JP2002255139A - Product information printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology of a product information printing device having a plurality of printing heads in which an efficient printing operation can be carried out against a label having various kinds of printing contents. SOLUTION: This product information printing device is comprised of a plurality of printing heads 21, 22 arranged along a label transferring path, and a label transferring segment capable of transferring a label in both normal and reverse directions, Then, in the case of the product information printing device, a back-feeding amount at the time when the label is back-fed to an optional position in each of the printing reference positions of a plurality of printing heads 21, 22 is controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product information printing apparatus for printing product information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a product information printing device for printing product information, there is a label printer for printing information for each product on a label.

[0003] As such labels, in addition to ordinary labels (mostly labels of single color thermal printing), there are eye catch labels (labels with enhanced expressiveness so as to catch the eyes of consumers). In particular, in an eye catch label, multicolor printing is performed using a plurality of print heads including a thermal transfer head in order to improve the expressive power. The plurality of print heads are provided along a label transport path, and printing on each label is performed by sequentially sending each label in a certain direction to the plurality of print heads.

[0004]

In the above-described label printer, if the print content of the label is determined in advance, the print at the predetermined position is performed by the print head on the downstream side, and at the same time, the print on the upstream side is performed. It is possible to print the next label on the print head.

[0005] However, if the print content of a predetermined label is undetermined at the time of printing the preceding label, the head position where printing of the predetermined label should be performed passes through the print position of the print head corresponding to the print. Therefore, the predetermined label cannot be printed at a normal position. When printing is performed subsequently to that position (an abnormal position), problems such as waste of label paper occur. In order to avoid such a problem, when issuing different types of labels, each type of label is often printed using a separate label printer.

As described above, there is a problem due to the fact that the print content of the label is undetermined at the time of printing the previous label, although the print content differs depending on the type of the label and the like. .

[0007] The above problem occurs not only when a plurality of types of labels are printed by the same device, but also when the next print content can be undetermined in a product information printing device having a plurality of print heads. Is a problem that exists in

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a technology capable of performing an efficient printing operation on a label having various print contents in a product information printing apparatus having a plurality of print heads. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandise information printing apparatus for printing merchandise information on a label, wherein the merchandise information printing apparatus is provided along a label conveying path. A plurality of print heads provided, label transport means capable of transporting the label in both forward and reverse directions, and controlling a back feed amount when the label is fed back to an arbitrary position among a plurality of reference positions. Back feed amount control means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the commodity information printing apparatus according to the first aspect, each of the plurality of reference positions is a printing reference position of the plurality of print heads. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise information printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the back-feed amount control means changes the back-feed amount according to a print content. It is characterized by doing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the commodity information printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the back feed amount control means changes the back feed amount in accordance with a label type. It is characterized by doing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise information printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the plurality of print heads are at least one.
It is characterized by including one thermal head.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise information printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the plurality of print heads are at least one.
It is characterized by including one thermal transfer head.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the product information printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the plurality of print heads are a thermal head for performing black printing and a color printing. And at least one thermal transfer head that performs

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the product information printing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the at least one thermal transfer head prints three basic colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, respectively. It is characterized by including one ink ribbon type thermal transfer head.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise information printing apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the long label base paper is cut into a plurality of different lengths. It is characterized by further comprising a cutting means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a commodity information printing apparatus,
The product information printing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a glue activating means for activating the glue on the back surface of the label.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<A. Configuration> FIG. 1 is an external view schematically showing a product information printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As will be described later, the product information printing apparatus 1 can create a plurality of types of labels on which product information of each product is printed by using a plurality of print heads.

As shown in FIG. 1, the product information printing apparatus 1 includes a display unit 2 having a liquid crystal display, an operation input unit 3 for receiving various key inputs, a printing mechanism unit PM for performing a printing operation on a label, and the like. It has.

Next, the printing mechanism PM will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outline of the print mechanism PM. As shown in FIG. 2, the print mechanism PM includes a plurality of print heads 20 and a label transport unit 30.

Here, as the plurality of print heads 20,
A case in which two print heads 21 and 22 are provided will be described.

The print head 21 is a thermal print head, and the print head 22 is a thermal transfer print head. Hereinafter, both print heads 21 and 22 are also referred to as a thermal head 21 and a thermal transfer head 22, respectively.

The thermal head 21 is a print head capable of coloring the label printing surface by selectively heating the printing surface of the label for thermal recording. Also,
The thermal head 21 is a print head corresponding to a label capable of developing two colors, and can be selectively heated to different temperatures on a label printing surface. Thereby, the printing surface of the label can be colored in different colors (for example, black and red) according to the difference in the heating temperature. In addition, as the thermal head 21, a thermal head for monochrome printing can be used.

On the other hand, the thermal transfer head 22 is a print head that selectively heats the solid ink or the like applied to the thermal transfer ribbon TR and transfers it to the label printing surface (that is, a thermal transfer head corresponding to the ink ribbon type). For example, if a yellow ribbon is used as the thermal transfer ribbon TR, yellow printing can be performed on the label printing surface. Similarly, by exchanging ribbons of each color such as green, blue, and red, it is possible to print each color on the label printing surface.

The print mechanism PM has a ribbon supply section 26, a ribbon take-up section 27, and a ribbon roller 28 for guiding, and appropriately supplies the thermal transfer ribbon TR to the thermal transfer head 22. can do. Specifically, when the ribbon take-up unit 27 rotates in the direction of the arrow AR1 (clockwise) in the figure, the thermal transfer ribbon TR wound around the ribbon supply unit 26 moves to the arrow A in the figure.
Proceed in the direction of R2. Thus, a new thermal transfer ribbon TR is supplied to the thermal transfer head 22. Then, by selectively heating the thermal transfer ribbon TR directly below the thermal transfer head 22, the solid ink or the like applied to the thermal transfer ribbon TR is transferred to the label LB. The used thermal transfer ribbon TR is wound up by the ribbon winding unit 27.

Further, the print mechanism PM has a label transport section 30. The label transport unit 30 includes a mount-less label supply unit 31, a guide roller 33, and a platen 3.
4a, 34b, label sensors 35a, 35b, a glue activating unit 36, a label receiving roller 37, a peeling sensor 38, and a label cutting unit 39.

The mount-less label supply section 31 includes a long (or strip-shaped) label base paper having a cylindrical core portion 31c.
Has a backing-less label wound many times. As will be described later, the mount-less label is cut to an arbitrary length by the label cutting section 39. Also, this backing-less label has a heat-sensitive layer for thermal printing on the printing surface side (in other words, the front surface (omotenmen) side), and has an inactive glue surface on the back surface side. As described later, the glue surface on the back surface side is
Activated by this activated glue surface,
The cut label is attached to each product or the like.

One end of the mount-less label is fixed to the core portion 31c. Also, when printing,
The other end of the mount-less label supply unit 31 is held between the platen 34a and the print head 21 in a pressed state. Further, at the time of printing by the print head 22, the print head 22 is pressed and held between the platen 34b and the print head 22. An intermediate portion of the long mount-less label is guided by a guide roller 33 or the like.

The platens 34a, 34b are provided with motors M34a, M34b, respectively, so that the platens 34a, 34b can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions. Thereby, the label LB can be transported in two directions, the direction of the arrow AR5 and the direction of the arrow AR6. Here, two motors M34a, M3
4b, the direction of conveyance of the label LB is changed by appropriately rotating the platens 34a and 34b forward and backward. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one motor is combined with a gear or a clutch. In this case, the direction of transport of the label LB may be changed by rotating the platens 34a and 34b forward and backward.

When the platen 34a (and the platen 34b when printing is performed by the head 22) also rotates in the direction of the arrow AR3, the label LB wound around the mount-less label supply unit 31 advances in the direction of the arrow AR5. The thermal head 21 and the thermal transfer head 22
Supplied to Note that the above thermal head 21
The thermal transfer heads 22 are arranged in this order from upstream to downstream along the label LB transport path.
Further, the platens 34a and 34b also function as support members for the label LB in the printing process by the thermal head 21 and the thermal transfer head 22, respectively.

Further, as described above, the platens 34a and 34b can be rotated in the reverse direction, and the label is moved in the reverse direction (arrow AR6) on the transport path.
Transport (back feed). According to this back feed operation, it is possible to return the cut mount-less label to a predetermined position.

The label sensor 35a is a transmissive optical sensor having a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion, and can recognize the presence of a label based on the difference in light transmittance. Similarly, the label sensor 35b is also a transmissive optical sensor having a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, and can recognize the presence of a label based on the difference in transmissivity. Therefore, these label sensors 35a, 35
By using b, the leading position of the cut backing label can be recognized.
Alternatively, it is possible to return to the printing start position by the thermal transfer head 22. More specifically, when transporting the label, the leading end of the label is
(Or 35b) and the label sensor 35a (3
The position of the label tip with respect to 5b) can be moved to an arbitrary position.

Thermal head 21 and thermal transfer head 2
The glue on the back surface of the label is activated by the glue activating unit 36 for the label on which printing by the label 2 is completed. The above-mentioned mountless label has a state in which a glue component is applied in advance to the back surface of a long label base paper, and the glue activating unit 36
The glue is activated by the application of heat. As the glue activating unit 36, specifically, a unit that applies heat using near infrared rays can be used. Alternatively, a device that applies heat using a thermal head or the like may be used.

The label cutting section 39 has a cutting member such as a rotary cutter, and is capable of cutting a long label base paper to an arbitrary length (more specifically, according to the length of each label piece). (A plurality of different lengths). The label that has proceeded further forward (in the direction of arrow AR5) than the print head 22 is cut by the label cutting unit 39 into an appropriate length according to each label. The cut label is
It is placed on a roller 37. As the roller 37,
It is preferable to use a material having high releasability.

Here, the glue activating section 36 and the label cutting section 39 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and they may be arranged in the reverse order. good.

Further, the peeling sensor 38 can determine whether or not a label exists at the position P1 (FIG. 2). Therefore, by using the peeling sensor 38 to detect that the label that was present at the predetermined position P1 when the peeling was not completed is no longer present at the predetermined position P1, the peeling of the label is completed. Can be detected. That is, the peeling sensor 3
8 can detect whether or not the cut label (also referred to as “label piece”) has been peeled off from the roller 37.

Therefore, the peeling sensor 38 can detect that the label piece placed on the roller 37 after cutting has been peeled by the operator's hand or the like. In addition, the peeled label piece is, for example, by the operator's hand.
Affixed to the corresponding product.

In this specification, the term “label” simply includes both a long “raw material for label” before cutting and a “label piece” after cutting.

The product information printing apparatus 1 further includes a control unit 40 (FIG. 2). The control unit 40 prints the content of each label (more specifically, each label piece) based on an instruction received at each input unit such as the operation input unit 3 (FIG. 1) and the communication input unit (not shown). Product information generation unit 42 that determines and generates product information to be printed on each label
And a print processing control unit 43 for controlling a print processing using the product information.

The operations described below are performed under the control of the control unit 40.

<B. Operation> FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the operation in the product information printing apparatus 1. FIG. Specifically, FIG. 3 is a time chart relating to the printing operation and the transport operation, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the label and the print heads 21 and 22 at each time t. FIG.
In FIG. 7, the positional relationship between the two (label and print head) at each time t is sequentially shown as time elapses from the top stage to the bottom stage. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a printing process for a label and the like will be described.

Here, the time point at which the print content of each label (more specifically, each label piece) is determined may be any time point, irrespective of whether or not the printing operation of the immediately preceding label has been completed. . Hereinafter, a case where the product information generation completion signal S4 is turned on after the peeling signal S10 related to the immediately preceding label, that is, a case where the printing content of a certain label is determined after the printing of the immediately preceding label is completed and after the peeling is performed. explain.

In the following, as an example, as an example, a product information generation completion signal S4 indicating that the printing content of a certain label (more specifically, a label piece) LB1 has been determined, and a peeling signal S10 of the label LB0 immediately before that. A description will be given of a case where the back feed is started on condition that both of the above conditions are satisfied (that is, both signals S4 and S10 are on).

<Printing process for label LB1>
The case where the printing process regarding the label LB1 is performed will be described. This label LB1 is a label printed by using both the thermal head 21 and the thermal transfer head 22. Specifically, an “eye catch label” as shown in FIG. 5A can be assumed. The hatched portion in FIG. 5A indicates a portion printed by the thermal transfer head 22 in a predetermined color.

This "eye catch label" is created using not only the thermal head 21 for performing thermal printing but also the thermal transfer head 22 for performing thermal transfer printing. By performing multicolor printing using a plurality of print heads, it is possible to print an eye catch label with enhanced expressive power so as to catch the eyes of the consumer. In addition, the label LB1 may be an eye catch label or another type of label.

In the uppermost part of FIG. 4, the printing of the label LB0 by the print heads (the thermal head 21 and the thermal transfer head 22) has already been completed along with the transport in the direction of the arrow AR5, and the label LB0 is placed in the label cutting section. 3
9 shows a state in which, after being cut by 9, the sheet has not yet been peeled off and is supported by rollers 37 (not shown).

Then, at time t7, the peeling of the label LB0 is completed, and the peeling signal S10 is turned on. At this point, the operation for the next label LB1 has not been started yet.

Thereafter, in response to an input using the operation input unit 3 or the like, at time t8, a product information generation completion signal S4 indicating that the print content for the next label LB1 has been determined.
Is turned on, the control unit 40 moves the label LB1 to the printing reference position of the thermal head 21 based on the determination that the printing content of the next label LB1 requires printing by the thermal head 21. Back feed. Specifically, the control unit 40 reverses the motors M34a and M34b at time t9 to convey the backing-less label (label base paper) in the direction of the arrow AR6, that is, feeds back the label-less label, and feeds back the label base paper after cutting. The head position, that is, the head position of the next label LB1 is moved to the printing reference position of the thermal head 21. In this state, the back feed completion signal S6 indicating that the back feed has been completed is turned on (ON) (FIG. 3, time t).
10).

Here, the control section 40 determines that the print content of the next label LB1 needs to be printed by the thermal head 21, and feeds the label LB1 back to the print reference position of the thermal head 21. As a result, the leading position of the next label LB1 can be moved to an appropriate position, so that the label base paper is not wasted as compared with the case where back feed is not performed, and an efficient printing operation can be performed. Become.

As will be described later, the thermal transfer head 22
In the case where only the printing by the thermal transfer head 22 is performed and the printing by the thermal head 21 is not performed, it is preferable to feed the thermal transfer head 22 back to the printing reference position. In that case,
It is possible to minimize the amount of back feed.

Then, at this time (time t10), the control unit 40 rotates the motors M34a and M34b at a predetermined speed to rotate the label LB1 to the arrow AR.
5 (FIG. 4) and the print control signal S7.
Is sent to the thermal head 21 to start the printing process for the label LB1 using the thermal head 21.

After the printing process by the thermal head 21 on the label LB1 started at the time t10 is completed at the time t11, the label LB1 is moved in the direction of the arrow AR5.
When the label LB1 reaches the printing reference position of the thermal transfer head 22 (FIG. 4), the control unit 40 sends a print control signal S8 to the thermal transfer head 22 so that the printing process by the thermal transfer head 22 is performed. The process is started for the label LB1 (time t12). Then, after a predetermined period, the printing process by the thermal transfer head 22 ends at time t15.

As described above, while the label base paper is transported in the direction of arrow AR5 along the transport path using the label transport section 30, a plurality of print heads arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side in this transport path. By sequentially using the print head (thermal head) 21 on the upstream side and the print head (thermal transfer head) 22 on the downstream side of the print heads 21 and 22, the print processing for the predetermined label LB1 can be performed.

After the printing process by the thermal transfer head 22 is completed at time t15, the transport of the label LB1 is continued for a predetermined period, and the transport control signal S5 is turned off at time t16, whereby the label L1 is turned off.
The transport of B1 stops. Thereby, a part of the label LB1 is changed to the label issuing port 4 of the product information printing apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1).
Stop in a state where it protrudes from Further, at time tc1 immediately after time t16, a cutting signal S11 that is a command signal to cut the label is transmitted. Then, in response to the cutting signal S11, the label cutting section 39 cuts the label. In this state, the label LB1
Is a state supported by the roller 37 and the peeling has not been completed yet. Further, the peeling sensor 38 is in a state of detecting that the label LB1 exists at a position immediately above the peeling sensor 38.

<Printing process for label LB2> Next, after the label LB1 is peeled off, the next label LB2
The case where the printing process regarding No. 2 is performed will be described.
It is assumed that the label LB2 is a label created by using only printing by the thermal head 21. Specifically, a “thermal print label” (hereinafter, also referred to as a “normal label”) as shown in FIG. 5B can be assumed. This “normal label” is created using only the thermal head 21 that performs thermal printing without using the thermal transfer head 22 that performs thermal transfer printing.

At time t18, when the label LB1 is peeled, the output signal of the peeling sensor 38 is turned off. Then, in response to the “fall” of the output signal S10 of the peeling sensor 38, the peeling signal S10 indicating that the label LB1 has peeled is turned on. This peeling signal S
Reference numeral 10 denotes a signal that is turned on when the peeling process is completed. The peeled label LB1 is attached to a product to which the label is to be attached by an operator's hand or the like.

Here, it is assumed that the product information generation completion signal S4 indicating that the print content relating to the label LB2 has been determined has already been turned on (ON) at time t17. Therefore, the control unit 40 determines that both signals S4, S
In response to both being in the ON state, back feed starts at time t19.

Here, the control unit 40 controls the label LB
The label LB2 is back-fed to the print reference position of the thermal head 21 based on the determination that the print content of No. 2 requires printing by the thermal head 21. Specifically, at time t9, control unit 40 sets motor M34
a, M34b is reversed, and the mount-less label (label base paper) is transported in the direction of arrow AR6, that is, back-fed, and the leading position of the cut label base paper, that is, the leading position of the next label LB2 is determined by the thermal head. 21 to the reference printing position. In this state, the back feed completion signal S6 indicating that the back feed has been completed is turned on (ON) (time t20).

At this time (time t20), the control unit 40 rotates the motors M34a and M34b forward at a predetermined speed, thereby causing the label LB2 to move to the arrow AR.
5 (FIG. 4) and the print control signal S7.
Is sent to the thermal head 21 to start the printing process for the label LB2 using the thermal head 21. Thermal head 2 for label LB2
1 ends at time t21.

After the printing process by the thermal head 21 is completed at time t21, the transport of the label LB2 is continued for a predetermined period. At time t26, the transport control signal S5 is turned off, so that the transport of the label LB2 is stopped. Stop. As a result, a part of the label LB2 becomes the label issuing port 4 of the product information printing device 1 (see FIG. 1).
Stop in a state where it protrudes from Further, in response to the cutting signal S11 sent at the time tc2 immediately after the stop, the label cutting section 39 cuts the label into an appropriate length.

Since the label LB2 does not need to be printed by the thermal transfer head 22, the print control signal S8 is not sent between time t21 and time t26. That is, printing by the thermal transfer head 22 is not performed.

<Printing process for label LB3> Further, after this label LB2 is peeled off,
The case where the printing process regarding No. 3 is performed will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. 6 and 7 are similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. This label LB3
Is a label created by using only printing by thermal transfer using an ink ribbon. Specifically, FIG.
A “POP label” as shown in (c) can be assumed. The hatched portion in FIG. 5C is printed in a predetermined color by the thermal transfer head 22, and thermal printing is not used.

At time t28, when the label LB2 is peeled off, the output signal of the peeling sensor 38 is turned off. Then, in response to the “fall” of the output signal S10 of the peeling sensor 38, the peeling signal S10 indicating that the label LB2 has peeled is turned on. This peeling signal S
Reference numeral 10 denotes a signal that is turned on when the peeling process is completed. The peeled label LB2 is attached to a product to which the label is to be attached by an operator's hand or the like.

Here, it is assumed that the product information generation completion signal S4 has already been turned on at time t27. Therefore, the control unit 40 responds to the fact that both the signals S4 and S10 are in the ON state, and responds to the time t29
Start back feed at. Specifically, at time t29, control unit 40 controls motors M34a, M34
b is reversed to convey the mount-less label (label base paper) in the direction of arrow AR6, that is, to feed it back.

However, this time, the leading position of the cut label base paper, that is, the leading position of the next label LB3 is set to the thermal transfer head 2 instead of the printing reference position of the thermal head 21.
2 is moved to the printing reference position. In this state, the back feed completion signal S6 indicating that the back feed has been completed is turned on (ON) (time t3).
0).

Here, the control unit 40 determines that the printing by the thermal transfer head 22 is necessary for the print content of the label LB3, but that the printing by the thermal head 21 is not necessary, and the label LB3 is changed accordingly. Thermal transfer head 2
The back feed is performed to the print reference position of No. 2. Thereby, the leading position of the next label LB3 can be moved to an appropriate position, and efficient printing operation can be performed without wasting the label base paper. Further, in this case, the back feed amount can be suppressed to a minimum.

At this time (time t30), the control unit 40 rotates the motors M34a and M34b forward at a predetermined speed, thereby turning the label LB3 into the arrow AR.
5 and the printing process for the label LB3 using the thermal transfer head 22 is started. Label LB
This printing process by the thermal transfer head 22 for No. 3 ends at time t35.

After the printing process by the thermal transfer head 22 is completed at time t35, the transport of the label LB3 is continued for a predetermined period, and the transport control signal S5 is turned off at time t36, whereby the label L
The transport of B3 stops. Thus, the label LB3 stops in a state where a part of the label LB3 protrudes from the label issuing port 4 (see FIG. 1) of the product information printing apparatus 1. Further, the time t immediately after the stop
In response to the cutting signal S11 sent to c3, the label cutting section 39 cuts the label.

Thereafter, the same operation is repeated. In this way, the product information printing device 1 can create a plurality of types of labels.

Here, in this embodiment,
Since the label (more specifically, the end of the label base paper after cutting) can be fed back, waste of the paper can be omitted and an efficient printing operation can be realized. Also,
Since the back feed can be performed to an arbitrary position among the plurality of reference positions, the end of the cut label base paper can be moved to a more appropriate position. In particular, in the above-described back feed, the back feed amount is set such that the leading end of the label returns to the print reference position of the most upstream print head of at least one print head used for the next print operation among the plurality of print heads. Is changed,
More appropriate back feed can be performed depending on which print head is required in the printing operation of each label. Here, the case where the back feed amount is changed according to which print head among a plurality of print heads is used for a printing operation has been described, but in other words, this is based on the print content or label type. This corresponds to a case where the back feed amount is changed accordingly.

Further, when the peeling process for the printed label (for example, label LB1) is completed and the print content for the next label LB2 is determined, the control unit 40 controls the back feed for the next label LB2. Is started, and then the printing process of the label LB2 is started, so that the printing process for the next label LB2 can be started after the peeling process for the predetermined label LB1 is surely completed.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is preferable that the label transport speed in the direction of arrow AR6 when the label is fed back is set to be higher than the label transport speed in the direction of arrow AR5 when printing on the label. . According to this, since the back feed is performed at a relatively high label transport speed, it is possible to improve the number of labels that can be printed per unit time, and it is also possible to perform a normal printing process at a relatively low label transport speed. Is performed, it is possible to prevent an adverse effect on print quality (that is, a decrease in print quality).

<C. Others> In the above embodiment,
After the previous label is peeled off, the case where the operation proceeds to the printing operation of the next label has been described.However, the invention is not limited to this, and the operation may proceed to the printing operation of the next label without waiting for the previous label to be peeled off. good. In other words, the back feed for the next label may be started without removing the predetermined label.

Further, in the above embodiment, as the plurality of print heads 20, one thermal type print head 21 and one
Although the case of including one thermal transfer print head 22 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, as the plurality of print heads 20,
It may have one thermal print head and a plurality of thermal transfer print heads.

More specifically, a plurality of print heads for performing color printing using the thermal transfer ribbon TR (for example, two print heads, a print head for a green thermal transfer ribbon TR and a print head for a blue thermal transfer ribbon TR) ) May be included. According to this, it is possible to reduce the number of times of replacement of the thermal transfer ribbon TR (ideally, it is not necessary to replace the thermal transfer ribbon TR) when printing a plurality of colors by the thermal transfer method.

Alternatively, full-color printing can be performed by using three thermal transfer heads for printing three basic colors of yellow (yellow), magenta (purple), and cyan (light blue), respectively, as a plurality of thermal transfer heads. It is possible.

Further, printing may be performed using only a plurality of thermal transfer type print heads without using a thermal type print head. According to this, it is not necessary to use heat-sensitive paper as a label, and printing can be performed on a label using various types of paper. Alternatively, printing may be performed using only a plurality of heat-sensitive print heads without using a thermal transfer print head.

In the case where three or more print heads are used, it is necessary to control in more detail which of the plurality of print heads the label is to be back fed to at the printing reference position of the plurality of print heads. Is possible. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, when four print heads 21, 22, 23, and 24 are provided in the label transport path, the next label among the print heads 21, 22, 23, and 24 is used. The back feed amount can be controlled so that the back feed is performed to the print reference position of the print head on the most upstream side among the print heads used for printing of the print head. For example, four print heads 21, 22, 2
When only the print heads 23 and 24 are used for printing the next label among the print heads 3 and 24, the back feed amount is controlled so that the print head 23 is fed back to the print reference position. Can be. As a result, the back feed amount is set to an appropriate value, and an efficient printing operation becomes possible.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the label without the mount, but the present invention may be applied to the label with the mount. In that case, the label cutting section 39 and the glue activating section 36 in the above embodiment are unnecessary. That is, it is possible to perform a printing operation with a back feed similar to the above for a label (preferably having high releasability) continuously attached to a mount.

Further, in the above embodiment, the printing reference positions of a plurality of print heads are exemplified as the plurality of reference positions, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the back feed may be performed to a reference position that is shifted by a predetermined distance from the printing reference position of a plurality of print heads.

[0085]

As described above, claims 1 to 1 are described.
According to the merchandise information printing apparatus described in No. 0, a plurality of print heads provided along a label transport path, a label transport means capable of transporting the label in both forward and reverse directions, and Since the back feed amount control means for controlling the back feed amount when back feeding to any of the positions is provided, the label can be back fed to a more appropriate position.

In particular, according to the merchandise information printing apparatus of the second aspect, since the plurality of reference positions are respectively the printing reference positions of the plurality of print heads, the back feed can be performed to a more appropriate position. .

According to the commodity information printing apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of print heads include a thermal head for performing black printing and at least one thermal transfer head for performing color printing. An efficient printing operation can be performed when performing multi-color printing using.

Further, according to the commodity information printing apparatus of the present invention, the at least one thermal transfer head includes three ink ribbon type thermal transfer heads for printing three basic colors of yellow, magenta and cyan, respectively. Therefore, an efficient printing operation can be performed in full-color printing using a plurality of print heads.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the product information printing apparatus further comprises a cutting means for cutting the long label base paper into a plurality of different lengths. And it is highly convenient to attach the printed label to each product or the like.

Furthermore, according to the commodity information printing apparatus of the tenth aspect, since there is further provided a glue activating means for activating the glue on the back surface of the label, the label after printing can be attached to each product or the like. High convenience.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view schematically showing a product information printing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the product information printing device 1.

FIG. 3 is a time chart relating to a printing operation and a transport operation.

FIG. 4 shows labels and print heads 21 and 2 at each time.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship with the second and the like.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing various labels.

FIG. 6 is a time chart relating to a printing operation and a transport operation.

FIG. 7 shows labels and print heads 21 and 2 at each time.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship with the second and the like.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a product information printing device according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Commodity information printing device 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Print head 26 Ribbon supply unit 30 Label transport unit 31 Mountless label supply unit 34a, 34b Platen 35a, 35b Label sensor 36 Glue activation unit 37 Roller 38 Peel sensor 39 Label cutting section LB, LB0-LB3 Label PM Printing mechanism TR Thermal transfer ribbon

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Norio Kawanishi 959 Shimogaku, Ritto-cho, Kurita-gun, Shiga Pref. DC23 DC25 DC26 DC30 3E095 BA02 CA02 DA03 DA66 DA78 EA02 EA09 EA13 EA22 EA26 EA34 FA17

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A product information printing apparatus for printing product information on a label, comprising: a plurality of print heads provided along a label transport path; and a label transport capable of transporting the label in both forward and reverse directions. Means for controlling the amount of back feed when the label is back fed to an arbitrary position among a plurality of reference positions. 2. The product information printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reference positions are printing reference positions of the plurality of print heads, respectively. 3. The merchandise information printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the back feed amount control means changes the back feed amount in accordance with a print content. . 4. The product information printing device according to claim 1, wherein the back feed amount control means changes the back feed amount according to a label type. . 5. The product information printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of print heads include at least one thermal head. 6. The merchandise information printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of print heads include at least one thermal transfer head. 7. The product information printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of print heads include a thermal head for performing black printing and at least one thermal transfer head for performing color printing. A product information printing device, characterized in that: 8. The product information printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one thermal transfer head includes three ink ribbon type thermal transfer heads for printing three basic colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, respectively. Product information printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 9. The merchandise information printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising cutting means for cutting the long label base paper into a plurality of different lengths. Product information printing device. 10. The merchandise information printing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: glue activating means for activating the glue on the back surface of the label.