Information terminal device and roll paper printer for being assembled to information terminal device

Abstract

To solve such the problem that paper may drop off from a device, while preceding paper may be left.SOLUTION: An information terminal device includes: a roll paper printer for unwind paper from roll paper, performing printing on the paper and cutting the paper; a paper guide for guiding the paper; and an outlet for discharging the paper. The paper guide includes: a first guide for guiding a first surface of the paper; a roller for guiding a second surface that is the opposite surface of the first surface of the paper in a position opposite to the first guide; and a support part capable of supporting a shaft of the roller so as to be movable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information terminal device and a roll paper printer for incorporation into an information terminal device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art As disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a known device that uses roll paper for printing, and that includes a cutting blade that cuts the paper, and a paper discharge guide that is installed at the paper discharge port. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-68950 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned device, there is a risk that the cut and discharged paper will fall off the paper discharge guide, while there is also a risk that the previous cut paper will remain in the paper discharge guide when the next paper is discharged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An information terminal device that solves the above problem comprises a roll paper printer that pulls paper from a roll, prints on it, and cuts it, a paper guide that guides the paper, and an issuing outlet for ejecting the paper, the paper guide having a first guide that guides a first side of the paper, a roller at a position opposite the first guide that guides a second side of the paper that is the opposite side to the first side, and a support section that is capable of movably supporting the axis of the roller.

[0006] A roll paper printer for incorporation into an information terminal device that solves the above-mentioned problems is a roll paper printer for incorporation into an information terminal device that includes a first guide that guides a first side of the paper, a roller at a position opposite the first guide that guides a second side of the paper that is the opposite side to the first side, a paper guide having a support part capable of movably supporting the shaft of the roller, and an issue outlet from which the paper is ejected, and also includes a platen roller that can pull the paper from the roll and transport it to the issue outlet via the paper guide, a head that prints on the paper at a position opposite the platen roller, and a cutter that cuts the paper. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part relating to paper transport of the information terminal device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the paper guide according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a paper guide according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the paper guide. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the paper guide when a first sheet of paper enters the paper guide. [Figure 7] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the paper guide when a first paper is held by the paper guide. FIG. [Figure 8] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the paper guide when the first paper enters the paper guide overlapping the second paper. [Figure 9] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the paper guide when the first paper pushes and moves the second paper. FIG. [Figure 10] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the paper guide when the first paper pushes the second paper and causes it to fall. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The directions in the drawings will be described using a three-dimensional coordinate system. For convenience of explanation, the positive direction of the Z axis will be referred to as the upward direction, the upper direction, or simply the upper direction, the negative direction will be referred to as the downward direction, the lower direction, or simply the lower direction, the positive direction of the X axis will be referred to as the right direction, the right direction, or simply the right direction, the negative direction will be referred to as the left direction, the left direction, or simply the left direction, the positive direction of the Y axis will be referred to as the forward direction, the front direction, or simply the front direction, and the negative direction will be referred to as the rear direction, the rear direction, or simply the rear direction.

[0009] 1. Configuration of information terminal device 1 is, for example, a so-called kiosk terminal. Kiosk terminals are used for providing service information, various payments, reception and other procedures, and the like. The information terminal device 100 incorporates the roll paper printer 1 and paper guide 10. The information terminal device 100 also has a case 101 equipped with a touch panel 103, a reader 104, and an issuing port 102. The roll paper printer 1 and paper guide 10 will be described in detail below.

[0010] The touch panel 103 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and an input device that detects operations on the displayed screen. The customer operates the screen using the touch panel 103 based on the displayed menu. The information terminal device 100 includes a control unit (not shown) including a processor and a memory. The memory stores a program. The processor reads the program from the memory and executes it. The control unit executes various processes based on operations detected by the touch panel 103. The reader 104 is capable of reading information such as an IC or two-dimensional code carried on a customer's card or mobile terminal.

[0011] For example, in a hospital, an information terminal device 100 obtains information, including customer identification information, from a customer's card or mobile terminal using a reader 104, prints a reception ticket using a roll paper printer 1, and ejects it from an issuing port 102 via a paper guide 10. Furthermore, in retail stores and the like, the information terminal device 100 acquires information, including payment information, from the customer's card using the reader 104 to make the payment, prints a receipt using the roll paper printer 1, and ejects it from the issuing port 102 via the paper guide 10. In this case, the information terminal device 100 may be equipped with a so-called automatic change machine that has the function of depositing and dispensing cash. When the case 101 of the information terminal device 100 is opened, the roll paper printer 1 and paper guide 10 are exposed, allowing a service technician to perform maintenance.

[0012] 2. Roll paper printer configuration The roll paper printer 1 is a roll paper printer that is intended to be installed in an information terminal device 100. As shown in Figure 2, the roll paper printer 1 includes a printer case 3 that can store roll paper R, and a cover 2 that allows the printer case 3 to be opened and closed. The cover 2 can rotate around a hinge 2a of the printer case 3. After opening the case 101 of the information terminal device 100, a service technician can open the cover 2 of the roll paper printer 1 and store the roll paper R in the printer case 3. The cover 2 is equipped with a platen roller 30, a first blade 41 that constitutes the cutter 40, and a first rolled paper guide 4. Meanwhile, the printer case 3 is equipped with the head 20, a second blade 42 that constitutes the cutter 40, and a second rolled paper guide 5.

[0013] When the cover 2 is closed, the platen roller 30, the head 20, and the first blade 41 and the second blade 42 of the cutter 40 are positioned to face each other. The cutter 40 is located downstream in the transport direction T with respect to the platen roller 30 and the head 20. Furthermore, when the cover 2 is closed, a rectangular paper exit 6 is formed between the cover 2 and the printer case 3. The roll paper R is rotatably supported by a first roll paper guide 4 of the cover 2 and a second roll paper guide 5 of the printer case 3.

[0014] The platen roller 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a material such as a flexible resin, for example rubber. The platen roller 30 and the head 20 sandwich the first sheet P1 at a nip position 30a. The platen roller 30 transports the first sheet P1 by a friction feed method, which is a method of transporting the first sheet P1 by friction. The platen roller 30 is a so-called transport roller that transports the first sheet P1. The platen roller 30 rotates clockwise, pulls out the first sheet P1 from the roll paper R stored in the printer case 3, and transports it in the transport direction T. At this time, the roll paper R also rotates clockwise. The paper P collectively refers to the paper that is wound around the roll paper R, pulled out from the roll paper R, printed, and cut, including the first paper P1 and a second paper P2 described below. The platen roller 30 is capable of transporting the paper P to the issuing port 102 of the information terminal device 100 via the paper guide 10 .

[0015] The head 20 is, for example, a line thermal head. The head 20 has a pressing mechanism (not shown) that presses the head 20 against the platen roller 30. The first sheet P1 is nipped between the platen roller 30 and the head 20 at a nip position 30a with a predetermined pressure by the pressing mechanism. The paper P is, for example, a long piece of thermal paper. A first surface P1a of the first paper P1 is a transport surface that is transported by the platen roller 30. A second surface P1b of the first paper P1, which is the surface opposite to the first surface P1a, is a printing surface on which a color developer is applied. While the first surface P1a of the first paper P1 is in contact with the platen roller 30 and transported, the second surface P1b comes into contact with the head 20 at the nip position 30a, and printing is performed by coloring due to the heat generated by the head 20. The roll paper R is wound around the paper P so that the outside is the printing surface.

[0016] The roll paper printer 1 has a printer control unit (not shown). The printer control unit is comprised of components such as a processor that provides overall control of each part of the roll paper printer 1, and memory. The memory stores programs. The processor reads the programs from the memory and carries out various types of control. The printer control unit can perform control such as pulling the paper P from the roll paper using the platen roller 30 and transporting it, printing using the head 20, and cutting using the cutter 40.

[0017] 3. Configuration of the Paper Guide in the First Embodiment The paper guide 10 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figure 2, the information terminal device 100 has the paper guide 10 for guiding the first paper P1 mounted on a case 101. The paper guide 10 has a first opening 11 through which the first paper P1 is inserted from the rear, and a second opening 12 through which the first paper P1 is ejected to the front. Furthermore, the paper guide 10 includes a first guide 15 capable of guiding the first paper P1 from below, a roller 17 capable of guiding the first paper P1 from above, a second guide 16 that covers the roller 17 from above, and an attachment plate 18 that attaches the paper guide 10 to the case 101.

[0018] The attachment fixture 18a is a double-sided tape or adhesive, etc., and fixes the attachment plate 18 of the paper guide 10 to the inside of the case 101. Note that the attachment fixture 18a may be a screw or the like, and the attachment plate 18 can be detachably attached to the inside of the case 101. As a result, the second opening 12 of the paper guide 10 is positioned so that it communicates with the issue opening 102, which is formed as a rectangular hole in the case 101, and the first paper P1 can be output through the issue opening 102. Furthermore, when the case 101 is closed, the first opening 11 of the paper guide 10 is positioned so that it communicates with the paper exit 6 of the roll paper printer 1, and the first paper P1 output from the paper exit 6 can be inserted.

[0019] The first sheet of paper P1 is transported in the transport direction T by the platen roller 30 of the roll paper printer 1 and discharged from the paper exit 6, entering the first opening 11, which is the entrance to the paper guide 10. At this time, the first sheet of paper P1 is guided from above by the slope 16b of the second guide 16, which slopes downward and forward toward the first guide 15, allowing it to enter the first opening 11 smoothly. Within the paper guide 10, the roller 17 is positioned opposite the first guide 15. When the first paper sheet P1 enters the first opening 11, the first surface P1a of the first paper sheet P1 is guided from below by the first guide 15, and the second surface P1b of the first paper sheet P1 is guided from above by the roller 17.

[0020] The first opening 11 of the paper guide 10 is defined at its upper end by an end portion 16 a which is the lower front tip of the slope 16 b of the second guide 16 , and at its lower end by the first guide 15 . The first opening 11 communicates with the second opening 12, which is the exit of the paper guide 10 for the first paper P1, in the forward direction, which is the transport direction T. The first paper P1 is transported in the transport direction T by the platen roller 30 of the roll paper printer 1, entering the first opening 11 of the paper guide 10 and exiting from the second opening 12. At this time, the first paper P1 is pushed from above with a pressing force W by the roller 17, as described below. The upper and lower directions of the second opening 12 are defined by the rollers 17 and the first guide 15, respectively. The left and right directions of the first opening 11 and the second opening 12 may be defined by plate-like parts rising upward from the left and right ends of the first guide 15, or plate-like parts rising downward from the left and right ends of the second guide 16, which face each other. This makes it possible to guide the first paper P1 from the left and right.

[0021] The portion of the first guide 15 that comes into contact with the first sheet P1 is configured as a flat surface in the front-rear and left-right directions. The first guide 15 is made of a resin such as polyethylene. At least a portion of the first guide 15 that comes into contact with the first paper sheet P1 is covered with a sheet 15a that includes, for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

[0022] Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene has a molecular weight of 1 million to 7 million, whereas the molecular weight of ordinary polyethylene is 20,000 to 300,000. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet 15a can reduce friction between objects it comes into contact with, compared to polyethylene and the like. Furthermore, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet 15a can suppress static electricity generated between objects it comes into contact with, compared to polyethylene and the like, and can further reduce friction. Sheet 15a containing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is also called a so-called low-friction sheet. As described later, the coefficient of friction of the sheet 15a is smaller than the coefficient of friction of the paper P. Therefore, the frictional force between the sheet 15a and the paper P is smaller than the frictional force between the pieces of paper P themselves.

[0023] The first guide 15 is capable of guiding a first surface P1a of the first paper P1. The roller 17 is located opposite the first guide 15 and is capable of guiding a second surface P1b of the first paper P1, which is the surface opposite the first surface P1a. As described later, the first sheet P1 can be guided and held by a first guide 15 and a roller 17. The second guide 16 is disposed above the roller 17, on the opposite side to the first guide 15. The upper side of the second guide 16 facing the roller 17 may have a plurality of arc-shaped ribs along the circumference of the roller 17 to hold down the roller 17 that has jumped upward. As described later, the groove-shaped support portion 14 is open at the top, so that the roller 17 may jump upward together with the shaft 17a depending on the behavior of the first sheet P1.

[0024] The roller 17 is formed in a cylindrical shape from resin such as plastic or rubber. The roller 17 comes into contact with the first paper P1 entering through the first opening 11, and is thereby rotatable about a shaft 17a. The roller 17 may be made up of multiple rollers, or may be provided with a ring-shaped rib partially on the circumference. The roller 17 configured in this way can make well-balanced contact with the first paper P1 in the paper width direction.

[0025] The support portion 14 has an arc shape on the lower side facing the plane of the first guide 15, and has a groove on the upper side extending in a direction away from the plane of the first guide 15. The groove-shaped support portion 14 is open at the top. The support portion 14 having such a shape can movably support the shaft 17a. Furthermore, the support portion 14 can smoothly move the roller 17 and shaft 17a, which are pressed by the first paper P1, while keeping the shaft 17a in contact with the support portion 14.

[0026] The support parts 14 are provided on the left and right of the shaft 17a and are capable of supporting the shaft 17a. The support parts 14 may be provided on the first guide 15 or the second guide 16. The left and right support parts 14 may be provided on plate-like parts rising upward from the left and right ends of the first guide 15 so as to face each other. Alternatively, the left and right support parts 14 may be provided on plate-like parts rising downward from the left and right ends of the second guide 16 so as to face each other. The support portion 14 may be configured to be integrally molded with the first guide 15 or the second guide 16 using resin.

[0027] When the support part 14 is provided on the first guide 15, since the support part 14 has a groove shape, the roller 17 can be easily assembled by dropping it in from the open upper part of the support part 14. On the other hand, when the support part 14 is provided on the second guide 16, the support part 14 and the second guide 16 can be handled as a unit to which the roller 17 is assembled. For example, the support part 14 and the second guide 16 can be easily assembled or replaced with respect to the first guide 15 as a unit to which the roller 17 is assembled.

[0028] 4. Configuration of the Paper Guide in the Second Embodiment The paper guide 10a of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The differences between the paper guide 10a and the paper guide 10 of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same configuration as the paper guide 10 will be omitted. Note that in Fig. 4, the same components as the paper guide 10 of the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0029] The support portion 14a of the paper guide 10a in the second embodiment is an oblong hole that is vertically long. The support portion 14a having such a shape can movably support the shaft 17a. The support portion 14a can smoothly move the roller 17 and the shaft 17a that are pressed by the first paper P1 while keeping the shaft 17a in contact with the support portion 14a.

[0030] The support portions 14a are provided on the left and right of the shaft 17a and are capable of supporting the shaft 17a. The support portions 14a may be provided on the first guide 15. The left and right support portions 14a may be configured as plate-like portions rising upward from the left and right ends of the first guide 15 so as to face each other. The support portions 14a may be configured to be integrally molded with the first guide 15 using resin. When the support portion 14a is provided on the first guide 15, the roller 17 can be attached to the support portion 14a and handled as a unit. For example, the support portion 14a and the first guide 15 can be easily assembled or replaced as a unit to which the roller 17 is attached.

[0031] As described above, the first sheet of paper P1 is transported in the transport direction T by the platen roller 30 of the roll paper printer 1, from the first opening 11 through the second opening 12 of the paper guide 10a, and then ejected from the issuing opening 102. At this time, the first sheet of paper P1 that emerges from the issuing opening 102 may be held down or grabbed by the customer's hand. In this case, the first sheet of paper P1 inside the paper guide 10a cannot exit through the second opening 12, while the first sheet of paper P1 that is subsequently transported enters through the first opening 11. As a result, there is a risk that the first sheet of paper P1 will become jammed inside the paper guide 10a.

[0032] The paper guide 10a has a configuration in which the portion of the second guide 16 that covers the roller 17 from above is removed from the paper guide 10. As a result, a third opening 13 is formed above the paper guide 10. The third opening 13 communicates with the rear and upper side of the first opening 11. If the first paper P1 cannot be taken out from the second opening 12 because the customer holds the first paper P1 at the issuing port 102, the third opening 13 makes it possible to take out the first paper P1 in a direction different from the second opening 12. That is, the first sheet P1 newly entering through the first opening 11 can exit through the third opening 13 in an upward direction that is different from the transport direction T. The third opening 13 allows the first sheet P1 that cannot exit through the second opening 12 to escape.

[0033] Note that the paper guide 10a has a slope 16b, similar to the paper guide 10. And, similar to the paper guide 10, the paper guide 10a defines the upper side of the first opening 11 by an end 16a, which is the lower front tip of the slope 16b. In this case, the inclined surfaces 16b of the paper guide 10a are configured to extend from the left and right ends of the first guide 15. The inclined surfaces 16b may also be configured to be integrally molded with the first guide 15 using resin.

[0034] 5. Operation of the main parts of the paper guide 10 Next, the operation of the main parts of the paper guide 10 will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 10. Note that the following description will be given using the example of the groove-shaped support part 14 of the paper guide 10 of the first embodiment, but the same applies to the slot-shaped support part 14a of the paper guide 10a of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the first paper P1 is discharged from the paper exit 6 (not shown) of the roll paper printer 1 and transported in the transport direction T1 toward between the roller 17 and the first guide 15. The first sheet of paper P1 has not yet been cut by the cutter 40 (not shown), and is transported in the transport direction T1 by the platen roller 30 (not shown) of the roll paper printer 1, which is positioned behind the roller 17 and the first guide 15. The first sheet of paper P1 is then discharged from the issuing port 102 (not shown) of the information terminal device 100.

[0035] Roller 17 is in contact with first guide 15 via sheet 15a, and presses first guide 15 with a pressing force W. In this case, pressing force W is generated by the weight of roller 17 including shaft 17a. Note that pressing force W may be generated via roller 17 by a spring, rubber, or the like (not shown). The pressing force W is preferably in the range of 5 gf to 30 gf, and more preferably 7 gf. For example, the outer diameter of the roller 17 is 7 mm, and the outer diameter of the shaft 17a is 3 mm.

[0036] When the roller 17 is in contact with the first guide 15 via the sheet 15a, the shaft 17a of the roller 17 can have a gap of distance L2 on both the front and rear sides and a gap of distance L1 below the shaft 17a in the support portion 14. For example, the distance L2 is preferably 0.5 mm, and the distance L1 is preferably 1 mm. The shaft 17a can move over a distance L2 in front of and behind the support part 14. In addition, since the shaft 17a is separated from the lower part of the support part 14 by a distance L1, the shaft 17a and the roller 17 can be in a floating state above the support part 14, and as described later, the roller 17 can reliably press the first sheet P1 with a pressing force W. In addition, when the roller 17 is in contact with the first guide 15 via the sheet 15a, the shaft 17a can be separated from the support portion 14 by a distance L1 or a distance L2, and therefore can be free from contact with the support portion 14, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0037] The support portion 14 is configured as a groove having a so-called U-shape. The portion of the support portion 14 facing the plane of the first guide 15 located below has an arc shape that matches the shape of the shaft 17a. The support part 14 has a front upper slope that extends upward in the front direction from the lower arc-shaped part, and a rear upper slope that extends upward in the rear direction. The front upper slope is also called the first slope, and the rear upper slope is also called the second slope. These two slopes extend diagonally upward so as to move away from each other in front of and behind the arc-shaped part of the support part 14. In other words, these two slopes are shaped to widen upward from the arc-shaped part while facing each other slightly diagonally. In the U-shape, the surface extending upward does not have to be an inclined surface. For example, the surface may be a vertical surface extending vertically upward, or the inclined surface and the vertical surface may be combined. The support portion 14a of the second embodiment has an elongated hole shape, but has the same configuration as the support portion 14 of the first embodiment.

[0038] The support part 14 having such a configuration allows the shaft 17a of the roller 17 to move freely within the range of the support part 14. Furthermore, when the shaft 17a comes into contact with the support part 14, it can move smoothly along either of the two inclined surfaces. The roller 17 can also move in the same manner together with the shaft 17a.

[0039] When the first sheet P1 shown in FIG. 5 is further transported in the transport direction T1, the leading edge of the first sheet P1 enters between the roller 17 and the first guide 15 as shown in FIG. Roller 17 comes into contact with the leading edge of first paper P1 and is pushed, moving forward and lifting upward. Roller 17 can push first paper P1 with a pressing force W while rotating counterclockwise. At this time, shaft 17a of roller 17 also moves in the front-upper direction. Shaft 17a can move smoothly in the front-upper direction together with roller 17 along the front-upper slope while coming into contact with the front-upper slope of support part 14. Shaft 17a also rotates counterclockwise together with roller 17.

[0040] In this way, by the support portion 14 movably supporting the shaft 17a of the roller 17, the first sheet of paper P1 being transported pushes the roller 17, and the shaft 17a can be moved smoothly together with the roller 17. The roller 17 is pushed by the leading edge of the first sheet of paper P1 and can move in a floating manner while rotating. Therefore, the leading edge of the first sheet of paper P1 can easily slip under the roller 17. In other words, the support part 14 configured in this way reduces the load when the leading edge of the first sheet of paper P1 enters between the first guide 15 and the roller 17, allowing it to easily enter.

[0041] 5, when the roller 17 contacts the first guide 15 via the sheet 15a, the shaft 17a of the roller 17 can be in a position not in contact with the support portion 14. At this time, as described above, a gap is created by the distance L1 and the distance L2 such that the shaft 17a does not contact the support portion 14. As shown in Fig. 6, the first sheet of paper P1 enters between the roller 17 and the first guide 15, and the roller 17 comes into contact with the first sheet of paper P1. At this time, these gaps allow the roller 17 together with the shaft 17a to move back and forth and up and down. Therefore, the first sheet of paper P1 can easily slip under the roller 17, and the roller 17 can press the first sheet of paper P1 with the pressing force W due to its own weight.

[0042] When the first sheet of paper P1 shown in Fig. 6 is further transported in the transport direction T1, as shown in Fig. 7, the first sheet of paper P1 advances while being pushed by the upper roller 17 with a pressing force W and guided by the roller 17 and the first guide 15. Next, the first sheet of paper P1 is cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 40, which is located behind the roller 17 and the first guide 15. For example, when the first sheet of paper P1 is issued as a receipt, the predetermined length is about 70 mm. Depending on the printing content, such as the number of products purchased, the receipt may be shorter or longer than 70 mm. In the following, the first sheet P1 before being cut by the cutter 40 will be referred to as the first sheet P1, and the first sheet P1 that has been cut into pieces of paper will also be referred to as the second sheet P2.

[0043] The roller 17 is pushed by the first sheet P1 between the roller 17 and the first guide 15, and moves upward by the thickness of the first sheet P1 relative to the position shown in Fig. 5. At this time, the shaft 17a of the roller 17 also moves upward by the thickness of the first sheet P1 at the support part 14 relative to the position shown in Fig. 5. The thickness of the first sheet P1 is in the range of 50 μm to 90 μm, for example. Although FIG. 7 shows a case where the shaft 17a is not in contact with the support portion 14, the shaft 17a may be in contact with the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface of the support portion 14.

[0044] Here, the coefficient of friction between the first surface P2a of the second sheet P2 and the sheet 15a of the first guide 15 is defined as a second coefficient of friction μ2. When the second sheet P2 attempts to move in the transport direction T1, a second friction force F2 due to the second coefficient of friction μ2 is generated between the first surface P2a of the second sheet P2 and the sheet 15a in the opposite direction to the transport direction T1. The second frictional force F2, the second friction coefficient μ2, and the pressing force W by the roller 17 have a relationship of F2=μ2×W. That is, the second frictional force F2 is a value obtained by multiplying the second friction coefficient μ2 by the pressing force W. The second friction coefficient μ2 is preferably in the range of 0.05 to 0.2, and more preferably 0.1.

[0045] The second sheet of paper P2, while sandwiched between the first guide 15 and the roller 17, can be pushed and held by the pressing force W from the roller 17. Furthermore, a second frictional force F2 is generated that acts in the opposite direction to the transport direction T1 in which the second sheet of paper P2 falls. As a result, the second sheet of paper P2 is prevented from falling from the first guide 15. In other words, the second sheet of paper P2 is prevented from falling from the issuing port 102 of the information terminal device 100. For example, the second paper P2 printed by the head 20, cut by the cutter 40, and issued as a receipt can be held by the pressing force W of the roller 17 while placed on the first guide 15. The customer can easily remove the second paper P2, which is the receipt that is held without falling from the first guide 15, from the issuing port 102.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a case where the second sheet P2 placed on the first guide 15 is not taken out and remains there, and the next first sheet P1 is transported. The next first sheet of paper P1 discharged from the paper exit 6 is transported in the transport direction T1 by the platen roller 30 of the roll paper printer 1. The leading edge of the first sheet of paper P1 enters between the roller 17 and the first guide 15 while overlapping the second sheet of paper P2 placed on the first guide 15.

[0047] The roller 17 comes into contact with the leading edge of the first sheet P1 and is pushed thereby, and while moving further forward, it is lifted upward. The roller 17 can also push the overlapping first sheet P1 and second sheet P2 with a pressing force W while rotating counterclockwise. At this time, the shaft 17a of the roller 17 also moves further in the front-upper direction. The shaft 17a can move smoothly together with the roller 17 along the front-upper slope while contacting the front-upper slope of the support part 14. The shaft 17a also rotates counterclockwise together with the roller 17.

[0048] In this way, the support unit 14 movably supports the shaft 17a of the roller 17, so that the first sheet of paper P1, which is transported overlapping the second sheet of paper P2, can smoothly move the shaft 17a together with the roller 17. In other words, the support unit 14 can support and freely move the roller 17 together with the shaft 17a, including when the next first sheet of paper P1 overlaps the second sheet of paper P2. The roller 17 is pushed by the leading edge of the first sheet P1 and can move in a floating manner while rotating. Therefore, the leading edge of the first sheet P1 can easily slip under the roller 17 while overlapping the second sheet P2. In other words, the support part 14 configured in this way reduces the load when the leading edge of the first sheet P1 enters between the first guide 15 and the roller 17 while overlapping the second sheet P2, and can easily enter.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 9, when the next first sheet of paper P1 is transported in the transport direction T1, it overlaps the second sheet of paper P2 and advances while being sandwiched between the roller 17 and the first guide 15. The roller 17 is pushed by the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 and moves upward by the thickness of the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2. The first sheet of paper P1 and the second sheet of paper P2 are sandwiched between the roller 17 and the first guide 15 and are subjected to a pressing force W of the roller 17. At this time, the first sheet of paper P1 transported in the transport direction T1 tries to push the second sheet of paper P2 in the movement direction T2.

[0050] The coefficient of friction between the second surface P2b of the second sheet P2 and the first surface P1a of the first sheet P1 is defined as a first coefficient of friction μ1. A first frictional force F1 is generated between the second surface P2b of the second sheet P2 and the first surface P1a of the first sheet P1 being transported. The first frictional force F1, the first friction coefficient μ1, and the pressing force W by the roller 17 have a relationship of F1=μ1×W. That is, the first frictional force F1 is a value obtained by multiplying the first friction coefficient μ1 by the pressing force W. The first friction coefficient μ1 is preferably in the range of 0.3 to 1.0.

[0051] Meanwhile, as described above, a second frictional force F2 due to the second friction coefficient μ2 is generated between the sheet 15a of the first guide 15 and the first surface P2a of the second paper P2 being moved in the opposite direction to the conveying direction T1. Since the sheet 15a has a smaller friction coefficient than the paper P, the relationship is second friction coefficient μ2<first friction coefficient μ1. For example, the second friction coefficient μ2 in the range of 0.05 to 0.2 is smaller than the first friction coefficient μ1 in the range of 0.3 to 1.0. Since μ2 < μ1, (F2 = μ2 × W) < (F1 = μ1 × W), that is, F2 < F1. Thus, due to the sheet 15a, the second frictional force F2 is smaller than the first frictional force F1. The second sheet P2 is in a state where it slides easily on the sheet 15a of the lower first guide 15 with respect to the first sheet P1 overlapping it above.

[0052] In the second sheet P2, the second frictional force F2 is applied to the first surface P2a in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction T1, and the first frictional force F1 is applied to the second surface P2b in the conveyance direction T1. And since F2 < F1, for the second sheet P2, the first frictional force F1 acting in the conveyance direction T1 is greater than the second frictional force F2 acting in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction T1.

[0053] As a result, a force of (F1 - F2) = (μ1 - μ2) × W acts on the second sheet P2 in the conveyance direction T1 and in the forward direction which is the moving direction T2. The second sheet P2 will be pushed by this force and move forward in the conveyance direction T1 by the first sheet P1 being conveyed. That is, the platen roller 30 of the roll paper printer 1 can move the second sheet P2 cut by the cutter 40 so as to push it out by conveying the first sheet P1 before being cut by the cutter 40.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 10, when the first sheet P1 is further conveyed along the conveyance direction T1, the second sheet P2 is further pushed and moves. When being pushed by the first sheet P1 and the rear end of the second sheet P2 comes off the roller 17 and the first guide 15, the pressing force W of the roller 17 no longer acts on the second sheet P2, and it falls from the first guide 15. That is, the second sheet P2 falls from the issuing port 102 of the information terminal device 100. For example, in the case where the second sheet P2 issued as a receipt and held on the first guide 15 is not removed by the customer from the issuing port 102. In this case, with the configuration of the paper guide 10 as described above, the second sheet P2 left on the first guide 15 without being removed can be made to fall from the issuing port 102. This can prevent the customer from mistakenly picking up the second paper P2, which is the previously issued receipt, instead of the next first paper P1, which is the newly issued receipt. The roller 17 is pushed by the first sheet P1 between the roller 17 and the first guide 15, and moves upward by the thickness of the first sheet P1 relative to the position shown in FIG.

[0055] The information terminal device 100 in the embodiment described above comprises a roll paper printer 1 that pulls out, prints, and cuts the first paper P1 from the roll paper R, a paper guide 10 that guides the first paper P1, and an issuing port 102 from which the first paper P1 is ejected. The paper guide 10 comprises a first guide 15 that guides the first side P1a of the first paper P1, a roller 17 that is positioned opposite the first guide 15 and guides the second side P1b of the first paper P1, which is the side opposite the first side P1a, and a support part 14 that can movably support the shaft 17a of the roller 17. According to the information terminal device 100 described above, the first paper P1 and the cut second paper P2 can be guided and held by the first guide 15 and the roller 17. Furthermore, since the support section 14 movably supports the shaft 17a of the roller 17, the first paper P1 can move the shaft 17a together with the roller 17, and can easily enter between the first guide 15 and the roller 17. Furthermore, if the second paper P2 remains on the first guide 15, it can be dropped from the issuing port 102 by the first paper P1.

[0056] Although the embodiments have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and may be changed, replaced, deleted, etc. without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0057] The head 20 of the roll paper printer 1 has been described as a thermal head, but any printing method can be used. For example, the head 20 could be an inkjet head. In this case, the inkjet head cannot come into contact with the platen roller 30 to sandwich the first paper P1, so a driven roller that faces the platen roller 30 and sandwiches the first paper P1 can be mounted in the printer case 3. In this case, the first paper P1 could also be plain paper or the like.

[0058] In the above, an example was given in which the platen roller 30 and the first blade 41 that constitutes the cutter 40 are mounted on the cover 2 of the roll paper printer 1, and the head 20 and second blade 42 are mounted on the printer case 3, but the configuration may be reversed in the cover 2 and printer case 3. In this case, the first paper P1 is wound around the roll paper R so that the outer side becomes the transport surface. The first sheet P1 may be a label sheet having labels attached to a backing sheet at predetermined intervals. The information terminal device 100 may be provided with a storage box below the issuing port 102 for storing the dropped second paper P2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1...roll paper printer, 6...paper exit, 10,10a...paper guide, 11...first opening, 12...second opening, 13...third opening, 14,14a...support part, 15...first guide, 15a...sheet, 16...second guide, 17...roller, 17a...shaft, 20...head, 30...platen roller, 100...information terminal device, 101...case, 102...issuing port, F1...first frictional force, F2...second frictional force, L1,L2...distance, P1...first paper, P2...second paper, P1a,P2a...first surface, P1b,P2b...second surface, T1...transport direction, T2...movement direction, W...pressing force, μ1...first friction coefficient, μ2...second friction coefficient.

Claims

1. Roll paper printers pull paper from a roll, print, and cut it. a paper guide for guiding the paper; an issuing port for discharging the paper; The paper guide is A first guide that guides a first surface of the paper; a roller that guides a second surface of the paper, the second surface being the opposite surface to the first surface, at a position opposite to the first guide; and a support portion capable of movably supporting the shaft of the roller.

2. The paper guide is a second guide disposed on the opposite side of the roller from the first guide, The information terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the support portion is provided on the first guide or the second guide.

3. 2 . The information terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the support portion of the paper guide is arc-shaped on the side of the first guide and has a groove or an elongated hole extending in a direction away from the first guide.

4. 2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the first guide of the paper guide is covered with a sheet having a smaller coefficient of friction than the paper.

5. 5. The information terminal device according to claim 4, wherein when the roller of the paper guide comes into contact with the sheet, the shaft of the roller can be in a position that does not come into contact with the support portion.

6. 2 . The information terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the roll paper printer is capable of moving a second sheet of paper that has been cut and is positioned between the first guide and the roller by transporting a first sheet of paper before it is cut.

7. The paper guide is a first opening into which the paper discharged from the roll paper printer can be inserted; a second opening communicating with the first opening and capable of discharging the paper to the issuing port; 2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a third opening through which the paper can be ejected in a direction different from that of the second opening.

8. a paper guide including a first guide for guiding a first side of a paper sheet, a roller for guiding a second side of the paper sheet opposite the first side at a position opposite to the first guide, and a support portion capable of movably supporting an axis of the roller; an issuing port for discharging the paper; and a platen roller that is capable of pulling out the paper from the roll paper and transporting the paper to the issuing port via the paper guide; a head that prints on the paper at a position opposite to the platen roller; and a cutter that cuts the paper.

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