The transaction machine of claim 1, wherein, ​ 10. The transaction machine of claim 9, wherein, The image processing unit includes a pressure roller and a heating roller to fix the toner on the media.

11. The transaction machine of claim 1, wherein, The image processing unit is an optical image scanning module to capture an image of the media.

12. The transaction machine of claim 1, wherein, The forward path is an upward path and the reverse path is a downward path.

13. The transaction machine of claim 1, wherein, There is no driver to drive the guide assembly.

14. The transaction machine of claim 1, wherein, The outlet of the one-way channel is located below the outlet of the two-way channel.

15. The transaction machine of claim 1 wherein, The outlet of the one-way channel is located between the outlet of the two-way channel and the image processing unit.

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