GB2254829A

GB2254829A - Polychromatic label printer.

Info

Publication number: GB2254829A
Application number: GB9108122A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamaguchi
Original assignee: Osaka Sealing Printing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Osaka Sealing Printing Co Ltd
Priority date: 1990-04-20
Filing date: 1991-04-16
Publication date: 1992-10-21
Also published as: ITMI911042A1; NL9100692A; BE1003608A6; FR2661133A1; ITMI911042A0; IT1256998B; LU87918A1; CA2040247A1; GB9108122D0

Abstract

A printer for producing multicolour labels from web label stock fed from a supply reel comprises discrete printing stations for the respective colours spaced lengthwise of the web. As described the printing is by selectively addressable thermal printheads (46) and the colour is transferred from respective ink ribbons (38). In one embodiment (Fig. 1) the printing stations are rectilinearly spaced. In another embodiment (Fig. 3, not shown) they are spaced peripherally about a common compression cylinder. <IMAGE>

Description

POLYCHROMATIC LABEL PRINTER The present invention relates to a polychromatic label printer and, in particular, to a polychromatic label printer for polychromatic printing of, for example, a picture, characters and bar code.

As label printers for printing a picture, characters, bar code et cetera there are known two alternatives of monochromatic label printer using, for example, dark-pale black/gray and polychromatic label printer using a multiplicity of colors. With a polychromatic printer three primary colors of yellow, red and blue are printed on a sheet of label and various colors are produced through synthesis of the three primary colors.

For printinc the three primary colors, namely yellow, red and blue, on a single sheet of paper a single common head has hitherto been used. In this case, first a continuum of labels is moved forward and characters, for example, are printed in yellow. Next, the label printed in yellow is moved back into the printer and the characters are printed this time in yellow. And then, the label printed in both yellow and red is again moved back into the printer and the characters are printed this time in blue. Thus, polychromatic printing in three primary colors is done by printing three primary colors one upon another by moving back the label twice.

With this type of polychromatic label printer, however, the label printed had to be moved back twice, this being time-consuming and inefficient.

A primary object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a polychromatic label printer for efficient polychromatic printing without the necessity of moving back and forth a continuum of labels repeatedly.

The polychromatic printing of the present invention comprising a holding means for holding the continuum of labels, a moving means for moving said continuum of labels unwound from said holding means, and three sets of printing means for printing each of said continuum of labels in yellow, red and Elue respectively provided to correspond to said moving means. As yellow, red and blue are printed by the three sets of printing units successively, polychromatic printing is performed through synthesis of the three primary colors.

According to the present invention, polychromatic dyeing printing is feasible by the use of a polychromatic label printer without the necessity of moving back the printed label, this meaning a marked improvement in printing efficiency.

The aforementioned and other objects, features, phases and advantages will be better understood from reading of the detailed description of preferred embodiments of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is an illustratory view showing an embodiment of the present invention Fig. 2 is an illustratory view showing a continuum of labels1 Fig. 3 is an illustratory view showing another embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 4 is an illustratory view showing another example of continuum of labels.

Fig. 1 is an illustratory view showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a polychromatic printer 10 includes a holding roller 12, which holds thereon a continuum of labels 14 in roll form.

As shown in Fig. 2, a continuum of labels 14 includes a belt-like sheet material 16 of release paper. To one principal surface of the sheet material 16 there are tentatively stuck a plurality of labels 20, each thereof having a layer of adhesive layer 18 thereon.

The continuum of labels 14 is led from the holding roller 12 to a roller 30 via roller 22, roller 24, roller 26 and roller 28. On th-e path of the continuum of labels 14 to the roller 22 there is provided a sensor 32 for detection of each label 20 on the sheet material 16. Above the roller 22 there are provided a printing unit 34a for, for example, yellow.

The printing unit 34a includes a holding roller 36a.

This holding roller 36a has held thereon a heat-sensitive ink ribbon 38a in roll form. This ink ribbon 38a is a yellow one. The ink ribbon 38a, with one end thereof unrolled, is led via roller 40a and roller 42a to the winding reel 44a to be wound thereby. On the path of the ink ribbon 38a there is provided a thermal head 46a. And above this thermal head 46a there is disposed a drive circuit 48a.

Above the roller 26 there is provided another printing unit 34b, this being for red. This printing unit 34b includes a holding roller 36b, a heat-sensitive type ink ribbon 38b, a roller 40b, another roller 42b, a winding reel 44b, a thermal head 46b and a drive circuit 48b. This ink ribbon 38b is a red one.

Above the roller 30 there is provided still another printing unit 34c, this being for blue. This printing unit 34c includes a holding roller 36c, a heat-sensitive type ink ribbon 38c, a roller 40c, another roller 42c, a winding reel 44c, a thermal head 46c and a drive circuit 48c. This ink ribbon 38c is a blue one.

The roller 24 has connected thereto one end of a compensation shaft 50 which is, for example, bar-like. Amid the compensation shaft 50 there is formed a fulcrum 51. And above and under the other end of this compensation shaft 50 there are disposed position detection sensor 52a and sensor 52b for detecting the position of the roller 24.

Similarly, the roller 28 has connected thereto one end of a compensation shaft 54 and amid this compensation shaft 54 there is formed a fulcrum 55. And above and under the other end of this compensation shaft 54 there are disposed position detecting sensor 56a and sensor 56b for detecting the position of the roller 28.

There is provided a CPU 58 for controlling the three drive units 48a, 48b, 48c.

The continuum of labels 14 is first led through between the printing unit 34a and the roller 22. As the continuum of labels 14 is led from the holding roller 12 to the roller 22, the position of each label 20 is detected by the sensor 32. Informations corresponding to the picture, characters or bar code to be printed are given by the CPU 58 to the drive circuit 48a. And, according to the informations given, the drive circuit 48a controls the movement of the thermal head 46a. Since the ink ribbon 38a is of the heatsensitive type, the portions in contact with the thermal head 46a are printed on the label 20. This ink ribbon 38a is a yellow one, hence this printing unit 34a prints on the label 20 only the yellow portions of the picture, characters or bar code to be printed.

The continuum of labels 14 is then led through between the printing unit 34b and the roller 26 via the roller 24.

In the same manner as the printing unit 34a this printing unit 34b prints on the label 20 only the red portions of the picture, characters or bar code to be printed.

The continuum of labels 14 is finally led through between the printing unit 34c and the roller 30. In the same manner as the printing units 34a, 34b this printing unit 34c prints on the label 20 only the blue portions of the picture, characters or bar code to be printed.

Since any color can be produced by synthesis of the three primary colors of yellow, red and blue, polychromatic printing is feasible by the use of this polychromatic label printer 10.

Since the position of the label 20 is detectable by means of the sensor 32, the drive circuits 48a, 48b, 48c are controllable by the CPU 58 according to the position of the label 20 detected. Hence positional deviation of the picture, characters or bar code to be printed in the course of printing by the three printing units 34a, 34b, 34c can be prevented without fail.

With this polychromatic label printer 10, when the feed rate or peripheral speed of the roller 22 is higher than that of the roller 26, the length of the continuum of labels 14 between the roller 22 and the roller 26 increases with simultaneous lowering of the roller 24. Then, since the fulcrum 51 is formed on the compensation shaft 50, the other end of the compensation shaft 50 comes into contact with the position detecting sensor 52b. And upon receipt of the information to the effect from the position detection sensor 52b, the feed rates of the rollers 22 and 26 are adjusted accordingly.

When, conversely, the feed rate of the roller 22 is lower than that of the roller 26, the other end of the compensation shaft 50 comes into contact with the position detection sensor 52a. And upon receipt of the information to the effect from the detection sensor 52a, the feed rates of the rollers 22 and 26 are adjusted accordingly.

Similarly, the feed rates of the rollers 26 and 30 are adjusted by means of the compensation shaft 54 and the position detection sensors 56a, 56b. And slackening of the moving continuum of labels 14 can thus be precluded.

The labels 20 printed in three primary colors of yellow, red and blue are then sent to the next step successively.

Thus, with this polychromatic label printer 10, unlike with the conventional counterparts, there is no necessity of repeatedly moving back labels being printed, and the time required for printing can thus be shortened.

Fig. 3 is an illustratory view showing another embodiment of the present invention. A polychromatic label printer 110 includes a holding roller 112, which has held thereon a continuum of labels 114 in roll form.

As shown in Fig. 4, the continuum of labels 114 includes a belt-like sheet material 116 of release paper.

The belt-like sheet material 116 has tentatively stuck to one principal surface thereof a plurality of labels 120 with each one layer of adhesive layer 118 formed thereon.

The continuum of labels 114 is led from the holding roller 112 via a roller 122 onto a rotating drum 124 and further to a roller 126. On the path of the continuum, of labels 114 to thE. roller 122 there is provided a sensor for detecting each label 120 on the sheet material 116. On the path the continuum of labels 114 there are arranged three printing units 130a, 130b, 130c along the outer periphery of the rotating drum 124. In this case the printing unit 130a may, for example, be for yellow, the printing unit 130b for red and the printing unit 130c for blue.

The printing unit 130a includes a holding roller 132a.

The holding roller 132a has held thereon a length of ink ribbon 134a of, for example, heat-sensitive type in roll form. This ink ribbon 134a is a yellow one. The ink ribbon 134a, with one end thereof unwound, is wound by a winding reel 140a via rollers 136a, 138a. On the path of the ink ribbon 134a there is provided a thermal head 142a. And above this thermal head 142a there is disposed a drive circuit 144a.

Similarly, the printing unit 130b includes a holding roller 132b, a heat-sensitive type ink ribbon 134b, a roller 136b, another roller 138b, a winding reel 140b, a thermal head 142b and a drive circuit 144b. This ink ribbon 134b is a red one.

Also similarly, the printing unit 134c includes a holding roller 132c, a heat-sensitive type ink ribbon 134c, a roller 136c, another roller 138c, a winding reel 140c, a thermal head 142c and a drive circuit 144c. This ink ribbon 134c is a blue one.

There is provided a CPU 146 for controlling the three drive circuits 144a, 144b, 144c.

The continuum of labels 114 is first led through the printing unit 130a. As the continuum of labels 114 is led from the holding roller 112 to the roller 122, the position of each label 120 is detected by the sensor 128.

Informations corresponding to the picture, characters or bar code to be printed are given by the CPU 146 to the drive circuit 144a. And, according to the informations given, the drive circuit 144a controls the movement of the thermal head 46a. Since the ink ribbon 134a is of the heat-sensitive type, the portions in contact with the thermal. head 142a are printed on the label 120. This ink ribbon 134a is a yellow one, hence this printing unit 130a prints on the label 120 only the yellow portions of the picture, characters or bar code to be printed.

The continuum of labels 114 is then led through the printing unit 130b. In the same manner as the printing unit 130a this printing unit 130b prints on the label 120 only the red portions of the picture, characters or bar code to be printed.

The continuum of labels 114 is finally led through the printing unit 130c. In the sare manner as the printing units 130a, 130b this printing unit 130c prints on the label 120 only the blue portions of the picture, characters or bar code to be printed.

The labels 120 thus printed in yellow, red and blue are then led to the next step via the roller 126 as a continuum of labels 114. Since any color can be produced by synthesis of the three primary colors of yellow, red and blue, polychromatic printing is feasible by the use of this polychromatic label printer 110.

Since the position of each label 120 is detectable by means of the sensor 128, the drive circuits 144a, 144b, 144c are controllable by the CPU 146 according to the position of the label 20 detected. Hence positional deviation of the picture, characters or bar code to be printed in the course of printing by the three printing units 130a, 130b, 130c can be prevented without fail.

Thus, with this polychromatic label printer 110, unlike with the conventional counterparts, there is no necessity of repeatedly moving back the continuum of labels, hence the time required for printing can be substantially shortened.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it is apparent that it is for the purpose of illustration or by way of example and not to be understood as of limiting nature.

Claims

1. A polychromatic label printer comprising: a holding means for holding a continuum of labels; a moving means for moving said continuum of labels unwound from said holding means; and three sets of printing means for printing each of said continuum of labels in yellow, red and blue respectively provided to correspond to said moving means.

2. A polychromatic label printer according to claim 1, wherein said moving means includes three rollers and said three sets of printing means are provided to correspond to said three rollers.

3. A polychromatic label printer according to claim 1, wherein said moving means includes a rotating drum and said three sets of printing means are arranged on the path of said continuum of labels along the outer periphery of said rotating drum.

4. A polychromatic label printer according to claim 1, wherein said moving means includes a sensor for detection of each of said continuum of labels on the path thereof.

5. A polychromatic label printer according to claim 1, wherein said moving means includes a compensation means for compensating moving distance of said continuum of labels in each of three sets of printing means.

6. A polychromatic label printer according to claim 5, wherein said compensation means includes a roller coming into contact with said continuum of labels and a compensation shaft for changing the position of said roller.

7. A polychromatic label printer according to claim 6, wherein said compensation means includes a sensor for detecting the position of said compensation shaft.

8. A polychromatic label printer according to claim 5, wherein said compensation means includes a CPU.

9. A polychromatic label printer substantially as described herein by reference to any one or more of the accompanying figures.