CA2561365C

CA2561365C - Printing paper winding device

Info

Publication number: CA2561365C
Application number: CA002561365A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Akihiro Koeda; Masahiro Kojima; Tadanobu Uchidate; Sakae Takeuchi; Tsutomu Tabata; Kazuya Suzuki
Original assignee: Sato Corp
Current assignee: Sato Corp
Priority date: 2004-12-27
Filing date: 2005-12-26
Publication date: 2009-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-26
Also published as: EP1842816B1; EP1842816A1; WO2006070743A1; JP4494192B2; EP1842816A4; NO20073738L; NO335556B1; CA2561365A1; JP2006182496A

Abstract

A printing paper winding device for enabling winding of printing paper even paper with a base material having a low resistance to bending stresses or printing paper having RFID labels carrying IC chips. Bending stresses are reduced by dividing the movement region of the tension roller into four regions in order to enable the successive detection of the position or posture of the tension roller and by making the bending angle of the printing paper in the winding path close to a more obtuse angle. A winding control unit of the present invention determines whether the tension region where the tension roller is positioned is a first tension region, second tension region, third tension region, or fourth tension region, controls the drive unit to limit the tension roller to a tension region in which winding is possible in the direction such that the bending angle of the printing paper in the winding path, which follows the winding of the printing paper, is close to a more obtuse angle.

Description

PRINTING PAPER WINDING DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a printing paper winding device, and more particularly to a printing paper winding device that is independent of a printer that prints on printing paper.

2. Description of the Invention [0002] Some conventional printing paper winding devices are configured as external devices separate from a printer. Such devices are installed in front of the paper discharge opening of a printer and successively wind up a continuous band of paper or printing paper. That band includes a base paper layer from which printed labels are to be peeled off after being printed. Then paper or labels thereon are printed by the printer and then discharged from the printer.

[0003] Such a printing paper winding device comprises a winding shaft for winding up the continuous band-like printing paper on which printing has been performed by a printer, a drive unit (for example, a drive motor) for rotary driving of the winding shaft, and a tension roller at the winding device that comes into contact with the printing paper upstream in the path of the paper from the winding shaft.

[0004] The tension roller reciprocates on the winding device through a predetermined tension region, while maintaining contact with the printing paper, as the printing paper is printed upon, discharged from the printing device, and wound up on the winding shaft or on a reel or a take up spindle on the shaft. The tension roller can apply tension to the printing paper so as to absorb the slack of the printing paper, and t r ='' can thereby stabilize the winding force on the winding shaft.

[0005] In such a printing paper winding device, the leading end of the band-like printing paper discharged from a printer is usually fixed to the winding shaft, the tension roller is set to a state where it can come into contact with the printing paper, and then the drive unit is started to begin winding the printing paper.

[0006] However, because the tension roller reciprocates along a predetermined reciprocating path as the printing paper is being wound up, the driver unit has to be ON/OFF controlled, the winding speed is constant, and the winding path of the printing paper follows a zigzag shape. The resulting problem is that bending stresses or bending pressure accompanies the winding operation. This may limit the base material of the printing paper to one that can withstand the winding tension caused by a large bending stress applied in the zone of the reciprocation path where the winding path of the paper bends at an acute angle. This has caused a problem in that the printing paper is ruptured or the labels attached to the base paper peel off instead of the printing paper with the intact labels thereon being wound onto the winding sprindle.

[0007] Furthermore, when the printing paper support labels (RFID labels) have IC
chips placed thereon in which data can be read and written remotely, if the winding path is bent at a very acute angle, disconnection of the RFID label from the continuous paper or fracture of the IC chip can occur.

[0008] Furthermore, the above-described type of printing paper winding device is often controlled integrally with the printer for the labels by a printer control unit.
Then driving the winding device can become substantially impossible, except by using special printers. Therefore, such a winding device does not function to appropriately wind up the printing paper printed by and discharged from any printer and the device lacks versatility for forming combinations with printers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention has an object to resolve the above-described problems.
It is an object thereof to provide a printing paper winding device that can wind up even printing paper comprising a base material with a low resistance to bending stresses.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing paper winding device that can wind up even printing paper that carries RFID labels which carry IC chips.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a printing paper winding device that can wind up even printing paper with poor resistance to winding or bending stresses.

[0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a printing paper winding device that can substantially expand the range of base material types suitable for winding.

[0013] One more object of the present invention is to provide a printing paper winding device that can be independently controlled, even when it is arranged independently from a printer, and that can appropriately wind up printing paper on which printing has been performed and which has been discharged from any printer.

[0014] A primary aspect of the present invention is to reduce bending stresses on the web by dividing the movement and reciprocation region of the tension roller into four tension regions. This enables successive detections of the position or posture of the tension roller and enables making the bending angle of the printing paper in the winding path a more obtuse angle than might usually be present.

[0015] The invention comprises a printing paper winding device comprising a winding shaft for winding up band-like printing paper which has been printed by a printer, a drive unit for rotationally driving the winding shaft, and a tension roller on the winding device that contacts the printing paper upstream of the winding shaft in the path of the paper and which can apply tension to the printing paper by reciprocating through a prescribed tension region during the winding of the printing paper.

[0016] The printing paper winding device further comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, each operable for detecting the portion of the tension region in which the tension roller is positioned and comprises a winding control unit, operable based on the output signals of the first sensor and second sensor, for determining whether the tension region in which the tension roller is then positioned is a first tension region in which the bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper becomes minimized, a second tension region, a third tension region, or a fourth tension region in which the bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper becomes maximized.
Those tension regions are arranged continuously, successively and adjacent to each other. The winding control unit controls the drive unit so as to limit the tension roller to the tension region in which winding can be conducted in the direction such that the bending angle of the winding path that follows the winding of the printing paper is closer to a more obtuse angle.

[0017] The winding control unit can control the tension region where the tension roller is positioned so that the tension region becomes closer to the fourth tension region.

[0018] A dip switch may be provided that is operable to select the tension region where the tension roller is positioned. The winding control unit can control the tension region where the tension roller is positioned according to setting conditions that are set with the dip switch.

[0019] A first fixed guide roller positioned upstream of the tension roller is operable for guiding and introducing the printing paper from the printer into the printing paper winding device. A second fixed guide roller is operable for guiding the printing paper from the tension roller onto the winding shaft. The control can be conducted so that the bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper formed by the printer, the first fixed guide roller, and the tension roller is made closer to a more obtuse angle.
The bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper formed by the first fixed guide roller, the tension roller, and the second fixed guide roller is made closer to a more obtuse angle. The bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper formed by the tension roller, the second fixed guide roller, and the winding shaft is made closer to a more obtuse angle.

[0020] The printing paper may have labels thereon, and each label may include an IC
chip on which data can be read and written remotely.

[0021] There may be a roller arm for holding the tension roller. A roller rotary shaft rotatably supports the roller arm and is operable to move the tension roller reciprocally in the forward and backward, or down and up, directions in a direction following the winding path.

[0022] A sensor plate operable to rotate about the roller rotary shaft and has alternately formed therein detection protrusions and detection recesses that can be detected by the first sensor and the second sensor.

[00231 The winding control unit is operable to control the printing paper winding device independently from the printer control unit of the printer which prints on the printing paper.

[0024] After the tension roller has been positioned in the fourth tension region and initial setting for winding has been carried out, the tension roller is moved in the direction of the first tension region as the printing paper is being printed upon and discharged from the printer. At the time when the winding path extends to a maximum length (in other words, when the bending angle of the winding path becomes minimized), the winding operation is started. At the time when the tension roller reaches the fourth tension region and the winding path becomes maximized (in other words, at the time when the bending angle of the winding path becomes maximized), the winding operation is stopped and the system waits for the printing and discharge of the printing paper from the printer. Then, the above-described operations are repeated.

[0025] When the printing paper has usual bending strength, the control is preferably conducted so as to reciprocate the tension roller in the tension regions other than the first and fourth tension regions, that is, in the intermediate second tension region and third tension region, in order to provide a margin for the reciprocating movement of the tension roller.

[0026] However, when printing paper with low bending strength or printing paper carrying RFID labels is used, the control is preferably conducted so as to reciprocate the tension roller as close to the fourth tension region as possible.

[0027] In the printing paper winding device in accordance with the present invention, the movement region of the tension roller is divided into four regions, the tension region of the first tension region, the second tension region, the third tension region, and the fourth tension region in which the tension roller is positioned can be determined. When printing paper with small resistance to bending stresses is wound, the drive unit is controlled so that the bending angle of the winding path through which the tension roller passes is closer to a more obtuse angle. This prevents the bending angle of the printing paper from becoming a more acute angle. The bending stresses can be reduced, the range of the printing paper types suitable for winding is expanded, and even printing paper with the RFID labels removably attached thereto can be correctly wound, while avoiding rupture of the RFID labels or the RFID
tags in the labels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of the printing paper winding device 2 of an embodiment of the present invention showing a printer 1 connected to a printing paper winding device 2;

[0029] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printing paper winding device 2;

[0030] Fig. 3 a side view of the vertical wall surface section 11A taken from the surface on the opposite side from the surface where the tension roller 13 is positioned;
[0031] Fig. 4 is a table showing tension regions where the tension roller 13 is positioned, those regions being distinguished by the detection signals of the first sensor 24 and second sensor 25;

[00321 Fig. 5 is an explanatory drawing schematically describing each tension region;
[0033] Fig. 6 is a plan view showing an RFID label continuous body 40 (printing paper);

[0034] Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of the tension roller 13 and winding unit 15 portion illustrating a state in which the tension roller 13 is positioned in the first tension region R1; and [0035] Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of the tension roller 13 and winding unit 15 portion illustrating a state in which the tension roller 13 is positioned in the fourth tension region R4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] In accordance with the present invention, a drive unit is controlled to limit the position of a tension roller to a tension region in which winding of a printing paper web can be conducted in the direction such that the bending angle of the winding path that follows the winding of the printing paper defines a more obtuse angle and thus bends at a less acute angle. This enables a printing paper winding device that is suitable for winding even printing paper with a low resistance to bending stresses.

[0037] The printing paper winding device 2 of an embodiment of the present invention is explained below with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 8.

[0038] Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a printer 1 and of a printing paper winding device 2 connected to the printer 1. The printer 1 has a supply unit 4 for a printing paper 3 that is provided thereon, for example, with labels or tags, a detector 5 for detecting the position of the printing paper 3, a printing unit 6 for printing on the printing paper 3, and particularly on the labels or tags, a cutting unit 7 for cutting the trailing end section of the printed printing paper 3 after it has been wound up by the printing paper winding device 2, and a printer control unit 8 for controlling the aforementioned units.

[0039] The printing unit has a thermal head 9 and a platen roller 10. The printing paper 3 is sandwiched between the thermal head 9 and the platen roller 10, and the printing paper 3 is discharged and transported toward the printing paper windin.g device 2 by rotation of the platen roller 10 after predetermined information has been printed on the printing paper 3.

[0040] The cutting unit 7 may be driven by the printer control unit 8 to mechanically cut the printing paper 3 or it can comprise a member for cutting the end section of the printing paper 3 manually.

[0041] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printing paper winding device 2.
The printing paper winding device 2 has a device body 11, a first fixed guide roller 12 for guiding and introducing the printed printing paper 3 into the printing paper winding device 2, a movable and particularly swingable tension roller 13, a second fixed guide roller 14 for guiding the printing paper 3 from the tension roller 13, a winding unit 15 for winding the printing paper 3 into a roll, a control unit 16, a power source switch 17, and a winding control unit 18.

[0042] A roller rotary shaft 19 is provided at the vertical wall surface section 11A in the device body 11. A roller arm 20, which can rotate and which can swing in both the forward or direct direction and in the reverse direction is mounted on the roller rotary shaft 19. The tension roller 13 is rotatably mounted on the distal end section of the swingable roller arm 20. The tension roller 13 is positioned so as to extend across the winding path 21 (for example, shown as a zigzag line in Fig. 1) of the printing paper 3 at a right angle.

[0043] The tension roller 13 can swing reciprocatingly up and down along a circular arc, as shown by arrows in Fig. 1, according to the winding state of the printing paper 3. The roller reciprocates along a guide in the form of a circular arc guide groove 22 formed in the vertical wall surface section 11A of the housing. This changes the length of the winding path 21 from minimum to maximum and, corresponding to this change, changes the bending angle of the winding path 21 from maximum or more obtuse to minimum or more acute.

[0044] Fig. 3 is a side view of the vertical wall surface section 11A taken from the surface on the opposite side from the surface where the tension roller 13 is positioned.
The position of the tension roller 13 can be detected with a sensor plate 23, a first sensor 24, and a second sensor 25.

[0045] The sensor plate 23 is mounted on the roller rotary shaft 19 and rotates together with the tension roller 13 about the roller rotary shaft 19. Two detection protrusions (first detection protrusion 26 and second detection protrusion 27) and three detection recesses (first detection recess 28, second detection recess 29, and third detection recess 30) can be detected by the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25.
The protrusions and recesses are formed alternately on the peripheral section of the sensor plate 23.

[0046] Transmission-type or reflection-type detectors can be employed for the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25. They are arranged on the circumference in positions enabling the detection of the first detection protrusion 26, second detection protrusion 27, first detection recess 28, second detection recess 29, and third detection recess 30.

[0047] In the lowermost position (lower dead center, first tension region) of the tension roller 13 shown solid line in Fig. 3, the first sensor 24 is close to the second detection recess 29, and the second sensor 25 is close to the third detection recess 30.
[0048] The roller rotary shaft 19 is preferably arranged vertically above the tension roller 13. Depending on their mutual arrangement, a posture can be naturally assumed under gravity in which the tension roller 13 is positioned vertically below and inside the circular arc guide groove 22. In this way, the tension roller 13 can constantly apply a predetermined tension on the printing paper 3 that comes into contact with the roller from above, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

[0049] Furthermore, if deemed necessary, the tension roller 13 can be constantly impelled toward the lowermost section (lower dead center) inside the circular arc guide groove 22 by mounting a tension spring 31 (Fig. 1) on the roller arm 20.

[0050] Fig. 4 is a table showing tension regions where the tension roller 13 is positioned. Those regions are distinguished by the detection signals of the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25. Fig. 5 is an explanatory drawing schematically describing each tension region.

[0051] The solid line state in Fig. 3 illustrates the lower dead center 13, which is a lowermost point in the first tension region R1. In this state, the first sensor 24 detects the position of the second detection recess 29, and the second sensor 25 detects the position of the third detection recess 30.

[0052] As the tension roller 13 rises clockwise in Fig. 3 inside the circular arc guide groove 22, the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25 detect the first detection protrusion 26, second detection protrusion 27, first detection recess 28, second detection recess 29, and third detection recess 30 and generate detection signals.
Based on the detection signals, the winding control unit 18 determines the tension ., ,,. region (first tension region R1, second tension region R2, third tension region R3, and fourth tension region R4 arranged continuously and adjacently to each other) in which the tension roller 13 is then positioned.

[0053] The detection timing of the tension regions (boundary sections of the first tension region R1, second tension region R2, third tension region R3, and fourth tension region R4) of the tension roller 13 can be adjusted by appropriately selecting the circumferential angles of the first detection protrusion 26, second detection protrusion 27, first detection recess 28, second detection recess 29, and third detection recess 30 about the roller rotary shaft 19 of the sensor plate 23 and the relative positions of the first sensor 24 and second sensor 25.

[0054] Returning to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the winding unit 15 has a drive motor (drive unit) 32, a winding shaft 33, which is rotary driven by the drive motor 32, and a rewind core 34 that is removably fit onto the winding shaft 33, rotates integrally with the winding shaft 33, and serves to wind the printing paper 3 thereon in the form of a roll.
A pair of paper guides 35 provided at both ends of the rewind core 34 guide the printing paper 3.

[0055] The control unit 16 is provided in the portion of the device body 11 in the vicinity of the winding unit 15. The control unit has a start-stop button 36 for starting and stopping the rotation drive of the winding shaft 33, a status display unit comprising a LED that indicates the operation status of the start-stop button 36, and a winding direction display unit 38 that indicates the winding direction of the printing paper 3 with an arrow.

[0056] When the start-stop button 36 is pushed to cause winding up the printing paper 3, the status display unit 37 is turned on. When the winding is stopped, the status display unit 37 is turned off.

[0057] The winding direction display unit 38 displays the indication of rear winding or face winding of the printing paper 3.

[0058] The printing paper 3 can be a continuous label or tag paper having no adhesive surface, or it can be a label continuous body in which a plurality of label pieces 3B are removably attached to a band-like base paper 3A, as shown by example in Fig.
2. In the case of such a label continuous body, a winding operation, in which the label pieces 3B are wound up on the inner side (rear side) of a roll on the winding shaft 33 (rewind core 34), is called rear winding and a winding operation, in which the label pieces are wound up on the outer side (face side), is called face winding.

[0059] The power source switch 17 serves to turn ON/OFF the power source of the printing paper winding device 2. However, even if the power source switch 17 is turned ON, the drive motor 32 (drive unit) is not actuated and the operation of winding the printing paper 3 is not yet started.

[0060] The winding control unit 18 drive controls the winding unit 15 and control unit 16 based on the detection signals of the first sensor 24 and the second sensor 25, that is, based on the tension region (Rl, R2, R3, or R4) in which the tension roller 13 is then positioned, and controls the printing paper winding device 2, regardless of the control signal from the printer control unit 8 (Fig. 1) of the printer 1, that is, independently from the printer control unit 8.

[0061] In the printing paper winding device 2 and printer 1 of such configuration, the printing paper winding device 2 is placed at the printer 1 according to the posture thereof, the printing paper 3 discharged and extending from the side of the printer 1 is wrapped around the first fixed guide roller 12, tension roller 13, and second fixed guide roller 14 of the printing paper winding device 2 in the state shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2.
The leading end section of the printing paper 3 is attached and fixed to the rewind core 34 of the winding shaft 33. Then the power source switch 17 is turned on.

[0062] When the entire printing paper 3 is in a loosened state and the tension roller 13 is in the lowermost point (lower dead center, first tension region R1), when the printing paper 3 is set on the winding path 21, the winding control unit 18 checks that the tension roller 13 is in the first tension region R1 when the operation of wrapping the printing paper 3 about the winding shaft 33 (rewind core 34) is started.
In this state, the operator continuously pushes the start-stop button 36, and as long as the signal thereof is outputted, the winding shaft 33 is rotationally driven by the drive unit (drive motor 32) at a speed lower than the usual winding speed, and the winding of the printing paper 3 by the winding shaft 33 is temporarily stopped and the initial set state is assumed at the point in time in which the tension roller 13 reaches the fourth tension region R4 (more accurately, at the point in time the tension roller reached the boundary section of the third tension region R3 and the fourth tension region R4).

[0063] The usual winding speed in the printing paper winding device 2 is set higher than the carry-out speed in the process of printing and discharging the printing paper 3 with the printer 1.

[0064] Furthermore, at the time at which a transition is made from the first tension region R1 to the second tension region R2 and then to the third tension region R3, the winding speed can be raised so that the start operation and winding operation can be executed at a high speed.

[0065] Depending on the initial set operation of the operator, the tension roller 13 can be in the tension region other than the first tension region R1. But in this case, too, the winding control unit 18 determines the tension region for the tension roller 13, in the same manner as described above, rotationally drives the winding shaft 33 at a speed lower than the usual winding speed as long as the signal from the start-stop button 36 is outputted, and temporarily stops the winding of the printing paper 3 with the winding shaft 33 to obtain the initial set state when the tension roller 13 reaches the fourth tension region R4.

[0066] When the initial set state has been completed, with the tension roller 13 set in the fourth tension region R4, the printer 1 is started in this state. If the printing paper 3 is printed upon and discharged, the tension roller 13 descends from the fourth tension region R4 via the third tension region R3 along the circular art guide groove 22 in the direction of the second tension region R2 and the first tension region R1, while maintaining its contact under the predetermined tension with the printing paper 3 in winding path 21.

[0067] When the tension roller 13 descends to the first tension region R1 (more accurately, when it reaches the boundary section between the second tension region R2 and the first tension region R1), the winding of the printing paper 3 with the winding shaft 33 is restarted, and the tension roller 13 rises along the circular arc guide groove 22, and following this winding operation, moves through the second tension region R2 and the third tension region R3, and reaches again the fourth tension region R4, thereby stopping the winding. In this stopped state, the system waits for subsequent printing and discharging of the printing paper 3 by the printer 1 and, as soon as the printing paper 3 is discharged, the winding is restarted, as described above, at the time when the tension roller 13 reaches the first tension region R1.

[0068] The winding operation can be ended by pushing the start-stop button 36 in the control unit 16.

[0069] In the usual winding operation, it can be ensured that the first tension region R1 and the fourth tension region R4 are margin regions by conducting control so that the tension roller 13 reciprocates within the second tension region R2 and the third tension region R3.

[0070] In this way, the operator can conduct the winding operation of the initial setting of the printing paper 3 at a rate slower than the usual winding rate by merely continuously pushing the start-stop button 36 in the control unit 16.
Therefore, at the time of initially setting control of the printing paper 3, the rotation of the printing paper 3 can be started at will and the winding operation can be conducted safely and reliably.

[0071] The present invention is especially advantageous when a printing paper with a low resistance to bending stresses is wound. In contrast with the above-described usual winding operation, the winding unit 15 or its drive motor 32 can be controlled so as to limit the tension region of the tension roller 13 to the predetermined range.

[0072] The explanation will be provided below by using an RFID label continuous body as an example of printing paper with a low resistance to bending stresses.

[0073] Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating an RFID label continuous body 40 (printing paper). The RFID label continuous body 40 has a band-like base paper 41 and a plurality of RFID labels 42 removably attached to the base paper 41.

[0074] The RFID label 42 (Radio Frequency Identification label) has a label body 43, an IC chip 44 incorporated into the label body 43, and an antenna 45.

[0075] The IC chip 44 can read and write data remotely with an external data read/write device (not shown in the figure) via an antenna 45, and data can be electronically written into the IC chip 44 and read therefrom.

[0076] The portions of the RFID label continuous body 40 where the RFID labels are located have especially low resistance to bending stresses.

[0077] Fig. 7 is a main enlarged side view of the tension roller 13 and the winding unit 15 portion. This figure illustrates a state in which the tension roller 13 is positioned in the first tension region Rl.

[0078] As shown in Fig. 7, when the tension roller 13 is positioned in the first tension region Rl, the bending angles of the winding path 21 of the RFID label continuous body 40 become minimized or more acute. More specifically, the first bending angle 01, ~.. second bending angle 02, and third bending angle 03 become minimized, so that in the state in which the tension roller is positioned in the first tension region R1, the bending stress becomes maximized.

[0079] The first bending angle 01 is the bending angle of the winding path 21 of the RFID label continuous body 40 formed by the printer 1, the first fixed guide roller 12, and tension roller 13.

[0080] The second bending angle 02 is the bending angle of the winding path 21 of the RFID label continuous body 40 formed by the first fixed guide roller 12, tension roller 13, and second fixed guide roller 14.

[0081] The third bending angle 03 is the bending angle of the winding path 21 of the RFID label continuous body 40 formed by the tension roller 13, second fixed guide roller 14, and winding shaft 33.

[0082] In particular, in the location of the tension roller 13 in Fig. 7, the second bending angle 02 formed by the printing paper 3 becomes more obtuse and the effect of bending stresses on the RFID label continuous body 40 is maximized.

[0083] Fig. 8 is a main enlarged side view of the tension roller 13 and the winding unit 15 portion, which is similar to that shown in Fig. 7. This figure illustrates a state in which the tension roller 13 is positioned in the fourth tension region R4.

[0084] In the state shown in Fig. 8, the first bending angle 01, second bending angle 02, and third bending angle 03 become maximized or more obtuse, so that when the tension roller is positioned in the fourth tension region R4, the bending stresses become minimized.

[0085] In accordance with the present invention, the control is operated so that the first bending angle 01, second bending angle 02, and third bending angle 03 become closer to more obtuse angles, or so that the tension region where the tension roller 13 is positioned becomes closer to the fourth tension region R4.

[0086] More specifically, a dip switch 46 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2) is provided in the device body 11, and the tension region in which the tension roller 13 is to be positioned can be selected with the dip switch 46.

[0087] When the usual printing paper 3 is wound up, the winding control unit controls the drive motor 32 so that the tension roller 13 reciprocates within the second tension region R2 and the third tension region R3 (more accurately, between the boundary between the first tension region R1 and the second tension region R2 and the boundary between the third tension region R3 and the fourth tension region R4). But in the case of an RFID label continuous body 40, the drive motor 32 is ON/OFF
controlled so that the tension roller 13 reciprocates from the second tension region .R2 to the fourth tension region R4 (more accurately, the uppermost portion or upper dead center of the fourth tension region R4) or from the third tension region R3 to the fourth tension region R4 (more accurately, the uppermost portion or upper dead center of the fourth tension region R4).

[0088] For example, when the tension roller 13 is reciprocated between the third tension region R3 and the fourth tension region R4, the winding control unit 18 turns on the drive motor 32 and starts the winding operation of the RFID label continuous body 40 when the tension roller 13 reaches the third tension region R3 (more accurately, the boundary between the second tension region R2 and the third tension region R3), and when the upper dead center of the fourth tension region R4 is reached, the drive motor 32 is turned OFF and a state of waiting for the supply of the RFID
label continuous body 40 from the printer 1 is assumed.

[0089] In this way, the drive motor 32 is controlled so as to limit the tension roller 13 to a tension region that enables winding in the direction such that the bending angle of the winding path 21, which follows the winding of the RFID label continuous body 40, is close to a more obtuse angle. In this case, the RFID label continuous body .~

undergoes bending in the sections of the first fixed guide roller 12, tension roller 13, and second fixed guide roller 14, where the RFID label 42 and the like can be prevented from being fractured or inadvertently disconnected.

[0090] Furthermore, at a small or acute bending angle such as shown in Fig. 7, in particular in the section of the first fixed guide roller 12 and the second fixed guider roller 14, the RFID label 42 does not follow the turning of the base paper 41 and can peel off from the base paper 41 (see virtual line in the figure), and such peeling phenomenon of the RFID label 42 can be also avoided by increasing the bending angle so as to make it close to the obtuse angle, as shown in Fig. 8.

[0091] Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A printing paper winding device comprising:

a winding shaft for winding on a band-like printing paper received from a printer;

a drive unit for rotationally driving the winding shaft;

a tension roller that contacts the printing paper upstream of the winding shaft and is operable to apply tension to the printing paper by reciprocation of the tension roller through a prescribed tension region, following the winding of the printing paper;

the printing paper winding device further comprising:

a first sensor and a second sensor operable for detecting the portion of the prescribed tension region in which the tension roller is positioned; and a winding control unit operable for determining, based on output signals of the first sensor and second sensor, whether a part of the prescribed tension region in which the tension roller is then positioned is a first tension region in which the bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper becomes minimized, a second tension region, a third tension region, or a fourth tension region in which the bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper becomes maximized, wherein the tension regions are arranged continuously from the first to the fourth tension region, with successive regions adjacent to each other; and the winding control unit is operable to control the drive unit to limit the tension roller to the tension region in which winding can be conducted in the direction such that the bending angle of the winding path that follows the winding of the printing paper is close to a more obtuse angle than to a more acute angle.

2. The printing paper winding device according to claim 1, wherein the winding control unit is operable to control the prescribed tension region where the tension roller is positioned so that the tension region in which the tension roller is located becomes closer to the fourth tension region.

3. The printing paper winding device according to claim 1, further comprising a dip switch operable to select the tension region at which the tension roller is positioned, wherein the winding control unit is operable to control the tension region at which the tension roller is positioned according to setting conditions that are set with the dip switch.

4. The printing paper winding device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first fixed guide roller positioned upstream of the tension roller in the path of the printing paper and operable for guiding and introducing the printing paper from the printer into the printing paper winding device, and a second fixed guide roller after the first guide roller in the path of the printing paper for guiding the printing paper from the tension roller onto the winding shaft, and the control unit is operable for conducted control so that the bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper formed by the printer, the first fixed guide roller, and the tension roller is made closer to a more obtuse angle than to a more acute angle, the bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper formed by the first fixed guide roller, the tension roller, and the second fixed guide roller is made closer to a more obtuse angle than to a more acute angle, and the bending angle of the winding path of the printing paper formed by the tension roller, the second fixed guide roller, and the winding shaft is made closer to a more obtuse angle than to an acute angle.

5. The printing paper winding device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a roller arm for holding the tension roller;

a roller rotary shaft that rotatably supports the roller arm so that the roller arm is operable to move the tension roller reciprocally in the forward and backward direction generally along the winding path; and a sensor plate that rotates about the roller rotary shaft and has spaced apart sensed elements that are detectable by the first sensor and the second sensor.

6. The printing paper winding device according to claim 5, wherein the spaced apart sensed elements are alternately formed in the sensor plate as detection protrusions and detection recesses.