Printing apparatus comprising plural printing units

Abstract: A compact printing apparatus having both receipt printing and journal printing capabilities is provided in a configuration enabling POS stations equipped with a personal computer, display and cash drawer to be assembled with good space utilization efficiency for installation in places with minimal space availability. A receipt printing unit (10), receipt paper supply compartment (17) for receiving a paper roll (11), journal printing unit (20), journal paper supply compartment (27) for receiving another paper roll (21), and take-up reel compartment (29) for take-up reel (22) onto which printed journal paper is taken up are arranged in a line from front (6a) to back (6c) of the printing apparatus. This arrangement enables part of the paper path of the printed journal paper to be seen from outside the printer. This in-line arrangement also prevents wasted space inside the apparatus, and achieves a narrow, compact, high reliability printing apparatus whereby the result of journal printing can be visually confirmed from outside the printer. The substantially non-overlapping arrangement of these components also retains the good maintenance and operation characteristics of the printer.

Description: The present invention relates to a printing apparatus comprising plural printing units for executing independent printing processes such as receipt printing and journal printing. Such printing apparatus is particularly suitable for use in a point-of-sale (POS) station or similar information processing station. Many POS stations in use today are assembled using a personal computer, display, cash drawer, printer, check reader, and other appropriate peripheral devices in a size suited to the scale of the store or check-out area or to meet the specific requirements of the counter arrangement and installation area. The printers used in such POS stations are commonly multiple function printers providing two printing functions, a receipt printing function for printing the receipts handed to customers, and a journal printing function for printing the sales journal retained by the store. Fig. 7 is an illustration of a typical POS station printer enabling both receipt printing and journal printing. The printer 1 shown in this example comprises a receipt printing unit 10 for printing receipts, and a journal printing unit 20 for journal printing. The receipt printing unit 10 and the journal printing unit 20 are disposed side by side in the direction of their printing lines. A paper roll 11 forming a supply of paper for receipt printing is disposed behind the receipt printing unit 10 such that receipt paper from the paper roll 11 is supplied to the receipt printing unit 10, the receipt is printed, and the paper is cut and the receipt is then fed out of the printer 1 through a paper exit 2. A paper roll 21 forming a supply of paper for journal printing is likewise disposed behind the journal printing unit 20, and a take-up reel 22 for winding and holding the printed journal paper is arranged further behind the paper roll 21. After the journal paper is fed from the paper roll 21 to the journal printing unit 20 and printed, the paper is guided again toward the back of the printer 1 and taken up on the take-up reel 22. A printer having a side-by-side arrangement of a receipt printing unit 10 and a journal printing unit 20 similar to the one shown in Fig. 7 is disclosed in JP-A-124278/93. In more recent years such POS stations have even been introduced to very small retail establishments and other small-scale sales sites where the area available for a POS station is extremely limited. This makes it necessary to reduce the size of every component in the POS station and combine plural component devices without wasting space. At the same time, however, each of the components in the POS station must be constructed to assure easy operation and use, and to prevent operating errors. Repair must also be simple when a problem occurs so that store operations are not adversely affected. The POS station printer 1 shown in Fig. 7 is a multiple function printer combining both receipt and journal printing capabilities, thereby making it possible to reduce the number of devices constituting the complete POS station and thus greatly reducing the total required installation area. When the need to construct POS stations for installation to even more confined areas is considered, however, the printer 1 shown in Fig. 7 cannot be considered a sufficiently space-efficient design. More specifically, the side-by-side arrangement of the receipt printing unit 10 and the journal printing unit 20 in the printer 1 shown in Fig. 7 results in a squarish configuration. This makes it difficult, for example, to place the printer 1 on top of the cash drawer beside the personal computer or display, thus creating wasted space in the POS station arrangement. Space utilization inside the printer 1 is also poor because while the paper roll 21 and take-up reel 22 are arrayed behind the journal printing unit 20, only a single paper roll 11 is placed behind the receipt printing unit 10, resulting in dead space behind the receipt printing unit 10 beside the take-up reel 22. Furthermore, if paper roll 11 and paper roll 21 are placed side by side inside the printer 1, the paper width itself must be reduced if the width of the printer 1 is to be reduced. This accordingly reduces the number of printable columns on each roll paper, thus limiting the printable information and transaction details, including the item names, price information, store name, logo, service information, and receipt information. More specifically, the content and expressiveness of the printed information becomes limited. A printer in which the receipt printing unit and the journal printing unit are arrayed in a line one behind the other is disclosed in JP-Y-12863/93. With this printer, however, the journal printing unit is disposed below the paper roll for receipt printing, and the recording medium path along which journal paper is transported does not pass a position from which the journal paper can be made visible to the user. It is therefore not possible for the user to confirm the printing on the journal paper as printing is in progress or immediately after printing. This means that printing data for the next customer may begin even though the journal entry for the preceding customer was incorrectly printed, and the journal entries, the primary purpose of which is to provide a back-up proof copy for the store, may not be very useful. EP-A-0 392 643 discloses a label printer comprising first and second printing units for printing on first and second recording media, respectively, said first and second printing units being arranged substantially in a line one behind the other without overlapping one another. A first supply means is provided behind the first printing unit for holding a carrier tape in the form of a roll to which the labels, i.e., the first recording medium, is applied. The carrier tape with the labels is fed to the first printing unit. After a label has been printed it is separated from the carrier tape and discharged through a "label issuing port". The carrier tape having the label removed is fed through a transport path to a storage compartment where it is wound up and stored. The storage compartment is located below and in an overlapping manner with the first printing unit in the direction of the line in which the two printing units are arranged. An object of the present invention is to resolve the above problems and to provide a printing apparatus which is as small as or even smaller in size than comparable prior art printing apparatus, provides both receipt printing and journal printing capabilities and allows the user to reliably confirm journal printing content as printing proceeds. A further object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus requiring less installation space while retaining good operability and maintenance characteristics. These objects are achieved with a printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject-matter of the dependent claims. To achieve the above objects, the two printing units and the spaces (compartments) for storing the recording media supplied to both printing units are arranged substantially in an in-line arrangement one behind the other, thereby achieving a long, narrow-bodied printing apparatus that also enables the user to confirm printing results before said printed medium is stored. This high reliability printing apparatus can be easily assembled with a personal computer, for example, on a cash drawer, or can be placed in an extra space around the POS station. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1 is an external overview of a printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an overview of the printer shown in Fig. 1 with the top cover of its housing open; Fig. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the printer shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the printer shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an overview of the printer shown in Fig. 1 with the front cover of its housing open; Fig. 6 is an overview of the printer shown in Fig. 1 used to describe how paper is loaded to the printer; and Fig. 7 is an overview of a conventional printer in which the receipt and journal printing units are disposed side by side. As shown in the figures, the printer 5 according to the present embodiment has a rectangular parallelopiped shape that is long from the front 6a to the back 6c with the overall unit enclosed in a housing 30 made of plastic. This housing 30 comprises a bottom housing part 31 for accommodating the various mechanisms of the printer 5, a top housing part or top cover 32 that is mounted to the bottom housing part so as to be openable toward the top 6b and rear 6c of printer 5 (in the clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1), and a front cover 33 that is openable toward the front 6a of printer 5 (in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1). A monitor window 34 enabling the user to confirm the journal printing described below, and to correct the journal printing, is disposed in approximately the center of top cover 32. When front cover 33 is closed (as in Fig. 1), paper exit 35 is formed between front cover 33 and top cover 32. The printed receipt paper is ejected from the top of front cover 33 through this paper exit 35. A cut-out opening is formed on the right side of top cover 32 to expose an operating panel 36 disposed on bottom housing 31. Operating panel 36 and a power switch 37 disposed at the front 6a of bottom housing 31 enable manual control of printer 5. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 printer 5 is divided longitudinally, i.e. from front 6a to back 6c, into two major sections. The front section is the receipt printing section in which are disposed in sequence from front 6a paper cutter 19 for automatically cutting off the receipt after printing, receipt printing unit 10 for printing the receipts, and paper supply compartment 17 for storing the paper roll 11 used for receipt printing. The back section is the journal printing section in which are disposed in sequence from front 6a journal printing unit 20 for journal printing, paper supply compartment 27 for storing the paper roll 21 used for journal printing, and take-up reel or storage compartment 29 for storing the take-up reel 22 onto which the journal paper is wound after journal printing. Identically constructed printing mechanisms 50 are used for both receipt printing unit 10 and journal printing unit 20 of the printer 5. The printing mechanism 50 is a relatively flat unit comprising a platen roller 51, a thermal head 52 for pressing the heat-sensitive receipt or journal paper against platen roller 51 and printing on the paper, a motor 56 that is connected to platen roller 51 by means of a gear train to rotationally drive the platen roller 51 at a predetermined speed, and a base frame 55 for supporting these components. Base frame 55 is mounted substantially perpendicularly to a chassis 38 inside bottom housing 31. In the following, where necessary, indices "1" and "2", respectively, are used to distinguish the printing mechanism and its components of the receipt printing unit 10 from those of the journal printing unit 20. Knob or handwheel 58 and release lever 59 are disposed on the right side of platen roller 51 as seen from front 6a, i.e., on the same side as operating panel 36. Knob 58 is used to manually rotate platen roller 51, and release lever 59 is used to release motor 56 and thereby reduce the load when manually turning platen roller 51 using knob 58. More specifically, all operating means used to manually operate printer 5 are concentrated on one side, i.e., the right side in this embodiment, of the printer 5. Operation by the user is therefore facilitated, and the operator can easily operate the printer using one hand. For guiding the printed paper toward the back of the printer a guide plate 54 is mounted above platen roller 51. On the edge 52a of thermal head 52 opposite that which contacts platen roller 51 is fastened a lever 57 for opening the printing area defined by both platen roller 51 and printing part 52b of thermal head 52. When lever 57 is rotated, thermal head 52 is separated from platen roller 51, thus opening the recording medium path inside printing mechanism 50 wide to the outside. When a paper jam occurs inside printing mechanism 50, lever 57 can, thus, be operated to open the recording medium path and enable the jammed paper to be easily removed. Receipt paper 12 is fed by guide roller 53 1 from paper roll 11 housed in paper supply compartment 17 behind receipt printing unit 10 to the printing mechanism 50 1 . The receipt paper 12 is then guided to platen roller 51 1 , and advanced by the rotation of platen roller 51 1 to the printing part 52b 1 of thermal head 52 1 for receipt printing. The printed receipt paper 12 is then guided to cutter 19b of paper cutter 19 by guide vane 19a, which extends from paper cutter 19 positioned at the front of receipt printing unit 10 toward platen roller 51 1 . After passing cutter 19b, receipt paper 12 is ejected to the outside through paper exit 35. When printing receipt paper 12 by receipt printing unit 10 is completed, receipt paper 12 is thus ejected from printer 5 and automatically cut by cutter 19b of automatic paper cutter 19 to form a printed receipt that can be handed to the customer. Note that an automatic paper cutter as described here is preferable but not essential to the present invention. Journal paper 23 is similarly supplied by guide roller 53 2 to platen roller 51 2 of printing mechanism 50 2 mounted in the journal printing section from paper roll 21 held in paper supply compartment 27 disposed behind printing mechanism 50 2 . The journal paper 23 is likewise advanced by the rotation of platen roller 51 2 to the printing part 52b 2 of thermal head 52 2 for journal printing, and is transported over guide plate 54 2 to the back of journal printing unit 20. The printed journal paper 23 is then taken up on take-up reel 22 disposed in take-up reel compartment 29 behind paper supply compartment 27. To drive take-up reel 22 and wind the printed journal paper 23 onto take-up reel 22, a reel bearing 25 supporting shaft 22a of take-up reel 22, a motor 26 for rotationally driving take-up reel 22, and a power transfer gear train 28 are disposed in take-up reel compartment 29. Monitor window 34 enabling the operator to visually confirm the content printed on journal paper 23 is disposed approximately above guide plate 54 2 of printing mechanism 50 2 . With the guide plate 54 2 also functioning as a writing pad, monitor window 34 also enables the operator to write on the journal paper to add memos, sign the journal, or correct printing errors. The printing mechanism 50 2 of the journal printing unit of the present embodiment is fastened to the housing at a position slightly higher than that of the receipt printing unit 10, thereby bringing the journal paper 23 as close as possible to monitor window 34. This improves the visibility of the paper through monitor window 34, and makes it easier to write on the paper. A control circuit board 62 and one or more connectors 63 for connecting the control circuit to other devices so as to send and receive data and control signals are disposed in space 61 below receipt printing unit and paper supply compartment 17 in printer 5 according to the present embodiment. All connectors 63 are installed so as to face the back 6c of printer 5. The front and side walls of bottom housing 31 are extended downward below paper supply compartment 27 to create a space 65 for any cables. As shown in Fig. 4, print data and control signal cables 66 and 67 which may be connected to connectors 63a and 63b can be accommodated in this space 65. This enables printer 5 according to the present embodiment to be placed tight against a wall or other device without cable connectors 66a protruding from the back of printer 5. Because the cable connectors are not externally exposed and the cables can be held in space 65 and connected without excessively bending the cables, the cables are less likely to disconnect from the printer-side connector jacks, and shorts and other problems arising from tightly bending the cables can be prevented. Note, however, that cut-outs 31a are provided in the side wall extensions of bottom housing 31 so that the interface cables can be led out through the side of the printer 5 as may be required by the printer location. As will be appreciated from the above description, receipt printing unit 10, paper supply compartment 17, journal printing unit 20, paper supply compartment 27, and take-up reel compartment 29 are arranged in-line from the front 6a to the back 6c of printer 5. As a result, a printer 5 equipped with both receipt printing and journal printing capabilities can be provided in a narrow, compact housing while allowing for the desirable width of the roll paper used for both printing functions. By placing the take-up reel compartment 29 behind journal printing unit 20, the journal printing content can be viewed through monitor window 34, which also enables the operator to write to the journal paper as necessary. A narrow width printer as described in the present embodiment can be easily placed beside a personal computer or display on top of a cash drawer to construct a POS station requiring only a small area. The long, narrow configuration of printer 5 facilitates placement around the perimeter of the POS station area, and is therefore suited to the efficient assembly of multiple function POS stations for installation to confined areas. With the printer unit used to print and output the receipts handed by the operator to the customer located at the front 6a of the printer, the printer of the present embodiment also assures good operability. The visibility of the journal paper through the monitor window is also improved and the operator can easily write on the printed journal paper because monitor window 34 is disposed above the journal printing unit aligned with approximately the center of front cover 33, and the journal printing unit is mounted at a position higher than the receipt printing unit. The printer of the present invention therefore facilitates the assembly of compact POS stations having an easy-to-use printer. When top cover 32 of the printer according to the present embodiment is opened, all internal components are readily accessible because the receipt printing unit 10, paper supply compartment 17, journal printing unit 20, paper supply compartment 27, and take-up reel compartment 29 are arranged in-line from the front 6a to the back 6c of printer 5, and these components are non-overlapping, i.e., no component is hidden by another component overlying it. Access to the receipt printing unit 10 of the printer 5 according to the present embodiment is also improved for paper jam removal and regular maintenance because front cover 33 is designed to open forward. The appearance of printer 5 when the printer is opened to access the inside for paper jam removal, to correct other problems, or for maintenance is shown in Fig. 5. When top cover 32 is opened, each of the major components inside printer 5 can be seen. When front cover 33 is then opened forward, paper cutter 19 is exposed and any paper jams therein can be easily removed. Paper cutter 19 is fixed to the chassis of printer 5 so that it can be turned toward the front. When paper cutter 19 is thus turned forward in the direction of arrow A, printing mechanism 50 1 of the receipt printing unit 10 is almost completely exposed. Thus, the printing mechanisms 50 of both printing units are easily accessible. When lever 57 of thermal head 52 is then turned forward in the direction of arrow B, thermal head 52 drops forward to open the recording medium path. Any paper pieces or paper jams between thermal head 52 and platen roller 51 can thus be easily removed. The motor and platen roller 51 are disengaged by rotating release lever 59 on the right side of platen roller 51 in the direction of arrow C, thereby enabling platen roller 51 to be rotated easily by turning knob 58, which is also on the right side. It is therefore also easy to remove paper jams from the vicinity of platen roller 51. Because the same printing mechanism 50 is used as both receipt printing unit 10 and journal printing unit 20 in printer 5 according to the present embodiment, paper jams are corrected in the same manner in both printing mechanisms 50. All manually operated levers and knobs are provided on the same side of the printer, i.e., the right side as seen from front 6a in the present embodiment. It is therefore simple for the operator to correct paper jams and similar problems with the printer according to the present embodiment, thereby continuing service without keeping customers waiting. When the paper supply is depleted it is also simple to set a new paper roll in receipt printing unit 10 and journal printing unit 20. This is shown in Fig. 6 and described below. The first step is to open top cover 32, and then to set paper roll 11 or 21 in paper supply compartment 17 or 27, respectively. Lever 59 on the right side of the respective printing mechanism 50 is then pulled forward to free platen roller 51 from the motor. By then turning knob 58 to manually rotate platen roller 51, receipt paper 12 or journal paper 23 is pulled from paper roll 11 or 21 through the recording medium path to the correct position. The process for setting the paper in position is the same for both receipt paper 12 and journal paper 23, and release lever 59 and knob 58 are operated in the same direction in both printing mechanisms. Because of the longitudinal in-line arrangement of the two printing units 10, 20 in printer 5 according to the present embodiment, paper chaff produced in one printing unit is prevented from creating problems in the other printing unit, in addition to excellent maintenance characteristics being provided. This flat, i.e. non-overlapping, in-line arrangement of the receipt printing unit 10 and journal printing unit 20 also enables the printed content to be easily viewed from above the printer. It should be noted that paper supply compartment 27 and take-up reel compartment 29 are also disposed in this same flat, in-line arrangement to reduce the height of printer 5 in the present embodiment. Paper roll 21 and take-up reel 22 in paper supply compartment 27 and take-up reel compartment 29, respectively, are, however, replaced at the same time. It is therefore possible to arrange these two compartments one above the other. Other than increasing the overall height of printer 5, this arrangement makes it possible to provide a narrow and even shorter printer 5 while having no affect on either the maintenance or operation of printer 5. It should be further noted that while the present invention has been described with reference, as an example, to a printer equipped with both receipt printing and journal printing functions for use as a POS printer, the present invention is not limited to application with POS printers. As mentioned above, the printing mechanisms for the two printing functions are preferably the same because they may then be operated and maintained in the same manner. However, these printing mechanisms need not necessarily be the same but may be different, e.g., a thermal printer and a dot matrix impact printer. While in the embodiment explained above a paper roll is employed as paper supply, a narrow, compact structure can also be achieved in printers that use cut-sheet forms instead of roll paper by using the longitudinal in-line arrangement of the present invention. Furthermore, while the order in which the individual components are arranged in a line from the front to the back of the printer as described above is the preferable one, the present invention may also be implemented with a different order of the two printing units 10, 20, the paper supply compartments 17, 27 and the take-up reel or storage compartment 29. Furthermore, while the present invention has been described with reference to a dedicated POS printer, the invention can also be applied to integrated apparatuses combining the respective functions of a cash drawer, personal computer and display, and printer. By arranging the receipt and journal printing units and the paper rolls therefor in-line in accordance with the present invention, printing functions can compactly provided within the limited space inside such integrated apparatuses while maintaining good maintenance and operation characteristics.

Claims: A printing apparatus comprising: first and second printing units (20, 10) for printing on first and second recording media (23, 12), respectively; a storage compartment (29) for storing the first recording medium (23) after it has been printed by said first printing unit (20); a recording medium path connecting said first printing unit (20) and said storage compartment (29); and means (34) disposed above said recording medium path for exposing said recording medium path such that said first recording medium (23) becomes visible as it passes through said recording medium path, wherein said first and second printing units (20; 10) and said storage compartment (29) are arranged substantially in a line one behind the other without overlapping one another. The apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising first and second supply compartments (27, 17) for accommodating a supply (21, 11) of said first and second recording media (23, 12), respectively, at least one (17) of said supply compartments (27, 17) being positioned substantially in-line between the first and second printing units (20, 10). The apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the first printing unit (20) comprises: a print head (52); a platen (51) disposed adjacent to said print head; means for feeding the first recording medium (23) through a printing area defined between said print head (52) and said platen (51); and opening means (57) for opening and closing said printing area by moving the print head (52) and the platen (51) relative to each other, said opening means (57) being operable when said supply (11) of recording medium is removed from said at least one supply compartment (17). The apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said first printing unit (20), a first supply compartment (27) for accommodating a supply (21) of said first recording medium (23), and said storage compartment (29) are arrayed substantially in an in-line arrangement in this or a different order. The apparatus according to Claim 4 further comprising a second supply compartment (17) for accommodating a supply (11) of said second recording medium (12), wherein at least one of the first and second supply compartments (27, 17) is disposed between the first and second printing unit (20, 10); and the first and second supply compartments and the first and second printing units are arrayed substantially in an in-line arrangement. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims further comprising: a housing (30) for enclosing at least the first and second supply compartments (27, 17), the first and second printing units (20, 10), the storage compartment (29), and the recording medium path; and a first cover (32) disposed to enable opening and closing of said housing such that when said first cover is open the first and second supply compartments, the first and second printing units, the storage compartment, and the recording medium path are exposed. The apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said exposing means (34) disposed above said recording medium path is an opening in said first cover (32). The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the supply (21) of said first recording medium (23) and/or the supply (11) of said second recording medium (12) is a roll of the respective recording medium. The apparatus according to Claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the supply (11) of said second recording medium (12) is a roll of the recording medium, and said printing apparatus further comprises: cutting means (19) arranged in said housing (30) for cutting said second recording medium; and a second cover (33) disposed to enable opening and closing of the front of said housing such that when said second cover is open said cutting means is exposed. The apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein said second supply compartment (17) adapted to receive said recording medium roll (11) is disposed substantially in-line between the first and second printing units (20, 10). The apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10 wherein said cutting means (19) is disposed in a manner to be opened and closed when the second cover (33) is open, and, when open, to expose the second printing unit (10). The apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said second printing unit (10) comprises: a print head (52); a platen (51) disposed adjacent to said print head; means for feeding the second recording medium (12) through a second printing area defined between said print head (52) and said platen (51); and second opening means (57) for opening and closing the second printing area by moving the print head and the platen relative to each other, wherein said second opening means is operable when the second printing unit (10) is exposed. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein said first and second printing units (20, 10) each comprises: a base frame (55); a print head (52) supported on said base frame; a platen (51) supported on said base frame opposite to said print head with a printing area being defined between the print head and the platen; and a transport mechanism supported on said base frame (55) for transporting the recording medium (23, 12) through said printing area; said first and second printing units (20, 10) being arranged in the printing apparatus with said base frame (55) maintained substantially perpendicular. The apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein the first printing unit (20) is disposed at a position higher than the second printing unit (10). The apparatus according to Claim 14 wherein the first and second printing units (20, 10) are interchangeable.

Inventors: ENDO KATSUYUKI, ENDO, KATSUYUKI
Applicants: SEIKO EPSON CORP, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B41J11
IPC codes: B41J11, G07G1, G07G5, B41J15