Abstract:
Apparatus supplies a printer used in a POS location or other printer station with paper from two different rolls. A detection device recognizes when the feeding roll is about to run out of paper, whereupon the paper feeding task is automatically switched to the other roll. An operator only needs to service a printer station before both rolls of paper run out in order to prevent a downtime. One embodiment is directed to apparatus for supplying paper to a printer disposed to receive paper from either a first or a second paper roll. The apparatus comprises first and second roller sets corresponding to first and second paper rolls, respectively, each roller set being operable when receiving power to supply paper from its corresponding paper roll to the printer. The apparatus further comprises a single power source, and a power delivery mechanism for adapting the first and second roller sets to receive power from the source during first and second operating modes, respectively, of the mechanism. A device is provided to monitor the amount of paper remaining on the roll feeding the printer, and to direct the mechanism to change modes before the remaining amount runs out.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention disclosed and claimed herein generally pertains to an apparatus and method for enabling a printer to be supplied with paper from either of two or possibly more rolls. More particularly, the invention pertains to apparatus of the about type wherein paper being supplied to the printer is automatically transferred from one roll to the other. Even more particularly, the invention pertains to apparatus of the above type wherein transfer between rolls occurs upon sensing that the roll feeding the printer is about to run out of paper. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In stores and other shopping areas, it has become common to have printers located at point-of-sale (POS) terminals or locations, such as in kiosks, at check out counters, and the like. Each time a clerk or store employee rings up a sale, a computer-operated printer rapidly prepares a customer receipt, from paper contained on a roll. Customers can thereby be provided with paper records for all transactions, in a manner that is efficient and inexpensive. As a further example, printers are commonly used with paper rolls in theaters or other sites requiring admission, to print and dispense tickets. 
         [0005]    A drawback in using printers of the above type is that paper rolls must be periodically replaced, when the paper on respective rolls runs out. In a commercial environment, it can be very inconvenient to have a printer roll run out of paper at a time of great activity, such as when numerous customers are waiting for service. A need to change printer rolls at a kiosk in a shopping mall or the like may be particularly troublesome, when there is only a single sales clerk to respond to customers, watch over merchandise and otherwise take care of business. 
         [0006]    At present, the above situation is commonly dealt with by requiring an operator in a business establishment to be on call, in order to refill respective printers when they run out of paper. Most printers currently have paper-low and paper-empty sensors. Some even have means to send a message via Ethernet, to notify the operator to come to the printer and refill it with a new paper roll. However, if the operator comes too early, before the paper supply completely runs out, the remaining roll will be thrown away with useable paper still on it, in order to insert a new roll. On the other hand, if the operator comes too late, the kiosk or other POS location would have experienced down time during which it was not able to service customers. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Embodiments of the invention generally provide a printer used at a kiosk or other POS location with two or more rolls of paper. A detection device is positioned to recognize that a roll being used to feed the printer is about to run out of paper, whereupon the paper feeding task is automatically switched to another roll. Thus, instead of being on call or waiting for notification from respective kiosks, an operator can simply make routine maintenance visits to respective POS locations, to replace any empty rolls of paper. The operator would only have to service a printer station before both rolls of paper run out, in order to prevent a downtime. Using this solution will significantly relieve or eliminate problems of the type described above, and will cut down on the cost of maintenance by reducing the amount of work an operator has to do for each printer. This, in turn, will enable the operator to manage a larger region and more POS printer stations. One embodiment of the invention is directed to apparatus for supplying printing paper to a printer that is disposed to receive paper from either a first paper roll or a second paper roll. The apparatus comprises first and second roller sets corresponding to first and second paper rolls, respectively, each roller set being operable when receiving power to supply paper from its corresponding paper roll to the printer. The apparatus further comprises a single power source, and a power delivery mechanism for adapting the first and second roller sets to receive power from the source during first and second operating modes, respectively, of the mechanism. A device is provided to monitor the amount of paper remaining on the roll feeding the printer, and to direct the mechanism to change modes before the remaining amount runs out. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of rollers for feeding paper in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a locking mechanism for the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are schematic diagrams showing respective modes of yet another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a paper feeding apparatus  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, for use in association with a printer  102  (shown only in part). Printer  102  has a print head  104 , which is disposed to receive either paper  106   a  from a paper roll  106 , or paper  108   a  from a paper roll  108 .  FIG. 1  shows paper guides  110  and  112  for routing paper to print head  104 , from either roll  106  or  108 , whenever printer  102  is operated to print out needed material. Printer  102 , by way of example and not limitation, may be located at a POS terminal in a kiosk or other commercial place of business, may be in a theater ticket booth, or may be connected for operation by a computer or data processing system. 
         [0015]    While not shown in detail, a “paper roll” as used herein refers to a continuous strip of paper wound or rolled upon a roll, roller or tube that is mounted for rotation. Thus, pulling on an end of the paper causes the paper to be progressively removed from the roll. 
         [0016]    Referring further to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a driver roller  114  that is mounted for rotation on a shaft  116 , and is linked to receive power from a drive motor  118 . Activation of motor  118  rotatably drives roller  114  in a clockwise direction, as viewed in  FIG. 1 , causing driver roller  114  to feed paper  106   a  of roll  106  to print head  104 . To further achieve this feeding action, a back plate  120  provides a paper guide surface  120   a  in closely spaced relationship with roller  114 . Driver roller  114  bears against the surface  120   a  through paper  106   a . Thus, driver roller  114  engages paper  106   a  with sufficient frictional force to move the paper into print head  104 , when driver roller  114  is rotated by motor  118 . 
         [0017]    In similar fashion, a driver roller  122  is mounted for rotation on a shaft  124 , rotatably driven by a drive motor  126 , and bears against a paper guide surface  120   b  of back plate  120  through paper  108   a . Activation of motor  126  rotates driver roller  122  in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in  FIG. 1 , to feed paper  108   a  into print head  104 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  further shows paper feeding apparatus  100  provided with a paper end detector and control device  128 . Device  128  is configured to control the operation of driver rollers  114  and  122 , by selectively activating motor  118  to drive roller  114 , or activating motor  126  to drive roller  122 . Thus, device  128  determines whether paper at any given time is being fed to printer  102  from paper roll  106  or  108 . Device  128  can also switch between the two rolls in supplying paper. 
         [0019]    Device  128  is further configured to use any available technique, as will occur to those of skill in the art, to detect that the paper on either roll  106  or  108  is almost at its end. For example, device  128  could project scanned beams  128   a  and  128   b , in order to detect the occurrence of special bar codes on paper  106   a  and  108   a , respectively. The special bar code would be placed toward the end of paper loaded onto each roll, to indicate that the paper on the roll is nearly used up. Thus, when device  128  is operating a particular roller driver to feed paper from its corresponding paper roll to the printer, detection of the special code would notify the device  128  that the paper on the roll was almost exhausted. Device  128  would then halt operation of the feeding driver roller and activate the other driver roller, so that paper would continue to be supplied to printer  102 . Control signals are usefully coupled from device  128  to operate motors  118  and  126  through signal transmission paths  130  and  132 , respectively. Device  128  could include a processor, and could be constructed using one of a number of approaches well known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an embodiment comprising a paper feeding apparatus  200  for supplying paper to print head  104  of printer  102 . Apparatus  200  uses a single power source such as a drive motor  202 , rather than the two motors of apparatus  100 , in order to selectively feed paper to printer  102  from either paper roll  204  or  206 . In apparatus  200  of  FIG. 2 , a number of driver rollers such as roller  208   a  are carried upon a power shaft  210 , which is linked to motor  202  and rotatably driven thereby. When power shaft  210  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 2 , one or more driver rollers on the power shaft, together with complementary passive rollers such as roller  212   a  on a shaft  214 , act in cooperation to feed paper  204   a  of paper roll  204  to the printer  102 . Similarly, when power shaft  210  is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 2 , one or more driver rollers on the power shaft, together with complementary passive rollers such as  216   a  on a shaft  218 , act in cooperation to feed paper  206   a  of paper roll  206  to the printer  102 . Driver rollers such as  208   a , passive rollers such as  212   a  and  216   a  and shafts  210 ,  214  and  218 , as well as their respective interactions, are further described hereinafter in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  further shows paper feeding apparatus  200  provided with a paper end detector and control device  220 , similar or identical to device  128  shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, device  220  projects scanned beams  220   a  and  220   b , in order to detect the occurrence of special bar codes at the ends of paper  204   a  and  206   a , respectively. When motor  202  is rotating shaft  210  in one direction, to feed paper from the corresponding paper roll, detection of the special code would notify device  220  that the paper on the roll was almost exhausted. Device  220  would then operate motor  202  to rotate shaft  210  in the opposite direction, so that paper would be supplied to the printer from the other roll. Control signals are usefully coupled to motor  202  from device  220  through a signal transmission path  222 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown power shaft  210  and shafts  214  and  218  in spaced apart parallel relationship with one another, and each supported for rotation (by means not shown). Shafts  214  and  218  are able to rotate freely. However, power shaft  210  receives rotary power through a coupling  302 , from drive motor  202  as described above. Power shaft  210  is rotatably driven in either a counterclockwise or clockwise direction, as determined by motor  202 . 
         [0023]    Referring further to  FIG. 3 , there are shown driver rollers  208   a - 208   d  respectively carried upon power shaft  210 , in spaced apart relationship with one another. Driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c  are in contacting engagement with passive rollers  212   a  and  212   b , respectively, mounted for rotation on shaft  214 . Thus, when power shaft  210  rotates driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c , rollers  212   a  and  212   b  are rotatably driven thereby, respectively. Moreover, when power shaft  210  rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in  FIG. 3 , and driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c  are likewise driven to rotate counterclockwise, paper  204   a  of paper roll  204  will be fed to print head  104  of printer  102 . This is achieved by the collective action of the roller set comprising driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c , and passive rollers  212   a  and  212   b  respectively driven thereby. It will be readily apparent that a roller set could have a different number of driver rollers and corresponding passive rollers than two, for engaging and feeding paper  204   a.    
         [0024]    Similarly, when power shaft  210  rotates driver rollers  208   b  and  208   d , passive rollers  216   a  and  216   b  are respectively rotated thereby. Moreover, when power shaft  210  rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 3 , driver rollers  208   b  and  208   d  are likewise driven to rotate clockwise. Accordingly, paper  206   a  of paper roll  206  will be fed to print head  104  by the collective action of the roller set comprising driver rollers  208   b  and  208   d  and passive rollers  216   a  and  216   b , respectively. 
         [0025]    In apparatus  200 , each driver roller  208   a - d  is journaled on power shaft  210  by means of a rotary bearing, such as bearing  304  shown to support driver roller  208   d . Thus, each roller driver is able to turn freely with respect to power shaft  210 , and need not rotate therewith. In order to feed paper  204   a  for paper roll  204  to the printer, a locking device is provided as described hereinafter in further detail, in connection with  FIG. 4 . The locking device locks driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c  to rotate with power shaft  210 . However, driver rollers  208   b  and  208   d  are not locked to the power shaft. Motor  202  is then operated to rotate power shaft  210  in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in  FIG. 2 . Driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c , and their respective corresponding passive rollers  212   a  and  212   c , are thus driven to feed paper of roll  204  to the printer. Driver rollers  208   b  and  208   d , on the other hand, are not constrained to rotate with power shaft  210 , and no rotary force is supplied thereto by the power shaft. 
         [0026]    In order to feed paper  206   a  from paper roll  206 , driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c  are released by the locking mechanism, and driver rollers  208   b  and  208   d  are locked to power shaft  210  for rotation therewith. Motor  202  is operated to rotate power shaft  210  in a clockwise direction, as viewed in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, driver rollers  208   b  and  208   d  and their respective corresponding rollers  216   a  and  216   b  are driven to feed paper of roll  206  to the printer. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown power shaft  210  comprising a hollow shaft containing a rod  402 . Rod  402  is supported for limited reciprocal displacements within shaft  210 , that is, movement to right and left as viewed in  FIG. 4 , over a specified range. Rod  402  is controllably reciprocated by a conventional actuation motor  404  that is attached to an end of shaft  210 , and is coupled to drive rod  402  by means of a link  406 . The operation of motor  404  is controlled by control  220  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0028]    Referring further to  FIG. 4 , there are shown keys  408   a - 408   d  respectively mounted on rod  402  for movement therewith, wherein keys  408   a - 408   d  correspond to driver rollers  208   a - 208   d , respectively. Moreover, key ways or slots  410   a - 410   d  are formed in driver rollers  208   a - 208   d , respectively, wherein each key way is sized to receive the key corresponding to its roller driver. A locking relationship may thereby be established between the driver roller and the shaft  210 , through rod  402 . 
         [0029]    By providing the configuration of  FIG. 4 , driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c  can be locked to shaft  210  by operating motor  404  to move rod  402  leftward, as viewed in  FIG. 4 . Keys  408   a  and  408   c  are thereby inserted into key ways  410   a  and  410   c , respectively. Shaft  210  can then be driven in a counterclockwise direction to feed printer  102  with paper from roll  204 , as described above. In like manner, rod  402  is moved rightward, to insert keys  408   b  and  408   d  into key ways  410   b  and  410 d, respectively. Driver rollers  208   b  and  208   d  are thereby locked to shaft  210 , for rotation therewith. At the same time, keys  408   a  and  408   c  are withdrawn from key ways  410   a  and  410   c , so that driver rollers  208   a  and  208   c  are released from shaft  210 . Power shaft  210  may then be rotated in a clockwise direction, to feed printer  102  with paper from roll  206 , as likewise described above. While not shown, various means well known to those of skill in the art may be used to align respective keys with their corresponding key ways, to facilitate insertion. 
         [0030]    It is to be understood that numerous other arrangements for selectively locking and unlocking driver rollers with respect to shaft  210  will occur to those of skill in the art. All such arrangements are considered to be within the scope of the invention, and may include but are by no means limited to braking mechanisms and gear and sprocket arrangements. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 5A , there is shown an apparatus  500  for supplying paper to a print head  104  of a printer from either a paper roll  502  or  504 . Paper rolls  502  and  504  are both mounted on a common shaft  506 , in coaxial relationship therewith and with one another. The apparatus  500  shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C  reduces the amount of space that is needed to accommodate the paper rolls, and at the same time requires only a single motor to feed paper to the print head from either paper roll  502  or  504 . Apparatus  500  is provided with two roller sets, one set comprising a driver roller  510  and a passive roller  512  in engaged or closely spaced relationship, in order to feed paper  502   a  of paper roll  502  to the printer. The other roller set comprises a driver roller  514  and a passive roller  516 , likewise engaged to feed paper  504   a  of paper roll  504  to the printer. 
         [0032]    Referring further to  FIG. 5A , there is shown a control and power source  518  provided to turn or rotate a power shaft  520  through an angle of 180°, around the axis of shaft  520 . Shaft  506 , carrying paper rolls  502  and  504 , is fixably joined at its center to power shaft  520 , by a hub  522  or the like. Thus, rotation of shaft  520  acts to rotate shaft  506  through an angle of 180° about the axis of shaft  520 , which is orthogonal to shaft  506 . 
         [0033]    More particularly, shaft  506  can be rotated from the horizontal orientation shown in  FIG. 5A , through the vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 5B  and to the horizontal orientation of  FIG. 5C . The control and power source  518  can also rotate shaft  506  in the opposite direction. The paper rolls  502  and  504  mounted on shaft  506 , as well as the roller sets comprising rollers  510  and  512  and rollers  514  and  516 , respectively, are rotated with the shaft  506 . Structure supporting shaft  506  for rotation, as well as structure joining the two roller sets for rotation with shaft  506 , is not shown for simplicity of illustration but can readily be provided by those of skill in the art. 
         [0034]    As shaft  506  is moved into the horizontal mode shown in  FIG. 5A , driver roller  510  becomes mechanically linked to motor  508 . In a useful embodiment, this is accomplished by attaching a driving element  524  to driver roller  510 , as shown by  FIG. 5B . When shaft  506  is rotated to the orientation shown in  FIG. 5A , element  524  is inserted into a complementary receptacle  526  of motor  508 . Thereupon, operation of motor  508  will drive rollers  510  and  512  to feed paper of roll  502  to the printer. Motor  508  is usefully operated by the control  518 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5B  shows that driving element  524  is withdrawn from receptacle  526  of motor  508 , when shaft  506  is rotated from the horizontal mode of  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 5B  further shows roller driver  514  of the other roller set provided with a driving element  528  similar to driving element  524 . 
         [0036]    When shaft  506  is oriented to the horizontal mode of  FIG. 5C , driving element  528  of driver roller  514  is inserted into receptacle  526 . Thus, operation of motor  508  will drive rollers  514  and  516  to feed paper of roll  504  to the printer. 
         [0037]    It will be seen that power source and control  518 , by selective rotation of shaft  506  and paper rolls  502  and  504 , can readily transfer the task of supplying paper to the printer from one roll to the other. While not shown, a paper end detector such as detector  220 , described above, can be positioned to sense that the paper on the supplying roll is almost gone. The detector would then notify control  518  to rotate shaft  506  and the paper rolls carried thereby, in order to switch the supply task to the other roll. 
         [0038]    The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.