JP2001158121A - Label printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print well to both one sheet labels and copying paper labels by a thermal head when a mounted label with the one sheet labels attached to a mount or a mounted label with the copying paper labels attached to a mount is transferred to be printed. SOLUTION: In the case of transferring the mounted label having many labels attached with a predetermined pitch to the long mount and printing predetermined items to the label by a thermal head, it is detected by a label type-detecting means (step S3) whether the labels attached to the mount are one sheet labels or copying paper labels. A heating power of the thermal head is switched by a heating control switch means (steps S6 and S7) to relatively decrease a quantity of heat applied from the thermal head to one sheet labels and relatively increase a quantity of heat applied from the thermal head to the copying paper labels. Good printing is thus carried out to both of the one sheet labels and the copying paper labels.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of transporting a label with a mounting sheet on which a large number of labels are attached at a predetermined pitch on a long mounting sheet, and causing the thermal head to generate heat during the transporting process. The present invention relates to a label printer for printing items.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a label with a number of labels attached to a long sheet of paper at a predetermined pitch has been conveyed, and in this conveying process, a predetermined item is printed on each label by a thermal head. Printers are widespread.

In such a label printer, a printing start position on a label is detected by detecting a gap between labels affixed to a mount with a transmission type sensor.

[0004] Conventionally, a label with a backing sheet has a single-sheet structure (single-sheet label) formed of thermal paper or plain paper. However, in recent years, development of a copy paper label having a structure in which a plurality of thermal papers are overlapped has been advanced.

[0005] Here, a comparison between a case where a label with a backing sheet whose label is a copy paper label and a case where a label with a backing paper whose label is a single label is used is compared. When a label is used, it is necessary to apply more heat to the label for printing.

[0006]

In the case where a copy paper label has become widespread and a backing label having a single label and a backing label having a copy paper label have been mixedly used. If the amount of heat applied to the label from the thermal head is set to an appropriate value for a single label, if the copy paper label is used, the amount of heat applied will be insufficient and the color of the copy paper label will develop. Becomes insufficient, and the printed content becomes unclear. On the other hand, if the amount of heat applied from the thermal head to the label is set to an appropriate value for a copy paper label, if one label is used, the amount of heat applied is too large and one label will be colored. Too much, and the printed content becomes unclear.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for controlling the amount of heat applied from a thermal head to a label when a label with a mount is used as a single label and when a label with a mount is used as a copy paper label. An object of the present invention is to provide a label printer which can perform switching and can perform both printing on a single label and printing on a copy paper label satisfactorily.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a label printer that transports a label with a backing sheet on which a number of labels are pasted at a predetermined pitch on a long backing sheet, and heats a thermal head in this transporting process and prints a predetermined item on the label, A label type detecting means for detecting whether the label is a single label or a copy paper label in which a plurality of labels are superimposed, and the amount of heat applied to the copy paper label when the label is the copy paper label When the label is the one-sheet label, heat generation is automatically switched based on the detection result of the label type detection means so that the heat generation control of the thermal head is controlled to be relatively larger than the amount of heat applied to the one-sheet label. Control switching means.

Therefore, depending on whether the label affixed to the mount is a single label or a copy paper label, switching of the heat generation control switching means causes the thermal head to switch from one to the other.
The amount of heat applied to the sheet label becomes relatively small, and the amount of heat applied from the thermal head to the copy paper label becomes relatively large. For this reason, printing on a single label is performed satisfactorily without excessively developing a single label, and printing on a copy paper label is performed satisfactorily without insufficient coloring of the copy paper label. In addition, switching between the case where the label is a single label and the case where the label is a copy paper label can be performed without mistake by the heat generation control switching unit.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
A description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing a label printer. In this label printer, a holding unit 4 for holding a label 3 with a backing sheet on which a number of labels 2 are pasted at a predetermined pitch on a long backing sheet 1 is held by a holding unit 4. A platen roller 5 for pulling out and transporting the mounted label 3 and a thermal head 6 for printing predetermined items on the label 2 by sandwiching the mounted label 3 with the platen roller 5 are provided. There are two types of mount-attached labels 3 used in this label printer. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the label 2 is composed of a single label 2a formed of one thermal paper, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, the label 2 is composed of a copy paper label 2b in which a plurality of thermal papers are overlapped. A black mark 7 is printed on the copy paper label 2b.

In the label printer, a transmission type sensor 8 and a reflection type sensor 9
Are provided. The transmission sensor 8 is a sensor that detects the gap between the labels 2 attached to the mount 1 and measures the timing of starting printing on the labels 2. By detecting the presence or absence of the black mark 7, the reflection sensor 9 determines whether the label 2 is the single label 2 a or the copy paper label 2.
It is a sensor that detects whether or not it is b.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit structure of the label printer. For a CPU 10 that controls each unit according to a program, a ROM 11 that stores fixed data such as a program, a RAM 12 that temporarily stores print data and detection results of various sensors, an image memory 13, and a thermal head 6 via a head driver 14. ,
A stepping motor 16 via a motor driver 15,
A transmission sensor 8 and a reflection sensor 9 via the I / O 17,
An I / F 18 to which an external device such as a personal computer is connected is connected.

In this label printer, the label 3 with the backing paper is conveyed by driving the stepping motor 16 in the cycle of one printing step, and each heating element (not shown) of the thermal head 6 by the head driver 14 in the cycle.
Is printed on the label 2 by generating heat.

More specifically, print data transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer is temporarily stored in the RAM 12, and the print data temporarily stored in the RAM 12 is expanded in the image memory 13 and expanded in the image memory 13. The print data is serially transferred to the head driver 14 line by line and registered in a register (not shown) of the head driver 14. This operation is performed within the cycle of one previous printing step. When the pulse of the print cycle comes, the print data registered in the register is latch-set and the strobe pulse is turned on to selectively energize each heating element of the thermal head 6 according to the print data. Printing is performed on the label (single-sheet label 2a or copy paper label 2b) 2 by causing the energized heating element to generate heat.

Here, the pulse length when the strobe pulse is on differs depending on whether the reflection type sensor 9 has detected the black mark 7 or not, and the reflection type sensor 9 detects the black mark 7. If no detection is performed, that is, if a label 3 with a backing sheet having one label 2a attached to the backing sheet 1 is used, the length becomes longer (FIG. 4).
(See (a)), when the reflection type sensor 9 detects the black mark 7, that is, when the backing label 3 with the copy paper label 2b affixed to the backing 1 is used (see FIG. 4). (B)).

Each heating element of the thermal head 6 generates heat when the print data is latch-set and the strobe pulse is turned on. Therefore, the strobe pulse depends on whether the label 2 is a single label 2a or a copy paper label 2b. By changing the pulse length when is turned on, the heating time of each heating element of the thermal head 6 changes. In the case of the single label 2a, the pulse length when the strobe pulse is on is shortened, and in the case of the copy paper label 2b, the pulse length when the strobe pulse is on is increased. Accordingly, in the case of the single label 2a, the heat generation time of each heating element of the thermal head 6 is shortened and the amount of heat applied to the single label 2a is reduced, and in the case of the copy paper label 2b, each heat generation of the thermal head 6 is performed. As the heat generation time of the element becomes longer, the amount of heat applied to the copy paper label 2b increases.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the control operation in the case where the label 3 with the mount is conveyed and the label is issued. When the start key for starting the printing operation is pressed, the platen roller 5 is driven to rotate by the stepping motor 16 to start the conveyance of the label 3 with the mount, and it is determined whether or not the transmission sensor 8 is turned on. (Step S1). When the transmission type sensor 8 is turned on, a print start timing corresponding to the number of steps of the stepping motor 16 is set (step S2).

Conveyance of the label 3 with the backing sheet is continued, and it is determined whether the reflection type sensor 9 is turned on by detecting the black mark 7 (step S).
3) Here, the label type detecting means is executed. Further, in both cases where the reflection sensor 9 is not turned on and when it is turned on, it is determined whether or not the print start timing has been reached (steps S4 and S5).

If the reflection type sensor 9 has not been turned on (N in step S3) and the print start timing has been reached (Y in step S4), 1 is attached to the label 3 with the backing sheet used at that time. It is determined that the label 2a is attached, and a strobe pulse having a short pulse length when turned on as shown in FIG. 4A is input during printing, and printing corresponding to the label 2a is performed. (Step S
6) Here, the heat generation control switching means is executed.

On the other hand, when the reflection type sensor 9 is turned on (Y in step S3) and the printing start timing is reached (Y in step S5), the label 3 with the backing sheet used at that time is displayed. Is determined that the copy paper label 2b is attached, and a strobe pulse having a long pulse length when turned on as shown in FIG. 4 (b) is input at the time of printing to correspond to the copy paper label 2b. Printing is performed (step S7), and here, the heat generation control switching means is executed.

In such a configuration, the label 3
Is conveyed and printed on the label 2, it is determined whether the label 2 affixed to the mount 1 is a single label 2 a or a copy paper label 2 b based on the detection result of the reflection sensor 9. If it is determined that the label is a single label 2a, the on-pulse length of the strobe pulse input to the head driver 14 at the time of printing is reduced, so that the heating time of each heating element of the thermal head 6 is reduced. And the amount of heat applied from the thermal head 6 to the single label 2a is reduced. However, since the amount of heat required for printing on the single label 2a may be small, good printing can be performed without the single label 2a being excessively colored.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the label 2 affixed to the mount 1 is the copy paper label 2b, the ON pulse length of the strobe pulse input to the head driver 14 during printing is determined. As the length increases, the heat generation time of each heating element of the thermal head 6 increases, and the amount of heat applied from the thermal head 6 to the copy paper label 2b increases. Therefore, a sufficient amount of heat required for printing can be applied to the copy paper label 2b, and it is possible to prevent the color of the copy paper label 2b from being insufficiently colored due to an insufficient amount of applied heat, thereby performing good printing.

Therefore, regardless of whether the label 2 is a single label 2a or a copy paper label 2b, each label (single label 2a or copy paper label 2b) 2
Good printing can be performed.

The switching of the heat generation control switching means is automatically performed according to the detection result of the reflection type sensor 9 as to whether the label 2 is the single label 2a or the copy paper label 2b. Even when the label 3 with a backing sheet as the single label 2a and the label 3 with the backing sheet as the label 2b are used in combination, good printing can be performed without erroneous application of heat.

In this embodiment, the copy paper label 2
The label type detecting means in which the reflection type sensor 9 detects the black mark 7 printed on the label b has been described as an example. The side surface may be subjected to printing or the like for distinguishing between the single label 2a and the copy paper label 2b, and may be detected by a sensor.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. The same parts as those described in FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the heat generation control switching means of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the label 2 is a single label 2a and a copy paper label 2b, the head driver 14
Although the pulse length when the strobe pulse input to is turned on is changed, the heat generation control switching means according to the present embodiment, when printing on the copy paper label 2b, is performed before printing for each line. First, all the heating elements or preheating for preheating the heating elements used for printing are performed.

This preheating is performed after the pseudo print data for preheating for causing all the heating elements to generate heat before the print data is transmitted to the head driver is transmitted to the head driver 14 and the pseudo print data is latch-set, or After the actual print data is latch-set, the strobe pulse is turned on / off in a short cycle.

With such a configuration, when the label 2 is a copy paper label 2b, each heating element of the thermal head 6 is preheated before printing starts, and one label 2 is used.
In the case of a, preheating is not performed. Therefore, in the case of the single label 2a and the copy paper label 2b, the amount of heat applied to the copy paper label 2b is preheated even if the heating time of each heating element of the thermal head 6 at the time of actual printing is the same. It increases as much as it is. As a result, a sufficient amount of heat required for printing can be applied to the copy paper label 2b, and it is possible to prevent the color of the copy paper label 2b from being insufficiently colored due to an insufficient amount of applied heat, thereby performing good printing. Also, good printing can be performed on the single label 2a without applying an excessive amount of heat.

The preheating may be performed immediately before the actual printing as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, immediately after printing, preheating for the next printing may be performed.

[0030]

According to the label printer of the first aspect of the present invention, the thermal head can be switched between the case where the label attached to the mount is a single label and the case where the label is a copy paper label by switching the heat generation control switching means. Since the amount of heat applied to a single label is relatively small, and the amount of heat applied from a thermal head to a copy paper label is relatively large, printing on a single label is excellent without overcoloring the single label. The printing on the copy paper label can be satisfactorily performed without insufficient coloring of the copy paper label. Moreover, since the switching by the heat generation control switching unit is automatically performed according to the detection result by the label type detection unit, the switching by the heat generation control switching unit between the case where the label is a single label and the case where the label is a copy paper label is performed. It can be done reliably without mistake.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing a label printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit structure of the label printer.

FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a part of a label with a backing sheet on which one label is pasted on a backing sheet, and FIG. 3B is a plan view showing a part of a label with a backing sheet with a copying sheet label pasted on a backing sheet; FIG.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining that the length of a strobe pulse is changed between printing on a single label and printing on a copy paper label.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation when a label with a mount is conveyed and a label is issued.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart illustrating that preheating is performed when printing on a copy paper label in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Mount 2 Label 2a 1 Label 2b Copy Paper Label 3 Mount Label

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A label printer which transports a label with a backing sheet on which a number of labels are stuck at a predetermined pitch on a long backing sheet, and causes a thermal head to generate heat in the conveying process to print a predetermined item on the label. A label type detecting means for detecting whether the label is a single label or a copy paper label obtained by superimposing a plurality of labels, and, when the label is the copy paper label, The heat generation control of the thermal head is performed based on the detection result of the label type detecting means so that the amount of heat applied is relatively larger than the amount of heat applied to the one label when the label is the one label. A heat generation control switching means for automatically switching the heat generation control switching means.