JP4784330B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus that performs printing on a label sheet having a number of labels adhered to a mount.

  Conventionally, in a printing apparatus that prints on a label sheet in which a large number of labels are adhered to the mount, in a printing apparatus having a function of peeling the printed sticker from the mount, the labels are peeled off one after another and discharged. The discharged label sticks to the previously discharged label or the surrounding area. Therefore, in such a printing apparatus, after confirming that the printed and peeled label has been taken out from the outlet by the user, control is generally performed so as to start printing on the next label. Yes. Here, as a confirmation that the label has been taken out, a transmissive optical sensor is arranged in front of the outlet, and the presence / absence of the label is determined.

Under these circumstances, in order to cope with the case where a plurality of labels are arranged in the width direction of the mount, only when the number of the optical sensors is arranged and all the labels are taken out, the following is performed. A label printer that prints a label has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 5-170240 A

  However, in the label printer of the invention described in Patent Document 1, the relationship between the label and the optical sensor is 1: 1. In such a label printer, for example, if a label printer in which only two optical sensors are provided and a label sheet having three labels arranged in the width direction of the mount is used, there are labels that cannot be detected. Even though there is a label that has not been taken out, the next label is printed, and the printed label sticks around. Even when two labels are arranged, there are various widths of mounts and labels, so even if one label paper is supported, another label has It may not be possible. That is, the label printer according to the invention described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that only label sheets whose label placement in the width direction of the mount corresponds to the placement of the optical sensor can be used. Therefore, in order to use label paper with an unsupported label layout in such a label printer, it is necessary to change the hardware such as changing the installation position of the optical sensor or increasing the number of optical sensors. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not realistic because of cost and labor. Also, label papers with different types of labels arranged in the transport direction of the label paper, for example, a mount with a width of 7 cm, a margin of 3 mm at both ends, and two labels with a width of 3 cm are arranged at intervals of 4 mm. The next label has 3 mm margins at both ends, and two labels of 1 cm label width and 5 cm label width are arranged at 4 mm intervals, and the next label has 3 mm margins at both ends. When a label sheet having a complicated arrangement such that three labels having a label width of 2 cm are arranged at intervals of 2 mm is used, the arrangement position of the optical sensor is also delicate.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of controlling printing regardless of the label width in a label sheet in which a large number of labels are adhered to a mount. To do.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus including a printing unit that prints print data on a label sheet in which a number of labels are adhered to a mount, A peeling means for peeling from the mount, and a label detection arranged in the width direction of the mount to detect the presence or absence of the label at a position where the label peeled from the mount by the peeling means protrudes from the mount And a reflection means that is provided so as to be exchangeable at a position opposite to the label detection means and sandwiching the label protruding from the mount, the reflection means having a color different from the color of the label surface or the back surface; By comparing the identification means for identifying the color of the reflection means, the threshold value corresponding to the color identified by the identification means, and the value detected by the label detection means, Characterized in that it comprises a determination means for determining whether the serial label.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the label detecting means is provided to face the printing surface of the label. .

  Further, in the printing apparatus of the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, the label detecting means is provided to face the back surface of the printing surface of the label. And

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the label detecting means is an image sensor in which photoelectric elements are arranged in a line. It is characterized by.

In the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the label detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the label is arranged in the width direction of the mount at the position where the label peeled off from the mount by the peeling means protrudes from the mount. The presence of all peeled labels can be detected. Therefore, it is possible to detect the presence / absence of all labels without changing the hardware, regardless of the label layout of any label. Therefore, it is not determined that there is no label despite the presence of the label. Further, an exchangeable reflecting means is provided at a position facing the label detecting means and sandwiching the label protruding from the mount. Therefore, it is easy to detect a label that is a detection target.

  Further, in the printing apparatus of the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the label detecting means is provided facing the printing surface of the label. The presence or absence of a label can be detected by detecting the state.

  Moreover, in the printing apparatus of the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the label detection means is provided facing the back surface of the printing surface of the label. The presence or absence of the label can be detected by detecting the state of the back side of the surface. Therefore, it does not depend on the color of the printing result.

  In the printing apparatus of the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the label detection means may be an image sensor in which photoelectric elements are arranged in a line. it can. Therefore, it is possible to detect all the width directions of the labels, and it is possible to detect the presence / absence of all the labels regardless of the width of the labels at any position.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating an outline of the printing apparatus 1, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the inside of the discharge port 13 of the printing apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 is connected to the computer apparatus 2 via a USB cable 10 based on a standard such as USB, and exchanges data via the USB cable 10. The computer apparatus 2 is a well-known personal computer, and as shown in FIG. 1, includes a main body 21 having a CPU, a monitor 31, a keyboard 41, and a mouse 42. The monitor 31, keyboard 41, and mouse 42 are included. Are connected to the main body 21 by a connection cable. Then, the computer apparatus 2 creates print data for printing by the printing apparatus 1 and transmits the created print data to the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 performs printing based on the received print data. The computer device 2 may have any shape such as a desktop type, a notebook type, or a tower type.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 is casing with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 12, and a discharge port 13 for discharging the tape 17 is provided on the front surface (surface in the right front direction in FIG. 1). Is provided. Further, a tape cassette housing portion 14 is provided inside the left side surface of the housing 12, and the cover 15 provided on the left side surface of the housing 12 can be opened to detachably mount the tape cassette. . In the printing apparatus 1, a tape cassette storing a tape-shaped print medium is stored in the tape cassette storage unit 14 to perform printing. The tape cassette housing section 14 is provided with a printing mechanism including a thermal head 19 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) having a plurality of heating elements and a platen roller that comes into contact with the thermal head 19. The tape 17 of the tape cassette stored in the cassette storage unit 14 runs on the tape 17 between the thermal head 19 and the platen roller, and printing is performed. Then, the printed tape 17 is discharged from the discharge port 13.

  In addition, a power switch 4 that turns off the power of the printing apparatus 1 is provided on the upper side of the tape cassette housing portion 14 on the left side of the housing 12. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a key 3 (see FIG. 2) that gives an instruction to the printing apparatus 1 is provided on the right side surface of the housing 12.

  In the printing apparatus 1 of the present invention, as one type of tape 17, label paper 71 (see FIG. 3) in which a number of labels 712 are adhered to a tape-like mount 711 can be printed. A peeling mechanism 45 (see FIG. 3) for peeling the label is provided inside the discharge port 13, and the label 712 peeled from the mount is discharged from the discharge port 13. In such a label paper 71, since the peeled label 712 is discharged, when printing is performed one after another and the discharge is continued, the adhesive surface of the label 712 discharged from the discharge port 13 is stuck to the periphery. Therefore, in the printing apparatus 1, after a part of the peeled label 712 is discharged from the discharge port 13, the conveyance is stopped and the label 712 is removed by the user, and then the process for printing the next label is performed. Is started. The image sensor head 27 is used to determine whether or not this label has been removed by the user. The image sensor head 27 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus 1 is provided with a main control board 30, and the main control board 30 is provided with a CPU 11 that performs main control of the printing apparatus 1. The CPU 11 stores a CGROM 32 that stores graphic data such as characters and symbols. A ROM 33 that stores a control program, a RAM 34 that stores print data received from the computer apparatus 2 to be described later, other data and flags, a timer 18 that generates date and time data, and the computer apparatus 2. The communication interface 16 and the input / output interface 35 are connected via a data bus 36.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the input / output interface 35 of the printing apparatus 1 includes a cassette sensor 22 for detecting the presence and type of a tape cassette stored in the tape cassette storage section 14 and a thermal head 19. A driving circuit 23 for driving, a driving circuit 24 for driving the tape feeding motor 20, a driving circuit 25 for driving a cutting motor 28 for operating a cutter blade for cutting the tape, a state of the printing apparatus 1 and a message to the user Is connected to the drive circuit 26 for driving the LCD 29, the key 3 for receiving input from the user, the image sensor head 27 for detecting the state of the label discharged from the discharge port 13, and the power switch 4. .

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the detection of the label state by the image sensor head 27 provided inside the discharge port 13 will be described. In addition, the discharge port 13 side is provided in the near side in FIG. In the label paper 71 shown in FIG. 3, two labels 7121 and 7122 having different widths in the width direction of the label paper 71 are aligned and adhered to the mount 711, and downstream in the transport direction (the back side in FIG. 3). Further, the labels 7123 and 7124 are adhered, and the labels 7125 and 7126 are further adhered to the downstream side, so that the label paper 71 continues. A label adhered to the label paper 71 such as the labels 7121 to 7126 is referred to as a label 712. The upper side in FIG. 3 of the label paper 71 is the printing surface, the opposite side to the printing surface is the back surface, the upper side in FIG. 3 of the label 712 is the printing surface, and the surface that is adhered to the mount 711 is the adhesive surface. The surface to which the label 712 in 711 is adhered is referred to as the front surface, and the surface to which the label 712 is not adhered is referred to as the back surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the discharge port 13, the thermal head 19 that performs printing with a plurality of heating elements in the width direction of the mount 711 of the label paper 71 faces the printing surface of the label paper 71. Is built. Further, on the back side of the label paper 71, a peeling mechanism 45 for changing the transport direction of the mount 711 of the label paper 71 and peeling the label 712 from the mount 711 is provided. The peeling mechanism 45 is a rod-like member installed in the width direction of the mount 711, and is provided closer to the discharge port 13 than the print position where the heating elements of the thermal head 19 are arranged. When the mount 711 is transported by the drive of the tape feed motor 20 under the control of the drive circuit 24, it is transported from the back side in FIG. On the downstream side of the mechanism 45, the transport direction of the mount 711 is changed by the peeling mechanism 45 and is transported from the near side in FIG. 3 to the far side (arrow B direction). However, even if the transport direction of the mount 711 is changed, the transport direction of the label 712 is not changed, the label 712 is peeled off from the mount 711, and is transported as it is from the back side to the near side (arrow A direction) in FIG. It will be. Note that the label 712 is made of a material and a thickness so that its rigidity is superior to the adhesive force to the mount 711 so that the label 712 is peeled from the mount 711 by the peeling mechanism 45. That is, in the peeling mechanism 45, the transport direction of the mount 711 is changed, so that the label 712 is discharged in the direction of the discharge port 13 in a peeled state.

  Further, the image sensor head 27 and the reflection member 271 are provided in the width direction of the label 712 so as to sandwich the labels 7121 and 7122 peeled by the peeling mechanism 45 on the near side in FIG. . In the present embodiment, the image sensor head 27 is provided on the printing surface side of the label 712, and the reflecting member 271 is provided on the adhesive surface side of the label 712. The image sensor head 27 is provided with an LED, and the reflected light of the light output from the LED is detected by an optical element arranged in the width direction of the label paper 71. In the image sensor head 27 of the present embodiment, 1216 optical elements are provided at a density of 300 dpi. The reflection member 271 is a plate-like member, and is installed so as to be parallel to the image sensor head 27 so as to reflect the light output from the image sensor head 27, and when the label 712 is not present. All the light output from the image sensor head 27 is reflected by the reflecting member 271, condensed on the image sensor head 27, and detected by 1216 optical elements.

  In the printing apparatus 1, the light detected by the optical element of the image sensor head 27 is different depending on the color of the member that reflects the light, so that the light is reflected on the reflective member 271, or is reflected on the label 712. That is, the image sensor head 27 is used to determine whether the label 712 exists or does not exist (removed by the user). That is, when the value detected by the image sensor head 27 is different from the value when reflected by the reflecting member 271, it can be determined that the label 712 exists. Therefore, since the label 712 is generally white, the reflective surface 2711 which is the surface facing the image sensor head 27 of the reflective member 271 is colored black as a color that makes the difference from the color of the label 712 more clear. Yes.

  Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of main processing performed in the printing apparatus 1, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of image sensor detection processing performed in the main processing. The main process is started when the power switch 4 of the printing apparatus 1 is turned on and started.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, an initialization process is performed (S1). Here, processing such as initialization of various storage areas is performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the power is turned off by operating the power switch 4 (S2). If the power switch 4 is not turned off (S2: NO), it is determined whether data has been received from the computer device 2 (S3). If no data has been received (S3: NO), the process returns to S2, and the power switch 4 off determination (S2) and the data reception determination (S3) are repeatedly performed.

  If data is received from the computer device 2 (S3: YES), processing according to the received data is performed (S4 to S11). If the received data is raster data (S4: YES), raster data storage processing for storing the received raster data in the RAM 34 is performed (S7). Then, the process returns to S2. If it is not raster data (S4: NO) and it is print start data (S5: YES), the raster data stored in the RAM 34 is printed by the raster data storage process of S7 (S8). Specifically, raster data in the RAM 34 is read line by line, the drive circuit 23 is controlled to drive the thermal head 19, and printing for one line is performed. Then, the label paper 71 is conveyed by one line by controlling the driving circuit 24 and driving the tape feed motor 20. Next, raster data for the next line is read, printing is performed, and label paper 71 for one line is conveyed. In this way, all lines are printed. When the printing process is completed, a discharge process is performed (S9). Here, when the label paper 71 is conveyed by the tape feed motor 20, the labels 7121 and 7122 are peeled off by the peeling mechanism 45, and the mount 711 is wound around the cassette tape. The transport amount here is an amount by which the labels 7121 and 7122 are discharged by an amount (several centimeters) that can be taken out from the discharge port 13 by the user.

  And the image sensor detection process which is the principal part of this invention is performed (S10). As shown in FIG. 5, in the image sensor detection process, an analog value detection process of the image sensor head 27 is performed (S21). Here, the analog value of the image sensor head 27 is read, AD conversion is performed, and stored in an image sensor output buffer provided in the RAM 34. Then, an initial value “0” is set in a variable n for counting the number of optical elements (number of pixels) of the image sensor head 27 (S22). Then, “1” is added to the variable n (S23), the value of the variable n is larger than the number “1216” of the optical elements of the image sensor head 27, and it is determined whether or not the processing of all the pixels has been completed. Performed (S24). Since the value of the variable n is still “1” (S24: NO), the value of the first pixel is read from the image sensor output buffer (S25).

  And it is judged whether the value is below a threshold value (S26). In the present embodiment, as described above, the value of the image sensor head 27 takes a value of 0 to 255. Since the reflection surface 2711 of the reflection member 271 facing the image sensor head 27 is colored black and the label 712 is white, the value of the image sensor head 27 is not more than “127” which is an intermediate value of 0 to 255. If there is, it is determined that it is not “black”, that is, “label” exists, and if it is larger than “127”, it is determined that it is “black”, that is, “label” does not exist.

  Therefore, when the value is equal to or smaller than the threshold value “127” (S26: YES), since the label exists, it is necessary to continue monitoring the removal of the label. Therefore, the process returns to S21, and a detection process of the analog value of the sensor is newly performed (S21).

  On the other hand, if the value is not less than or equal to the threshold value “127” (S26: NO), since there is no label at the pixel position, the process proceeds to S23, and “1” is added to the variable n (S23). These pixels are processed (S24 to S26). If the processes of S23 to S26 are repeatedly performed and the value of the variable n is larger than “1216” in S24 (S24: YES), all the pixels are not below the threshold (S26: NO). . That is, it is determined that all the pixels are “black” and there is no “label”. Therefore, since the labels 7121 and 7122 have been removed by the user, the image sensor detection process ends, and the process returns to the main process. That is, in this image sensor detection process (S10), the next process is kept on standby until all printed labels 712 are removed by the user. Then, in the main process, as shown in FIG. 4, when the image sensor detection process is completed (S10), the next process can proceed, so the process returns to S2 to determine whether the power switch 4 is turned off (S2). .

  If the data received from the computer device 2 is neither raster data nor print start data (S4: NO, S5: NO), it is determined whether or not the following is the data of other instruction commands ( If it is the data of the other instruction command (S6), the process according to the instruction command is performed (S11), and the process returns to S2. If it is not other instruction command data (S6: NO), the process returns to S2 without doing anything. If the power switch 4 is turned off while the processes of S2 to S11 are repeated (S2: YES), the power off process is performed (S12), and this process ends.

  As described above, if one of the 1216 optical elements falls below the threshold value “127” by the image sensor head 27 arranged in the width direction of the label paper 71, the label 712 is present. Since the image sensor detection process is continued, the next printing process is not performed. Therefore, even in a case where only one label is removed from a label sheet in which a plurality of labels 712 are arranged in the width direction, and the other labels remain, the image sensor head 27 Since 1216 optical elements are provided and arranged at a density of 300 dpi, the label 712 can be detected reliably. Therefore, the printed label 712 is not discharged from the discharge port 13 and stuck to the periphery.

  Further, FIG. 6 is an image diagram of the label paper 81 on which the labels 812 are irregularly arranged, and FIG. 7 is an image diagram of the label paper 91 on which the labels 912 are irregularly arranged, as shown in FIG. Even if the label sheet 81 is a label sheet 91 as shown in FIG. 7, all the labels 812 and 912 can be detected. 6 and 7 is the width direction of the label sheets 81 and 91, and the label sheets 81 and 91 are transported from right to left in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the right side of FIGS. Is the upstream side, and the left side is the downstream side.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the label paper 81, a label 8121 is arranged on the right in the width direction on the downstream side of the mount 811 (upper side in FIG. 6), and a label 8122 wider than the label 8121 is arranged on the left. In the next column on the side, a label 8123 is arranged on the right in the width direction, and a label 8124 narrower than the label 8123 is arranged on the left, and labels 8125 and 8126 having the same width are arranged on the next column on the upstream side. Has been. Thus, even if various labels having different label widths are arranged for each column, all the labels can be detected by the image sensor head 27. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the label sheet 91 has a label 9121 on the right in the width direction downstream of the mount 911 and a label 9122 wider than the label 9121 on the left. Three labels 9123, 9124, and 9125 having the same width are arranged in the column, and one label 9126 is arranged in the next column on the upstream side. As described above, even if various labels having different label widths are arranged in different numbers for each column, all the labels can be detected by the image sensor head 27.

  Note that the printing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. The shape of the printing apparatus 1 may not be as shown in FIG. In addition, the label of the label paper, which is the printing medium, is not limited to the substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, but it is similar to an ellipse, a circle, other polygons, a car shape or a dog shape. It may be a shape. Further, the printing medium is not stored in the tape cassette but may be a roll-shaped medium. In this case, the mount is also discharged outside the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 may be a printing apparatus that prints a cut sheet instead of a label printer that prints a tape-shaped print medium. In this case, the mount of the label paper is not a tape shape but a cut paper shape, and the mount is also discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus 1. Needless to say, the printing apparatus 1 is not limited to the thermal transfer type using the thermal head 19 but may be an ink jet printer or a laser printer.

  Further, as a modification of the printing apparatus, a printing apparatus that performs printing alone, such as printing print data stored in advance, instead of printing print data received from the computer apparatus 2 may be used. Here, the operation of the printing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This printing apparatus has the same electrical configuration as that of the printing apparatus 1 except that the electrical configuration of the printing apparatus does not include the communication I / F 16 for connection to the computer apparatus 2. Therefore, the description of the printing apparatus 1 is cited. Then, although explanation is omitted, the graphic data that is the source of the raster data is stored in the CGROM 32. Further, since the internal structure of the discharge port 13 of the printing apparatus is also the same as that of the printing apparatus 1, the description of FIG.

  The main process shown in FIG. 8 is started when the printing apparatus is activated. As shown in FIG. 8, first, initialization processing is performed (S51). Here, processing such as initialization of various storage areas is performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the power is turned off by operating the power switch 4 (S52). If the power switch 4 is not turned off (S52: NO), it is determined whether or not an input of the number of times of printing has been accepted (S53). The number of times of printing is input by the key 3. If the input of the number of times of printing has not been received (S53: NO), the process returns to S52, and the power switch 4 off determination (S52) and the data reception determination (S53) are repeatedly performed.

  When an input of the number of times of printing is accepted (S53: YES), the number of times of printing input is stored in a storage area for storing the number of times of printing K provided in the RAM 34 (S54). Then, it is determined whether or not the value of the printing count K is “0” (S55). If the number of times of printing K is “0” (S54: YES), there is no need to print, and the process returns to S52. If the number of times of printing K is not “0” (S55: NO), since it is necessary to perform printing, image sensor detection processing is first performed (S56). Since this image sensor detection process is the same as that described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 in the above embodiment, the description is omitted here, but the image sensor head 27 detects the label 712. When the image sensor detection process continues and the image sensor head 27 does not detect the label 712, the image sensor detection process ends and the print image process is performed (S57). Specifically, graphic data is read from the CGROM 32, raster data is created and stored in the RAM. Then, a printing process is performed (S58). Specifically, raster data in the RAM 34 is read line by line, the drive circuit 23 is controlled to drive the thermal head 19, and printing for one line is performed. Then, the label paper 71 is conveyed by one line by controlling the driving circuit 24 and driving the tape feed motor 20. Next, raster data for the next line is read, printing is performed, and label paper 71 for one line is conveyed. In this way, all lines are printed.

  When the printing process is completed, a discharge process is performed (S59). Then, “1” is subtracted from the print count K (S60), and the process returns to S55. If the print count K is “0” (S55: YES), the process returns to S52, but if it is not “0” (S55: NO), an image sensor detection process is performed (S56). After the printed label 712 is removed, the next printing process is performed (S57 to S60). When the number of times of printing becomes “0” (S54: YES) and the power switch 4 is turned off (S52: YES), a power-off process is performed (S61), and this process ends.

  As described above, even in a printing apparatus that operates independently without being connected to the computer apparatus 2, even on a label sheet on which labels of various sizes are arranged, the next printing is performed until all the labels are removed. Therefore, the printed label does not stick around the discharge port 13. Therefore, any label sheet with any label arrangement can be handled without changing the hardware.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the image sensor head 37 may be provided on the back side of the label paper 71, and the reflection member 371 may be provided on the printing surface side of the label paper 71. In this case, since the image sensor head 37 detects the light reflected on the adhesive surface side of the label 712, the detection result does not depend on the color of the printing result.

  Further, the color of the reflection surface 2711 of the reflection member 271 does not have to be black, and it is desirable to use a color other than black particularly in the printing apparatus 1 that prints a black label. Further, the reflecting members 271 and 371 may be designed so as to be exchangeable, and the color of the label to be used may be replaced with a reflecting member having a color that can be easily detected. In the above embodiment, since the color of the reflecting surface 2711 of the reflecting member 271 is black, the threshold value for comparing the values detected by the image sensor head 27 is set to “127”. Not limited to this, it may be set based on the color of the reflection surface 2711 and the color of the detection surface of the label 712 (the surface that reflects light from the image sensor head). Then, a threshold value may be stored in the ROM 33 for each reflection member 271 attached in advance, and the presence / absence of the label may be determined using the threshold value corresponding to the reflection member 271 attached. In order to recognize the type (color) of the attached reflection member 271, the type may be input by the user or an identification unit for the reflection member 271 may be provided. As the identification means, for example, a plurality of contact switches are provided at the installation position of the reflection member 271 of the printing apparatus 1, and the reflection member 271 has a protruding portion at a position in contact with any one of the contact switches. Provide as follows. Then, the correspondence between the contact detection / non-detection combination of the contact switch and the type of the reflection member 271 is stored in the ROM 33 in advance. Thereby, the type of the reflecting member 271 can be identified depending on which contact switch detects the contact.

  In addition, a non-volatile memory that can be written to the printing apparatus 1 is provided, and a control program and data read by the control program (for example, correspondence between threshold value and contact switch detection / non-detection combination and the type of reflecting member 271) ) Is stored in the non-volatile memory instead of the ROM 33, the threshold value is changed in order to use a label sheet of a new color label, or the number of reflecting members 271 to be used is increased. However, since it is only necessary to change the software, and it is not necessary to change the hardware, the cost and labor are reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the image sensor head 27, which is a composite of a reflection type photosensor, is used as the “label detection means”. However, the sensor used as the “label detection means” is not limited to this, and is independent. A plurality of reflection type optical sensors may be used.

  The peeling mechanism 45 of the above embodiment corresponds to “peeling means”, the image sensor head 27 corresponds to “label detection means”, and the thermal head 19 corresponds to “printing means”.

1 is an external perspective view showing an outline of a printing apparatus 1 in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1. 3 is a schematic diagram of the inside of a discharge port 13 of the printing apparatus 1. 4 is a flowchart of main processing performed by the printing apparatus 1. 6 is a flowchart of an image sensor detection process performed in the main process. It is an image figure of the label paper 81 in which the label 812 is irregularly arranged. It is an image figure of the label paper 91 in which the label 912 is irregularly arranged. 10 is a flowchart of main processing performed by a printing apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a modified example inside the discharge port 13 of the printing apparatus 1.

1 Printing device 11 CPU
13 Discharge port 19 Thermal head 20 Motor 27 Image sensor head 32 CGROM
34 RAM
37 Image sensor head 45 Peeling mechanism 71 Label paper 81 Label paper 91 Label paper 271 Reflective member 2711 Reflective surface 371 Reflective member 711 Mount 712 Label 7121-7126 Label 811 Mount 812 Label 8121-8126 Label 911 Mount 912 Label 9121-9126 Label

Claims (4)

A printing apparatus comprising printing means for printing print data on a label sheet in which a number of labels are adhered to a mount,
Peeling means for peeling the label from the mount;
Label detecting means arranged in the width direction of the mount to detect the presence or absence of the label at a position where the label peeled off from the mount by the peeling means protrudes from the mount ;
Reflecting means provided opposite to the label detecting means and provided at a position sandwiching the label protruding from the mount, the reflecting means having a color different from the color of the label surface or the back surface;
Identifying means for identifying the color of the reflecting means;
Determination means for determining the presence or absence of the label by comparing a threshold corresponding to the color identified by the identification means with a value detected by the label detection means. A printing device.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label detection unit is provided to face a printing surface of the label.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label detection unit is provided to face a back surface of a printing surface of the label.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the label detection unit is an image sensor in which photoelectric elements are arranged in a line.

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