JP2002036397A - Label forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the sagging quantity between a label recording means and a label cutting means as compared with an ordinary case when at least one of the label recording means and the label cutting means is stopped by the generation of an abnormal state. SOLUTION: A label forming apparatus is equipped with the label recording means 102 for successively recording a label on a strip like recording medium while sending the recording medium, the label cutting means 103 for successively cutting the label recorded on the recording medium while feeding the recording medium on which the label is recorded by the label recording means and operation control means 101, 702, 703 and 704 for stopping the operation of the label cutting means when at least one of the label recording means and the label cutting means is stopped by the abnormal state generated during the operation of the label recording means and the label cutting means and subsequently stopping the operation of the label recording means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label producing apparatus for automatically producing various kinds of labels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a label producing apparatus for producing a label using a die cutter and a printer, when the operation is interrupted during label production, the die cutter and the printer are stopped almost simultaneously.

When the printer is suspended, the printed label is transported until it is discharged out of the printer. When the operation is resumed, blank paper is not produced. Therefore, the recording medium on which the label is printed is fed back (back feed). Start printing labels.

For this reason, the slack amount of the recording medium between the die cutter and the printer has always been managed so as to have a margin by the amount of the back feed.

[0005]

However, in the conventional label producing apparatus, since the die cutter and the printer are stopped almost at the same time, it is necessary to perform control so that a back feed slack always occurs. For this reason, a large amount of slack in the recording medium is required, the path of the recording medium is lengthened, and many useless recording media are generated.

In addition, since a large amount of slack is required,
The die cutter and printer had to be placed on separate tables, creating slack between the tables. As a result, two units are required, and the cost is high when the system is carried in. In addition, since the die cutter and the printer are installed on separate tables, it is difficult to position the die cutter and the printer, and this has caused an abnormal conveyance of the recording medium. In addition, when one of the tables is moved unexpectedly, the die cutter and the printer are connected by a recording medium and communication cable, etc., so the die cutter and the printer pull each other, and at least one of them is damaged or falls off the table. There was a high possibility that it would cause an accident.

(Object) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is directed to a label producing apparatus for producing a label using label recording means and label cutting means. , Label cutting means and inside,
When at least one of them becomes abnormal, the operation of interrupting the operation during label creation is stopped by stopping the operation of the label cutting means and then the label recording means, so that the amount of slack of the recording medium is increased only at the time of interruption, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a label producing apparatus in which a slack amount of a recording medium between a label cutting unit and a label recording unit in operation is reduced.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a label producing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a label recording means for sequentially recording labels on a recording medium while feeding a strip-shaped recording medium; Label cutting means for sequentially cutting labels recorded on the recording medium while transporting the recording medium on which is recorded, and during the operation of the label recording means and the label cutting means, an abnormal situation occurs and When stopping at least one of the label recording means and the label cutting means, the operation of the label cutting means is stopped, and then the operation control means for stopping the operation of the label recording means is provided.

In the label producing apparatus according to the present invention, the label cutting means has a recording medium transport section for transporting the recording medium, and a label cutting section for cutting the label, and the operation control means includes: When stopping one of the label recording means and the label cutting means,
At least the operation of the recording medium transport unit of the recording medium transport unit and the label cutting unit is stopped.

[0010] In the label producing apparatus of the present invention, when the operation control means is recording a label on the recording medium,
After the recording of the label is completed, the label recording means is stopped.

In the label producing apparatus according to the present invention, when the label recording means is recording a label on the recording medium when the label cutting means is stopped, the operation control means may record the label. Is terminated, the label recording means is stopped, and when the label cutting means is restarted, the label recording means is operated to return the recording medium to the next label forming position.

[0012] In the label producing apparatus of the present invention, the operation control means may be configured to record the label when the label recording means is recording a label on the recording medium when a recording stop factor occurs in the label recording means. Is terminated, the label recording means is stopped, and when the label recording means is restarted, the label recording means is operated to return the recording medium to the next label forming position.

(Operation) When an abnormal situation occurs and at least one of the label recording means and the label cutting means is stopped during the operation of the label recording means and the label cutting means, the label producing apparatus is controlled by the operation control means. After stopping the operation of the label cutting means, the operation of the label recording means is stopped. As a result, the slack amount increases by the length of the recording medium sent out by the label recording means after the label cutting means is stopped, and the back feed by the label recording means is performed, compared to when the label producing apparatus is operating normally. Return amount is secured.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a label producing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of a label producing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The label producing apparatus includes a host computer (operation control means) 10
1, a label printer (label recording means) 102, a die cutter (label cutting means) 103 and the like. Hereinafter, these configurations will be sequentially described.
The operation will also be described based on the diagrams schematically showing the flow of the operation in FIGS. 8 to 10 as time elapses. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining transmission / reception data of the host computer 101, the label printer 102, and the die cutter 103 when the interruption factor occurs in the die cutter 103. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining transmission / reception data of the host computer 101, the label printer 102, and the die cutter 103 when an interruption factor occurs in the label printer 102. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining transmission / reception data of the host computer 101, the label printer 102, and the die cutter 103 when a sheet conveyance error occurs in the label printer 102.

The host computer 101 and the label printer 102 are connected by a cable 104 so that data can be transmitted and received between them. The label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 are connected by a cable 105 so that data can be transmitted and received by serial communication with each other. The label image created by the host computer 101 is recorded by the label printer 102 on the recording medium 106, which is plain continuous paper, and is subsequently die-cut by the die cutter 103 to be die-cut one by one to form a label.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the host computer 101. The host computer 101 has a keyboard 2
01 and a mouse 202 which is a pointing device, so that various inputs can be made. Further, the host computer 101 has a processing unit (not shown), which processes input data and creates print data (see FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, section (hereinafter simply referred to as “S”). The label image 203 is displayed on the CRT 204, and print data and various setting items are transmitted to the label printer 102 (FIG. 8).
10 to S102), and further, the label printer 10
2 is received.

When the host computer 101 inputs a label size to the label size input unit 205, a label image 203 of the input size is displayed on the CRT 204. The user checks the rectangle 206, the line 207, the character 208, the barcode 2 while watching the display.
09, the image data 210 and the like are specified, a label layout is created, and the size and angle are also specified.

The host computer 101 is further provided with a print number designation section 211 for designating the number of prints, a variable information section (not shown) for partial data, and the like. Such information is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 701 to the label printer 102 as print data (FIGS. 8 to 10, S102).

The label image 203 is expressed in full color. The processing unit of the host computer 101 divides the full-color image into print data for each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and
Transfer to 2. The above various information to the host computer 101 is transmitted by the user through the keyboard 201 and the mouse 2.
02 is input.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a label printer.
The label printer 102 includes a transmission / reception unit (operation control unit) 702 with the host computer 101, the die cutter 10
3, a transmission / reception unit (operation control means) 703, a memory for temporarily storing print data, a paper supply unit 301, a transport unit 30
2 and a recording unit 303.

A band-shaped recording medium 106 which is a plain continuous paper
(Refer to FIG. 6) The mount paper 106a and the label sheet 106b
And the label sheet 106b is releasably adhered to the entire backing paper 106a. The recording medium 106 is fed into the main body of the label printer 102 by the paper feeding unit 301, and is conveyed by the conveyance unit 302. Then, the recording medium 106 is stored in the label sheet 106 by the recording unit 303.
b is continuously recorded on the label b (FIGS. 8 to 10, S1).
03, S108), after the label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 have a slack in a loop shape, are sent to the inside of the die cutter 103. Thereafter, the recording medium 1
06 is processed in the die cutter 103.

The recording unit 303 is composed of an ink jet head for discharging ink of each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and ink is supplied from an ink tank for each color.

The ink jet head of the recording unit 303
Nozzles for ejecting ink droplets are provided for printing over the entire width of the printing medium. The inkjet head of the recording unit 303 can print a full-color label on the transported recording medium 106 by performing ejection based on print data for each color. When printing labels, a mark used as die cut timing is also printed on each label.

The print data is stored in the host computer 101
This is print data for each color transmitted from the printer, and is temporarily stored in the memory until printing is completed. The label printer 102 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 703 with the die cutter 103.
Thus, status information such as during the operation of the label printer and information such as the size of the label being recorded and the number of labels are transmitted to the die cutter 103 (FIGS. 8 to 10, S1).
04) Also, status information of the die cutter 103 is received from the die cutter 103 (FIGS. 8 to 10, S106). The label printer 102 is in a recordable state when the die cutter 103 is in operation or in an operable state (FIGS. 8 to 10, S103).
Further, the label printer 102 can perform the recording if the conditions that can be recorded on the label printer 102 side are satisfied, such as the transmission of the recording data from the host computer 101 (FIGS. 8 to 10, S108).

If the die cutter 103 is not operating or becomes inoperable (in an abnormal state) during recording by the label printer 102 (FIGS. 8 to 10, S107 and S108), the label printer 102 The recorded label is recorded, discharged to the exit and stopped (FIG. 8, S112). At this time, more slack occurs between the label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 than the slack normally managed. The usual slack is
Light reflection type sensor 70 provided in die cutter 103
5 and is always kept constant.

Thereafter, the label printer 102 waits for the die cutter 103 to be in an operable state (S114). When the operable state is reached, the label printer 102 conveys the recording medium 106 in the direction opposite to the recording direction and returns it ( (S115), the recording is restarted from the position next to the label just discharged (S11).
6). The label printer 102 transmits the label printer status to the die cutter 103 (S117). The die cutter 103 resumes the operation (S118). When the paper is conveyed in the reverse direction, the amount of slack between the label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 is reduced. However, at the time of the previous stop, the amount of slack is larger than the slack that is normally managed. The pulling of the label printer 102 and the die cutter 103 due to the decrease of the medium 106 does not occur.

The reason why the recording medium 106 is returned is to match the position where the next label of the recording medium is recorded with the position of the recording section 303.

When printing is interrupted by cleaning the print head or the like during the printing operation of the label printer 102,
When an interruption factor (abnormal situation) occurs (FIG. 9, S12
0) The stopped status is transmitted to the die cutter 103 (S121), and the operation of the die cutter 103 is stopped before the label printer 102. Label printer 102
After confirming that the die cutter 103 has stopped (S122), the label currently being recorded is recorded, discharged to the exit, and stopped (S123).

When the subsequent printing is interrupted, the label printer 102 transmits the label printer status to the die cutter 103 (S124). Die cutter 103
Continue to stop. When the cause of the interruption is canceled and the label printer 102 enters the operation resume state (S125),
The recording medium is conveyed in the direction opposite to the recording direction (S126), and the recording is restarted from the position next to the previously discharged label (S1).
27). The die cutter 103 includes a label printer 102
When a label printer status indicating that recording has been resumed has been received (S128), the operation is resumed (S12).
9).

As described above, even when the operation is stopped due to the factor of the label printer 102, the operation of the label printer 102 is stopped.
The operation is stopped in a state where more slack has been generated between the die cutter 103 and the die cutter 103 than the slack normally managed.

When a recording medium abnormality is detected in the label printer 102 during recording by the label printer 102 (FIG. 1)
(0, S130), the label printer 102 immediately stops the recording (S131 in FIG. 10), and transmits the status of stopping to the die cutter 103 (S132). The die cutter 103 stops operating. The die cutter 103 sends a die cutter status signal (S133) to the label printer 102 indicating that it has stopped. When restarting the operation (S134), unlike the above, the label printer 102 restarts printing without transporting the printing medium in the direction opposite to the printing (S135). When the die cutter 103 receives the label printer status from the label printer 102 that has restarted recording (S136), the die cutter 103 restarts (S13).
7).

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the die cutter 103. The die cutter 103 includes a transmission / reception unit (operation control unit) 704 with the label printer, an adhesion unit 402 for adhering the recording medium 106 and the laminate film 401, a die cut unit (label cut unit) 403, and the recording medium and the cut laminate film. A winding section 405 for winding the label, a scrap winding section 406 for winding the remaining cut laminate film,
An operation panel 407 serving as a user interface, a sensor 705 for detecting a slack of the recording medium, and a pair of conveying rollers for conveying the recording medium (recording medium conveying unit)
706, 707 and the like.

The die cutter 103 transmits status information and the like of the die cutter to the label printer 102 by the transmission / reception unit 704 with the label printer (FIGS. 8 to 1).
0, S106), and also receives information such as label printer status information, recorded label size, and the number of labels from the label printer 102 (FIGS. 8 to 1).
0, S104), and operates according to the information.

When an operation start of the die cutter 103 is instructed by the operation panel 407 (see FIGS. 8 to 1).
0, S105), the die cutter 103 transmits an operable status to the label printer 102 (FIGS. 8 to 10, S106). The label printer 102 starts recording the recording data sent from the host computer 101 on the recording medium 106 (FIGS. 8 to 10, S10).
8) The status during recording is transmitted to the die cutter 103 (FIGS. 8 to 10, S107). The die cutter 103 that has received the status of recording starts the die cutting operation (FIGS. 8 to 10, S109).

Whether the operation panel 407 is instructed to stop the operation of the die cutter 103 (FIG. 8, S11)
0) or when an abnormality occurs inside the die cutter and the die cutter 103 is stopped
Sends a status of operation stop to the label printer 102 (FIG. 8, S111). The label printer 102 that has received the operation stop records the label currently being recorded,
The sheet is discharged to the exit and stopped (S112 in FIG. 8), the status of the conveyance stop is transmitted (S111 in FIG. 8), and the operation with the die cutter 103 and the label printer 102 is stopped.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a bonding portion of the die cutter 103. The adhesive section 402 is connected to the recording medium 106 printed by the label printer 102 and the laminate film 401.
Is passed through a pressure roller 501 to perform pressure bonding.

FIG. 6 shows a die cutting section 40 of a die cutter.
3 is a schematic view of FIG. The die cutting section 403 includes a cutter blade 601, a die cut roll 602, and an anvil roll 60.
3, a sensor 604 for detecting die cut timing, a transport device (not shown) for transporting the recording medium 106, and the like. The cutter blade 601 is detachable from the die cut roll 602 depending on the type and size of the label. By exchanging the cutter blade 601, it is possible to handle a plurality of types of labels.

The die cut section 403 detects the mark 60 added to each label of the recording medium 106 by the sensor 604.
5 is detected, the die cut roll 602 and the anvil roll 603 are rotated to convey the recording medium 106, and the portion of the label sheet 106 b other than the laminate film 401 on the recording medium 106 and the mount 106 a of the recording medium 106 is cut by a cutter blade. At 601, the cutter blade 601 is cut into a shape.

The die cut unit 403 keeps the label print and the die cut position constant by detecting the mark 605 printed on each label as the die cut timing and detecting each label each time.

The label size transmitted from the label printer 102 and the mark 6 printed on each label
By comparing the detection timing with the detection timing of 05, it is possible to detect a conveyance abnormality (abnormal state) of the recording medium 106.

The number of printed labels transmitted from the label printer 102 is compared with the number of times of die cutting, and the rotation of the die cut roll 602 is stopped at the time when the number of printed labels has been cut. To prevent

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a peeling portion of the die cutter. The recording medium 106 that has been die-cut is separated from the separation unit 40.
4, the recording medium having the label as a product is peeled off from the remaining scrap portion of the laminate film, and is wound up by the label winding section 405 and the scrap winding section 406, respectively.

FIGS. 11A to 11D are plan views of the recording medium 106 showing the order in which labels are created by the label creating apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a plan view of the recording medium 106 in a state of plain continuous paper before processing. FIG. 11B
4 is a plan view of a recording medium 106 on which labels are continuously recorded by the label printer 102. FIG. A mark 605 used as a die cut timing is printed on each label. FIG. 11C is a plan view of the recording medium 106 that has been die-cut by the die cutter 103. FIG. 11D is a plan view of the recording medium 106 in which the laminate film (scum) is peeled off by the die cutter 103 and the label R is a product and is attached to the mount 106a.

In the above description, the label printer 1
Although the description has been given of the case where one of 02 and the die cutter 103 is in an abnormal state, both may be in an abnormal state at the same time. In such a case, the label printer 102 is stopped after the die cutter 103 is stopped.
To stop.

As described above, when an abnormal condition occurs and at least one of the label printer and the die cutter is stopped, the label producing device stops the operation of the die cutter and then stops the operation of the label printer. The amount of slack between the label printer and the die cutter during normal operation and the waste of the recording medium can be reduced. In addition, the label printer and the die cutter can be mounted on one common platform, which reduces the cost of installation, facilitates the positioning of the die cutter and the label printer, avoids transport errors, and prevents machine damage and damage. Accidents can be prevented.

[0048]

According to the label producing apparatus of the present invention, when an abnormal condition occurs and at least one of the label recording means and the label cutting means is stopped, the operation of the label recording means is stopped and then the operation of the label recording means is stopped. Is stopped, the amount of slack between the label recording unit and the label cutting unit during the normal operation and the waste of the recording medium can be reduced. In addition, the label recording means and the label cutting means can be mounted on a common platform, thereby reducing the cost at the time of introduction, facilitating the positioning between the label cutting means and the label recording means, and avoiding abnormal conveyance, Machine damage and accidents can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a label producing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining functions of a host computer of the label producing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining functions of a label printer of the label producing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining functions of a die cutter of the label producing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a function of a bonding portion of the die cutter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining functions in a die cutting unit.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a function in a peeling section of the die cutter of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining transmission / reception data of the host computer, the label printer, and the die cutter when an interruption factor occurs in the die cutter in the label producing apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining transmission / reception data of the host computer, the label printer, and the die cutter when an interruption factor occurs in the label printer in the label producing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining transmission / reception data of the host computer, the label printer, and the die cutter when a sheet conveyance error occurs in the label printer in the label producing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a recording medium showing the order in which labels are created by the label creating apparatus of the embodiment.
FIG. 3A is a plan view of a recording medium in a state of plain continuous paper before processing. FIG. 2B is a plan view of a recording medium on which labels are continuously recorded by a label printer. (C)
3 is a plan view of a recording medium on which die cutting has been performed by a die cutter. (D) is a plan view of a recording medium on which a laminate film (waste) is peeled off by a die cutter, a label is a product, and a mount is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 101 Host computer (operation control means) 102 Label printer (label recording means) 103 Die cutter (label cutting means) 106 Recording medium 107 units 301 Paper feed unit 302 Transport unit 303 Recording unit 401 Laminated film 402 Adhesive unit 403 Die cut unit (Label (Cutting part) 404 peeling part 405 label winding part 406 waste winding part 407 operation panel 501 pressure roller 601 cutter blade 702 transmitting / receiving part with host computer (operation control means) 703 transmitting / receiving part with die cutter (operation control means) 704 Transmitter / receiver unit with label printer (operation control means) 706, 707 Transport roller pair (recording medium transport unit)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Naohisa Obata 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture Within Canon Aptex Corporation (72) Inventor Masaru Watanabe 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-shi, Ibaraki Canon Aptex Corporation (72) Inventor Atsushi Takada 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-city, Ibaraki Pref. Inside Canon Aptex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Takegasa 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-shi, Ibaraki F-term within Canon Aptex Co. 3E075 AA17 BA83 CA02 DB02 DB16 DE23 FA04 FA07 FA18

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A label recording means for sequentially recording labels on a recording medium while feeding a strip-shaped recording medium, and a label recorded on the recording medium while conveying the recording medium on which the label is recorded by the label recording means. Label cutting means for sequentially cutting the label recording means, during the operation of the label recording means and the label cutting means, when an abnormal situation occurs to stop at least one of the label recording means and the label cutting means, the label An operation control means for stopping the operation of the label recording means after the operation of the cutting means is stopped. 2. The method according to claim 2, wherein the label cutting unit includes a recording medium transport unit that transports the recording medium, and a label cutting unit that cuts the label. 2. The label according to claim 1, wherein when stopping either one of the cutting means, at least the operation of the recording medium conveyance unit among the recording medium conveyance unit and the label cutting unit is stopped. 3. Creating device. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when a label is being recorded on the recording medium, the operation control means terminates the recording of the label and then stops the label recording means. Labeling device as described. 4. The operation control unit, when the label recording unit is in a state of stopping the label cutting unit, if the label recording unit is recording a label on the recording medium, after terminating the recording of the label, The method according to claim 1, wherein the label recording unit is stopped, and the label recording unit is operated to return the recording medium to a next label forming position when the label cutting unit is restarted. The label producing device according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: when a recording stop factor occurs in the label recording unit, if the label recording unit is recording a label on the recording medium, the operation control unit terminates recording of the label. 4. The label making method according to claim 1, wherein the label recording unit is stopped, and when the label recording unit is restarted, the label recording unit is caused to perform an operation of returning the recording medium to a next label forming position. apparatus.