Patent Publication Number: US-2011057977-A1

Title: Medium detecting device, printer having the same and medium detecting method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-208792, filed on Sep. 10, 2009, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate to a paper sheet detecting device and printer for detecting the presence and position of paper sheets being conveyed therethrough. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A printer for printing paper sheets, such as passbooks, accepts a passbook inserted in an insert hole and conveys it to a dot head. The dot head prints data in empty columns of the passbook. The printed passbook is conveyed to and discharged out of the insert hole. A plurality of conveying rollers for conveying the passbook and a plurality of sensors for optically detecting the presence and position of the passbook are disposed on a conveying path extending from the insert hole to the nearby dot head. 
     The sensors are disposed at intervals less than the minimum length of the passbook to allow the presence and position of the passbook to be detected at all times. 
     In the related art, there have been proposed various techniques including sensors for optically detecting paper sheets such as passbooks and the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrate the configuration of a printer according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart for explaining an operation according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a state where a passbook is being conveyed forward and does not yet cover both sensors, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a state where the passbook covers a front sensor, subsequent to  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a state where the passbook is moved between both sensors, subsequent to  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a state where the passbook covers a rear sensor, subsequent to  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a state where the passbook passes through positions of both sensors, subsequent to  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a state where the passbook is conveyed in backward and covers the rear sensor. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a state where the passbook is moved between both sensors, subsequent to  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a state where the passbook covers the front sensor, subsequent to  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a state where the passbook passes through the positions of both sensors, subsequent to  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     If the sensors are disposed at intervals less than the minimum length of the passbook, the number of sensors becomes large, which may increase production costs. 
     According to one embodiment, a medium detecting device is provided. The medium detecting device comprises a conveying path configured to convey a plurality of mediums therethrough and a plurality of sensors configured to detect at least one of the plurality of mediums disposed in a conveying direction of the conveying path. The plurality of sensors is arranged at intervals longer than a minimum length of at least one of the plurality of mediums. The medium detecting device also comprises a control unit configured to generate position information of the plurality of mediums based on output from the plurality of sensors, and the relationship between the sensors. 
     Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  shows the entire configuration of a printer according to one embodiment. In  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  1  denotes a conveying path in which a paper sheet such as a passbook T is conveyed forward from the leading end, i.e., a passbook insert hole  1   a , to the tailing end  1   b  of the printer and the passbook T arrived at the tailing end is conveyed backward toward the passbook insert hole  1   a.    
     A switchable inserter shutter  2  is disposed near the passbook insert hole  1   a  on the conveying path  1  and can be opened and shut. An alignment shutter  3  is disposed in the middle of the conveying path  1 . A dot head  4  for performing a dot matrix print for the passbook T is disposed at the side of the tailing end  1   b  of the conveying path  1 . The dot head  4  is movable in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying path  1  and prints character information in empty columns of the passbook T. 
     A plurality of sensors P 0 , P 1 , P 2 A and P 2 B for detection of paper sheets is arranged in the passbook insert hole  1   a  on the conveying path  1 . The passbook insert hole  1   a  may be sized and configured to receive the passbook T. These sensors P 0 , P 1 , P 2 A and P 2 B optically detect the presence of the passbook T in the passbook insert hole  1   a . In addition, a plurality of sensors P 3 , P 4 , . . . , P 11  for detection of paper sheets is arranged in the conveying path  1  and its conveying direction. These sensors P 3 , P 4 , . . . , P 11  optically detect the presence and position of the passbook T. The dot head  4  is located between the sensors P 9  and P 10  of these sensors P 3 , P 4 , . . . , P 11 . 
     In addition, a gap Dp between at least the sensor P 9  (first sensor) and the sensor P 10  (second sensor) of the sensors P 3 , P 4 , . . . , P 11 , with the dot head  4  located therebetween, is set to be longer than the minimum length Dt of the passbook T in the conveying direction. 
     A control circuit is shown in  FIG. 2 . Reference numeral  10  denotes a control unit of the printer which is connected to an upper level apparatus (also referred to as a host unit)  20 . The control unit  10  is connected with the sensors P 0 , P 1 , . . . , P 11 , the inserter shutter  2 , the alignment shutter  3 , the dot head  4 , and conveying rollers  13   a , . . . ,  13   n  and an entrance roller  11  on the conveying path  1 . The entrance roller  11  accepts the passbook T inserted in the passbook insert hole  1   a  and discharges the passbook T, which is completed to be printed by the dot head  4  and is conveyed backward (reversed), out of the passbook insert hole  1   a . The conveying rollers  13   a , . . . ,  13   n  convey the passbook T forward and backward. 
     The control unit  10  includes the following means (1) as a main function of conveying and detecting the passbook T. 
     (1) A control means for generating position information of the passbook T in the conveying path  1  based on the outputs of the sensors P 0 , P 1 , . . . , P 11  and their mutual relationship. Specifically, the control means generates the position information of the passbook T based not only on the outputs of the sensors P 0 , P 1 , . . . , P 11  and their mutual relationship, but also on the conveying direction of the conveying path  1 , as described below. 
     The paper sheets detecting device is constituted by the above means (1) of the control unit  10  and the sensors P 0 , P 1 , . . . , P 11 . 
     Next, operations according to one embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart of  FIG. 3 . First, operation of the sensors P 0 , P 1 , . . . , P 11 , particularly, the sensors P 9  and P 10  will be described. 
     When the passbook T is conveyed on the conveying path  1 , the sensors P 9  and P 10  are turned on (Act A 101 ). 
     If the conveying direction of the passbook T is the forward direction (YES of act A 103 ) and the passbook T does not cover either of the sensors P 9  or P 10 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , and if both of output signals from the sensors P 9  and P 10  are (logic) “0” (YES of act A 104 ), PP 9 _Status=0 (logic “0”), BetweenP 9 P 10 =0 (logic “0”) and PP 10 Status=0 (logic “0”) are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 105 ). 
     Subsequently, if the passbook T covers the sensor P 9  but does not yet cover the sensor P 10 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , and if an output signal from the sensor P 9  is “1” and an output signal from the sensor P 10  is “0” (YES of act A 106 ), PP 9 _Status=1 (logic “1”), BetweenP 9 P 10 =0 (logic “0”) and PP 10 _Status=0 (logic “0”) are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 107 ). 
     Subsequently, if the passbook T covers the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and if both of output signals from the sensors P 9  and P 10  are “0” (YES of act A 108 ), PP 9 _Status=1, BetweenP 9 P10=1 (logic “1”) and PP 10 _Status=0 are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 109 ). 
     Subsequently, if the passbook T leaves the sensor P 9  and covers the sensor P 10 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , and if an output signal from the sensor P 9  is “0” and an output signal from the sensor P 10  is “1” (YES of act A 110 ), PP 9 _Status=0, BetweenP 9 P10=0 and PP 10 _Status=1 are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 111 ). 
     Subsequently, if the passbook T passes through the positions of the sensors P 9  and P 10 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , and if both of output signals from the sensors P 9  and P 10  are “0” (YES of act A 104 ), PP 9 _Status=0, BetweenP 9 P10=0 and PP 10 _Status=0 are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 105 ). 
     In this way, as the passbook T is conveyed in the forward direction, the vacant columns of the passbook T is printed with character information by the dot head  4 . 
     If the printed passbook T is conveyed in the backward direction (NO of act A 103 ) and the passbook T does not cover either of the sensors P 9  or P 10 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , and if both of output signals from the sensors P 9  and P 10  are “0” (YES of act A 112 ), PP 9 _Status=0, BetweenP 9 P  10 =0 and PP 10 _Status=0 are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 113 ). 
     Subsequently, if the passbook T covers the sensor P 10  but not does yet cover sensor P 9 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , and if an output signal from the sensor P 9  is “0” and an output signal from the sensor P 10  is “1” (YES of act A 114 ), PP 9 _Status=0, BetweenP 9 P 10 =0 and PP 10 _Status=1 are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 115 ). 
     Subsequently, if the passbook T covers the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , and if both of output signals from the sensors P 9  and P 10  are “0” (YES of act A 116 ), PP 9 _Status=0, BetweenP 9 P 10 =1 and PP 10 _Status=1 are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 117 ). 
     Subsequently, if the passbook T leaves the sensor P 10  and covers the sensor P 9 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , and if an output signal from the sensor P 9  is “1” and an output signal from the sensor P 10  is “0” (YES of act A 118 ), PP 9 _Status=1, BetweenP 9 P 10 =0 and PP 10 _Status=0 are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 119 ). 
     Subsequently, if the passbook T passes through the positions of the sensors P 9  and P 10 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , and if both of output signals from the sensors P 9  and P 10  are “0” (YES of act A 112 ), PP 9 _Status=0, BetweenP 9 P 10 =0 and PP 10 _Status=0 are respectively generated as the position information A corresponding to the sensor P 9 , the position information B corresponding to the middle position between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  and the position information C corresponding to the sensor P 10  (act A 113 ). 
     As used in this application, entities for executing the actions can refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software or software in execution. For example, an entity for executing an action can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on an apparatus and the apparatus can be an entity. One or more entities can reside within a process and/or thread of execution and an entity can be localized on one apparatus and/or distributed between two or more apparatuses. 
     The program for realizing the functions can be recorded in the apparatus, can be downloaded through a network to the apparatus and can be installed in the apparatus from a computer readable storage medium storing the program therein. A form of the computer readable storage medium can be any form as long as the computer readable storage medium can store programs and is readable by the apparatus such as a disk type ROM and a solid-state computer storage media. The functions obtained by installation or download in advance in this way can be realized in cooperation with an OS(Operating System) or the like in the apparatus. 
     The generated position information A, B and C is transmitted to the upper level apparatus  20  at every predetermined transmission time. The upper level apparatus  20  monitors the transmitted position information A, B and C to accurately detect the presence and position of the passbook T. 
     Particularly, even when the passbook T resides between the sensors P 9  and P 10 , since the position information A (PP 9 _Status), the position information B (BetweenP 9 P 10 ) and the position information C (PP 10 _Status) to represent the presence and position of the passbook T are generated, it is possible to accurately detect the presence and position of the passbook T at all times even if the gap Dp between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  is set to be longer than the minimum length Dt of the passbook T in the conveying direction. 
     Since the gap Dp between the sensor P 9  and the sensor P 10  may be set to be longer than the minimum length Dt of the passbook T in the conveying direction, the number of sensors for passbook detection can be reduced, which may reduce production costs. 
     Although it has been illustrated in the above embodiment that the gap Dp between the two sensors P 9  and P 10  is set to be longer than the minimum length Dt of the passbook T, a gap between different sensors may be set in the same way and the number of sensors may be further reduced. In addition, although passbook T has been illustrated as the one example of the paper sheets, other sheets and medium can be conveyed into the printer, without being limited to the passbook T. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel devices and apparatuses described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the devices and apparatuses described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.