JPS60184869A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable both the position of a label and the presence or absence of a receipt paper to be detected by the same sensor, by varying the output level of a sensor or a reference voltage with which the output level is compared, in accordance with whether a fitted paper is a label paper or a receipt paper. CONSTITUTION:When a receipt cassette is fitted, both light-receiving elements of sensors S1, S2 receive light, so that both signals KS1, KS2 become ''1'' signals. When a label cassette is fitted, only the sensor S1 receives light, so that the signal KS1 becomes a ''1'' signal, while the signal KS2 becomes a ''0'' signal. When the signals KS1, KS2 are supplied to a CPU through a printer interface circuit 42, all of signal SD0-SD3 are set to be ''0'' signals in the former case and are set to be ''1'' signals in the latter case. Accordingly, the output level of the sensor S3 is lowered in the case of a receipt paper 1 and is raised in the case of the label paper 2. The output levels in both cases are adjusted to be approximately equal to each other, and both of the position and the presence or absence of the label 4 and the presence or absence of the receipt paper 1 can be detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a printer that prints on labels and receipts (i-re, 4'!r) that can output the label position and the presence or absence of receipt paper using one sensor. Regarding printers.

In recent years, with the diversification of sales methods, there has been a demand for printers that can print on both labels and receipt paper. Therefore, the present applicant provides a separate 1fJs cassette containing label paper and a cassette containing receipt paper, and by attaching and detaching these to the printer, label paper and receipt paper can be exchanged immediately. We have developed a printer that can.

FIG. 1(a) shows an example of this type of receipt paper 1, which is made by winding one predetermined amount of thermal paper into a roll. FIG. 2B shows the vicinity of the end of the label paper 2, in which heat-sensitive labels 4, 4, . . . are pasted onto a mount 3 and wound into a roll.

Here, a slit 5 for detecting the degree of double phase is formed between each label 40, and a terminal end 6 on which nothing is pasted is provided at the rear of the final label 4.

When printing on this label 4, set the position of each label 4 to r4.
I need to introduce it. This is done by detecting the thickness of the paper, since the slit 50 area is only covered by the mount 3, whereas the slit 4 is generally double overlapped with the mount 3. .

For example, when the label paper 2 is passed between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of a transmission type photoelectric sensor, the amount of transmitted light decreases at the label 40 part, and the amount of transmitted light increases at the slit 50 part. The position of label 4 can be determined. That is, since the output of the light receiving element when label/I/4 is detected is at the "L level" and the output when detecting the slit 5 and the terminal end section 6 is at the "H" level, these outputs are "O"/
The presence or absence and position of a label can be determined by the "l"/"l" signal.

On the other hand, when the receipt paper 1 is passed through the main power sensor, the amount of transmitted light decreases when there is receipt paper 1 and increases when there is no receipt paper 1.
It is thought that it is also possible to determine the presence or absence of

However, in this case, since the thickness and transmitted light amount of the mount 3 and the receipt paper 1 are almost the same, it is difficult to detect the label position and the receipt # and 1 using one photoelectric sensor. there were.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining this reason.

Figure (a) shows the state of the label paper 2 or receipt paper 1, (b) shows the output of the photoelectric sensor when each of these papers 2 and 1 passes the photoelectric sensor, and (c) , (d) is the slice level (base M voltage of the comparator; hereinafter T
This shows the level of the value signal obtained when hltbl is the standard voltage (referred to as 1 reference voltage).

As can be easily seen from these figures, the output levels of the photoelectric sensor when the mount 3 and the receipt paper 1 pass are almost the same ((a) and (b) in the same figures). Further, when the label 4 passes, the level falls below this level, and when the receipt paper 1 runs out, it rises above this level. Therefore, the output level of the photoelectric sensor has three values: low (when label 4 passes), medium (when liner 3 or receipt paper 1 passes), and high (when paper 1 and 2 are missing), and the signal level depends on the presence or absence of label 4. If the reference voltage is set to El, for example, so that the signal is switched to "θ'/"l", the signal will be "l" regardless of the presence or absence of the receipt paper 1 (see figure (c)), and the reverse pressure of the receipt paper 1 will be The signal level changes “θ”/“l” depending on the presence/absence.
If you set the reference voltage to E, for example, so that the signal changes to "," the signal will be "θ&'" regardless of the presence or absence of label 4 when label paper 2 is present (see the same figure), and the position detection of label 4 and the receipt paper There was a problem in that only one of the presence or absence of 1 could be detected.

The present invention takes account of the above-mentioned circumstances and provides a printer that can detect labels and receipt paper using the same sensor. The reference voltage is switched or the output level of the sensor is changed depending on whether the paper (which is replaced in a cassette) is a label paper or a receipt paper.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an electronic scale with a printer to which a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this figure, 11a is a measuring pan;
A weighing sensor such as a load cell (not shown) is connected to the I
ttt section 11 (see first OFXJ). Further, 12 is a display section that displays various data such as the weight of the object to be weighed, unit price, price, etc., and 13 is a preset key 14. This is an operation section consisting of a numeric keypad 15 and function keys 16. Here, the preset key 14 is used to call up preset data such as the unit price set in advance for each item, the numeric keypad 15 is used to input various & value data, and the function key 16 is used to make corrections, etc. This is the key used for

Next, 20 is a cassette containing receipt paper l or label paper 2 shown in FIG. 1, and is detachably attached to the scale body. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the receipt cassette with built-in #l:1 for receipts will be referred to as 208.
1 a label cassette 20b containing label paper 2;
These will be collectively referred to as cassettes 20. Fig. S is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the label cassette 20b.
The figure shows the internal structure of the cassette 20b. The label cassette 20b stores label paper 2 inside a shallow box body 21, and when the lid 22 is opened, the label paper 2 is stored inside a shallow box body 21.
It is now possible to store.

Here, the label paper 2 is fitted onto the rotary shaft 23, fixed with a sag,
U-shaped guide plate 24. After passing through the idler rollers 25 and 26, the platen roller 27. It passes through the dispenser 28, where the label 4 and the backing paper 3 are separated, the label 4 is discharged to the outside, and the backing paper 3 is wound up on a winding roll 29.

A prism housing section, which will be described later, is formed at the lower end of the guide plate 24, and a prism 30 is housed therein. In addition, the rear pressure of the cassette 20b is formed with an opening 31 indicating that it is a cassette for labels, and a protective plate 2 is formed at the lower front of the cassette.
1a is provided.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
a and the gear 29 fitted to the shaft of the winding 1/l/29.
These gears 27a are exposed when the cassette 20b is attached to the scale body.

29a meshes with drive gears 32a and 33aK on the scale main body side, and the platen roller 27 and take-up reel 29 are rotationally driven. In this case, the driving gear 32a is the stepping gear 32a.
2 drives the platen roller 27 at a constant speed, and the drive gear 33a is driven by a direct current motor 33 for winding the mount, and rotates the take-up reel 29.

Next, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of the receipt cassette 20a. This cassette 20a is different from the above label cassette 20b in that an opening 31, an idle roller 2
5. There is no dispenser 28° take-up wheel 29. The absence of the opening 31 indicates that the cassette 20a is a receipt cassette, and the absence of the dispenser 28 and take-up reel 29 indicates that the cassette 20a is a receipt cassette, and the reason for the absence of the dispenser 28 and take-up reel 29 is that in the case of receipts, they are immediately ejected outside after printing. This is because there is no need to peel off the label 4 or wind up the mount 3.

As a result, to rotation 823? ! ! The fixed receipt paper 1 is placed on the guide plate 24. It is sent to the outside via the idle row 526 and the platen roller 27.

In this case, the platen roller 27 is driven to rotate in the same manner as in the case of the label cassette 20b described above, conveys the receipt paper 1, and the printed receipt paper 1 is cut by a cutter (not shown) and ejected to the outside. .

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing the state when the label output set 20b is attached to the scale body. In this diagram,
A thermal head 34 performs thermal printing on the label 4 while pressing the label paper 2 against the platen roller 27. The printed label 4 is then peeled off by the dispenser 28 and discharged to the outside b. Next, 81.8
2 is a reflective photoelectric sensor, and whether the attached cassette is the receipt cassette 20a or the label cassette 2
This is for detecting whether it is 0b. As shown in this figure, when the label output set 20b is attached, the photoelectric sensor (hereinafter referred to as sensor) 81 receives reflected light and turns on, but the light beam output from sensor S2 is transmitted to the opening 3.
The sensor S
2 is off. to this? J and receipt cassette 2
In the case of 0a, since there is no opening 31, the sensor S2 is also turned on in the same way as the sensor S1. Note that the above components 27 to 34 constitute a printer section 35.

Next, Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in Fig. 3 and shows the structure of the prism 30. This prism 30 is the light emitted from the light emitting element 36 of the sensor S3 attached to the balance body side. The light that is bent into a U-shape and passes through the label paper 2 or receipt paper 1 is transmitted to the light receiving element 3 of the sensor S3.
It is controlled so that it reaches 7. In this way, light corresponding to the thickness and transmittance of the sheet passing through the guide plate 24 is received by the light receiving element 37.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 1 are block diagrams showing the electrical configuration of the electronic scale with printer. In this figure, total! W,
11. Printer evil 35. The operating section 13 and the display section 12 are connected to the bus 45. It is connected to CPU46. In addition, 47 stores the program 1, t (J M (read only memory), 48 is used for various calculations, etc.) l, AM (
Random access memory), 49 is a file RAM for storing preset data such as +11 values of parts, sales data, etc., 50 is a P for storing character patterns for printing.
-R (JM (programmable RUM).

The printer section 35 consists of the following components as shown in FIG.

(The rethermal head 34 and the head drive circuit 51° that drives it. (2) The stamping motor 32 and the DC motor 33 and the motor drive circuit 52° that drives and controls them. (The current receipt cassette 20a and label cassette 20b) Sensor 81, 82° for distinguishing between #1 and 1 for receipts
Alternatively, there is a sensor S3 that inspects the label paper 2 to detect the presence or absence of these and the label position, an output level adjustment circuit 53 that controls the output level of the sensor S3, and an L)/A (digital/analog) conversion circuit 54. Components 83, 53, and 54 of (2) form the main part of this embodiment, and FIG. t2 shows the circuit (
In addition to these sensors 81 and 82 are also shown in this figure).

In FIG. 12, the 1)/A conversion circuit 54 converts the φ pit signal 5Do-8D3 supplied from the printer interface circuit 42 into an analog signal 8A, and is an operational amplifier (hereinafter abbreviated as OP amplifier) U. )'1 consists of an adding circuit centered on adding resistor RO-)L.
3 through the voltage follower VFO~vfI''3 t, -c
The i-s D O-8D 3 is applied. here,
The values of resistors RO to R3 are, for example, 8, 4, 2, IK
Ω, and the Hirobit signal 5DO-
The 8D3 can output a 24-16 level analog signal SA. In the figure, resistance Rf is a feedback resistance, Rc is a compensation resistance, )Lp...S
is a pull-up resistor.

Next, the output level adjustment circuit 53 is constructed mainly of the transistor Q1, and is configured such that the collector-emitter equiresistance 611+ changes depending on the level of the analog signal SA. The collector of this transistor Ql is
It is connected to the emitter of the light receiving element (phototransistor) 37 of the sensor S3, and this tNH point is connected to the comparator 56.
is connected to the inverting input terminal of As a result, the voltage at the inverting input terminal of the comparator 56, that is, the output of the sensor S3 @
Sho'V.

As shown in FIG. 13, the equivalent resistance value Ra of the light receiving element 370 and the collector ground 11410 of the transistor Ql are
It is determined by the ratio of the equivalent resistance value Rb (this value is the sum of the collector-emitter equivalent resistance ff1M of the transistor Ql and the resistance value of the resistance Re of the collector-emitter ground m1). That is, if the resistance value l'tb is constant,
If the amount of light received by the light receiving element 37 increases and the resistance value k (the output voltage Vo increases as a decreases, and the amount of light received by the light receiving element 37 is constant V), the resistance value Ha remains constant). For example, as the resistance value (tb) increases, the output M1-pressure Vo increases.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the amount of received light decreases when label paper 2 is used, the resistance value Rb is increased to raise the level of output voltage vO, and when receipt paper 1 is used, the amount of received light increases. Therefore, the resistance value W
By reducing b, the level of the output voltage vO is lowered. For example, in the case of label paper 2, all signals 8DO to 81) 3 are set as "1" signals, and the output signal SA of the D/A conversion circuit 54 is lowered (UP amplifier (JPI creates an inverting adder). , SDO~81) The larger the value of 3, the more the output S
A decreases), thereby increasing the resistance value)tb, and when receipt paper 1 is used, the signal 5DONSD3 is all set to "θ".
“Raise the signal SA as a signal, and this will cause the resistance value kL to
Decreasing a. In this way, the level of the output voltage Vo is adjusted to be almost constant (see Cmtq diagram (c)), and the reference voltage Es supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 56
It can swing up and down. And “H” when Vo(ks)
When the level is the same (11 signal), V o ) Hs, a signal KS3 which is “L” L/ /<A/(” (7” signal) is output from the comparator 56 (1st I1 signal).
)0 Also, the output of sensors 81 and 82 is output from inverter 58.59.
is inverted by the signal KS1. It becomes KS2. As a result, when the light is received by the light receiving element of the sensor 81.
level), and when no light is received, the signal becomes Oj1.Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, when the cassette 20 is attached to the scale body, it is determined whether the cassette 20 is a receipt cassette 20a or a label cassette 20b. That is, when the receipt cassette 20a is used, the light receiving elements of the sensors 81 and 82 both receive light, and the signal 81. Both K82 become "l"' signals, and when the label cassette 20b is used, only sensor S1 receives light, signal ks1 becomes "l" and signal KS2 becomes "θ".
``Signal.'' These No. 48 KS1. 82 is the printer interface circuit 42. Via bus 45, C1-
"When supplied to C46, CPU46
A determination is made, and in the case of the receipt cassette 20a, the signal S L) 0. Set all S D3 to “00 signal” and set signal 5DO-8 in case of label cassette 20b.
Set all D3 to “t0 signal.” By this,
As described above, the output level of the sensor S3 is lowered when receipt paper 1 is used, and the output level is increased when label paper 2 is used, so that the two levels are adjusted to be approximately equal. That is, output level adjustment -1
If there is no path 53, the output of sensor S3, which was at the level shown in Figure 1 (a) K, corresponds to the label paper 2 and receipt #l:1 shown in Figure 1 ψ (a) K. The level adjustment circuit 53 moves the output voltage Vo to the level shown in FIG. , the signal IgS3 is the "l" signal when label 4 is detected in the case of label l#, 2, 1111:3
(That is, the slit 5. The terminal end 6) becomes a "0" signal when detected, and the receipt output (in the case of 1, it becomes an "l"/"θ" signal depending on the presence/absence of the receipt paper 1. In this way, the sensor S3 The operation of this embodiment will be explained by taking as an example the case of 1 hour sales in which it is possible to detect the position and presence of label/I/4 and the presence or absence of receipt paper 1.What is face-to-face sales? As the customer moves through the sales floor, the sales staff moves with the customer, and each time the customer buys a product, a nearby electronic scale is used to issue a label indicating the price, and a label is placed on the product's packaging. Note that no money is transferred at this point), and the final step is to check at the checkout counter and receive the money. In this case, the same -
1. To the customer. When M number of products are sold, the sales data for each product is sorted and totaled in the file RAM 49 and simultaneously stored in a receipt buffer provided in the work RAM 48. In this situation, when the operation unit 1 and 30 total print keys are operated, at step SPI in Fig. t5,
The CPU 46 checks the presence or absence of the receipt paper 1 or the label 4. In other words, in the case of receipt paper 1, the signal K
If the signal S3 is "θ"'' and there is no paper 1 and the label 4 is present, even if the platen roller 27 is slightly rotated, if the signal KS3 is "θ" during that time, it is determined that the label 4 is not present. If there are no sheets 1 and 2, an error is displayed in step SP2 and the process ends.Next, in step 8P3, it is determined whether sheets 1 or 2 are present.That is, both signals KS 1 and KS2 are "/" signals. Then, receipt paper 1° signal KS1 is “/”, KS2
If it is "θ", it is determined that it is label paper 2. In the case of label paper 2, the total amount is calculated in step SP4, and printed in step SP5. After printing is completed, the platen roller 27 is rotated to feed the label paper 2 (step 5P5), and the feeding is stopped when the next label 4 reaches the Fgr fixed printing position (step 8P7). Position detection is performed by detecting the point in time when the signal KS3 switches from the "/" signal to the "o" signal or the point in time when it changes from the "0° signal to the "'l°" signal.

On the other hand, in the case of receipt #L1, after calculating the total amount in step 5P13, step SP
At step 9, data such as parts names are printed. Then, in step 5P10, print the total H1 amount, and after printing is completed, feed by a predetermined setting M (step S)
'11) End the process.

In the above embodiment, the label position and the presence or absence of the receipt paper 1 can be detected by adjusting the level of the output voltage Vo of the sensor S3. However, the level of the output voltage vO cannot be changed. It is also possible to achieve this objective by switching the reference voltage Bs. FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment, in which the reference 'rK pressure ES supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 56 is changed to the voltage h a t h b (first
(See figure (b)). The switch means 60 may be a mechanical switch such as a reed relay, or an electronic switch such as a transistor or analog switch. The 1L pressure on the other side is switched so that it is connected.

In the above embodiment, the printer and the scale are integrated, but they may be separate bodies.Also, the prism 30 may be provided on the scale body side instead of on the cassette 20 side. Further, although the receipt cassette 20a and the label cassette 20b are distinguished by the opening 31, the invention is not limited to this, and the distinction can be made by the presence or absence of a mark such as a notch, by switching the slide plate, etc. Furthermore, the sensor S3 is not limited to a transmissive type, but may be a reflective type.Furthermore, label detection can be performed not only by the slit 5 but also by any other arbitrary mark.

As explained above, this invention changes the output level of the sensor or the reference voltage with which this output level is compared depending on whether the paper loaded in the printer is label paper or receipt paper. It is possible to detect both the label position and the presence or absence of receipt paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 h) is a perspective view showing the receipt alignment paper 1, and the same figure (b)
2(a) is a perspective view showing the label paper 2, FIG. (C) is a waveform diagram when the output waveform is sliced by the voltage E shown in (B). FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an electronic scale with a printer to which a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the external configuration of a label cassette 20b. Figure S (a) is a rear rmt view of the same cassette) 20b, and Figure (b) is a planar sectional view taken along A-Ail of (a). A sectional view showing the configuration of the drive section of the take-up reel 29, FIG. 7(A) is a rear view of the receipt cassette 20a, and FIG.
3 is a plane sectional view showing the state and extension when the label force set 20b is attached to the scale body; FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line JX-IX in FIG. 3; Figure 1O is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the electronic scale with printer.
The figure is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer unit 35, the first figure is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the sensors S1 to S3 and the #'f1 side, and FIG. 13 explains the operation of the output level adjustment circuit 53. Figure (1) is a diagram showing the state of label paper 2 and receipt paper 1. Figure (b) is a diagram showing the output level of sensor S3 when the output level is not adjusted. c) shows the output level of the sensor S3 after output level adjustment; in the same figure) shows the waveform of the signal KS3 output from the comparator 56; and Fig. 15 shows the case where the total value of monetary data is printed. 70- to explain the operation of
The chart and FIG. 16 are circuit diagrams showing the configuration of essential parts of another embodiment. 1... Receipt paper, 2... Label paper, 3°... Mount, 4°... Label, 20
...Cassette, 2oa...receipt cassette, 20b...group/label cassette, 35...
...Printer section (printer), 53...Output level adjustment circuit, 54...I)/A conversion circuit (53 and 54 above are setting means), 56... comparator,
Bs・・・Reference voltage (reference value), 81, 82°°
゛...Sensor (discriminator &), 83...Sensor, Vo...Output voltage of sensor S3, KS3...
・Output O of the middle comparator Fig. 11 Fig. 12

Claims (1)

[Claims] A cassette with built-in label paper or receipt paper made of mount KW of labels pasted and detachable from the printer,
A discriminating means for determining whether the paper built in this cassette is label paper or receipt paper, a sensor for inspecting the paper and detecting the position of the label and the presence or absence of paper, and comparing the output signal of this sensor with a reference value. and a setting means for lowering the output level of the sensor or the level of the reference value based on the output of the discrimination means.
/, and determines the position It-f of the label and the presence or absence of paper based on the output of the htJ ratio device.