Sheet handling apparatus and sheet collecting method

Abstract

A sheet handling apparatus includes a feeding mechanism which is configured to feed a rolled paper to a paper path and a conveying mechanism which is configured to convey the rolled paper along the paper path. The sheet handling apparatus further includes a detecting mechanism which is configured to detect whether the rolled paper is running out, and a control mechanism which is configured to convey an end portion of the rolled paper remaining on the paper path to a collection position when the detecting mechanism detects that the rolled paper is running out.

1 . A sheet handling apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a feeding mechanism which is configured to feed a rolled paper to a paper path;   a conveying mechanism which is configured to convey the rolled paper along the paper path;   a detecting mechanism which is configured to detect whether the rolled paper is running out; and   a control mechanism which is configured to convey an end portion of the rolled paper remaining on the paper path to a collection position when the detecting mechanism detects that the rolled paper is running out.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism includes a determination mechanism which is configured to determine whether the end portion of the rolled paper has an area required for printing predetermined information, upon the detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out, and configured to convey the end portion of the rolled paper along the paper path if the end portion of the rolled paper does not have the area required for printing the predetermined information. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a collecting unit configured to collect the end portion of the rolled paper being conveyed along the paper path to the collection position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the collecting unit is located downstream of the detecting mechanism in a direction of feeding the rolled paper. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the collecting unit is located upstream of the detecting mechanism in a direction of feeding the rolled paper. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a paper path switching unit configured to guide the end portion of paper into the collecting container, upon the detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the paper path switch unit guides the end portion of paper into the collecting container along a paper collection path, the paper collection path being branched from the paper path. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a driving unit configured to convey the end portion of the rolled paper to the collection position along the paper path in a reverse direction with respect to a direction of feeding the rolled paper, upon detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit configured to send to an external device a message for prompting a user to load a new rolled paper after the end portion of the rolled paper is conveyed to the collection position by the control mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism, upon the detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out, is further configured to retract the end portion of paper to the collection position where the rolled paper is supplied for printing. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detection mechanism is a reflective photo sensor, and wherein the detection mechanism detects that the rolled paper is running out by sensing that the end portion of paper is being conveyed through the detection mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . A method of handling a paper in a sheet handling device, the method comprising:
 feeding a rolled paper along a paper path by a feeding mechanism;   detecting whether the rolled paper is running out by a detection mechanism; and   conveying, upon the detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out, an end portion of the rolled paper remaining on the paper path to a collection position by a control mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining by the control mechanism, upon the detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out, whether the end portion of the rolled paper has an area required for printing predetermined information, and conveying the end portion of the rolled paper along the paper path if the end portion of the rolled paper does not have the area required for printing the predetermined information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising collecting the piece of paper conveyed to the collection position into a collecting container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising guiding by a paper path switching unit the end portion of paper into the collecting container, upon the detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the guiding includes guiding by the paper path switch unit the end portion of paper into the collecting container along a paper collection path, the paper collection path being branched from the paper path. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising conveying by the control mechanism the end portion of the rolled paper to the collection position along the paper path in a reverse direction with respect to a direction of feeding the rolled paper, upon detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sending to an external device a message for prompting a user to load a new rolled paper after the end portion of the rolled paper is conveyed to the collection position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the detecting includes detecting the running out of the rolled paper by sensing through a photo sensor that the end portion of paper is being conveyed through the detection mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the conveying, upon the detection by the detection mechanism that the rolled paper is running out, includes retracting the end portion of paper to the collection position where the rolled paper is supplied for printing.