JP2002137470A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can deal with a variety of labels while exhibiting a wide range of adjustment using electronic components of low drive voltage. SOLUTION: The printer 10 comprises an electronic board 66 supported on the frame 70 of a body 12 through a supporting rod 68 while mounting a photosensor 64. The supporting rod 68 is screwed to the frame 70 and coupled rotatably with the electronic board 66. A geared part 68A is formed at the lower end of the supporting rod 68 to mesh the teeth formed on the outer circumferential surface of a dial 76. When the dial 76 is turned, the supporting rod 68 rotates to advance/retract the photosensor 64 toward/from a label continuous body 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer that starts printing by detecting an optical detection mark (hereinafter referred to as an eye mark) attached to a print-receiving medium with a sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer for printing on a continuous label body in which a belt-shaped label is temporarily attached to a belt-shaped backing paper usually includes a photosensor. The photosensor has a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, and detects a difference in light transmittance and reflectance of the label continuum by receiving light emitted from the light-emitting element to the label continuum by the light-receiving element. Thus, the eye mark printed on the mount is detected, and printing is started based on the detected timing. In addition, peeling control for peeling the band-shaped backing sheet from the band-shaped label and cutting control for cutting the label continuous body for each sheet are also performed based on the timing at which the photo sensor detects the eye mark.

The light projection rate and reflectance of the label continuum differ depending on the type of label continuum, for example, the color and material of the band-shaped backing paper and the printing state of the eye mark. In contrast, photosensors have a limited range of light transmittance and reflectance that can be detected with high sensitivity. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the detection range of the photo sensor according to the type of the label continuum. For example, in the case of a photosensor that drives an electronic circuit at 5 V and requires a voltage peak of 2.5 V or more,
Electrical adjustment using a variable resistor is performed in the remaining range of 2.5V.

[0004]

However, in recent years, a driving voltage of 3.3 V has become mainstream in electronic components, and a photo sensor is also required to cope with the driving voltage. , 2.5V or more, the target value can be adjusted only in the range of 0.8V. That is, because the range that can be electrically adjusted is narrow, it is difficult to follow special labels such as preprinted labels and labels from overseas third parties.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer which has a wide adjustment range and can cope with various kinds of labels even when electronic components having a low driving voltage are used. Aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a sensor for detecting a portion to be detected of a strip, and performs a predetermined step on the strip based on the timing detected by the sensor. In the printer to be applied, a support member that slidably supports the sensor, and a dial that moves the sensor forward and backward through the support member by rotating the sensor so that the sensor advances and retreats with respect to the belt-like object. It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, the sensor can be moved to a position with high sensitivity by rotating the dial. Therefore, even if the electronically adjustable range is reduced when electronic components having a low drive voltage are used, the electronically adjustable range can be covered. This makes it possible to handle various types of labels while driving the electronic component at a low voltage.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printer 10 according to the present embodiment, and shows a closed state in which a lid 14 is closed with respect to a main body 12. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the printer 10 in a closed state, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the printer 10 in an open state with the lid 14 opened.

As shown in these drawings, the printer 10 mainly includes a main body 12 and a lid 14.

A supply shaft 16 is provided on the main body 12, and the label continuous body 1 wound in a roll shape is provided on the supply shaft 16.
8 is set. As shown in FIG. 4, the label continuum 18 is formed by temporarily attaching a large number of label pieces L to the belt-shaped mount B via the pressure-sensitive adhesive 20 at equal intervals, and is wound around a paper tube 22 or the like. I have. On the back surface of the band-shaped backing sheet B, a detection mark 24 displayed for each label piece L is printed. In the present embodiment, the detection mark 24 is formed at a substantially central position in the width direction of the band-shaped backing sheet B, but may be formed at an end position. Further, a label continuum 1 without a band-shaped backing B
8. The detection mark 2 on the back of a so-called linerless label
4 may be printed directly.

The label continuous body 18 is set in a state where the label continuous body 18 is fitted to the supply shaft 16 and the leading end thereof is pulled out to reach the platen roller 28 and the peeling pin 30 in the opened state of FIG. . As shown in FIG. 2, the platen roller 28 is disposed so as to face the thermal head 32 provided on the lid 14 when the lid 14 is closed.
The label continuum 18 is set between the thermal head 32 and the platen roller 28 while being pressed. By controlling the heat generation of the thermal head 32 while rotating the platen roller 28, the label continuum 1 is controlled.
8 is printed. The printed label continuous body 18 is separated from the label piece L by turning the band-shaped backing sheet B by the peeling pin 30, passes between the guide roller 36 and the pressing roller 38, and passes through the backing sheet passage 40 and the backing sheet discharge port 42 to the outside. Is discharged. The label piece L separated from the band-shaped mount B is issued from the label issuing port 34 in FIG. The pressing roller 28 is elastically pressed against the guide roller 36 by a spring 44. The pressing roller 28 is separated from the guide roller 36 by releasing the set plate 46, so that the band-shaped backing sheet B can be set.

On the other hand, the cover 14 is spring-loaded (not shown) from the closed state of FIG. 2 to the open state of FIG.
Is displaced. A leaf spring material 50 is attached to the lid body 14 by fastening members 52, 52 such as screws, and a pair of label pressing rollers 54, 54 are attached to the tip of the leaf spring material 50. Each of the label pressing rollers 54 has a shaft 5 supported at the lower end of the leaf spring material 50.
8 rotatably supported. Further, the label pressing rollers 54, 54 are in the closed state of FIG.
The configuration is such that the label guide surface 26 formed by the substrate 60 provided on the bottom of the main body 12 is elastically urged.

The substrate 60 has a through hole 60A formed at a position where the label pressing roller 54 is elastically urged, and a transparent resin plate 62 is adhered to the through hole 60A. Resin plate 6
A photosensor 64 for detecting the eye mark 24 of the band-shaped backing sheet B is provided below the second base sheet 2.

The photo sensor 64 is arranged to face the label continuum 18. The photo sensor 64 is
The light emitting device includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element (not shown). The light emitting element emits light to the label continuum 18 and the light reflected by the label continuity 18 is received by the light receiving element. Then, the eye mark 24 is detected because the reflectance of the eye mark 24 printed on the band-shaped mount B is different from that of the band-shaped mount B. The thermal head 32 and the platen roller 28 are controlled based on the timing at which the eye mark 24 is detected, and printing is started. Thereby, printing is reliably performed at a predetermined position of the label L.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a support structure of the photosensor 64. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic board 66 on which a photo sensor 64 is mounted is supported by a frame 70 of the main body 12 by support rods 68. The support rod 68 is rotatably connected to the electronic board 66 and is screwed to the frame 70. Therefore, the support rod 68
Is rotated, the support bar 68 moves in the vertical direction.
The electronic substrate 66 and the photo sensor 64 are attached to the label continuum 1
8 can be slid in the forward and backward directions.

Between the electronic substrate 66 and the frame 70,
The spring 72 is provided so as to be inserted through the support rod 68. When the spring 72 elastically urges the electronic substrate 66, the rattling of the electronic substrate 66 is removed.

Further, the electronic substrate 66 includes the electronic substrate 66.
A guide rod 74 is fixed in a direction perpendicular to the direction. The guide rod 74 is guided by being inserted into a hole of the frame 70 of the main body 12. Thus, the electronic board 66 is moved up and down while being kept horizontal.

At the lower end of the guide rod 74, a dial 76 is rotatably supported. The dial 76 has teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface to form a gear, and meshes with the teeth of a gear portion 68 </ b> A formed at the lower end of the support rod 68. Therefore, when the dial 76 is rotated, the support bar 68 is rotated, so that the photo sensor 64 can be moved forward and backward with respect to the label continuous body 18 as shown in FIG.
Since the dial 76 moves up and down together with the photo sensor 64, the dial 76 always meshes with the teeth of the support bar 68.

The dial 76 has a scale as shown in FIG. The scale may be a measure of the amount by which the photosensor 64 is raised and lowered. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a number indicating the amount of rotation is displayed. When the types of the label continuum 18 are limited to several types, the type of the label continuum 18 may be displayed.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 80 denotes a keyboard, and reference numeral 82 denotes a display panel. Reference numeral 84 denotes a handle, which is rotatably mounted on a pivot 86 as a fulcrum. When carrying the printer 10, the handle 84 can be easily carried by raising the handle 84 upward.

Next, the operation of the printer 10 configured as described above will be described.

Depending on the material and thickness of the band-shaped backing material B, the printing state of the eye mark 24, and the like, the label continuous body 18 has variations in optical and electrical characteristics. Therefore, label continuum 1
It is necessary to electrically adjust the photo sensor 64 in accordance with the optical and electrical characteristics of the photo sensor 64. However, when an electronic component (not shown) having a low driving voltage is used, there is a problem that the electrically adjustable range is greatly reduced. For this reason, the conventional device could not cope with various types of label continuum 18 when electronic components having a low driving voltage were used.

On the other hand, the printer 10 of the present embodiment
By rotating the dial 76, the photosensor 64 can be moved forward and backward with respect to the label continuum 18, so that it is possible to cope with various types of label continuum 18. That is, if the photo sensor 64 is moved to a position suitable for detection and the photo sensor 64 is mechanically adjusted, the reduced electrical adjustable range can be covered by mechanical adjustment. Thereby, even if an electronic component with a low drive voltage is used, it is possible to cope with various label continuous bodies 18.

Further, the printer 10 can adjust the position of the photo sensor 64 without tools by simply rotating the dial 76.

In the above-described embodiment, the reflection type photo sensor 64 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a transmission type sensor may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the eye mark 24 of the band-shaped backing sheet B is detected by the photo sensor 64, but the present invention is not limited to this. Good.

In the above-described embodiment, printing is started based on the timing at which the photo sensor 64 detects the eye mark 24. However, the peeling control for peeling the band-shaped backing sheet B from the label L or the band-shaped label is simply performed. The cutting control for cutting each sheet may be performed based on the timing detected by the photo sensor 64.

The mechanism for moving the photo sensor 64 up and down is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but is a support member that slidably supports the photo sensor 64 in a direction to advance and retreat with respect to the label continuous body 18. And a dial as operating means for sliding the photo sensor 64 through the support member.

[0031]

As described above, in the printer according to the present invention, the sensor can be moved to a position with high sensitivity by rotating the dial. It is possible to cover the decrease in the typical adjustment range, and it is possible to correspond to various kinds of labels.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the printer in a closed state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the printer in an open state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a roll body of a continuous label body.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a support structure of the photosensor.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a support structure of the photosensor.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing dial scales.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printer, 12 ... Main body, 14 ... Lid, 18 ... Label continuous body, 64 ... Photosensor, 66 ... Electronic board, 68
... support rod, 72 ... spring, 74 ... guide rod, 76 ...
Dial

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer which includes a sensor for detecting a detected portion of a strip and performs a predetermined process on the strip based on a timing detected by the sensor, wherein the sensor advances and retreats with respect to the strip. A printer, comprising: a support member that slidably supports the sensor; and a dial that rotates and moves the sensor through the support member by rotating the printer. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said dial is provided with an index for knowing the position of said sensor.