Wireless connection device and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for wireless connection between a paper sensor in a reel carrier and a printing apparatus receiving print media from the reel carrier, in which a magnet disposed on the reel carrier performs a periodic motion each time a pin of the reel carrier rotates a circle, the present invention relates to a method for receiving a periodic movement of a magnet, the periodic movement first comprising a lifting of the magnet caused by a portion of a rotation of a circle of the pin and then comprising a falling of the magnet under gravity, the magnet falling near a coil energized by the mechanical energy of the magnet for providing electrical energy to a transmitter, the transmitter in wireless communication with a receiver, the sensor is configured to receive a signal per rotation of the pin to count the number of turns that the pin has rotated and act as a paper sensor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for the wireless connection of a paper sensor in a roll stand, in particular to a device and a method for the wireless connection between a printing device and a paper sensor in a roll stand, wherein the roll stand supplies the printing medium (e.g. a paper strip unwound from a roll) to the printing device itself. Background Art

[0002] In particular, but not exclusively, the invention can be used to provide wireless information about the number of rotations made by a pin of the roll holder in the context of a printing device in which the printing device and the roll holder are separated, in particular in order to act as a paper sensor capable of detecting the presence of paper and / or the amount of paper reserve in the roll holder.

[0003] Particular mention should be made of the device according to the preamble of claim 1. Patent document EP 2 390 100 A1 discloses such a device.

[0004] A printing device is known, such as an automatic ticket booth or a ticket, receipt and coupon dispenser, in which a printing device and a roll holder for supplying the printing device with print medium are mounted separately from each other. The roll, usually paper, is manually coupled to the printing device. The roll holder is usually equipped with a paper sensor, which signals that the print medium is about to run out.

[0005] A disadvantage of prior art printing devices is that, generally speaking, the roll holder must be connected to the printing device by means of a cable, for example to allow operation of the paper sensor. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a device and / or method capable of overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0007] The object of the invention is to realize a device and / or method which allows a connection between a paper sensor of a roll stand and a printing device and which can replace the devices and / or methods of the prior art.

[0008] One advantage is to provide an apparatus and / or method and / or device that performs a wireless connection between a paper sensor in a roll stand and a printing device, wherein the wireless connection does not require the use of power from a battery associated with the roll stand.

[0009] One advantage is that it allows wireless communication to send information related to the rotation of the paper feed means of the printing support by the pins of the roll holder to the printing device, in particular being able to signal the situation where the roll is near the end.

[0010] One advantage is to provide a structurally simple and economical means for wirelessly connecting a paper sensor of a spool stand to a printing device fed by the spool stand.

[0011] These objects and advantages, as well as other objects and advantages, may be achieved by means of the apparatus and / or method and / or device as described in one or more of the following claims.

[0012] In one example, a device for performing wireless connection of a paper sensor of a roll stand with a printing device fed by the roll stand includes a magnet arranged on the roll stand to perform periodic motion each time a pin of the roll stand rotates one circle, the periodic motion first including the lifting of the magnet caused by a portion of the rotation of the pin, and then including the gravity falling of the magnet, the magnet falling to the vicinity of a coil, the coil being energized by the mechanical energy of the falling magnet to provide electrical energy to a transmitter, the transmitter wirelessly communicating with a receiver, the receiver being able to receive a signal each time the pin of the roll stand rotates one circle to count the number of completed rotations.

[0013] The wireless communication device may in particular act as a paper sensor, i.e. a sensor for detecting the presence of paper in the roll stand and / or a sensor for detecting the remaining paper reserve in the roll stand. The information provided by the wireless device about the number of revolutions completed by the roll stand together with information about the initial condition of the roll carried by the roll stand (e.g. the initial total number of revolutions of the roll) will in practice allow the above-mentioned paper sensor function to be performed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention may be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the operation of an example of a device manufactured according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Magnified details of the apparatus showing different operating configurations;

[0017] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic vertical elevation side view of the device configuration is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Referring to the above-mentioned figure, reference numeral 1 denotes as a whole a connection device for wirelessly connecting a paper sensor in a roll stand, the roll stand being provided with a pin 2, the pin 2 supporting a roll and the pin 2 rotating about a rotation axis. The paper sensor will be further described in the following description, and it can be wirelessly connected to a printing device 3, the printing device 3 being supplied with a printing medium (e.g. paper) unwound from a roll carried by the above-mentioned pin 2 of the roll stand.

[0019] The connection device 1 comprises a magnet 4 which is arranged on the reel stand in such a way that, with each revolution of the pin 2 of the reel stand, a periodic movement is performed which firstly comprises a lifting of the magnet 4 (see Figure 2 ), which is caused by a part (e.g. about half) of a rotation of the pin (2), and then includes the magnet 4 falling due to its own weight (before the pin 2 completes a full rotation). The lifting causes the magnet 4 to occupy an upper position in its periodic movement guided by the pin 2, and then the magnet 4 will fall from this upper position due to its own weight. In particular, the lifting movement of the magnet 4 is relatively slow compared to the falling movement that occurs faster due to gravity.

[0020] The connection device 1 comprises an electric circuit which is arranged to be energized by the magnet 4 each time the above-mentioned gravity fall occurs (utilizing the kinetic energy of the falling magnet 4).

[0021] The circuit comprises a transmitter 5 for wireless communication. The transmitter 5 may in particular comprise an infrared transmitter. The transmitter 5 may in particular comprise an infrared emitting diode. In other examples, the transmitter may in particular comprise a radio wave transmitter for transmitting radio frequency pulses.

[0022] The connection device 1 may in particular comprise a receiver 6 configured to receive from the above-mentioned transmitter 5 at least one signal indicating that the magnet 4 has fallen. This signal may serve as an indication that the pin 2 has completed a revolution.

[0023] In particular, the circuit may comprise a coil 7 close to the falling zone of the magnet 4 and arranged to exploit the movement of the falling magnet 4 to generate electrical energy for activating the above-mentioned transmitter 5 .

[0024] In particular, the circuit may include a device for converting a signal (e.g. a voltage signal) at the output of the coil 7 into an input signal usable by the transmitter 5. Such a conversion device may in particular include a rectifier 8, such as a diode, configured to convert a sinusoidal wave signal (generated by the coil 7 when the magnet 4 falls near the coil itself) into a pulsating wave signal. Such a conversion device may in particular include a filter 9, such as a capacitor, configured to reduce the oscillation of the pulsating wave signal at the output of the rectifier 8. Such a conversion device may in particular include an oscillator 10, which is connected to the output of the filter 9 and is configured to drive the transmitter 5.

[0025] In particular, the connection device 1 may comprise a support 11 to which the magnet 4 is attached. In particular, the connection device 1 may comprise a pawl 12 that rotates with the reel stand 2 to push the support 11 and lift the magnet 4.

[0026] The pawl 12 is arranged to lift the magnet 4 by the rotational action of the pin 2 of the roll holder in the direction of unwinding or unwinding the roll of the printing support (paper) from the roll holder. In particular, the roll can be unwound by the printing device 3 (for example by roller means) in order to perform a normal printing operation on the printing support.

[0027] The support 11 and the magnet 4 carried by the support 11 may in particular be rotatable about a non-gravity axis of rotation (in particular, the magnet 4 will be moved away from the axis of rotation), so that the above-mentioned lifting and the above-mentioned lowering of the magnet 4 may in particular comprise at least one swing about the above-mentioned non-gravity axis (in fact, the magnet 4 may perform a pendulum movement). The non-gravity axis of rotation may in particular be coaxial with the axis of rotation of the pin 2 of the above-mentioned reel stand.

[0028] The support 11 may in particular comprise an arm extending radially relative to the axis of rotation of the reel stand 2. The magnet 4 may in particular be arranged at one end of the arm. The other end of the arm may, for example, be coupled to a hub. In particular, the pawl 12 may be integrally connected to the pin 2 of the reel stand. The pawl 12 is shaped and arranged to push the support 11 carrying the magnet 4 upwards when the pin 2 has made a part (approximately half) of a revolution (during the unwinding of the reel) and to release the support 11 when the pin 2 has made a rest of a revolution so that the magnet 4 falls rapidly.

[0029] The connection device 1 may in particular comprise a printing device 3, for example a thermal printing device, on which the above-mentioned receiver 6 may be arranged or may be associated with the printing device 3. The printing device 3 may in particular be fed by a roll from a printing support of a roll stand on which the above-mentioned magnet 4 is arranged.

[0030] A printing device can be provided, which includes: a printing device 3, a roll stand with a pin 2, which is used to feed a print medium roll to the printing device 3, and a connecting device 1, which is used to realize a wireless connection with a paper sensor located on the roll stand, thereby providing a rotation counter information of the pin 2 of the roll stand, and thus performing a real paper sensor function, in particular the function of whether there is paper and / or paper in stock, by combining information related to the overall coil of the roll carried by the roll stand.

[0031] The operation of the connection device 1 implements a method for wirelessly connecting a paper sensor. The method comprises the following steps: associating a magnet 4 with a roll stand so that the magnet 4 performs a periodic movement during each rotation of the pin 2 of the roll stand, the periodic movement first comprising a lift of the magnet 4 caused by a part of a rotation of the pin 2, and then comprising a gravity fall of the magnet 4.

[0032] The method may in particular comprise the step of energising the circuit due to the gravity fall of the magnet 4 by converting the mechanical energy of the fall of the magnet 4 into electrical energy used by the transmitter 5 in wireless communication with the receiver, so as to send remote information from the reel stand indicating each complete revolution of the pin 2 of the reel stand.

[0033] The connection device 1 can be used in particular in the context of a printing device in which the roll stand is separate from the printing device 3. In this case, the roll stand can be operatively associated with the printing device 3, loading the roll (paper) carried by the pin 2 of the roll stand onto the printing device, in particular by coupling one end of the paper strip unwound from the roll to a drive device (for example a roller type device) driving the paper. During operation of the printing device 3, the roll will be unwound from the roll stand, so the pin 2 of the roll stand will rotate about itself, causing a periodic movement (rise and fall) of the magnet 4, which energizes the circuit and sends a rotation counter signal of the pin 2. These signals can be sent by the connection device 1 to the control device (electronic and programmable) of the printing device 3, without any electrical connection to the roll stand by means of cables. Knowledge of the characteristics of the roll (for example the initial number of turns of the roll) combined with the rotation counter information will enable the control device to signal the situation that the roll is about to reach the end.

Claims

1. A connection device for wireless connection of a roll support, in particular for wirelessly connecting a paper sensor in the roll stand to a printing device (3) supplied by the roll stand, the connection device comprising a circuit, the circuit comprising a transmitter (5) for wireless communication to send at least one signal and a receiver (6) wirelessly connected to the transmitter (5), the connection device being characterized in that it comprises a magnet (4), the magnet (4) being arranged on the roll stand so as to perform a periodic movement with each rotation of a pin (2) of the roll stand, the periodic movement first comprising a lifting of the magnet (4) caused by a part of a rotation of the pin (2) and then comprising a falling of the magnet (4), the circuit being arranged so as to be energized by the magnet (4) when the falling occurs.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one signal is sent each time the magnet (4) falls, ie each time the pin (2) makes one revolution, and can act as a roll stand rotation counter and thus as a paper sensor.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The circuit comprises a coil (7) which is close to the falling zone of the magnet (4) to generate electrical energy for activating the transmitter (5).

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The circuit comprises conversion means for converting an output signal from the coil (7) into a signal which can be used as input by the transmitter (5).

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein: The conversion device comprises at least one rectifier (8) and / or at least one filter (9) and / or at least one oscillator (10) to drive the transmitter (5).

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The transmitter (5) comprises an infrared transmitter.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The transmitter (5) comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a support (11) to which the magnet (4) is attached.

9. Device according to claim 8, comprising a pawl (12) which rotates together with the pin (2) of the reel stand to push the support (11) and lift the magnet (4).

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: The support (11) and the magnet (4) are rotatable around a non-gravity axis, and the lifting and the lowering include rotating around the non-gravity axis.

11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a reel stand on which the magnet (4) is arranged.

12. The device according to claims 11 and 10, wherein: The non-center-of-gravity axis is coaxial with the axis of the reel stand (2).

13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a printing device (3), the receiver (6) being associated with the printing device (3), the printing device (3) being fed with a roll of printing medium from the roll stand on which the magnet (4) is arranged.

14. Printing apparatus comprising a printing device (3), a roll holder with pins (2) for supplying a roll of printing medium to the printing device (3), and a device for wireless connection according to any of the preceding claims.

15. A method for wirelessly connecting a paper sensor in a reel stand, in particular using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the method comprising: - associating a magnet (4) with the reel stand so that said magnet (4) performs a periodic movement during each revolution of the pin (2) of said reel stand, said periodic movement comprising firstly a lifting of said magnet caused by a part of a revolution of said pin, and then a lowering of said magnet; - The circuit is energized by the falling of the magnet (4) to obtain information on the rotation made by the pin (2) in order to perform the function of a paper sensor by converting the mechanical energy of the falling magnet into electrical energy used by the transmitter (5) in wireless communication with the receiver (6).

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