U.S. patent application number 14/066701 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-26 for paper roll device with a paper roll detecting function.
This patent application is currently assigned to Armorlink SH Corp.. The applicant listed for this patent is Armorlink SH Corp., IEI Integration Corp.. Invention is credited to Yu-Tsung Chang, Yu-Hsiang Wang.
Application Number | 20150053810 14/066701 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52479495 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150053810 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang; Yu-Tsung ; et
al. |
February 26, 2015 |
PAPER ROLL DEVICE WITH A PAPER ROLL DETECTING FUNCTION
Abstract
A paper roll device includes a casing, two rollers, a lever, a
resilient component, a detecting module and a control module. The
two rollers are installed inside the casing and for supporting a
paper roll cooperatively. An end of the lever is disposed between
the two rollers, and the lever pivots around a shaft. The paper
roll sinks to contact the end of the lever, so as to push the end
of the lever in a first direction. The resilient component is
connected to the lever and for supporting the lever in a second
direction opposite to the first direction. The detecting module is
for detecting a position state of the other end of the lever, so as
to generate a corresponding detecting signal. The control module is
electrically connected to the detecting module and for determining
a using state of the paper roll according to the detecting
signal.
Inventors: |
Chang; Yu-Tsung; (New Taipei
City, TW) ; Wang; Yu-Hsiang; (New Taipei City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Armorlink SH Corp.
IEI Integration Corp. |
Shang-Hai City
New Taipei City |
|
CN
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Armorlink SH Corp.
Shang-Hai City
CN
IEI Integration Corp.
New Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
52479495 |
Appl. No.: |
14/066701 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/563 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2701/1912 20130101;
B65H 2511/142 20130101; B65H 2301/4137 20130101; B65H 2553/612
20130101; B65H 2511/142 20130101; B65H 2220/03 20130101; B65H 26/08
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/563 |
International
Class: |
B65H 43/00 20060101
B65H043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 20, 2013 |
CN |
201310365088.2 |
Claims
1. A paper roll device, comprising: a casing; two rollers installed
inside the casing, the two rollers being for supporting a paper
roll cooperatively; a lever installed inside the casing, an end of
the lever being disposed between the two rollers, the lever
pivoting around a shaft, the paper roll sinking to contact the end
of the lever, so as to push the end of the lever in a first
direction; a resilient component installed inside the casing and
connected to the lever, the resilient component being for
supporting the lever in a second direction opposite to the first
direction; a detecting module installed inside the casing, the
detecting module being for detecting a position state of the other
end of the lever, so as to generate a corresponding detecting
signal; and a control module installed inside the casing and
electrically connected to the detecting module, the control module
being for determining a using state of the paper roll according to
the detecting signal generated by the detecting module.
2. The paper roll device of claim 1, wherein the detecting module
is a switch unit, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a
predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever
in the first direction, so as to pivot the lever around the shaft
and to activate the switch unit by the other end of the lever, so
that the control module determines that the using state is a low
amount state according to the detecting signal.
3. The paper roll device of claim 2, further comprising a
notification module electrically connected to the control module,
and the control module being further for controlling the
notification module to generate an alert message as the control
module determines that the using state is the low amount state.
4. The paper roll device of claim 3, wherein the notification
module is a sound module, a light-emitting module or a text message
module.
5. The paper roll device of claim 1, further comprising a storage
module electrically connected to the control module, the storage
module being for storing a set of predetermined detecting values,
and the control module being further for comparing the set of
predetermined detecting values with the detecting signal to
determine the using state of the paper roll.
6. The paper roll device of claim 5, wherein the detecting module
comprises a light emitter for emitting a light beam and a light
receiver, the light receiver generates the corresponding detecting
signal according to a received light quantity of the light beam
emitted from the light emitter, and the control module compares the
set of predetermined detecting values with the corresponding
detecting signal, so as to determine the using state of the paper
roll.
7. The paper roll device of claim 6, wherein the light emitter and
the light receiver are disposed on two sides of the other end of
the lever, the set of predetermined detecting values comprises an
alert value, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a
predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever
in the first direction, so that the lever pivots around the shaft,
the other end of the lever shades the light beam, the light
receiver sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control
module, and the control module determines that the using state of
the paper roll is a low amount state as the control module
determines that the alert value of the set of predetermined
detecting values corresponds to the corresponding detecting
signal.
8. The paper roll device of claim 6, wherein the light emitter and
the light receiver are disposed on the same side of the other end
of the lever, the set of predetermined detecting values comprises
an alert value, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a
predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever
in the first direction, so that the lever pivots around the shaft,
the other end of the lever reflects the light beam to the light
receiver, the light receiver sends the corresponding detecting
signal to the control module, and the control module determines
that the using state of the paper roll is a low amount state as the
control module determines that the alert value of the set of
predetermined detecting values corresponds to the corresponding
detecting signal.
9. The paper roll device of claim 1, further comprising a
notification module electrically connected to the control module,
and the control module being further for controlling the
notification module to generate a corresponding notification
message according to the using state.
10. The paper roll device of claim 1, wherein the shaft is disposed
between the end of the lever and the resilient component.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a paper roll device, and
more specifically, to a paper roll device capable of notifying an
amount of the paper roll actively.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A conventional paper roll device, such as a lottery machine,
a receipt machine or an ATM machine, often has a paper roll for
sheathing a shaft as a paper feed mechanism. However, a detecting
mechanism of detecting an amount of the paper roll is more
complicated with the paper feed mechanism without the shaft. For
example, in order to ensure whether the paper roll is run out, a
cover of the conventional paper roll device is designed to be
transparent, so that a user can see through the transparent cover
to check the paper roll. In addition, an end portion of the paper
roll can be marked, such as painting a red line, and the user knows
that the paper roll is run out when the paper marked with the red
line is conveyed out of the machine. That is, the conventional
paper roll device cannot notify the user that the paper roll is run
out early. Therefore, it is an important issue to design a paper
roll device capable of notifying the user of the amount of the
paper roll actively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is to provide a paper roll device
capable of notifying an amount of the paper roll actively, to solve
above problems.
[0006] According to the disclosure, a paper roll device includes a
casing, two rollers, a lever, a resilient component, a detecting
module and a control module. The two rollers are installed inside
the casing, and for supporting a paper roll cooperatively. The
lever is installed inside the casing, and an end of the lever is
disposed between the two rollers. The lever pivots around a shaft,
and the paper roll sinks to contact the end of the lever, so as to
push the end of the lever in a first direction. The resilient
component is installed inside the casing and connected to the
lever, and the resilient component is for supporting the lever in a
second direction opposite to the first direction. The detecting
module is installed inside the casing, and the detecting module is
for detecting a position state of the other end of the lever, so as
to generate a corresponding detecting signal. The control module is
installed inside the casing and electrically connected to the
detecting module, and the control module is for determining a using
state of the paper roll according to the detecting signal generated
by the detecting module.
[0007] According to the disclosure, the detecting module is a
switch unit, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a
predetermined diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever
in the first direction, so as to pivot the lever around the shaft
and to activate the switch unit by the other end of the lever, so
that the control module determines that the using state is a low
amount state according to the detecting signal.
[0008] According to the disclosure, the paper roll further includes
a notification module electrically connected to the control module,
and the control module is further for controlling the notification
module to generate an alert message as the control module
determines that the using state is the low amount state.
[0009] According to the disclosure, the notification module is a
sound module, a light-emitting module or a text message module.
[0010] According to the disclosure, the paper roll further includes
a storage module electrically connected to the control module, the
storage module is for storing a set of predetermined detecting
values, and the control module is further for comparing the set of
predetermined detecting values with the detecting signal to
determine the using state of the paper roll.
[0011] According to the disclosure, the detecting module comprises
a light emitter for emitting a light beam and a light receiver, the
light receiver generates the corresponding detecting signal
according to a received light quantity of the light beam emitted
from the light emitter, and the control module compares the set of
predetermined detecting values with the corresponding detecting
signal, so as to determine the using state of the paper roll.
[0012] According to the disclosure, the light emitter and the light
receiver are disposed on two sides of the other end of the lever,
the set of predetermined detecting values comprises an alert value,
as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a predetermined
diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever in the first
direction, so that the lever pivots around the shaft, the other end
of the lever shades the light beam, the light receiver sends the
corresponding detecting signal to the control module, and the
control module determines that the using state of the paper roll is
a low amount state as the control module determines that the alert
value of the set of predetermined detecting values corresponds to
the corresponding detecting signal.
[0013] According to the disclosure, the light emitter and the light
receiver are disposed on the same side of the other end of the
lever, the set of predetermined detecting values comprises an alert
value, as a diameter of the paper roll is less than a predetermined
diameter, the paper roll pushes the end of the lever in the first
direction, so that the lever pivots around the shaft, the other end
of the lever reflects the light beam to the light receiver, the
light receiver sends the corresponding detecting signal to the
control module, and the control module determines that the using
state of the paper roll is a low amount state as the control module
determines that the alert value of the set of predetermined
detecting values corresponds to the corresponding detecting
signal.
[0014] According to the disclosure, the paper roll further includes
a notification module electrically connected to the control module,
and the control module is further for controlling the notification
module to generate a corresponding notification message according
to the using state.
[0015] According to the disclosure, the shaft is disposed between
the end of the lever and the resilient component.
[0016] The paper roll device of the present invention is to dispose
the lever capable of pivoting, and the paper roll contacts the end
of the lever. The paper roll pushes the end of the lever gradually
after consumption, so that the other end of the lever moves
relatively. The detecting module disposed at the other end of the
lever detects movement of the other end of the lever and sends the
corresponding detecting signal to the control module. The control
module determines whether the detecting signal corresponds to the
alert value, so as to determine that the using state is the low
amount state. Therefore, it solves the problems that the
conventional paper roll device cannot actively notify the user that
the paper roll is run out or is about to run out.
[0017] These and other objectives of the present invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a paper roll device according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams of a paper roll of the paper
roll device in different using states according to the embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a detecting module according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagram of the detecting module according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a paper roll
device 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
paper roll device 50 of the present invention can be applied to
various automatic paper ejecting devices, such as an ATM machine of
a bank, a receipt printer of a convenient store, or a lottery
machine of a lottery store. The paper roll device 50 of the present
invention has a function for detecting an amount of a paper roll,
and the paper roll device 50 includes a casing 52, two rollers 54,
a lever 56, a resilient component 58, a detecting module 60 and a
control module 62. The two rollers 54 are installed inside the
casing 52 and for supporting a paper roll 64 cooperatively. The
lever 56 is installed inside the casing 52, and an end of the lever
56 is disposed between the two rollers 54. The lever 56 pivots
around a shaft 561, and the shaft 561 is disposed between the end
of the lever 56 and the resilient component 58. As the lever 56
pivots around the shaft 561, the end of the lever 56 does not
interfere with the two rollers 54. As the paper roll 64 which has
not been used is disposed on the two rollers 54, the paper roll 64
can be designed to contact or not contact the lever 56, as shown in
FIG.1, and the lever 56 can be designed to be substantially
parallel to a horizontal plane.
[0023] The resilient component 58 is installed inside the casing 52
and connected to a bottom of the lever 56, and the resilient
component 58 is for supporting the lever 56 in a second direction
(-X direction) opposite to a first direction (+x direction), so
that the lever 56 can be substantially parallel to the horizontal
plane. The detecting module 60 is installed inside the casing 52,
and the detecting module 60 is for detecting a position state of
the other end of the lever 56, so as to generate a corresponding
detecting signal. The control module 62 is installed inside the
casing 52 and electrically connected to the detecting module 60.
The control module 62 is for determining a using state of the paper
roll 64 according to the detecting signal generated by the
detecting module 60. In this embodiment, the detecting module 60
can be a circuit board, but is not limited to it. For example, the
detecting module 60 can also be a chipset.
[0024] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are
diagrams of the paper roll 64 of the paper roll device 50 in
different using states according to the embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, a diameter D of the paper
roll 64 decreases as the paper roll 64 is used and the amount of
the paper roll 64 decreases. Therefore, the paper roll 64 between
the two rollers 54 sinks to contact the end of the lever 56, so as
to push the end of the lever 56 in the first direction (+x
direction) accordingly. As the paper roll 64 pushes the end of the
lever 56 in the first direction (+x direction), the lever 56 pivots
relative to the shaft 561 counterclockwise, so that the other end
of the lever 56 moves in the second direction (-X direction). In
addition, in this embodiment, the detecting module 60 of the
present invention can be a switch unit, so that the detecting
signal of the detecting module 60 can be an ON\OFF signal. In this
embodiment, it can be designed that an OFF signal is sent to the
control module 62 as the switch unit is not activated, and the
control module 62 determines that the using state of the paper roll
64 is a normal state according to the OFF signal. As the switch
unit is activated, the switch unit sends an ON signal to the
control module 62, and the control module 62 determines that the
using state of the paper roll 64 is a low amount state or a
depleted state according to the ON signal. As shown in FIG.3, the
diameter D of the paper roll 64 is less than a predetermined
diameter PD, and the paper roll 64 pushes the end of the lever 56
in the first direction (+x direction). Therefore, the lever 56
pivots around the shaft 561, the other end of the lever 56
activates the switch unit, and then the switch unit sends the ON
signal to the control module 62, so that the control module 62
determines that the using state is the low amount state according
to the detecting signal. The paper roll device 50 can further
include a notification module 66 electrically connected to the
control module 62, and the control module 62 is further for
controlling the notification module 66 to generate an alert message
as the control module 62 determines that the using state of the
paper roll 64 is the low amount state, so as to notify a user that
the paper roll 64 is about to run out. The notification module 66
can be a sound module, a light-emitting module or a text message
module. That is, the notification module 66 can notify the user
that the paper roll 64 is about to run out by sound, light or
text.
[0025] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the
detecting module 60 according to another embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the paper roll device 50
of the present invention can further include a storage module 68
electrically connected to the control module 62. The storage module
68 is for storing a set of predetermined detecting values. As shown
in FIG. 4, the detecting module 60 can include a light emitter 601
and a light receiver 603. The light emitter 601 is for emitting a
light beam, and the light receiver 603 generates a corresponding
detecting signal according to a received light quantity of the
light beam emitted from the light emitter 601. The control module
62 compares the set of predetermined detecting values with the
corresponding detecting signal, so as to determine the using state
of the paper roll 64. In this embodiment, the light emitter 601 and
the light receiver 603 are disposed on two sides of the other end
of the lever 56, and the other end of the lever 56 can shade the
light beam, so that the light receiver 603 does not receive the
whole light beam from the light emitter 601. Therefore, the light
receiver 603 of the detecting module 60 sends the corresponding
detecting signal to the control module 62. Then, the control module
62 compares the set of predetermined detecting values with the
corresponding detecting signal to determine the using state of the
paper roll 64. The set of predetermined detecting values can
include an alert value AV1, and the control module 62 determines
that the using state of the paper roll 64 is the low amount state
as the control module 62 determines that the alert value AV1
corresponds to the corresponding detecting signal. As shown in FIG.
1 to FIG. 3, the diameter D of the paper roll 64 decreases as the
amount of the paper roll 64 decreases. As the diameter D of the
paper roll 64 is less than the predetermined diameter PD, the paper
roll 64 pushes the end of the lever 56 in the first direction (+x
direction), so that the lever 56 pivots around the shaft 561 and a
part of the light beam is shaded by the other end of the lever 56.
Therefore, the light receiver 603 of the detecting module 60 sends
the corresponding detecting signal to the control module 62. Then,
the control module 62 determines that the corresponding detecting
signal corresponds to the alert value AV, so that the control
module 62 determines that the using state of the paper roll 64 is
the low amount state.
[0026] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a
diagram of the detecting module 60 according to another embodiment
of the present invention. In this embodiment, the light emitter 601
and the light receiver 603 are disposed on the same side of the
other end of the lever 56. The light emitter 601 is for emitting
the light beam to the lever 56, and a part of the light beam is
reflected to be received by the light receiver 603. Moreover, the
set of predetermined detecting values of the storage module 68
includes another alert value AV2. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the
diameter D of the paper roll 64 decreases as the amount of the
paper roll 64 decreases. As shown in FIG.3, as the diameter D of
the paper roll 64 is less than the predetermined diameter PD, the
paper roll 64 pushes the end of the lever 56 in the first direction
(+x direction), so as to pivot the lever 56 around the shaft 561
and to reflect a part of the light beam by the other end of the
lever 56 to the light receiver 603. Then, the light receiver 603
sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control module 62.
The control module 62 determines that the using state of the paper
roll 64 is the low amount state as the control module 62 determines
that the alert value AV2 of the set of predetermined detecting
values corresponds to the corresponding detecting signal.
[0027] The detecting module 60 of the present invention is not
limited to an interruptive sensor in FIG. 4 or a reflective sensor
in FIG. 5. Detectors capable of detecting variations of position of
the other end of the lever 56 are within the scope of the present
invention. Furthermore, the detecting signal generated by the
detectors in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 can be a continuous analog signal
which corresponds to variation of the light quantity of the light
beam received by the light receiver. That is, the detecting signal
corresponds to the continuous variation of position of the lever
56, and the control module 62 can convert the continuous detecting
signal into a corresponding digital signal. Then, the control
module 62 compares the corresponding digital signal and the set of
predetermined detecting values stored in the storage module 68, so
as to present a continuous variation of the remaining amount of the
paper roll 64 effectively. Furthermore, in these two embodiments,
the paper roll device 50 can also include the notification module
66 electrically connected to the control module 62, and the control
module 62 controls the notification module 66 to generate the
corresponding notification messages to notify the user of the using
state of the paper roll 64 according to the using state. For
example, the control module 62 can convert the detecting signal
into the corresponding digital signal and control the notification
module 66 to display a percentage of the remaining amount of the
paper roll 64 according to the digital signal, so that the user is
able to be aware of the amount of the paper roll 64.
[0028] In contrast to the prior art, the paper roll device of the
present invention is to dispose the lever capable of pivoting, and
the paper roll contacts the end of the lever. The paper roll pushes
the end of the lever gradually after consumption, so that the other
end of the lever moves relatively. The detecting module disposed at
the other end of the lever detects movement of the other end of the
lever and sends the corresponding detecting signal to the control
module. The control module determines whether the detecting signal
corresponds to the alert value, so as to determine that the using
state is the low amount state. Therefore, it solves the problems
that the conventional paper roll device cannot actively notify the
user that the paper roll is run out or is about to run out.
[0029] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *